1. All of us have a STAMP OF APPROVAL.
• That is, by our words & deeds, we either approve of things or we disapprove of things. I like that. I don’t like that.
• When people ask our opinions, we often quickly share our feelings on a topic or 2 or 3.
• I have to agree that there are times when this is easier and other times when it’s very hard.
• But God, He gives us wisdom in those tough times.
James 1:5 (NKJV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
QUESTION: Have you noticed how this world system is constantly trying to influence our decisions.
• Dismissing God. Undermining God’s Word. Feeding our flesh.
• It gets to the point where Paul writes…
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 Philips Translation: “Don’t allow the world around you to squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed!”
Romans 12:2 (Amplified), “Do not be conformed to this world (this age) [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs]
As we read through this, we say AMEN! I don’t want to live like the world or for the world anymore, I’m a believer in Jesus now!
• And yet when we look around the church today, we see the world alive and well in believers of all different backgrounds.
• How does that happen? Is it sudden & instant? No.
• I think it’s a slow, subtle, gradual, process of where a believer places their stamp of approval… either with God or against God.
• How they exercise their freedom in Jesus Christ.
• Rarely does a believer jump into sin so quickly, but rather it happens very slowly, subtly, but ultimately destructively!
It’s like the proverbial story of the frog in the kettle: Put a frog in a kettle of boiling water and he will jump out immediately.
But put him in a kettle of cool water and slowly heat it up, he will soon die in the boiling water because he never really noticed the water becoming hotter and hotter to his own destruction!
NOTE: Many of our moral values & strong Christian witness are being boiled to death in the kettle of today’s entertainment and pressure packed society. Today Paul warns us…
NOTE: By now you know, the Christian life is more than just changing the surface things, putting on a good face.
• “I don’t drink, I don’t chew, I don’t hang with girls that do.”
• It’s much more than going through a list of outward behaviors and exchanging them for different ones.
• Well I have a new Bible now, new vocabulary, a new place to hang out on Sundays…
• No, the Christian life is a blast… a new direction, new hope, new changes… new life… true freedom!
John 8:31-32 (NKJV) 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
BUT the people Paul describes in CH1 are not living in freedom, but in serious bondage…
• In their rejection & resistance of God, their lives just keep spiraling downward into sin & away from God.
• It’s really a miserable existence. Empty & vain & purposeless.
• The world system has sold them a lie that it’s better to live for the temporary passing pleasures of this world…
• Rather than to invest their time on earth pleasing God, anticipating a much better world to come!
1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV) 15 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.
So what does it look like when a person LOVES This WORLD… v28
• It’s an ugly, graphic picture of what the end results are of the person that jumps headfirst into this world system.
• No less than 23 sinful activities are mentioned here.
• But it begins with “They did not like to retain God…”
Romans 1:28 (NLT) When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done
Young’s Literal - And, according as they did not approve of having God in knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mind, to do the things not seemly;
And so after denying God… crafting idols, acting like animals, and worshipping nature… the end result is a society of unrestrained sin.
The real issue is NOT RETAINING God in their knowledge…
• Man DOES NOT WANT TO RETAIN God in their knowledge SO:
• So God GAVE THEM OVER to a debased mind (KJV - reprobate)
They rejected God & God rejected their mental attitude and gave them over… (v24, v26, v28)
• As they did not approve of God, so God gave them up to a mind that was disapproved!
• So just how far can a person go when He rejects God?
• How far down, how evil, how hurtful, how harmful?
• Well, the word in v29 literally means FILLED TO THE BRIM…
As we read through the list, it’s not a pretty sight…
• Actually, it sounds like reading the morning newspaper.
NOTE: It’s almost as if Paul sets us up to think a little self-righteously about ourselves…
• Whew! I’m sure glad I don’t do those things.
• I’m so blessed to know Jesus! He’s changed my life and I’m not in those things in anymore…
Psalm 40:1-3 (NKJV) 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.
• And we say AMEN Paul, you’re right the are NOT FITTING!
But the chapter doesn’t end there… we still have v32b.
• It’s a warning. An exhortation.. to all us who want to live our lives pleasing to our precious Savior, Jesus Christ!
For those of us who would say, “Oh I would never murder anyone. I would never invent something evil. I don’t boast. I don’t envy.”
• Paul asks… but do you approve of these types of behaviors?
• Do you give a hearty endorsement to them?
• Do you recommend these types of things to others?
• Do they receive your “STAMP OF APPROVAL”?
• Before we answer NO, so quickly gang, listen… please carefully.
Although we may not be involved in this gross sin personally, there are times when we can be… How?
• Well, there are a lot of ways: novels, TV, movies, video games, surfing the World Wide Web, watching, cheering applauding.
• Right into our very personal & private lives… comes junk!
• Sinful habits. Sinful lifestyles. Sinful fantasies. All of it!
Things that you & I would never think of doing, yet it’s interesting that through TV & movies, Christians are taking pleasure in those that do them… so not only do they do them but they take pleasure in them.
Oh Pastor Ed I would never murder someone… but your favorite TV show has 5 murders a week in it.
• And it’s sinking down into your heart, and your thoughts are becoming fascinated with murder… Flip back to Matthew 5.21ff
Oh, I would never commit adultery… but you’re watching these shows where adultery is the main theme, where teenagers jump from boy to boy… where college kids make sex look like a game.
• I don’t know if you watch it but there is even a show called “Sex & the City” – I wonder what that is all about!?!?
• It takes root in Christian minds so that now you’re beginning to think, “what would it really be like to live like that?”
• Flip back to Matthew 5.27ff
NOTE: The truth is, even though one may not be openly practicing these things, if you or I approve of them, we’re guilty too!
NOW listen guys… as your pastor & friend I love you and desire to see purity & holiness flow thru our church, our homes, our lives…
• Because what we believe will change the way we behave, there is a constant push to get us to believe less that God’s ideal!
• It’s NOT That bad. It won’t hurt. Watching that or listening to that, or reading that… it won’t harm you ‘all that much’.
Galatians 6:7-9 (NKJV) 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
If we are sowing this stuff into our minds… taking pleasure in it continually feeding the flesh… you & I will reap corruption.
• So that not only do we watch, but we applaud, cheer, & even invest in it with our precious finances.
• And whether the vices are real or portrayed, the effect is much the same – an increasing depraved & empty mind.
• Then quick to follow is a deep sense of condemnation for walking into something that so totally messed us up!
NOTE: We are all faced with decisions daily…
• What should I do in my glorious freedom in Jesus Christ?
• Paul narrows all choices down to 2 categories… Spirit or Flesh?
• And two outcomes… everlasting life or corruption.
This would be a great time to share with you 8 questions you can ask in exercising your freedom in Jesus Christ:
1 Cor. 6.12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1 Cor. 10.23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
• Asking a few simple questions and letting God’s Word through His Spirit answer them will help us greatly in understanding the heart of God for our lives and decisions.
#1 – Will this help me honor God?
#2 – Will this sanctify me, set me apart for God?
#3 – Will this help my usefulness for the Master?
#4 – Will this prepare me for every good work?
#5 – Does it build you up spiritually?
#6 – Can it bring you under it’s power?
#7 – Does it give you an uneasy conscience?
#8 - Could it cause someone else to stumble?
APP: Oh that God would help us to keep ourselves pure.
• Our minds pure… hearts pure. That we would sow to the Spirit.
• That’s why we’re here today… sowing to the Spirit!
• The Word of God is spirit and it is life. It will transform you.
• Our time here today will change us & elevate us.
• It will lift you out of the pit of this world and it’s corruption.
• Our time together as a family is so purifying and uplifting… we’re reminded of His faithfulness, His cleansing work, His forgiveness, His free flowing grace.
We know we are NEW CREATIONS in Christ with new appetites, new desires, new hopes, new dreams!
• OLD Things HAVE PASSED away… we’re free from sin!
• So as a new creation in Jesus, we live that way.
But Satan knows that if he can get us to laugh at, & applaud, & enjoy things we believe we would never ever do, then our defenses will fall, & we’ll become perfect targets to reap what we’ve sown.
NOTE: That’s why it’s so important that we guard what goes into our minds, which eventually settles in our hearts
Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 22:5 (NKJV) 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them.
Matthew 12:34 (NKJV) 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
I’m reminded of young Daniel… The Bible says:
Daniel 1:8 (NKJV) 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
• He knew what he was up against and he decided, I won’t defile my mind, I won’t defile my body.
• I’m going to stay pure for God’s sake.
• I’m going to seek after God.
• And as you do, you’re lifted higher & higher in Him.
Romans 13:14 (NKJV) 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
So please be very cautious and prayerful with your Stamp of Approval…
• Let’s end looking at Luke 9:23-26
