A Double Minded Man
Notes
Transcript
A Double Minded Man
Text: James 1:2–8 (KJV 1900)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
(Our faith is illustrated to others by our patience in the midst of bad circumstances
When we continue to live with confidence, and peace, and joy in our hearts in the midst of bad circumstances, those who don’t know the Lord will be able to see our faith as something real and tangible- something that they desperately need.
James also said: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.)
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
(When our faith is perfect- meaning mature, or grown up, or strong, it will cause us feel safe and secure, confident in all times of need, because we know that all we have to do is ask God for help, and He will never refuse to help us.
And because of this attitude of faith, or confidence in God, the next verses tell us how the way a person with a, patient, mature, faith prays…)
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
(If you have faith in God, you have reason to live life with an attitude of confidence and safety.
If you do not have faith in God, or you have a wavering faith in God, you are on your own, God is not obligated to help you.
Without faith you have no legitimate basis for confidence and safety in this world.
Because you choose not to trust in God, you are on your own and limited to your own devices)
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
* James explains why God will not help the person who has a wavering faith a little further along in the book, in chapter 4 and verses 6-8:
James 4:6–8 (KJV 1900)
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
(If you are proud, and think you can handle life without putting faith in God, God will resist you. But, If you will humble your heart before God, God will give you grace, un merited favor, to meet your every need in this life.
So, because God promises to help those who humble themselves before Him, placing their confidence in Him, God promises to help you when you submit yourself to Him.)
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
* There are two commands here in James 4:8:
1). Clean up the outside- Cleanse your hands. Stop living in sin.
2). Clean up the inside- Purify your hearts- Get the double mindedness out of your hearts!
* The purpose of this sermon today is to encourage you to purify your hearts by causing you to get the double-mindedness out of your heart!
I. The Children of Israel were double-minded when they went into the Promised Land.
II. Elijah had become double–minded because the thought He was all alone.
III. Jonah was double-minded because he didn’t like God’s will for his life.
IV. Job was double minded because of trials.
* As my mind wandered through the Word of God while I was pondering our text this morning I remembered an example from the Bible of a people who were double minded.
* I thought of the Israelites, God’s chose people who could have entered the promised land in just 3 days journey, but instead wound up wondering around in the wilderness for 40 years simply because they failed to believe God!
* God had miraculously delivered them form Pharaoh of Egypt and had parted the Red Sea so they walked to safety on dry land!
(Paraphrase the exodus story here)
A. The Red Sea represented salvation and deliverance from
sin- James says stop being double minded about sin.
* We are not to be double minded about sin this morning!
* If you have been saved this morning, you have been delivered from the law of sin and death.
* If you have truly been born again this morning, and the Spirit of God has moved in to take up residence in your soul, the power of sin has been destroyed and no longer has power over you!
Romans 8:2–3 (KJV 1900)
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans 6:17–18 (KJV 1900)
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:13–14 (KJV 1900)
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
* The lost man has no choice but to live in sin.
* He is controlled by sin.
* The Bible says no man can serve two masters this morning, either you are serving sin this morning or you are serving God.
When Holy Spirit of God enters a man, He changes that man and makes Him a new creation!
* No longer is that man controlled by sin, but He has been delivered form the power of sin
* My friend you don’t have to live under the power of sin.
* There is no room in the church for a double minded Christian that has not made up his mind that he will not let sin control his life!
* If you are saved this morning, but you continue to live in sin, you are a double minded Christian!
* Our text says don’t think that god will do anything for you until you stop being double minded about sin!
* You need to make up your mind and determine that you will no longer live in sin before you can expect God to bless you!
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways!
B. You don’t need to be double-minded about your salvation
this morning.
* If you have been saved this morning you have put on the
helmet of salvation!
* You can know for sure, without a doubt that you are saved this morning!
* My friend I don’t care what you have been taught in the past,
* I don’t care if I say I don’t think anybody can know for sure,
* The Bible this morning tells me that I can know for sure, without a shadow of a doubt that I am saved this morning!
1 John 5:10–14 (AV)
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him…
Hebrews 6:17–19 (KJV 1900)
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast…
* My friend if you are struggling with salvation this morning I want you to know that it is the will of God that you know without a shadow of a doubt that you are saved!
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
* If you are struggling with weather you are saved or not the safest thing that you can this is assume that you are not saved and come down this isle when the invitation is given and let me take the Bible show you how to be sure you are saved!
C. Israel stood at a crossroads looking and couldn’t make up
their mind about the Word of God.
* The children of Israel found themselves in the place of indecision this morning!
* God had already commanded the children of Israel to go in and conquer the Promised Land.
* God wanted them to go in take the land, not by sight, but by faith in the Word of God!
* like most Baptist churches, instead of simply obeying the Word of the Lord, the Israelites decided to form a committee!
* They consulted man instead of God.
* They followed the majority, which is wrong most of the time.
* My friend I want you to know that if you are on God’s side, you are on the side of the majority!
* Elisha’s servant learned that those who are for are for us are more that those who are against us!
Hebrews 12:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
* They were supposed to go ahead in faith.
* If they had gone ahead in faith, they would have won the victory.
* That’s why the Bible says that “Faith is the victory” this morning!
1 John 5:4 (KJV 1900)
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
* By faith you will quench the fiery darts of the Devil!
Ephesians 6:16–17 (KJV 1900)
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
* Instead of moving forward in faith, the children of Israel stood still and wandered aimlessly in the wilderness for 40 years!
* My friend there are many Christians in the church this morning who after they were saved have never moved ahead in faith and are wandering around aimlessly in the wilderness of life!
* Like the children of Israel, they have been there for a long time! They have no victory! They are living in defeat!
* They are the double minded in the congregation this morning!
* These double minded disobedient church members are wandering around with no purpose in life.
* They are being tossed back and forth by the circumstances if this life.
* They no confidence, they have no peace, they have no power with God in prayer, because they are double minded!
* If you have never made up your mind that you are going to move out in faith and serve God unwaveringly, then my friend you, like the children of Israel will die in an aimless existence, and never live in the victory that God has prepared for all those who serve Him single-mindedly.
* My friend the Holy Spirit of God this morning, by the Word of God is telling you it’s time for you to make up your mind this morning.
* Like the prophet Elijah, that day when he called down fire from heaven, I challenge you to choose this day who you will serve!
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
* It is time for every man woman, boy and girl in this church to say like Joshua, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord!
* My daddy didn’t suggest to me that I ought to go to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night!
* His mind was made up! And he made up my mind for me! And his mind was made up for my mother! My father had made up his mind that everybody under his roof would be in church every time the doors were open!
* It time for the men in our churches to make up their mind who they are going to serve!
* The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways!
* I remember as a sixteen your old boy when God brought me to my Kadesh Barnea!
* I remember in the word of God when Jesus told Peter that he needed to be converted!
* My friend we have churches full of people this morning who have made professions for Christ. Our churches are full of people who claim they are saved!
* What we need this morning are people who have not only been saved, but have been converted!
* I’m talking about God needs His people who have moved out from the red sea experience of salvation to move forward in faith to the “walking on the sea” kind of faith that Peter had when he walked on the water to Jesus.
* We need men and women, boys and girls this morning who have decided that they will no longer be double minded!
* God wants His people to make up their minds, and settle it ahead of time, that hell or high water, they are going to trust and serve God!
D. Israel looked at the circumstances when they should have
kept their eyes on the Word of God!
* The Word of God is the cure for double-mindedness!
* I love this Bible this morning!
* We need people who have made up their mind that the Bible is the Living Eternal Word of God!
* We need people this morning that have made up their mind that the Bible is without error! Flawless, divine in origin, and sent directly from the mouth of God to the hearts of mankind!
* We need people who will stand up for the inerrancy of the Scriptures!
* We need people who will stand up for the inspiration if the Bible!
* We need people this morning who will make up their mind that they are going to obey what is in this Bible!
* We need people this morning who will allow the Word of God to make a difference in their life!
* We need people this morning who believe that this Bible has the answer for every problem that mankind has ever had and ever will have!
* God had already told them they were going to have the victory!
* They that be for us are greater than those who are against us.
Hebrews 12:1–2 (KJV 1900)
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…
II. Elijah had become double–minded because the thought He was all alone.
* My friend this morning the worse place a Christian can be is at his own pity party!
* When we begin to take our eyes off of Jesus the one we are supposed to be following, the Devil will cause us to begin to look at ourselves!
* I love to read the story of Elijah of how when that wicked king Ahab and his wife Jezebel, wanting to be like the other nations around them, caused the children of Israel to be double minded.
* Elijah stood and told the people of God, “How long halt you between to opinions? If God is God, then serve Him! If Baal is god then serve him! Make up your mind! Stop being double minded!
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
* My friend turn with me and listen to the words of Elijah!
1 Kings 18:17–40 (KJV 1900)
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim. 19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table. 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said,
How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
(Paraphrase the rest of Elijah’s speech here)
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
* I want to bring your attention to a little phrase in Elijah’s speech. Elijah here sounds like He is on fire for God, but there is a little problem in the heart of Elijah that begins to reveal its self in our text.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
* We see here the beginnings of a great pity party in the mind of Elijah!
* As the story goes on old Jezebel threatens Elijah and tells him that before the day is ended she was going to have him killed just like he killed her prophets of Baal!
* After this great victory in calling the God’s people back to them, Elijah himself falls into the trap if double mindedness!
* Elijah begins to pout and feel sorry for himself! After running in the strength of the Holy Spirit for 40 days, we find Elijah alone in a cave having a pity party!
1 Kings 19:9–18 (KJV 1900)
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
* My friends, I ask you this morning what brought this mighty man of God to this cave feeling sorry for himself?
* I tell you this morning is was double mindedness.
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
* My friend if this sermon finds you in the place where you like Elijah, have run and hid from God, I say to you the same thing God said to the prophet Elijah..
What doest thou here, Elijah?
* What are you doing in that cave of self pity! Get out of there!
* Make up your mind right now that you are going to come down this isle and confess your self pity to God, and get your eyes off of your self and back on God this morning!
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
The Double Minded Man
Part Two
Text: James 1:2–8 (KJV 1900)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Introduction:
* Last Sunday I was not able to finish my sermon “The Double Minded Man.” We only were able to get through the first two points,
I. The Children of Israel were double-minded when they went into the Promised Land.
* We talked about how that the Children of Israel, God’s people were double minded about entering into the Promised Land, and how that even after God had promised them salvation and victory, instead of listening to what God had said, they decided to form a committee and consult with man, instead of believing the Word of God.
* Because they failed to place their faith in the Word of God, they missed out on the promises of God, and they lived a miserable existence wandering around in the desert.
* My friend there are many Christians in the church this morning who after they were saved have never moved ahead in faith and are wandering around aimlessly in the wilderness of life!
* Like the children of Israel, they have been there for a long time! They have no victory! They are living in defeat!
* They are the double minded in the congregation this morning!
* These double minded disobedient church members are wandering around with no purpose in life.
* They are being tossed back and forth by the circumstances if this life.
* They no confidence, they have no peace, they have no power with God in prayer, because they are double minded!
* If you have never made up your mind that you are going to move out in faith and serve God unwaveringly, then my friend you, like the children of Israel will die in an aimless existence, and never live in the victory that God has prepared for all those who serve Him single-mindedly.
* Then we talked about Elijah and how that he also became double minded because he thought He was all alone in following God.
II. Elijah had become double–minded because he thought He was all alone.
* My friend this morning the worse place a Christian can be is at his own pity party!
* When we begin to take our eyes off of Jesus the one we are supposed to be following, the Devil will cause us to begin to look at ourselves!
* I love to read the story of Elijah of how when that wicked king Ahab and his wife Jezebel, wanting to be like the other nations around them, caused the children of Israel to be double minded.
* Elijah stood and told the people of God, “How long halt you between to opinions? If God is God, then serve Him! If Baal is god then serve him! Make up your mind! Stop being double minded!
* I want to bring your attention to a little phrase in Elijah’s speech.
* Elijah sounds like He is on fire for God, but there is a little problem in the heart of Elijah that begins to reveal its self in our text.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
* We see here the beginnings of a great pity party in the mind of Elijah!
* As the story goes on old Jezebel threatens Elijah and tells him that before the day is ended she was going to have him killed just like he killed her prophets of Baal!
* After this great victory in calling the God’s people back to them, Elijah himself falls into the trap if double mindedness!
* Elijah begins to pout and feel sorry for himself! After running in the strength of the Holy Spirit for 40 days, we find Elijah alone in a cave having a pity party!
1 Kings 19:9–18 (KJV 1900)
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
* My friends, I ask you this morning what brought this mighty man of God to this cave feeling sorry for himself?
* I tell you this morning is was double mindedness.
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
* My friend if this sermon finds you in the place where you like Elijah, have run and hid from God, I say to you the same thing God said to the prophet Elijah..
What doest thou here, Elijah?
* What are you doing in that cave of self-pity! Get out of there!
* Make up your mind right now that you are going to come down this isle and confess your self pity to God, and get your eyes off of your self and back on God this morning!
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
so I would like to deliver the last two points this morning if time allows:
III. Jonah was double-minded because he didn’t like God’s will for his life.
IV. Job was double minded because of trials.
(Introduction continued…)
* Is it really any surprise to us that God expects us to serve Him without being double minded this morning?
* Did not God tell us right up front that we are not to server Him double mindedly?
* Did the Word of God not say when He gave his people the law that they were not to serve Him with a double mind?
Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (KJV 1900)
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
* Did Jesus not repeat the very same words, when He redefined the law to the people who came to hear Him preach the Sermon on the Mount?
Matthew 22:36–40 (KJV 1900)
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
* Jesus spoke of double mindedness as not being able to serve two masters at the same time:
Matthew 6:24–33 (KJV 1900)
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
* God wants you not to be double minded when it comes to giving up the world’s agenda of making money and becoming rich, or choosing to live your life serving God and putting God first!
* Jesus says stop being double minded about putting your faith in God! He is able to meet all your needs! Stop being double minded! Just put God first!
* Jesus gave three examples of double minded people who made excuses for being double minded toward God- They had good intentions, but they were double minded, full of excuses for not serving their Lord:
Luke 14:16–35 (KJV 1900)
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse.
The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
* Take notice that this phrase “He that hath ears to hear,” originated in the old testament with a mixed crowd of those who were willing to believe God, and unbelievers. Some were double minded.
* Jesus continued the use of this phrase at the Sermon on the Mount when He began to teach the parable of the wheat and the tares, speaking again, to the mixed crowd of believers and unbelievers that had gathered there to hear him teach the Word of God. Some in the crowd were double minded.
* Once again Jesus, in the book of Revelation, dealt with an entire church that was double minded-
* This church, the church of laodicia, represented the churches of last days before Jesus comes back to this earth.
* Listen to what Jesus said about their double mindedness:
Revelation 3:14–22 (KJV 1900)
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
* Just like there were double minded people within the Children of Israel, who didn’t fully believe God, and fully follow God, an fully obey God, so there were people in the church at Ladociam, and also there are in our churches of these last days, people who are double minded about wholly following God with all their heart also.
* There is coming a separating of the wheat and the chaff when Jesus comes back- a separating of the single minded and the double minded!
John 4:34–35 (KJV 1900)
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Matthew 13:36–43 (KJV 1900)
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
* My friend the Holy Spirit of God this morning, by the Word of God is telling you it’s time for you to make up your mind this morning.
* Like the prophet Elijah, that day when he called down fire from heaven, I challenge you to choose this day who you will serve!
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
* It is time for every man woman, boy and girl in this church to say like Joshua, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord!
* My daddy didn’t suggest to me that I ought to go to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night!
* His mind was made up! And he made up my mind for me! And his mind was made up for my mother! My father had made up his mind that everybody under his roof would be in church every time the doors were open!
* It time for the men in our churches to make up their mind who they are going to serve!
* The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways!
* I remember as a sixteen your old boy when God brought me to my Kadesh Barnea!
* I remember in the word of God when Jesus told Peter that he needed to be converted!
* My friend we have churches full of people this morning who have made professions for Christ. Our churches are full of people who claim they are saved!
* What we need this morning are people who have not only been saved, but have been converted!
* I’m talking about God needs His people who have moved out from the red sea experience of salvation to move forward in faith to the “walking on the sea” kind of faith that Peter had when he walked on the water to Jesus.
* We need men and women, boys and girls this morning who have decided that they will no longer be double minded!
* God wants His people to make up their minds, and settle it ahead of time, that hell or high water, they are going to trust and serve God!
* Israel looked at the circumstances when they should have kept their eyes on the Word of God!
* The Bible, the Word of God, is the cure for double-mindedness!
* I love this Bible this morning!
* We need people who have made up their mind that the Bible is the Living Eternal Word of God!
* We need people this morning that have made up their mind that the Bible is without error! Flawless, divine in origin, and sent directly from the mouth of God to the hearts of mankind!
* We need people who will stand up for the inerrancy of the Scriptures!
* We need people who will stand up for the inspiration if the Bible!
* We need people this morning who will make up their mind that they are going to obey what is in this Bible!
* We need people this morning who will allow the Word of God to make a difference in their life!
* We need people this morning who believe that this Bible has the answer for every problem that mankind has ever had and ever will have!
* God had already told them they were going to have the victory!
Outline:
I. The Children of Israel were double-minded when they went into the Promised Land.
II. Elijah had become double–minded because the thought He was all alone.
III. Jonah was double-minded because he didn’t like God’s will for his life.
IV. Job was double minded because of trials.
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III. Jonah was double-minded because he didn’t like God’s will for his life.
* We all know the story of how God called the prophet Jonah to preach to that great Assyrian city of Nineveh.
* God had a plan for Jonah. It was God’s will for Jonah to preach to the city of Nineveh.
* We all know how the story of Jonah goes this morning. Jonah decided he didn’t like God’s will for his life so he decided he was going to go another way!
* Jonah thought he could just hop on a boat and just sail away from the will of God.
* There was something that Jonah didn’t count on that day when he got on that boat.
* Jonah did not realize that you cannot hide from God’s will for your life! God’s will for you is going to follow you wherever you go this morning!
* There are people here in under the sound of my voice that God has called you to do something for Him.
* Now I know that God, when He envisioned Blue Springs Baptist Church before the foundations of the earth were laid, did not intend for the preacher to
- Take up the offering
- Work on the building
- Clean the church
- Teach all the Sunday school classes
- Lead the choir
- Drive the bus
- Visit all the nursing home
- Run the audio visual equipment for the services
- Sing all the special music
- Sing all four parts of harmony in the congregational numbers (at the same time)
- Change all the diapers in the nursery
- Visit all the sick
- Pray for everybody’s father, mother, sons, daughters, grandmother, grandfather, first cousins, second cousins, neighbors, your pet gerbil, and the corns that hurt your feet!
* The preacher should be willing to do all of these things! But the Word of God tells me that God has not called the preacher to do everything at Blue Springs Baptist Church!
* If the preacher finds himself having to do all these things, then somebody is not doing God’s will for your life!
* God did not save you this morning to set there in the pews ever Sunday looking at me like a calf looking at a new gate!
* If you don’t know what God’s will is for your life then get off your sorry… “padded pew” , you thought I was going to say something else didn’t you?
* If you don’t know what God’s will is for your life, then get off your padded pew and find out what God wants you to do in Blue Springs Baptist Church.
* The pews are reserved for people who need to get right with God!
* The pews are reserved for people who need to get saved!
* If you are already saved and right with God this morning, then get off the pew and start doing something for God!
* If there is no Sunday school class to teach, then build one!
* If there is no youth group to lead, then get off that pew and go out and build one!
* If there is no bus route to drive for, then get off your padded pew and make one!
* If there is no nursery for folks to take the little ones so they can hear the Word of God then start one!
* If there is no foreign mission program then start one!
* If there is no visitation program then start one!
* If there is no women’s Bible study, then start one!
* If there is no radio broadcast then start one!
* What are you doing? Waiting around for the preacher to do everything in the church?
* When there arose a need in the early church to visit the table of the widows and the fatherless, did they hire another assistant preacher to help the pastor?
* What did the apostles tell the folks that were complaining that something needed to be done about the widows being neglected? They said “look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
Acts 6:1–7 (KJV 1900)
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
* Back to Jonah. I know that God has not called the pastor of Blue Springs Baptist Church, not matter who he may be, to do everything in the church!
* There somebody here that is like Jonah this morning. They know that God has been dealing with their heart about doing something for Him at Blue Springs Baptist Church, but they think that they can run from God’s will!
* My friend learn the lesson of Jonah this morning- “You can run, but you can’t hide!” God’s will will follow you everywhere you go until you either you obey the voice of God, or God has to send you out into the wilderness for 40 years until you are ready to serve Him!
* Why don’t you quit running from God’s will this morning and come down this isle and make a commitment to God to do what He has spoken to your heart about doing for Him!
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
IV. Job was double minded because of trials.
* When the book of Job starts out we find Job double minded because of his trials.
Job 10:1–3 (AV)
1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. 3 Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
* Are you weary and ready to quit on God because of some terrible trial that you are going through this morning?
1 Peter 4:12–19 (KJV 1900)
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
* Now, I want you to see here in this passage the attitude of a person who is not double minded about serving God, but has made up their mid that they will serve God, in spite of the trials that come from living in God’s will for their life-
This is the attitude God expects his servants to have…
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
1 Peter 1:3–7 (KJV 1900)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
* There are those in the church this morning that that are saddened by the trials that being in God’s will for their life has brought to them.
* They are downcast and saddened under the trials that they endure for God, but this is not the way God wants His children to react when they suffer because of God’s will.
* Because of His trials, Job was angry with God, because of his suffering for being in the will of God, Job he began to question God.
* Are you angry with God because of some great and terrible trial in your life?
* The biggest mistake I made in my Christian life is when God allowed my family to be taken away- living right smack in the will of God for my life, God allowed my family, and at the time, I thought my ministry, to be destroyed.
* Because of severe trials, my faith in God took a hard hit. I began to question God, and I became no longer single minded in the Lord’s work, but I became double minded, and I am ashamed of that time in my life.
* I am ashamed because I failed to wholly trust in my faithful savior- I am ashamed because this is most likely what my children will remember of me.
* The prophet Jeremiah went through this, the prophet David went through this, the prophet Elijah went through this, the prophet Jonah went through this, but God is faithful and will wait until our faith is restored and we can once again serve Him once we are no longer double minded.
* In the end, Job made up his mind to trust God even when He couldn’t see God’s purpose behind his trials!
* Have you allowed your faith in God to be shaken because of trials this morning? This sermon is meant to restore your faith in God, and cause you to no longer be double minded because of the trials that come when we follow God’s will for our lives.
* A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS!
* In the end, Job’s faith was restored and Job found the victory over his trials.
* The end result of the trials of Job was that his faith in his God was strengthened, and no longer was Job double minded, but his mind was made up that he would serve God Hell or High water, not matter what!
Job 13:15 (AV)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Conclusion:
1). We need to make up our minds that we are going to believe the Bible! That the Bible inspired by God, God breathed. That the Bible is the everlasting, infallible Word of God!
2). We need to make up our minds right now that we are going to stop following the world, and take up our crosses and follow Christ Hell or high water, no matter what the circumstances!
* Jesus said that anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Him is not worthy of Him.
3). Every individual in this church needs to make up his or her mind, right here and now, that they are going to find out what God has called you to do at Blue Springs Baptist Church- and then do it with all our hearts- all our minds- with everything we have.
* What the Lord needs today is Christians that have their mind made up that they are going to serve the Lord.
* If God has spoken to you by Word and moved on your heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, why not come down this isle and renew your commitment with God this morning.
* My friend, are you half-heartedly following Jesus this morning?
* In your own mind, have you been making excuses for being double minded about serving God this morning?
* As I have spoken unto you the World of God unto you this morning, has the Holy Spirit of God smitten your heart saying “You have not served me with all of your heart?”
* Be obedient to that still, small voice, that is saying “I want you to stop being double minded and serve me with all of your heart!”
* Come and answer God at the alter this morning and make a commitment to serve the Lord with your whole heart! The the Lord that you are done with making excuses, you are ready to do His will for your life!
* This alter is open to all this morning, not matter what your spiritual need may be.
* It may be that you have realized for the first time that you are with the crowd that is ok to follow Jesus, and agree with Him, but you have never yet been willing to totally trust in Him.
* Stop being double minded about putting your trust in Jesus for salvation.
* Come this morning to this alter and be saved from your sin- Come to Jesus and trust Him to save you from the power that sin has over you, and from the punishment of sin in an eternal Hell.
James 1:5–8 (KJV 1900)
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.