I Chronicles12:32 "And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

I have used this text as a foundation for what I want to share about being directed by the Lord.
It was a tribe in Israel, of which little is known.
But great discernment was attributed to them in the time of David
Jesus had a big problem with the Pharisees because they failed to discern the time in Luke 12:54-56
We as Christians need to be led and directed by the Lord.
Certain decisions we make can affect us throughout our lives.
I am going to use the men of issachar as a springboard for the message.
Let's look at the conditions that might have influenced the decision making.
I am going to be honest it was not really the outward appearance of things.
Initially David was in the army of Israel, but things were not progressing in his relationship with the King, after many attempts on his life by Saul he knew it was time to go.
So David was an outlaw, with an army of rejects, the outward appearance was not attractive but David had the anointing, there was something about his manner , his valiant in Battle, his integrity, that drew these men of issachar.
When in comparison Saul was out of the will of God and it was just a matter of time.
Our decision making must be in the framework of the word
For our jobs our life partners, even where we live we need to move within the framework of Gods word.
The word is the mind of God, his thoughts on certain circumstances.
In moving with God will we will find the key to victory
Yet being led by the spirit is not spooky or emotional, it is most times the most logical thing to do, within the framework of the word of God. This is how you can discern.
For an example; I remember about 3 years ago while I was evangelizing I met someone who said they wanted me to give them counseling in a specific area.
It came to light that she was married to a brother in church, of whom she said she had fallen out of love with, and was clear that she had married the wrong one.
Their was another young man in the church who she was now drawn to, and she was convinced that God or she said the holy spirit was drawing her to this young man.
Now the happens every day in the world but it does not work in the Kingdom.
First God has revealed his thoughts on the subject, that marriage is binding, and can only be broken by infidelity.
She was moving out of the framework of Gods word.
We need to be like men of Issachar, and know what we ought to do.
I want to address want schools of thought in this area
Wait on the Lord….Which is interpreted by many to sit back until God moves, so people with this mentality sit back, because God will bring the Job to them. God will just take over you see, God will bring growth you see just sit back, and speak in tongues.
Being directed By God

Then there is another school of thought that they are so busy they are going to do it with him or without him……..If not we are having revival……. I am going to have it whether God shows up or not.
I will bless me even if God does not, so they work every hour that God give under the sun, they monopolize the overtime, they invented the word, and yet with all there hard work, missing the assembly of the saints they have little to show for it. A bag with holes.
This kind is so driven by self will God cannot get a look in.
All we need to do is stay with the word.
With the first category, they are usually lazy and lack full understanding; God blesses the work of our hands.
If you are unemployed sitting at home and praying which is good, but you must follow that up by writing job applications, going to the jobcentre, and while you are doing that God makes a way.
There is a partnership involved, in the book of I Corinthians when Paul was ironing out some major differences between certain factions. He highlighted that he "Paul" planted Apollo's watered but God gave the increase.
Lord build our church; send them Lord, you lazy Christians need to get of your butt and seek and save that which is lost. Go out and compel them to come in.
This principle flows into the work arena…..Lazy people never make it in life. Well pastor Iam an intercessor, God has called me to this ministry…..you don't work you don't evangelize you don't visit the sick foolishness, I am not saying that God did not call you to pray but there is no such ministry in the Bible that is as an intercessory ministry, but we are all called to intercede.
So even if you prayed for 4 hours what then, you spend the rest of the day watching God channel.
After you have prayed do something.
Many quote Romans 12:7 when Paul says we should wait on our ministry, the wait is not the wait as we know it, but it is derived from the thought of a waiter at your table.
"What can I do for you Madame, and how is the soup, will you be needing anything more….." To wait is to serve, and yet while serving be directed by the customer.

Be directed by him eventually promotion will come.

Well pastor I need to be led to witness, and evangelize, why the bible says Go….
The word has already given Gods mind on the subject, and it is while you are obeying that specifics come, go here or there speak to this one or that one. Just go….

I want to be a doctor…well study at university then God will bless your mind and advance you.
The next category is where many are so busy, they are engrossed with their career, there family, there life, there future there ministry and are so busy they have gone ahead of God, they are now moving out of the word, there will has taken over Like Saul as mentioned last week, they no longer consult the prophet, they no longer seek guidance from God they go ahead full speed to disaster.

To be led by God is to be governed by the word of God.

Being directed By God
In short let's look back at David
I Samuel 24:1-10
Look at the background of David, anointed by the major prophet of the day, he slays goliath, surely he should be King. But David is wise, and knows it is not his time and season, he serves Saul and is the key to winning the battle still David humble.
If that was a Pentecostal he would have started a ministry lion and bear slaying ministries.
No …David waited for his time, he knew what the word said to do while the King was still in power he had to serve him.
How many ministries and churches were birthed out of impatient but gifted ministers?
In the end, out of jealousy Saul was out to kill David, for nearly 14 years David is an outlaw on the run.
And I have read one of the occasions where Saul in his pursuit of David falls into a trap.
David now could kill Saul and seize the kingdom he had long awaited, but no, David was led by Yahweh.
He was not going to take the kingdom by force, that would set the wrong precedence
David showed mercy, no wonder he was a man after Gods own heart.
In the fullness of time he became King, you see he was being trained in Gods school of hard knocks, so now he was ready for greatness.
We must learn from these examples in scripture
We must be directed by the spirit and understand Gods purpose for our lives.
God can speak to us in dramatic ways, but usually it is a still small voice that speaks to us. And directs us through his word.
This tells us that sometimes the conditions even seem right, outwardly but we must learn a principle; which is to never go by the outward appearance of things, in big decisions that we take in life we must seek Gods idea on the matter.
We must be like the men of issachar who new what they ought to do for a given time.
His counsel is available why don't we seek it?