Consumption - Conforming

Hook:

When we talk about CONFORMING we often talk about what we CONSUME - don’t listen to the SECULAR music.

Tension: Why does it matter what I consume?

Matthew 15:11 “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.””

If I’m not defiled by what goes in, then isn’t it okay for me to do whatever.

IT’s not that bad, I’m not DOING anything bad, so what does it matter what I listen to or watch?

Jesus talking about the ritualistic order of the Jewish people isn’t what judges them, but instead what comes out of them! We are not cleansed by ritual, and we are not made unclean just by what we consume necessarily. What matters is the heart.

Scripture:

Matthew 15:11 “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.””

Dissect it more.

Can’t we do anything. It reflects the HEART. See Jesus CARES about the HEART. What matters is the HEART with which we do things.

Sometimes they expose our HEART from being far from God.

While what We CONSUME might not DEFILE US, it can begin to DEFINE us.

Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

It can still shape and move your heart in a manner, than then EFFECTS your ACTIONS.

Luke 6:45 “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

We consume -> shifts our hearts and minds -> hearts direct our lives -> actions that defile.

GUARD OUR HEARTS.

CONSUMPTION SHAPES YOUR HEART.

And you heart is TOO VALUABLE To be shaped by GARBAGE!

Main Point: What you CONSUME, will ULTIMATELY CONSUME YOU.

What will you CONSUME?

You have a choice…COMPETING KINGDOMS for your CONSUMPTION…

Galatians 5:24–25 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Could even do the Fruit of the Spirit)

Just because it says that we aren’t defiled doesn’t mean we get a free pass to do whatever we want with our lives.

Instead we need to FOLLOW THE SPIRIT’S LEADING in ALL AREAS of our LIVES.

Application:

It’s not about finding what’s GOOD and what’s BAD. It’s about what’s WISE. Using WISE DISCERNMENT in everything that we allow in your systems.

Ask TWO questions:

Does this GLORIFY GOD

1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Is this BENEFICIAL for me?

1 Corinthians 10:23 “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.”

Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

CONSUMPTION:

EARS

What we LISTEN to.

HOW CAN WE PRACTICE DISCERNMENT WITH OUR EARS?

When it comes to our MUSIC - our PODCASTS - the VOICES we listen to ask…

It’s not about being SECULAR or CHRISTIAN MUSIC - it’s about WISE CONSUMPTION.

Does this GLORIFY GOD?

Is it speaking poorly of God, of other people, if Jesus was in the room how would he feel?

Things within his KINGDOM - the treatment of people, justice, care, love, forgiveness.

Is it benefificla for me?

What does it cause me to dwell on, women, sex, ideation, depression, sadness, swear words.

EYES

What we LOOK AT.

Matthew 6:22–23 ““Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!”

HOW CAN WE PRACTICE DISCERNMENT WITH OUR EARS?

We monitor what we SEE - what we see can MOLD our OPINIONS and SHAPE our BELIEFS.

That’s how it’s supposed to be - and ultimately affects our actions. If you’ve ever seen a show, and liked a character or the way they said something or did something - then find yourself doing that thing, or making that kind of humour!

The shows i watched as a kid inform my HUMOUR today - PHINEAS AND FERB.

Does this GLORIFY GOD?

Watching violence, sex, innapropriate themes, aggressiveness - do those things GLORIFY GOD?

Is this BENEFICIAL for me?

Does this lead me to a place where I’m transformed, is it adding to my life, or detracting?

Response:

-ONE THING to REPLACE.