Sermon Tone Analysis

Psalm 119:113-120

There are people all over this world that profess to be Christians but do not live like it.

They have one foot in the church and one foot in the world.

We have lost many young people because of this divided loyalty.

Young people do not tolerate fakes, they can spot them a mile away!

They are looking for someone to show them the way int his world, and when they see someone that professes to be a believer, they want to follow them, but once they see they are not what they appeared to be they become disenchanted and view all Christians the same.

Although we will all fail, how we respond to this failing is what makes the difference.

If we humbly repent, and turn back to the Lord that is different than living one way at church and another way at home.

But how do we deal with those who have divided loyalties?

The Psalmist was dealing with his own countrymen, fellow Jews who professed to follow God.

and yet they were attacking him for following after God with his whole heart.

So, ow do we prevent them from influencing us to have one foot in and one foot out?

This fifteenth section of Psalm 119, I believe, shows us how we can respond correctly.

I. Stick to God’s Word

113 SAMECH.

I hate vain thoughts: But thy law do I love.

114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: For I will keep the commandments of my God.

You will never go wrong basing your decisions on God’s Word!

The thoughts of the double minded are vain (worthless)

The Psalmist said he hated vain thoughts, this Hebrew word literally means double thinking, perverse thinking that distorts and reverses the truth.

This would especially be true of those who try to use the Bible to excuse their sin.

“I can worship God anywhere” That is true, but where did God tell us to worship?

“I have liberty in Christ, I can _____”

“I don’t need to attend every service.

Base your decisions and your philosophy on God’s Word and it will not fail you!

Stick to God’s Word!

Why?

A. Because You Love God’s Word

113 I hate vain thoughts: But thy law do I love.

compared to his love for truth, this man hated anything that veered away from the truth.

Loving God’s Word brings peace.

Especially when we are dealing with division or other believers who attack us, we need all the peace we can get!

Secondly we ought to stick to God’s Word because:

B. Because It Is a Protection

114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

The Psalmist hopes in the Word of God, because God is His hiding place and shield.

God’s Word ought to be our hiding place, the secret place where we can run for refuge.

Instead of allowing thoughts of revenge, or anger, run through our minds, we need to hide in the shadow of the Word of God.

Let the Word rescue our minds from this mental torment.

and thirdly we need to stick to God’s Word,

C. Because It Will Keep Us Right

It will help us stay from following the evildoers

115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: For I will keep the commandments of my God.

The psalmist gives the evildoers warning - Depart from me!

I will keep the commandments of my God!

God’s Word will give us the ability to do right.

The Bible said earlier in this chapter that it is by God’s Word that we are able to clean up our act!

Stick to God’s Word, not the opinions of man!

A double minded man loves nothing more than to bring others into agreement with them.

If they have company they will not feel guilty themselves.

So God’s Word will help you to stand firm, but we need to read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and use it!

I was amazed how even the Bible’s being visible can make a difference.

When I was in High School, I kind of started off as a wallflower, and hid in the shadows.

But as I became involved with other activities like speech and drama the other kids took notice of me.

I gained the ability to come out of my shell a little and although I had a few core friends, I was friendly with everyone, and so everyone was friendly with me.

I began to be invited to events and parties, I attended some events but felt uncomfortable with some of the activities that began to pop up.

Sometime in my Sophomore or Junior year of High School I really surrendered my life to Christ.

I began carrying my Bible with me at school.

I would usually would carry whatever books I would need for the next class and my Bible on top.

I would get some looks, but no one really said anything to me, but soon I noticed that I stopped being invited to those events, and especially the parties.

I remember a friend talking about a group that had gotten together over the weekend.

I just casually mentioned, “Oh, I didn’t know ya’ll were going out this weekend.”

I probably wouldn’t have gone anyways, but I typically heard the conversations about it.

My friend looked sheepish and said, “Jeremy everyone likes having you there, but they just didn’t think you would want to come.” and he glanced down at my Bible and back to my face.

My Bible protected me, and I didn’t even know it!

and then the Psalmist continues with the next thing that will help us to respond correctly when we are confronted by a double minded man:

II.

Pray for God’s Help and Strength

116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: And let me not be ashamed of my hope.

117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: And I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

Sometimes we are especially tempted to follow after the doubleminded.

During those times we need to Pray that God will give us strength.

We want to speak the truth so that the doubleminded can change, but we want to do so with love so they can see our heart!

Here in Psalm 119 the Psalmist asks God help Him in three ways:

A. Hold Me Up by Thy Word

The Psalmist cried, “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live.”

The word translated uphold has been used to indicate a person leaning their hand against a wall for support.

The Psalmist was weary, and needed God’s Word to support him.

Before you read the Bible gt into the habit of Praying and asking the Lord to give you what you need for today.

Ask Him to lead you to the passage that will give you the strength you need.

I’ve been amazed at how God will lay a book on my heart as I prayerfully go to read, sometimes even drawn to a particular chapter.

All of God’s Word is profitable and helpful, but it is amazing when the Holy Spirit leads you to read a passage that deals with exactly what you are dealing with in this stage of life.

Secondly the Psalmist asks God to...

B. Help Me Not Be Ashamed

Verse 116 continues, “And let me not be ashamed of my hope.”

There were times when I was in High School, carrying that Bible from Class to class that I felt embarrassed.

It drew attention to me that made me feel uncomfortable.

I remember once in English class, we were all working on our assignments and my teacher called out, “Hey Jeremy, can I see your Bible?

I think this phrase is from the Bible and I want to look it up.”

I could stand in front of the entire school at a rally in a skit with out batting an eye, but walking the ten or fifteen feet from my desk to the teachers desk with my Bible felt like the heaviest burden.

When I got back to my desk I felt ashamed at my shame.

It felt like The Holy Spirit said, “Why were you so embarrassed to bring your Bible up there?”

I remember asking God to forgive me and help me not be ashamed of carrying His Word with me.

When we have to stand against those who are doubleminded it can feel like every eye is on us, but we need to stand on God’s Word, and ask God for help to do it!

Then thirdly the Psalmist prays

C. Keep Me Safe

In verse 117, asks God “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe:”

Sometimes when the pressure that comes on us for doing right comes, we need to pray for God to hold us up and keep us safe.

When the pressure comes on us, we need to stand firm.