God Speaks Against Wickedness (2)

JOKES

Things you’ll never hear in church: – Hey! It’s MY turn to sit on the front pew! – I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went over time 25 minutes. – Personally, I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf. – I’ve decided to give our church the $500.00 a month I used to send to TV evangelists. – I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class. – Forget the denominational minimum salary: let’s pay our pastor so s/he can live like we do. -I love it when we sing hymns I’ve never heard before! -Since we’re all here, let’s start the worship service early! -Pastor, this winter we’d like to send you to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas. – Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign!

An elderly woman had recently died.  Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers.  In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote …

“They wouldn’t take me out while I was alive; I don’t want them to take me out when I’m dead.”

INTRO

Good morning everyone, how are we doing!? My name is Paul and I get the privilege of serving alongside this amazing team here in Bennington. If you are a first time guest, I hope that you felt welcomed this morning and were able to grab a cup of coffee. Who had a good Easter? If you were here with us, I just want to say thank you for joining us. Pastor Jake came down and brought the word. If you are here today and you do not know Pastor Jake, he is our director of ministries. Previously, he was our campus pastor but the Lord opened up a door for him in our Rutland location and he is faithfully serving up there . Once and a while you will see our central team come down and be a part of our services here locally. Because we are ONE CHURCH with multiple locations, Amen?! Who knows that we are BETTER TOGETHER!? God did not call us to be a divided kingdom, he called us all as believers to be a part of THE CHURCH. Church is not a building, but it is a living, breathing movement of people who are TRANSFORMED by the love of Jesus, who are UNITED IN FAITH, and empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT to live on mission. The church is Gods chosen vessel to bring light into darkness, carry truth to the world, and proclaim and reflect His heart for EVERY GENERATION. That is the church. A set apart people , a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, living out and proclaiming the Gospel mission, on behalf of a king. Matthew 28:19 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

START

This morning we are continuing our Journey through Psalms 119. The longest chapter in the bible, located right in the middle of the bible. Arranged in the form of an acrostic [ PUT REMINDER SLIDE ON SCREEN ] . We are in the 15th stanza out of 22 that is represented by the Hebrew letter, Samekh. Samekh is often associated with the concept of “ Supporting, upholding, reliance “. A great representation of how Gods word “ supports us, upholds us, it is something that we can RELY on. This is obviously not going to take us much longer to reach the end of Psalms 119 as we are in the home stretch, the 7th inning, singing Sweet Caroline. It has gone a little quicker than we were expecting. IT is a good thing and I hope you have found ( and are finding ) this series to be helpful. A journey that we hope has helped you to understand how important it is to be rooted and grounded in Gods word so that we may become the Disciples that Jesus wants us to be. True Biblical Disciples do these 5 things:

Commitment to Follow Jesus

Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Obedience to Gods Word

John 14:15 ““If you love me, you will keep my commands.”

Transformation through the Holy Spirit

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Radical Love and Community

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.”

John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

Mission to Make Disciples

Matthew 18:19–20 “Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.””

A series that hopefully is teaching us how important it is to be biblically literate! We have been going through Psalms 119 because it is ALL ABOUT GODS WORD. IN FACT ‘ GODS WORD’ IS MENTIONED IN ABOUT 170 OF THE 176 VERSES. HIS FOCUS WAS ON GODS WORD. HIS INSTRUCTIONS. HIS DECREES. BUT WHY? BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT IT WAS LIKE WATER TO HIS SOUL. A NECESSARY GUIDEBOOK TO LIVE IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND A NECESSARY GUIDEBOOK FOR JOY AND BLESSING. But I also look back through these last 15 weeks and I see man wrestling with affliction and suffering, persecution and opposition, a man longing for Gods direction and strength in a world that wants to chew him up and spit him out. CAN ANYONE RELATE TO THAT STRUGGLE? ( We believe that King David wrote this Psalm ) The reality is that King David knew where his hope was found but he wrestled with sin, he wrestled with culture trying to influence him, shape him, mold him, and as we know, there were times in Davids life where he wrestled through that sin. But ultimately, He knew where to go to find strength. He knew where to go to find peace and comfort in times of severe affliction. Affliction so strong that it almost led to his death. King David knew exactly where to go to find VICTORY. BUT, just because you know where to go to find strength and hope, promise and victory, DOES NOT MEAN that you WILL go there. Wisdom is knowledge applied. We need to know Gods word, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and be open to correction and conviction, and be obedient in its application in our lives.

Does anyone need a bible this morning? if you could just raise up your hand, we have some amazing people who want to hand you one this morning and if that is the only copy of Gods word that you have, it is our gift to you.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

As we are going through this passage of scripture I want you to use all of your senses this morning and begin to visualize and understand what God is trying to communicate through his servant, King David. After we read through this passage I want you to ask the Holy Spirit ( right where you are ) to speak to you clearly this morning. To speak to you decisively, and with authority. That Gods word would penetrate into the deepest parts of our heart, soul and spirit. That his word would begin to cut through all of the rust, all of the decay, all of the dead spots and begin to make way for

Psalm 119:113–120 “I hate those who are double-minded, but I love your instruction. You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in your word. Depart from me, you evil ones, so that I may obey my God’s commands. Sustain me as you promised, and I will live; do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Sustain me so that I can be safe and always be concerned about your statutes. You reject all who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is a lie. You remove all the wicked on earth as if they were dross from metal; therefore, I love your decrees. I tremble in awe of you; I fear your judgments.”

LETS FIRST DEFINE OUR TERMS:

WICKED: SOME NEW ENGLANDERS HAVE INHERITED A PREDISPOSITION TO THE MEANING OF THE WORD, “ WICKED” . THATS NOT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

EVIL OR MORALLY BAD IN PRINCIPLE OR PRACTICE; WILLFULLY SINFUL; SOMEONE WHO IS NOT SAVED

SIN: SIN IS THE REJECTION OF GODS WAY, IN FAVOR OF OUR OWN. SIN SEPARATES US FROM HIS WILL, HIS PURPOSE AND HIS PRESENCE. SIN IS MORE THAN JUST BREAKING RULES - IT IS TURNING AWAY FROM THE HEART OF GOD.

DOUBLE MINDED:

DANGERS OF DOUBLE-MINDED

Definition of “ Double-Minded” : “ Double mindedness is a heart that is at war with itself. Professing faith but resisting surrender, wanting Gods promises without letting go of the worlds grip. Its the silent killer of bold faith and the thief of spiritual stability.”

DIVIDED LOYALTIES

HALF HEARTED

WAVERING

EASILY SWAYED

CONFLICTED

FEAR DRIVEN

LUKE WARM

SPIRITUALLY INCONSISTANT

LACK OF FAITH

Point 1: We Should Hate the Way the Double-Minded Think

Verses: Psalm 119:113–114 “I hate those who are double-minded, but I love your instruction. You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in your word.”

Main Points:

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything” - Alexander Hamilton

• Double-mindedness leads to instability, confusion, and spiritual compromise.

• To be double-minded is to live with a divided heart, trying to serve God and the world at the same time.

• The psalmist hates this way of thinking—not out of malice, but because it is spiritually destructive.

Double- Mindedness can look many different ways:

1. Faith vs. Fear – Praying but still panicking.

Peter Walking on Water // Faith enables us to walk confidently and fear causes us to doubt and sink.

Abraham sacrificing Isaac // Trusting even when it seems impossible and you have to give everything.

Israelites and the Red Sea // Fear can cloud your vision

2. Purity vs. Culture – Watching/engaging in things that oppose godliness. Sorry guys I am passionate here.

Culture normalizes and glorifies violence, explicit content, and the sexual normalization of individuals in media. OUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT DEFILES THE SANCTITY OF WHO GOD CALLS US TO BE

MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU CONSUME ALIGNS WITH THIS WORD AND THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST. IT IS NOT THAT HARD. Philippians 4:8 “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.”

3. Identity in Christ vs. Approval of Others – Social media vs. spiritual worth.

4. Forgiveness vs. Bitterness – Saying “I forgive” but staying angry.

5. Generosity vs. Greed – Feeling led to give, but refusing to let go.

6. Obedience vs. Comfort – Delayed obedience is still disobedience.

7. Humility vs. Pride – Serving but wanting applause.

8. Trusting God’s Timing vs. Taking Control – Pushing doors open instead of waiting.

9. Speaking Truth vs. Staying Silent – Missing moments to witness or stand up.

10. Worship vs. Routine – Heartless worship, just going through motions.

Extra Scriptures:

• James 1:1–8 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings. Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.”

• Matthew 6:24 ““No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

THE DIFFERENCE IN SIN VS DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS

Key Characteristic: Struggling with sin involves genuine repentance and a desire to overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit, even though victory is not immediate.

Key Characteristic: Double-mindedness isn’t about being overwhelmed by temptation or sin; it’s about living with a divided heart and inconsistent devotion.

2 Timothy 3:5–7 “holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people. For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Key Differences:

1. Commitment:

• Double-mindedness: Divided loyalty and inconsistent devotion.

• Struggling with sin: A person is committed to God but is fighting against sin.

2. Heart’s Desire:

• Double-mindedness: Desires to live in both worlds—following God while indulging in worldly things.

• Struggling with sin: Desires to obey God but struggles against the temptation of sin.

3. Outcome of Struggle:

• Double-mindedness: Results in instability and lack of progress in spiritual growth.

• Struggling with sin: Results in growth, repentance, and a deeper dependence on God’s grace and strength.

• Our antidote to DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS is to love and trust God’s Word as our shelter and shield.

Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.”

Reflection Question:

Ask: Are there areas in my life where I’m trying to serve both God and self?

Choose truth over trend.

Choose conviction over convenience.

Love God’s Word enough to reject thoughts that oppose it.

Am I truly rejecting double-mindedness in my own thinking?

IF WE HATE THE WAY THE DOUBLE-MINDED THINK, THEN WE MUST:

Point 2: We Should Not Associate with Those Who Have No Regard for God

Verses: Psalm 119:115–117 “Depart from me, you evil ones, so that I may obey my God’s commands. Sustain me as you promised, and I will live; do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Sustain me so that I can be safe and always be concerned about your statutes.”

The psalmist draws clear boundaries to protect his walk with God.

He distances himself from those who don’t honor God’s Word, because their influence can weaken obedience.

PSALMS1:1-8“How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. [THEY ARE DOUBLE-MINDED, A FOOT IN AND A FOOT OUT. UNSTABLE, BLOWN ABOUT WITH THE WIND]. Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.

Main Points:

• We are called to practice holy separation, not isolation.

“The company you keep will almost always influence the path you will Go”

2 Corinthians 6:14–17 “Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial [ SATAN ] ? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you.”

• Proverbs 13:20 “The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.”

• Our environment should strengthen our obedience, not undermine it.

Psalm 119:115 “Depart from me, you evil ones, so that I may obey my God’s commands.”

Extra Scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.””

Reflection Question:

Are my closest relationships drawing me toward obedience—or away from it?

SO… IF WE HATE THE DOUBLE-MINDED THINKING AND IF WE REFUSE TO ASSOCIATE THOSE WHO HAVE NO REGARD FOR GOD, THEN WE MUST:

Point 3: We Should Warn the Double-Minded About the Judgment of God—With the Love of God

Verses: Psalm 119:118–120 “You reject all who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is a lie. You remove all the wicked on earth as if they were dross from metal; therefore, I love your decrees. I tremble in awe of you; I fear your judgments.”

• The psalmist sees that God’s judgment is real, and it causes him to tremble—not with terror, but with awe and reverence.

• God removes the wicked like dross, the worthless impurities in metal refining.

There is a reality that one day we will appear at the judgement seat. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

the judgement of God is very real, but His desire is that you would come to repentance and find eternal life with Him. His love for you is greater than any sin that you have. His love for you is greater than any form of double-mindedness you have, but this is not some cheap grace. IT is a grace that requires us to recognize that without Christs sacrafice on that cross to reconcile us back to God, we most certainly would face eternal separation from God. Without Christ, we are dead in our trespasses.

Main Points:

• God’s judgment is certain, but His heart is full of mercy.

• We must speak truth with grace, not condemnation.

Extra Scriptures:

• 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”

• John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

• Ezekiel 33:7–9 ““As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he doesn’t turn from it, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.”

Reflection Question:

Am I willing to lovingly speak truth to those who are straying?

THATS GREAT,NOW WHAT?!

WHEN IT COMES TO GOD SPEAKING, WE NEED TO REJECT WICKEDNESS

Summary Thought:

You can’t walk in two directions. You’re either all in for Jesus or you’re being pulled apart.

• Let go of divided thoughts.

• Set boundaries with those who compromise truth.

• Speak up in love when others are headed for danger.

My Next Step

WE ALL HAVE A NEXT STEP, AN ACTION STEP:

[ ] Identify one area of my life where I’ve been double-minded.

[ ] Set a healthy boundary with someone who pulls me from God.

[ ] Speak truth in love to someone who is compromising.

WE WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS PLACE WITHOUT A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO GOD SPEAKING TO US:

Every head bowed, every eye closed, this is a personal moment. IN John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

IF YOU DO NOT KNOW JESUS, I am here to tell you today that HE makes it easy for us to know Him.

Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

But this is not just some cheap grace. It is going to cost you. Not a lot, just everything. It requires repentance. Recognizing and turning from your old ways and acknowledging Him. That the old ways of doing things, is no longer for me. It is going to require you to take up your cross and follow him daily.

Matthew 7:14 “How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

If you don’t have it today, Gods gift of salvation is available to you.He wants us to be close to him. It is the best decision you will ever make. So I ask you this, if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and WANT TO KNOW HIM - This is for you, I invite you to say this prayer. Right here , right now. You can whisper it or you can speak it boldly and I am willing to bet there is a room of believers willing to join in with you.

Say this with me : Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and rose again. I trust in you as my Savior and invite you into my heart.Help me to follow you and live the life you have for me. Thank you for loving me and thank you for forgiving me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Personal Response Prayer:

“God, I surrender every double-minded thought.

I lay down every compromised area in my life.

Refine me like gold.

Give me an undivided heart.

I will no longer live pulled in two directions.

I choose You fully. I follow You fully.

In Jesus’ name, amen.”