Sermon Tone Analysis

Spiritual Schizophrenia

Spiritual Schizophrenia

1.

What in the world is “schizophrenia”?

• It’s a medical condition where someone mentally lives in two or more worlds.

Some people call

it “having a split personality.”

• Each part of this “split personality” is really different, yet equally real to the person who is experiencing them.

experiencing them.

• The personalities do not match.

They are usually pretty conflicting.

2. What then, do we mean today by our title, “Spiritual Schizophrenia?”

• A person whose “spiritual world” (their daily walk with Christ)...and whose “every day world” don’t seem to match.

don’t seem to match.

3. Symptoms of “Spiritual Schizophrenia”

#1:  Two “WORLDS” seem to emerge in your life...neither one really matches the other.

This is especially true in the two areas of FRIENDSHIPS and RECREATION.

#2:  You feel awkward when certain friends from one “world” cross the invisible line into the other “world.”

#3:  You search for new “spiritual ways” to make both worlds come TOGETHER.

(“I’ve found anew freedom in Christ...so I don’t think that’s wrong anymore.”)

#4:  Because you are trying to play to both worlds, you begin to have a “spiritual identity crisis.”You’ll

feel like you no longer “fit” with many of your Christian friends (except compromising ones).

You’ll start to feel “out of place” when you come to church, small group, etc.

#5:  DOUBT begins to build.

You have an increasingly tough time believing that the “world” youexperience at church is truly real.

#6:  You become defensive when anyone tries to talk to you about “the changes” in your ATTITUDEor CONVICTIONS.

#7:  Your friends and PRIORITIES begin to change.

Hanging out with people on the “God side”becomes less and less appealing.

“Fun” begins to take on a whole new meaning.

Story - “Wrong Way Riegels”

Wrong Way Riegels

On New Year’s Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played the University of California in the Rose Bowl.

In thatgame a man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California.

Somehow, he became confused andstarted running 65 yards in the wrong direction.

One of his teammates, Benny Lom, outdistanced himand downed him just before he scored for the opposing team.

When California attempted to punt, Techblocked the kick and scored a safety which was the ultimate margin of victory.

That strange play came in the first half, and everyone who was watching the game was asking the same question: “What will Coach Nibbs Price do with Roy Riegels in the second half?”

The men filed off the field and went into the dressing room.

They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels.

He put his towel around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby.

If you have played football, you know that a coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during halftime.

That day Coach Price was quiet.

No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels.

Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time.

Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, “Men the same team that played the first half will start the second.”The

players got up and started out, all but Riegels.

He did not budge.

The coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn’t move.

Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, “Roy, didn’t you hear me?

The same team that played the first half will start the second.”

Then Roy Riegels looked up and his cheeks were wet with a strong man’s tears.

“Coach,” he said, “I can’t do it to save my life.

I’ve ruined you, I’ve ruined the University of California, and I’ve ruined myself.

I couldn’t face that crowd in the stadium to save my life.”

Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegels’ shoulder and said to him: “Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over.”

And Roy Riegels went back, and thoseTech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.

4. CAUSES FOR “SPIRITUAL SCHIZOPHRENIA”

Cause #1 = , “No man can serve two masters...You will either HATE one and LOVE the other, or hold to the one and shun the other.

You cannot serve both God and the enemy.”

Cause #2 = Violation of the “Treasure Law”

, “Where your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be also...”

“T” = T 3 “Treasure” = My THOUGHTS, My TALK, My Time 

Cause #3 = Choosing the Wrong Friends

Cause #4 = “CARDBOARD Cross Syndrome”

, “Why do you call Me ‘LORD’ when you won’t obey Me?”

, “Not all who sound RELIGIOUS are really godly people.

They may refer to Me as‘Lord,’ but still won’t go to heaven.

For the decisive question is whether they OBEY My Father in heaven.”

THE TRAGEDY OF THE CHURCH WORLD TODAY: PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO BELIEVE,BUT NOT TO OBEY.

Merely “believing” in Jesus Christ does NOT make someone an AUTHENTIC Christian.

If that’s all it took, SATAN would be a big one!

, “Devils also believe and tremble.”

, “Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ...and you will be saved.”

The message of the New Testament is NOT “Jesus is Savior” (37 times).

It is rather, “Jesus isLORD” (7,736 times).

LORDSHIP = An END OF LIFE on my OWN TERMS.

The reason Christianity doesn’t “stick” for so many of us these days is because we

“CUT AWAY” all the parts of the Cross that we don’t LIKE.

The “Cardboard Cross” Of The Rich Young Ruler

, “As He was starting out on a trip, a man came running to Him and kneltdown and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to get to heaven?’ ‘Why do you call Megood?’ Jesus asked.

‘Only God is truly good!

But as for your question—you know thecommandments; don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, respectyour father and mother.’

‘Teacher,’ the man replied, ‘I’ve never once broken a single one ofthose laws.’

Jesus felt genuine love for this man as He looked at him.

‘You lack only onething,’ He told him; ‘go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor—and you shallhave treasure in heaven—and come and follow Me.’ Then the man’s face fell, and he wentsadly away, for he was very rich

Christ’s “Recruiting Methods”

, “Then He said to all, ‘Anyone who wants to follow Me must put aside hisown desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close toMe!

Whoever loses his life for My sake shall save it, but whoever insists on keeping his lifewill lose it; and what pro t is there in gaining the whole world when it means forfeiting one’sself?’

‘When I, the Messiah, come in My glory and in the glory of the Father and the holyangels, I will be ashamed then of all who are ashamed of Me and of My words now.’”

To “carry your cross” was like saying today, “Carry your ELECTRIC CHAIR.”

A.W. Tozer gives “Three Marks Of A Dead Man”

Facing in ONE DIRECTION.

Not LOOKING BACK.

No FUTURE PLANS of his own

Cause #5 = Classic Spiritual Warfare

Jalen music or Megley Fire Fall Down

5. TWO NEW TESTAMENT MEN WHO DEVELOPED “SPIRITUAL SCHIZOPHRENIA”

JUDAS...

• , (Jesus talking), “One of you will betray me.”

• , “Judas went out and joined the company of non-believers...”

• Key words: , “And Judas stood with them.”