Sermon Central
-
God's Answer To The Stress Of Indecision Series
Contributed by Vernon L Caruthers on Oct 27, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: this is the 4th sermon from psalm 23. It focuses on how God helps us by leading our paths.
Sermon Series: Sermons from Psalm 23
Sermon #4: God’s Answer to Indecision
Scripture Ref: Psalm 23:1-6
Psalm 23: 3b ‘….He leads me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name’s sake.’
Introduction:
This morning we continue in our series from Psalm 23.
We’re looking at GOD’S ANSWERS to SEVEN CAUSES of STRESS:
Thus far we’ve looked at the STRESS of WORRY & of BUSYNESS & of DAMAGED EMOTIONS. Today we’re going to LOOK at GOD’S ANSWER to the STRESS that is caused by INDECISION.
LIFE is a SERIES of CHOICES, of DECISIONS.
SUCCESS is when we manage to MAKE WISE DECISIONS.
When we MAKE DUMB DECISIONS we FAIL in life.
We MAKE our DECISIONS & then OUR DECISIONS, whether WISE or DUMB, make us.
Because EVERY DECISION has a CONSEQUENCE & because we’re HUMANS we can make some BAD DECISIONS. & DECISION MAKING can be very STRESSFUL because we DON’T KNOW WHAT is going to be the RESULT of OUR DECISIONS. SOME DECISIONS are NOT EASY to make.
Have you ever STRESSED OUT wondering if you MADE the WRONG DECISION?
Making the WRONG DECISION can bring us lots of GRIEF & HEARTACHE.
Should I sell now or wait?
Should I get in or get out?
Should I look for another job?
Should I spend this much money right now?
Do I really need this right now or can I get by without it?
The STRESS of INDECISION can get to us!
James 1: 8 ‘A double minded man is UNSTABLE in all his ways.’
The GREEK WORD for “UNSTABLE” means to STAGGER ABOUT LIKE A DRUNK.
When we CANNOT MAKE UP OUR MINDS in LIFE we STAGGER THROUGH LIFE, BOUNCING OFF WALLS like a PINBALL in a PINBALL MACHINE. We WAVER BACK & FORTH & that CAUSES us STRESS.
In our text this morning GOD gives us an ANSWER to the STRESS that comes from INDECISION MAKING.
Psalm 23:3b ‘HE leads me in the paths of righteousness for HIS name’s sake.’
“The LORD is my SHEPHERD I shall not want.’
The GOOD SHEPHERD not only FEEDS US, HE also LEADS US.
HE not only PROVIDES; HE also LEADS US.
The GOOD SHEPHERD not only PROTECTS, HE also LEADS US.
GOD has PROMISED to LEAD US through THIS LIFE IF we will TRUST HIM.
NOT just GO WITH US but to LEAD US.
GOD says: ‘I will lead you in the paths of righteousness.’
That means: “GOD will KEEP US on the RIGHT TRACK.’
It is so EASY to GET OFF TRACK.
It is so EASY to MAJOR on the MINORS & MINOR on the MAJORS.
We can very EASILY MISS THE WILL of GOD:
OUR PROBLEM is we often LOOK for the WRONG THINGS when we’re TRYING to FIND GOD’S WILL.
SOME PEOPLE go for the MYSTICAL APPROACH.
They’re LOOKING for a FEELING, some POWERFUL EMOTIONAL STIRRING.
A QUIVER of the LIVER:. The DEVIL can QUIVER our LIVER.
OTHERS are more LOGICAL. They want OTHERS to TELL THEM WHAT to DO.
That way if they MAKE the WRONG DECISION they have SOMEONE else to BLAME.
So HOW DO I KNOW GOD’S WILL?
HOW DO I KNOW the RIGHT PATH to take?
#1: ADMIT THAT WE NEED A LEADER & GUIDE:
Sometimes this is TOUGH. When we are LOST we hate to STOP & ASK for DIRECTIONS.
It is just NOT in OUR NATURE.
So we STUMBLE & get CONFUSED.
SHEEP by their NATURE tend to WANDER ASTRAY.
They NEED a SHEPHERD. & SO DO WE.
Isaiah 53:6 ‘All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned everyone to our own way.’
This is the REAL PROBLEM WHY we DON’T KNOW GOD’S WILL.
Again it is OUR NATURE to NOT want to FOLLOW ANYBODY; we would rather DO OUR OWN THING.
We DON’T want to ADMIT that we NEED a LEADER & a GUIDE.
We WANT to DO OUR OWN THING.
SHEEP have POOR VISION. They CANNOT SEE FAR OFF.
Instead of saying, “They’re as BLIND as a BAT” we could say, “They’re as BLIND as a SHEEP.”
They CANNOT SEE AHEAD of them. They DON’T KNOW if a PATH is going to LEAD THEM OFF a CLIFF or INTO a FIRE.
They NEED a SHEPHERD to LEAD them, SOMEONE that CAN SEE AHEAD.
We’re SO MUCH LIKE SHEEP.
We DO NOT HAVE the ABILITY to SEE the FUTURE.
We DON’T KNOW what the REST of TODAY will BRING or NEXT WEEK or TEN YEARS from NOW.
GOD made us so that we CANNOT SEE into the FUTURE no matter HOW HARD WE TRY.
There’s a LOT of GIMMICKS today to SEE INTO the FUTURE but that’s all they are, GIMMICKS.
No one KNOWS WHAT is going to HAPPEN & GOD made it that way so we would DEPEND UPON HIM. So that THE LORD would be OUR GUIDE:
