I begin this morning with a riddle, or, at least what I hope is a riddle. (Or maybe a pseudo-riddle).
The riddle is a common experience several of us have had over the years. Here it is: ‘Some of us have had to do it more than once. It something that we know is for our own good but is sure very difficult to do for the length of time we have to do it and the fact that others don’t have to do it while we have to, is sometimes very frustrating.’
What I am talking about it; what am I describing?
It is ‘fasting before surgery.’
Think about it for a moment. We have to not eat or drink anything for what sometimes ends up to be 10 or so hours before surgery. We know that we are abstaining for our own good as we trust and pray that our surgery is successful (and necessary). But it is very, very hard to not eat or drink and especially not to get grumpy about it when everyone around us has been able to.
Fasting is something that we do only when we have to. It is not something that most of us do voluntarily. But when we fast we become aware of just how important food and drink is to us.
As I think about fasting I also think about dieting and as I think about dieting… I think about food, and as I think about food, especially… chocolate… I get hungry!
Andy Rooney once said, ‘The biggest seller is cookbooks and the second is diet books - how not to eat what you’ve just learned how to cook.’ In at least the past year, much has been written, several actions have been taken at various levels of government, and many school districts have adopted new polices, on diet and exercise. They are aimed at getting our kids to be more active, eat healthier, and not become obese. Let’s spend a moment with a couple of familiar faces at the local drive-in as their discussion turns to food and diet and temptation.
(Slide 2) Bluefish TV clip ‘Drive In – Temptation’
At the wonderful Valentine dinner some of us went to in Shipshewana back in February, there was a wonderful ventriloquist whose dummy indicated that one of the audience participants was a balanced person. When asked by the ventriloquist what he meant he said, ‘his bubble is in the middle.’
This reminds me of what Margaret Halsey once said, ‘He must have had a magnificent build before his stomach went in for a career of its own.’ ‘Food,’ wrote Fran Lebowitz, ‘is an important part of a balanced diet.’ Then there is Ed Koch who said, ‘The best way to lose weight is to close your mouth - something very difficult for a politician. Or watch your food - just watch it, don’t eat it.’
Food and drink is a necessity for us. They are not options. We need them to survive. But they are everyday reminders of a stumbling block that is one we spend millions and billons of dollars to overcome - gluttony.
Now we don’t call it gluttony we call it, overeating or going on a diet or losing weight.
But what is it about gluttony that makes it a tough thing to deal with in our lives?
In Mark 9 we read about an episode of demonic possession and the inability of the disciples, who ended up in a shouting match with a group of religious leaders while a crowd gathered to watch the fireworks, to free a young boy from this possession. Now, from what I read in the text, it was one of those in the crowd whose son who was possessed and the father was upset that the disciples could not do it.
Jesus was able to cast out the demon and the frustrated and probably mystified disciples asked Him why they could not do it. His response as we read in our main text for this morning was “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
Now, in other versions of scripture the phrase, ‘and fasting,’ is added onto the end of this sentence. And it is fasting I want to speak briefly of this morning as one way that the Lord uses self-control as a stepping stone to a better and stronger faith and a key foundational block in our lives.
Now, I want to make clear that I am not making a link between gluttony and demon possession, okay? As I prepared for today I thought to myself as I wrote, ‘they may think that I am making a case that if you wrestle with gluttony you are possessed! That is not what I am saying!
But for some people food is an addiction. (Slide 3) Food is used not to just nourish our bodies but also to stuff our feelings. We eat when we are happy, we eat when we are bored, we eat when we are stressed, and we eat when we are angry! Gluttony is a stumbling block for some people and affects their health and their relationships with God and people.
(Slide 4) But what is gluttony? Donald Capps has written, ‘basically, gluttony is an excessive, seemingly insatiable desire for food and drink.’ But he goes on to state that he believes that the attitudes and the dispositions behind a glutton’s behavior ‘reflects a careless attitude toward life and beauty’ because ‘gluttony does not find pleasure in the taste of food and drink but only cares about the amount of it…it does not savor, it devours.’ And what can be said about a glutton’s attitude toward food can also be said about a glutton’s attitude toward drink as well.
But I also believe that gluttony is not just a food issue but it can be financial issue, a sexual issue, a relational issue. We can devour money, our sexual drive and appetite can get out of control, and we can ‘devour,’ or overwhelm someone with our demands and needs in a relationship.
How do we combat, how do we overcome this stumbling block because that is what the Lord wants to help us do!
We overcome: we become successful and effective with self-control as we surrender this area of life and ask for the Holy Spirit to help us! (Do you believe that this morning?)
(Slide 5) We are in the third of a seven part series that I am calling ‘Stepping Stones to Faith.’ Let’s spend a moment and review what we have examined so far. Two weeks ago we examined the stepping stone of humility and the stumbling block of pride. Last week we examined the stepping stone of love and the stumbling block of greed.
Now, I will admit this morning that these are very heavy topics to discuss and that most of us (including me) would probably like to hear something light and fun rather than these things. But I also admit to something that no one I truly know wants to admit to… and that is we deal with these stumbling blocks and stepping stones on a daily basis. And we sometimes are on the losing end of the battle.
I also think that the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit comes as we confess, as we admit the truth to, that these stumbling blocks have caused us problems and that we need to have God’s help in standing secure and confident on the stepping stones that He has give us to stand on (and the strength and power to stand through the work and help of the Holy Spirit.)
We do not have to look far for the results of the lack of self-control and the abundance of gluttony. We see the challenges and temptations everywhere.
Pastor Brent Zastrow saw in it a story that he had heard about a man who stopped at grocery store on the way home from work to pick up a few things. As he made his way through the store he noticed that he would encounter in just about every aisle, another father shopping with an uncooperative 3 year old.
Says Zastrow, ‘The first time they passed, the three year old was asking over and over for a candy bar. Our observer couldn’t hear the entire conversation. He just heard Dad say, “Now, Billy, this won’t take long.” As they passed in the next aisle, the three year old’s pleas had increased several octaves. Now Dad was quietly saying, “Billy, just calm down. We will be done in a minute.”
When they passed near the dairy case, the kid was screaming uncontrollably. Dad was still
keeping his cool. In a very low voice he was saying, “Billy, settle down. We are almost
out of here.”
The Dad and his son reached the check out counter just ahead of our observer. He still gave no evidence of loosing control. The boy was screaming and kicking. Dad was very calming saying over and over, “Billy, we will be in the car in just a minute and then everything will be OK.” The bystander was impressed beyond words.
After paying for his groceries, he
hurried to catch up with this amazing example of patience and self-control just in time to
hear him say again, “Billy, we’re done. It’s going to be OK.” He tapped the patient father
on the shoulder and said, “Sir, I couldn’t help but watch how you handled little Billy. You
were amazing.” Dad replied, “You don’t get it, do you?” I’m Billy!”
Self-control is spoken of in scripture in both the Old and New Testaments. (Slide 6) In the book of Proverbs we read in chapter 16 and verse 32 ‘It is better to be patient than powerful; it is better to have self-control than to conquer a city.’
(Slide 7) In Proverbs 25:28 we read, ‘A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.’
(Slide 8) In the New Testament we read that self-control is a key quality for church leadership that is stated in places such as I Timothy 3:2 which says, ‘For an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exhibit self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation.’
(Slide 9) It is also part of list of character traits that have been preached on and discussed over the centuries, ‘The Fruits of the Spirit,’ that we read in Galatians 5:22 and 23, ‘But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.’
I have suggested before that self-control is at the end of the list for good reason. And that is that when you allow the Lord to cultivate the other qualities listed before self-control in your heart and life, then self-control is the cumulative result. However, it must also be noticed that self-control is listed as a separate trait and that it is a highly regarded Christian virtue.
Self-control was listed centuries ago as one of the most important Christian virtues. Back then it was called ‘temperance.’
Today we identify ‘temperance’ as abstinence from alcohol. In fact the movement that led to the passing of the constitutional amendment banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol nearly 90 years ago was called ‘The Temperance Movement.’ But temperance and self-control are broader in their focus than just about alcohol, even tobacco and illicit drugs.
The two Proverb verses point out the profound implications for the lack of self-control. Now, I want to remind us this morning that very often in Hebrew poetry the use of parallel thoughts was done to illustrate a single point.
In 16:32, the writer links patience and self-control to make the point that they are more valuable and more important than power and the ability to use such power to powerful ends like conquering a city. In 25:28, the use of a simile, (using ‘like’ or ‘as’ to make a point) underscores the necessity of self-control as being an important defense like the walls of a city. If self-control is present, then there is protection from attack. If self-control is not present, the one is very, very vulnerable to attack.
Gluttony is one of those things that can invade if self-control is not in place. So can lust, so can pride, so can greed, and so can many other things invade us.
How then do we stand on the stepping stones of self-control? How do we avoid and overcome the stumbling block of gluttony?
Max Lucado gives us a great answer in his book, When God Whispers Your Name: ‘I choose self-control … I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.’
Remember what I said at the beginning of this series? I said, ‘Make the choice to switch paths and build your life on the right foundation which is Jesus Christ. Confess the sin that keeps you tumbling over the stumbling blocks. Be filled with the Holy Spirit.’
I think that this is what Lucado is getting at. We must choose self-control and allow the Lord to fill us with the Spirit to help us be self-controlled.
As we move toward our conclusion and our time of prayer, I would have us think about what Pastor Richard Francis said about Self-Control and the rest of The Fruits of the Spirit:
(Slide 10) He first said, ‘understand that you’re a target for the enemy and protect yourself with God’s Word and prayer.
(Slide 10a) Then he says, ‘get angry with sin - don’t put up with it: ’...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles...’ (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)
(Slide 10c) Next, he says, ‘be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Without it, you lose every time.’
(Slide 10d) Finally, he notes, ‘stand in God’s strength, not your own. How? By exercising your choice to obey Him rather than going for the easy option.’
I conclude this morning with a poem written by Edgar Guest, a transplanted Englishman who became the State of Michigan’s Poet Laureate. It is entitled, ‘Sermon’s We See.’
I’d rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I’d rather one should walk with me
than merely tell the way.
The eye’s a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example’s always clear;
And the best of all the preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
if you’ll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness,
I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles
and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him,
then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful
as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness
that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them,
but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many,
men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed
is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor
learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language
which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me
with his eloquence, I say,
I’d rather see a sermon
than to hear one, any day.
One of the most important questions that we ask from time to time, is ‘Why?’
And in the context of this morning’s message and this current series, I simply offer an answer to this important one word question, Why this sermon? Why this sermon series? Because the world needs to see a good sermon everyday is the reason why.
And a good sermon is based on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ who builds into us, humility, love, self-control, and four other qualities that we will study over the next four weeks. So as we move into prayer, I would have us spend a few moments to think about the kind of sermon that our life has written and will write in the week ahead, as God wills. Talk to the Lord and say ‘yes’ to Him and His direction regarding self-control….
Sources: doctorfunnywoman.com and sermoncentral.com
