Title: A few words from our sponsor
Text: 1 Cor 6:12 – 13a
MP: Don’t use your liberty to settle for anything less than the fullness of God’s glory.
We think that 30 second spots are unique to our generation
1. Everything is permitted, but not everything is beneficial
a. Christian Liberty is a fact
b. So are consequences (Law of the Calorie)
2. Free to do anything, but don’t be mastered by anything
a. Sin’s desire is to control you (Gen 3:15, 4:7)
b. God’s desire is to free you
3. God created pleasure, but real pleasure is to be found in him
a. What glorifies God?
b. Where can you find out more?
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Sometimes we think that advertisements are unique to the TV generation. The truth is: the 30-second spot has been with us even since Paul’s day. In our text this morning, we’re going to see a series of shorts – some slogans that are pass for theological debate. Still, even in these slogans, there’s some truth that we need to be able to recognize, so if you’ll look at the text with me, we’ll read 1 Corinthians 6:12 – 13.
1. The Corinthians are going to say: “Everything is permissible for me.”
I like the translation that says, “I am free to do whatever I please.” And guess, what – to a certain extent, they’re right.
Yes see, Paul has already told this church about a thing we call ‘Christian Liberty.’ Basically, if you’re already completely forgiven, and you are, in one respect, it doesn’t really matter what you do. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who believe in Christ Jesus. That no condemnation thing means, there’s no condemnation. We’re all God’s children, created in God’s image, given his authority, and completely forgiven, right? Well, then – it’s pretty obvious that we can do whatever we want, because it’s not like we can lose our right to be with God.
But Paul says, okay, you want to thing in slogans? You want to dummy it down? Then he’ll dummy it down. Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Feel free to eat anything on the buffet – just remember, some of it may make you sick.
I like a good steak at Outback as much as the next guy. It is definitely something that is my right to eat. I mean, God made good things, right? Nowhere does he say I can’t indulge. But God never designed my body to eat that every day of the week. There’s no law other than the law of calories that sets in. Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.
Did you know that as a Christian, you could go out, have an affair or do whatever you want, and still get in to heaven? Indeed you can – God will forgive your sin. Your wife? Well, that may be a different story. God is more than willing to forgive you, but he never said anything about removing the consequences.
Well, these Corinthians are going to try again.
2. “I’m free to do whatever I please,” they say.
And Paul says, yes – but don’t use your freedom to be enslaved. You’re free - but don’t be mastered by anything.
If there is one thing that I have learned about sin in my day, it’s that sin always wants to take away my freedom. Think about the guy who is addicted to food. His doctor tells him – you have to stop eating. He says – Oh, I could healthy whenever I want. That usually means he doesn’t want to. Or, maybe he listens to his doctor. He tries a crash diet. And he finds out how much of a master his little deserts are.
I have yet to meet anyone who is mastered by celery, but start waiving the Doritos around. Go back in the kitchen at the potluck and start seeing the desert trays. It takes some willpower to resist, doesn’t it? Well, if it takes willpower, then you know something’s trying to master you.
Sin is a lot like a dessert in that way. It’s good – but in the long run it may not the best thing for you. Satan would never tempt you with something that doesn’t look desirable, because he knows that undesirable things will never master you. And don’t be fooled – that’s all sin wants to be is your master.
The very first sin in the Garden was when the Snake wanted the man and the woman to think they were in control – but who was really calling the shots, eh? And just one chapter over, the first murder in all history, God warns Cain beforehand – Cain – sin is waiting at the door wanting to have its way with you. You must master it, God tells him.
Please understand, sin never comes with a big neon sign that says “Eat me and die.” It’s packaged sweet, but it’s deadly. God doesn’t create bad things – Satan just twists them for his own ends.
In our Christian lives, we truly have the freedom to do whatever we please. God has set an open table before us. But he’s also said, now – remember your diet. Remember that Temple that is your body. Think about what’s best for it. Bricks and mortar? Or Sugar and Water?
A good God who truly loves us wouldn’t deny us the opportunity for treats – but neither would the Great Physician recommend a life of nothing but fat. Trust God to be able to give us even more than we can ask or imagine.
3. So, the Corinthians say, “Hey – food for the stomach and the stomach for food.”
I think nowadays we’d say, “Eat to live and live to eat!” And Paul says yes – but remember one day, God is going to destroy them both.
In other words – don’t be fooled, God knows what you’re designed for. One day – these bodies – these glorious bodies – are going to be returned to Sender. They will be raised up in the last day, and God’s going to ask, so what did you them?
Did you glorify me? Or did you glorify your flesh? Did these pleasures I provided for you point you back to me or did they just point you inward?
God is a glorious God who makes only good things. Indeed, he makes so many good things that we aren’t capable of taking it all in. But if we would choose to see that the author of all these good things is alive and deserves our praise, we would see that he has so much more for us.
These pithy little slogans – this bumper sticker theology – it points to something greater. It points to someone greater. There is some truth in the slogans – but there is a lot more truth in the God to whom they point.
The only question is, are we willing to settle for the trite, little feel-good, happy thoughts that get us through the week, or are we going to dig for them ourselves? Are we willing to satisfy ourselves with nuggets of truth or do we really want to see the God who is the Author of Truth?
Little thoughts, little sermons – these can and should be desserts in your week. Well prepared food that pleasing to the eye and to the ear, although hopefully with more nutritional content. But if you want to go beyond – if you want some exercise and real training – if you want real food, you need to be prepared to learn to cook yourself. But it’s worth it. God has so much more for you than a twenty minute spot once a week.
It’s really your choice. Everything is permissible – but choose what’s most beneficial. Choose the glorious God who keeps on giving.
Let’s ask him now to reveal more of himself to us. Would you pray with me?
Long Branch Baptist Church
Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786
Sunday October 7th, 2007
Enter to Worship
Prelude David Witt
Meditation Psalm 37: 1 – 5
Invocation Michael Hollinger
*Opening Hymn #655
“Sanctuary”
Welcome & Announcements
Morning Prayer
*Hymn Sing ( 5 verses total )
Offertory Mr. Witt
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow / Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Scripture 1 Corinthians 6:12 – 14
Sermon
“A Word from Our Sponsor”
Invitation Hymn #541
“The Joy of the Lord is My Strength”
*Benediction
*Congregational Response
May the grace of Christ our Savior / And the Father’s boundless love
With the Holy Spirit’s favor / Rest upon us from above. Amen.
* Congregation, please stand.
Depart To Serve
LESSON: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:12 – 14
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food,” and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. We will be ending service early today so that we can join Middleburg Church as it honors her pastor, Bill Thigpen, on his 25th anniversary of ordained service. Rev. Jesse Parker of Little River will be delivering the message. Please come and join in this celebration, and stick around for a really big luncheon afterwards.
2. Members, please be sure to come next Sunday, October 14th, to hear Rich Goff preach a trial sermon. Rich is one nominee that the Pastoral Search Committee is considering. Be in prayer for him and for the committee as they try to ascertain God’s choice to lead this church in the future.
3. Crop Walk is coming in November. More details soon.
PRAYER LIST
Tonya & Sven, Martha Puryear, Susan Schulz, Joe Schulz,
Warren Lee, Irene Griffith, Cory Keely, Debbie Grigsby, Andy,
Fred & Debbie Griffith, Jeff Coleman, Zane, Bruce, Steve
Long Branch Church, Bill Thigpen
SERMON NOTES: A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR
1. Everything is p________, but not everything is b________
a. Christian Liberty is a fact
b. So are consequences (Law of the Calorie)
2. F____ to do anything, but don’t be m______ by anything
a. Sin’s desire is to control you (Gen 3:15, 4:7)
b. God’s desire is to free you
3. God created pleasure, but real pleasure is found in him
a. Ask: What glorifies God?
b. Desire: How can you find out more?
