Thankfulness for God's Gifts

(Q) When you think of FALSE-TEACHING or things to watch out for, what do you typically THINK OF?

(T) In 1 Timothy 4:1-4, we find some WARNINGS about coming false teaching that we probably wouldn’t even think twice about…

1 Timothy 4:1–4 (ESV)

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

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SPIRIT’S WARNING—TEACHINGS of DEMONS— THOSE W/ SEARED CONSCIENCES

2 TEACHINGS:

1. They forbid marriage

2. They teach abstinence from certain foods.

PROBABLY EARLY FORM—GNOSTICISM

MATERIAL/PHYSICAL = BAD… ONLY SPIRITUAL = GOOD.

Result:

SEX/MARRIAGE = BAD

(CERTAIN) FOODS = BAD

FORM of ASCETICISM— NOT a WAY of FINDING FAVOR W/ GOD...

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(Q) Why is this so bad? Labeling natural/physical things as evil?

Look @ V4— everything that God created is good.

Genesis 1:1 (ESV)

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:31 (ESV)

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

IF GOD SAYS— “GOOD”… AND YOU SAY “EVIL”

YOU’RE CALLING GOD a LIAR!

Proverbs 18:22 (ESV)

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

GOD CREATED— GOOD

MARRIAGE = GOOD.

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PAUL SAYS: TO BE RECEIVED W/ THANKSGIVING (2X)

God isn’t a cosmic kill-joy.

NOT PROSPERITY GOSPEL…BUT GOD DOESN’T EXPECT US to BE PERPETUALLY MISERABLE.

AMONGST HIS GIFTS — ARE FOOD & DRINK!

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(A) PRAYING BEFORE MEALS?? — HOW OFTEN DOES it BECOME ROTE REPETITION…??

GOING THROUGH the MOTIONS...

“GOD’S NEAT, LET’S EAT”

I STILL PUSH MY GLASSES UP WHEN I’M WEARING CONTACTS

GOD DOESN’T WANT US LIVING THOUGHTLESSLY…BUT LIVING THANKFULLY.

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GOD CREATED EVERYTHING GOOD...

(Q) DO WE TRULY THANK HIM as SUCH?

(V4) FOOD = MADE HOLY— CONSECRATED/ACCEPTABLE

BY WORD— PROBABLY GOSPEL/SALVATION

PRAYER—THANKSGIVING

THESE THINGS ARE GIVEN to US as GIFTS...

LET’S REMEMBER THIS

o Let’s enjoy His gifts to us.

Let’s not think they’re forbidden.

But let’s be sure to remember that the source of this joy and this thanksgiving and all of this must go back to Him.