Avondale Church of God Winter Revival,
January 19, 2025 – Evening Service
Speaker: Brother Dwayne Platt
As the final night of the Avondale Church of God Winter Revival commenced, Brother Dwayne Platt stood before the congregation with a burdened heart, emphasizing the weight of spiritual commitment. Speaking with clarity and conviction, he underscored the necessity of giving God full control over one’s life, warning against divided affections and half-hearted service. The message called for deep self-examination, challenging believers to evaluate whether they were truly devoted to God or merely maintaining an outward form of faith.
The Instability of a Divided Heart
Brother Platt’s sermon drew heavily from the book of James, particularly focusing on James 1:8: “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” He explained that instability in spiritual life comes from an inability to fully commit—when the heart is divided between God and the world, the result is confusion, inconsistency, and ultimately spiritual failure. He urged the congregation to consider whether they were walking steadfastly in the faith or if they had allowed distractions, compromises, or personal ambitions to weaken their devotion.
Expounding on the dangers of a wavering heart, Brother Platt illustrated how the enemy subtly plants seeds of hesitation and doubt. He described how some people, though outwardly religious, remain hesitant in fully surrendering to God. They attempt to hold onto their own plans, seeking to negotiate with God rather than submitting entirely to His will. This kind of half-hearted faith, he warned, leads to instability—not only in one’s spiritual walk but in every aspect of life.
Lot’s Wife: A Warning Against Looking Back
To drive home this point, he recounted the story of Lot’s wife, who, despite the opportunity for deliverance, looked back toward Sodom. That single moment of divided affection sealed her fate. “She wasn’t just looking at a city,” he said. “She was looking at everything she was leaving behind—the comforts, the familiarity, the life she had built. Her body was moving forward, but her heart was still in Sodom.” He likened this to Christians who attempt to walk with God while still longing for the things He has called them to forsake.
Platt warned that the pull of the past can be strong, especially when one tries to follow God while still holding onto the world. He asked the congregation to examine their hearts—was there anything they were unwilling to leave behind? Were they hesitating in obedience because they still desired what God had commanded them to abandon?
The Rich Young Ruler: The Cost of Following Christ
Brother Platt then turned to the example of the rich young ruler in Mark 10. This young man had kept the commandments from his youth and outwardly appeared righteous, yet when Christ asked him to sell his possessions and follow Him, he went away sorrowful. “He wanted God,” Platt explained, “but not enough to let go of everything else.” It wasn’t the possessions themselves that condemned him—it was the condition of his heart. He was unwilling to surrender fully, choosing earthly wealth over eternal riches.
The sermon took a deeply personal turn as Brother Platt challenged the congregation to consider what they might be holding onto that was keeping them from full commitment. Was it fear? Was it comfort? Was it an unwillingness to relinquish control? “You cannot serve God with one foot in and one foot out,” he warned. “Eventually, you’ll have to make a choice.”
The Dangers of Inconsistency
Bringing the message closer to practical application, he spoke about how divided affections manifest in daily life. Some professing Christians struggle with inconsistency—one day, they are fervent in their faith; the next, they are cold and indifferent. “You can’t thrive spiritually if you’re constantly wavering,” he said. “The devil doesn’t have to destroy you if he can just keep you unsettled.” He likened it to a tree that, instead of being firmly planted, is constantly being uprooted and moved. Such a tree would never bear fruit because it would never have time to take root and grow strong.
Brother Platt described how inconsistency affects more than just personal spiritual life—it impacts families, churches, and testimonies. “When we waver, we send mixed signals to those around us. Our children, our friends, and even the world see our inconsistency, and it weakens our witness.” He encouraged the congregation to develop a steady, unwavering faith—one that endures beyond feelings or circumstances.
Anchoring Faith in Conviction
To counteract this instability, Brother Platt urged the congregation to develop a resolute, unwavering faith—one that is not dependent on emotions, circumstances, or convenience. Faith, he explained, must be grounded in conviction rather than mere feeling. “There will be days when you don’t feel spiritual, when the enemy whispers doubts in your ear, when trials make you question everything. But if you are truly anchored in Christ, you will not be moved.”
He encouraged believers to hold onto God’s promises, even when their emotions told them otherwise. True commitment, he said, is demonstrated not in moments of excitement but in the quiet determination to remain faithful regardless of the opposition or difficulty.
A Call to Surrender
In concluding his sermon, he brought the focus back to the necessity of making a firm decision. “Tonight is the night to settle it,” he implored. “If you’ve been wavering, if you’ve been holding back, if you’ve been negotiating with God—stop. Surrender. Give Him everything. A divided heart will never stand, but a heart fully yielded to God will be immovable.”
The call to surrender was not merely about external actions but about the posture of the heart. Platt reminded the congregation that true commitment is not about empty promises but about a deep, personal decision to follow Christ without reservation.
Exhortation: A Challenge to Step Forward
After Brother Platt finished his message, Brother Jack stepped forward to offer a final exhortation. He emphasized the urgency of responding to God’s call without hesitation. Reflecting on the sermon’s themes, he acknowledged that fear often plays a significant role in keeping people from fully committing to God. “Sometimes we hold back because we’re afraid—afraid of what we’ll have to give up, afraid of stepping into the unknown,” he said. “But when has God ever failed us?”
He encouraged the congregation to move past their fears and trust that God’s plans are always better than anything they could hold onto. “Whatever you’re clutching so tightly—whether it’s comfort, security, or personal ambition—know that what God has for you is greater.”
Brother Jack closed with a call for introspection, urging those in attendance not to let the moment pass without making a firm decision. “If God has spoken to you tonight, don’t walk away unchanged. Let tonight be the night that you plant your feet firmly on His path and never turn back.”
Reflection Questions for Personal Application
1. Have you fully surrendered your heart to God, or are there areas where you still hesitate?
2. What “riches” or comforts might you be holding onto that keep you from following God wholeheartedly?
3. In what ways has instability affected your spiritual life, and how can you develop a more steadfast faith?
4. How can you overcome fear and trust God more fully with your future?
Scriptures for Further Study
James 1:8 – The danger of being double-minded
Genesis 19:26 – The lesson of Lot’s wife
Mark 10:17-22 – The rich young ruler’s unwillingness to surrender
Psalm 1:1-3 – The stability of those who are firmly planted in God
Conclusion
The final night of the Avondale Church of God Winter Revival ended with a call to decisive action. Brother Platt’s message left the congregation with a choice: to continue wavering in uncertainty or to fully commit to God without reservation. The challenge was clear—unstable faith will never stand, but those who surrender completely will find strength, peace, and unshakable purpose in God’s will. As the revival closed, the question lingered in every heart: Will I give God everything?
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