Sermon Tone Analysis

That you may Believe and have Life #48

John 19:6-16

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said

/We are always getting ready to live, but never living/

 

That’s what indecision can do to us.

We make plans we have great desires.

But we won’t pull the trigger and make it happen.

We won’t make the decision to pursue the things we say we want.

We are afraid of losing our “cracker jack prize” and so we don’t take hold of a diamond ring.

Elie Wiesel said

/the opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.

The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference.

The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference.

And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.

/

 

What do YOU want?

Love or indifference?

Art or indifference?

Faith or indifference?

Life or indifference?

Place your finger in Revelation 3 and then Go back with me to our text in John, chapter 19:6

READ

 

We have been reading about Pilate’s encounter with Jesus.

Has Lord of Heaven and Earth, King of the Jews, Son of the Most High God, in front of him, but he doesn’t know or won’t act on his knowledge of what to do with him.

He asks “what is truth?”

but he doesn’t listen to Jesus’ answer instead he asks the people what THEY want him to do with Jesus.

Now as we have read, he sits down in the “judge’s seat” but still doesn’t make a decision for himself about Jesus

 

The people continue to cry out for his crucifixion so he gives them what they want.

Matthew tells us that he took an additional step /“when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd.

‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said.

‘it is your responsibility!’”

/

 

One of the Greatest acts of Indecision in History happened that day as Pilate, at least in HIS mind, made no decision regarding Jesus …

 

And throughout history people have tried to make the same decision regarding Jesus … not a decision against him, not a decision FOR him, but no decision really …

 

Let’s talk then, about indecision for a few minutes.

Ok, more than a few minutes, but not too long …

 

Let’s make some observations about indecision … First …

 

1.

Indecision is a Tough Decision

    1.

Saying No is easy

    2.

Saying Yes is Easy

    3.

Indecision is Hard

 

Turn to Revelation 3:15,16

Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV) \\ 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.

I wish you were either one or the other!

16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Jesus says I know what you do … and it’s NOTHING and it makes me sick

 

Do you know how hard it is to do NOTHING?

\\ Have you ever tried to do NOTHING?

Have you ever tried to do nothing?

Have you ever tried to think about nothing?

Do something, and it’s done

Whether that’s something good or something bad if you do it, it’s done

Say yes, and you are done

Say no, and you are done

But say “I don’t know” and you’ve done nothing, you haven’t decided … that’s hard

 

  A.

Why are people indecisive when it comes to Christ?

There are many reasons, but let me give you a few

    1.

deception – many have been deceived into believing they don’t have to choose God.

Hosea 10:2 says of Israel /their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt.

The Lord will demolish their altars and destroy their stones/

Israel knew that God was the only God but they deceived themselves into believing they could serve other gods AND God Almighty, or that God wouldn’t mind if they didn’t choose him so they remained in their indecision

 

    2.

Fear – John 12:42-43 says /“many even among the leaders believed in him.

But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God/

 

So many remain in indecision knowing Christ is the way, but failing to embrace him with heart and life for fear of job, of popularity, of love, of success, of failure …

    3.

Concerns of Self – IN Haggai 1:2-11 God poses the question why his people had gone so long without rebuilding his Temple.

“It’s not the time” was always the response.

Yet God scolded, you have time to build beautiful houses for yourselves, to take care of yourselves, to do all you need and want, but no time to rebuild my house.

What they were saying to God was, “we are far too concerned with ourselves to make a decision about the things of God” … They weren’t saying NO to God … They weren’t saying YES to God they were saying, after we finish with our concerns

    4.

Another reason is Time.

Two classifications – I need more time or there’s plenty of Time … One or the other or both was the issue in Acts 26:28-29

/Agrippa said to Paul “do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Paul replied, “short time or long – I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

/

 

Agrippa didn’t need more time, he knew everything he needed to know, that is he was a sinner separated from God, in need of a Savior, and Jesus Christ was that Savior.

But he wanted more time and thought he had more time.

The greatest tool of Satan is NOT convincing people there is no God.

Most people are too smart for that

The greatest tool for Satan is not convincing people that the Bible isn’t God’s Word, most will accept that it is.

The greatest tool for Satan is not convincing people that Jesus is not the Savior or that they don’t need a Savior, though some believe that.

The greatest tool of Satan is convincing people that while there is a God, and we have his Word and they need a Savior, and his name is Jesus, but that there is PLENTY of TIME!!!

Not today, don’t make the decision now, there is PLENTY of Time

 

Oh people

  B.

Why Indecision is tough

 

    1.

You have to resist the natural urging in your heart

God is drawing you if you are even thinking about Christ and so you are fighting against God when you make no decision

 

    2.

Indecision is ultimately a tough decision because Indecision is IMPOSSIBLE …

 

    3.

Indecision is denying the truth

    4.

Indecision is standing alone against God

 

Because …

 

2.

You Can’t Put it On Someone Else

 

Pilate tried to Place it on the People

    1.

oh he put on quite a show bringing water, washing his hands …

“I am innocent of this man’s blood” “it is your responsibility!”

    2.

He asked the people, “do you want Jesus or Barabbas” – “what do you want me to do with Jesus”

 

    3.

Folks, Pilate is wandering through Hades wringing his hands as if washing saying “I am innocent” “it is YOUR responsibility” “why can’t I get this blood off my hands?”

 

    3.

IT was THEIR fault … That’s what Pilate will want to say … But Pilate had Truth standing in front of him

 

    4.

Adam and Eve tried to blame their decision on The Serpent but they were responsible for their actions

 

And if we are responsible for our decisions we are also

 

  A.

Responsible for our Indecision

 

    1.

Some believe that if they just don’t do anything wrong, they’ll be alright