Here is the notes from Word Walkers that I promised to post. Hope they are helpful to you!

An Undivided Heart

Word Walkers

February 13, 2012

Introduction:  If we were honest with ourselves we have all experienced a time of duplicity. A time when if we were honest with ourselves there is an area of our lives that we simply don’t feel our “whole heart” is in it anymore. We don’t want to look at ourselves, our husband, our children, church people, or our co-workers to name a few, because it reminds us of a weakness in our lives. Hopefully you have come to a time in your life when you are no longer willing to look aside, but face it head on.

Psalm 12:2 says They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts. Deceptive or deceptive hearts in Hebrew is literally “with heart and heart” or what the King James version calls “a double heart”. You might picture it like this: the two chambers of our hearts trying to split off from one another and beat the competing drums facing different directions. It leaves the whole system out of sync and unauthentic.

What happens if we continue with this life of duplicity? We get a life of instability. James 1:7-8 tells us that this unstable, double hearted person can’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. Certainly no one wants that!

Scripture Reading Genesis 19:1-26

The cause:

1.     The wrong thing captured her attention

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

The lights, sounds, beautiful clothes, crowds all drew her in. The feeling of being somebody. A woman of influence. No doubt she was part of the women’s club, maybe even the president. She had the finest home, decorated with the best. Now in and of themselves there was nothing wrong with these things. The problem was the wickedness surrounding all of these things. The fact that she could become comfortable in the wickedness in order to have these things.(the wickedness of these people should have been revolting to her. Not even 10 righteous people could be found)

NKJV

James 1:14-15

4 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

NKJV

2.     She was hanging around the wrong people

Prov 12:26

26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,

For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

NKJV

I must choose my friends wisely. Certainly the way of the wicked had led her astray. We tell our children to watch who they befriend, but many times we don’t follow the same advice. I am not saying that you should have no unsaved friends, what I am saying is you must have godly friends who will be willing to keep you in check.  I have to have friends that are encouraging me to do the right thing even if it makes me mad and I don’t want to hear it. A true friend tells you the truth in order to save you from falling prey to the enemy.

3.     She wasn’t totally surrendered to God

1

a : to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand <surrendered the fort> b : to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another

2

a : to give (oneself) up into the power of another especially as a prisoner b : to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)

Rom 12:1-2

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

NLT

She believed the warning from the angels, she even responded. Life and salvation were waiting her up ahead and death was pressing in on her, yet she lingered.  Reluctantly she began to go, but……………….she looked back. The wrong was not so much in the physical act of looking back, but what it indicated. She was still in love with Sodom even though her feet were turned from it. Her divided heart would be her downfall.

The Cost:

1.     It robbed her of Joy

Eccl 2:25-26

25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. Even this, however, is meaningless, like chasing the wind.

NLT

There is nothing more miserable than knowing what you should be doing and not doing it. Conviction is a powerful thing!! She knew the ways of God and you will never convince me that she was truly a joyful person. A divided heart creates all kind of inner turmoil and robs us of our joy.

2.     Slowed her forward progress

Genesis 19:26 ………………but his wife looked back from behind him………….

The word behind is translated from the Hebrew “achar” which suggests considerable distance. The divided heart cripples our walk. It weakens our power, diminishes our prayer life, stagnates our devotion time until eventually we can’t possibly keep up. She couldn’t move forward to what God had for her because she was grasping for what was behind.

3.     Her life

Luke 17:32-34

 32 Remember what happened to Lot's wife!  33 Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it. 

NLT

In short she died way before her time. Her disobedience was more than looking back, it was outright rejection of God. Jesus says in Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. She became an example of what not to do. So sad!!!

The Cure:

Gal 5:16-26

16 So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. 18 But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.

NLT

Things to consider: She perished even though she was warned of danger, she knew exactly what God had said he would do, she perished even though she made an effort to be saved, she was separated from the Godless but she was still lost, she perished even though she was given clear direction.

Isaiah 33:6a He is your constant source of stability.

What is important is where you are going, not where you have been!