December 30, 2012 – Pastor Tim – “Don’t Waver” – Click to download
The New Living Translations 1 Kings 18:21 says, “Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
Today, many people are in the valley of decision. In fact, every day of our lives, we all make decisions that affect our destinies and the course of our lives. Jim Rohn said, “Formula for failure is nothing more than a few errors in judgment repeated every day. However, a few simple disciplines practiced every day equals a whole new life.
The choices you and I make in life are vitally important because our destinies in life are determined by the choices and decisions we make. We either choose for God, or we choose for the devil. We either choose life or we choose death. It is our decision, there is no middle ground. We can’t serve two masters. Matthew 6:24 (NLT), ““No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
The people were challenged by God in His Word in Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;”
Each one of us has to willingly make the decision to live for God and to walk in Him. In Joshua 24:15, Joshua said, “ And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Each one of us has to make the choice to turn our backs on evil and serve the Lord with our whole heart.
Are you at a crossroads in your life? With New Years just a few days away, let us be determined in our hearts to put God first? Our choices will dictate the rest of your lives. But if we’ll put God and His will first in our lives, we can be sure to make the right decision!!
In our opening scripture in 1 Kings 18:21 (NLT) the last part of the verse says, But the people were completely silent.
Some people refuse to make any choice because they are afraid of failing. But sometimes when a person doesn’t make a choice, they are already choosing for failure. Sometimes no choice is a choice!
It is said that entrepreneurs Henry Ford and J.C. Penney failed many times before they finally attained success. You see, it wasn’t failure that dictated their future. No, their ultimate success was dictated by their decision: “Nothing can stop me! I will succeed!!” I will serve God!
Therefore, we cannot allow the fear of making a decision paralyze us. We don’t have to bounce from one crisis to another and waver from one decision to another. We can succeed! But we will have to take a stand for God and stand firm in our decision to serve Him.
Paul said, Philippians 3:13-16, “ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”
Have you been caught in indecision because of fear? Remember, you don’t have to make your decision alone. Turn to God, and He will give you the wisdom and strength to make every decision—large or small. James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
What are you going to do with your life spiritually? Are you going to be afraid to make a decision for God? Are you going to make decisions based on what people think? Or are you going to make your decisions based on what God’s Word says? It is so important to get the Word of God into our hearts and minds because God’s Word doesn’t return void.
Isaiah 55:10-11, “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
If you are already saved but seem to be hindered in making spiritual progress, don’t just sit there! Get up and begin doing something for God. God is waiting, Deuteronomy 28:8, “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” And in Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Put your hand to something! Reach out and help others. Serve God’s people. Be a blessing to someone else!
2 Corinthians 9:12-15 (NCV) “This service you do not only helps the needs of God’s people, it also brings many more thanks to God. It is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because you obey the Good News of Christ—the gospel you say you believe—and because you freely share with them and with all others. And when they pray, they will wish they could be with you because of the great grace that God has given you. Thanks be to God for His gift that is too wonderful for words.” Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.
Some of us are facing decisions in the natural. We will have to allow God to lead and guide us to the right decision. It is going to take some extra time spent in prayer with God so He can speak to our hearts. We must stay open to God and let Him lead and guide us in His Word. Some people already have their minds made up, so they couldn’t hear from God if He shouted!!
The Bible tells us we are not alone. In Joel 3:14 it says, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Multitudes are in the valley of decision. Don’t falter or waver between two opinions! Choose God. Choose the will of God. Choose the things of God. Go with God. Do what God is telling you to do. The decision is yours. Don’t Waver…
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