God's Property

Introduction - The Gospel Greats of All Time

Reverend Gary Davis (1896-1972)

Thomas A Dorsey (1899-1993)

Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972)

Sallie Martin (1895-1988)

Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1915-1973)

Hank Williams Sr (1923-1953)

James Cleveland (1931-1991)

Sam Cooke (1931-1964)

Johnny Cash (1932-2003)

James Cleveland

Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

Shirley Caesar (born 1938)

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)

Andraé Crouch (1942-2015)

Yolanda Adams (born 1961)

Yolonda Adams

Tasha Cobb

Fredd Hammond

Israel Houghton & New Breed

And then there is:

Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American choir director, gospel musician, singer, songwriter, and author. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) among many others; and has won numerous awards, including 15 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel".

Kirk Franklin’s significance to gospel music and the debut of his fourth album titled “God’s Property” from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation. The group was also called God’s Property

God's Property is a gospel choir known for its collaborations with Kirk Franklin and other recording artists.

Introduction

God's Property is a collaboration studio album by God's Property, as well as Kirk Franklin's fourth album. It was released on May 27, 1997. At the time of its release, urban contemporary gospel had gained massive ground in the music industry, thus sending the album to its third position peak on the Billboard 200 album chart and making it the first gospel album to top the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, where it reached number one on five nonconsecutive weeks.

Kirk Franklin’s struggle with pornography

Introduction

Kirk Franklin is a gospel music phenomenon. With three Grammys, 20 number one hits and more than 10 million records sold—Kirk is credited with single-handedly taking gospel music to the mainstream. He's even been named by People magazine as one of the sexiest men alive.

He and his wife of 23 years, Tammy, are the parents of four beautiful children. Eighteen years ago, however, Kirk was hiding a dark obsession from his family and friends.

Kirk says he's been addicted to pornography since he was 8 years old. "Growing up, everybody's got a friend that's got that big brother that has the stash [of pornographic magazines or videotapes] under the bed," he says. "From my first look, I was hooked."

Kirk believes that the pornography affected him differently from most boys because it filled a void left by a broken home. "I was adopted when I was 4," he says. "The woman who adopted me, she was 64 years old. My mama didn't want me; my daddy wasn't there. So there were a lot of insecurities and low self-esteem. For me, [the porn] was like company."

Porn in the Digital Age: New Research Reveals 10 Trends published by the Barna Group

1. There is Moral Ambiguity Toward Porn, Particularly Among Younger Americans

2. There are Varied Opinions About What Constitutes Porn

3. 1 in 3 Americans Seek out Porn at Least Once a Month

4. Age, Gender and Faith Practice are the Three Biggest Factors in Frequent Porn Use

5. Young Adults Use More Porn—and are Less Likely to Say It’s Bad for Society

6. Teens and Young Adults Rank not Recycling As More Immoral Than Viewing Porn

7. Most Porn Users Say it Doesn’t Bother Them to Use Porn

8. Very Few Adults Feel a Sense of Guilt When They Use Porn

9. Most Porn Users are ok With how Much Porn They Use—But Practicing Christians are Divided

10. Few Adults are Actively Trying to Stop Using Porn

According to verywellmind.com, addictive:

Most people understand addiction when it comes to a dependence on substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs, or even prescription medications, but they have a hard time with the concept of addictive behaviors. Yet, it's also possible to develop a behavioral addiction. In fact, people can get hooked on everything from gambling to sex to the Internet.

Some activities are so normal that it's hard to believe people can become addicted to them. Yet the cycle of addiction can still take over, making everyday life a constant struggle.

People may seek out more and more opportunities to engage in the behavior. The desire to experience a "high" from the behavior becomes so strong that the individual continues to engage in the activity despite negative consequences.

In some cases, people can also experience withdrawal, including negative emotions and other symptoms, when they aren't able to engage in the activity.

Some activities are so normal that it's hard to believe people can become addicted to them. Yet the cycle of addiction can still take over, making everyday life a constant struggle. People may seek out more and more opportunities to engage in the behavior. The desire to experience a "high" from the behavior becomes so strong that the individual continues to engage in the activity despite negative consequences.

In some cases, people can also experience withdrawal, including negative emotions and other symptoms, when they aren't able to engage in the activity.

What You Should Know About Behavioral Addictions

Types of Addictive Behavior

Although even experts disagree about whether behavioral addictions are "real" addictions, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) explicitly included behaviors in the addictions category. Gambling disorder is the only officially recognized behavioral addiction.2

Although not all of these addictions are recognized by the DSM-5, the leading diagnostic guide for the mental health profession, many healthcare providers believe these are "real" addictions. And some behavioral addictions are more common than others, including:

Gambling addiction

Sex addiction

Outside the world of professional psychiatry and psychology, the media has taken on and embraced the concepts of behavioral addictions, such as sex addiction and shopping addiction, as well as activities that are not included in the discussion about addiction such as self-injury (cutting), and multiple plastic surgeries.

Internet addiction

Shopping addiction

Video game addiction

Food addiction

Exercise addiction

Work addiction

Tattoo addiction

Love addiction

Porn addiction

Signs of Behavioral Addictions

Understanding the addictive process and the danger signs can help you to tell the difference between addictive behavior, problematic behavior that's not an addiction, and normal behavior that's non-problematic or healthy.

Red flags include:

Spending the majority of your time engaging in the behavior, thinking about or arranging to engage in the behavior, or recovering from the effects

Becoming dependent on the behavior as a way to cope with emotions and to “feel normal”

Continuing despite physical and/or mental harm

Having trouble cutting back despite wanting to stop

Neglecting work, school, or family to engage in the behavior more often

Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal (for example, depression, irritability) when trying to stop

Minimizing or hiding the extent of the problem

The Coverup of Behavioral Addictions

Behavioral addictions have similar effects to substance addictions on relationships, which are often neglected in favor of the addictive behavior, undermining trust and putting pressure on partners and other family members to cover up and make up for difficulties arising from the addiction.

And Our Culture’s perspective towards sexual ethics and at times the church’s unhealthy perspective towards sexual ethics-

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Close Eour Eyes

Or Just Look The Other Way

Or

The three wise monkeys are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". The three monkeys are Mizaru, covering his eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering his ears, who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, covering his mouth, who speaks no evil.

Transition To Body

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: 1 Corinthians Sex and Saints (6:12–20)

While ancient Corinth was perhaps no more degenerate sexually than some of our own port cities, such as San Francisco or New Orleans, Corinth was widely known for its unrestrained sexual indulgence. The oft-repeated statement that “to corinthianize” had become an equivalent in Greek for “to practice fornication” is probably correct.

The Corinthians had adopted from the culture around them the idea that the body is permitted to have anything that it craves.

The Corinthians had adopted from the culture around them the idea that the body is permitted to have anything that it craves.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 ESV

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Paul knows that human desires are tainted with sin, which uses these desires to master the person for its own evil purposes

Body- Since Our Bodies Are God’s Property

Freedom Does Not Equal Unlimited License

Illustration: Your driver’s license allows you to drive anywhere but you cannot drive any kind of way

Illustration: Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden

Access to everything but not licensed to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

NIV= have the right to do

CSB= is permissible

NLT = am allowed to do

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament ἔξεστιν

“it is free” (with the dat.), denotes a. that an action is possible in the sense that there are no hindrances or that the opportunity for it occurs

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἔξεστιν

to be authorized for the doing of someth., it is right, is authorized, is permitted, is proper.

CSB= is permissible

NLT = am allowed to do

Unhelpful uses of freedom

sympherei

symphero= advantage

phero = bring; carry bear

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 65.44 λυσιτελεῖ; συμφέρω

to be of an advantage to someone—‘to be advantageous, to be better off, to be to someone’s advantage.’

Addicting uses of freedom

dominated = to rule or reign by exercising authority over

(whereas)

Godliness Is Good For The Body (vv13=17)

Our Physical Bodies Are Temporary

Christian Bodies Are Built For The LORD

Our Spiritual Bodies Are Eternal

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament ἔξεστιν

“it is free” (with the dat.), denotes a. that an action is possible in the sense that there are no hindrances or that the opportunity for it occurs

Christians Are Members of Jesus Christ

Illustration: Members of Christ and making them members of a prostitute. What you are joined to, you become!

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV

33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

join = to begin an association with someone, whether temporary or permanent

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἔξεστιν

to be authorized for the doing of someth., it is right, is authorized, is permitted, is proper.

Joined To The LORD

join = to begin an association with someone, whether temporary or permanent

Becomes One Spirit with the LORD

Avoid Sexual Immorality

NIV= have the right to do

Avoiding Sinning Against Ourself

CSB= is permissible

How can I sin against myself?

I thought we sin against God

NLT = am allowed to do

Your Body Is A Temple Of The Holy Spirit

God Gave You His Holy Spirit

Why?

Honor God With Your Body

Honor God, respect God with your body

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 87.8 τιμάω; δοξάζω

to attribute high status to someone by honoring—‘to honor, to respect.’

Transition To Close: Why honor or glorify God in your body?

symphero= advantage

phero = bring; carry bear

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 65.44 λυσιτελεῖ; συμφέρω

to be of an advantage to someone—‘to be advantageous, to be better off, to be to someone’s advantage.’

Illustration: "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" is a 1967 single released by American soul singer Aretha Franklin on the Atlantic label.

Written by the partnership of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the song was inspired by Atlantic Records co-owner and producer Jerry Wexler. As recounted in his autobiography, Wexler, a student of African-American musical culture, had been mulling over the concept of the "natural man", when he drove by King on the streets of New York. He shouted out to her that he wanted a "natural woman" song for Aretha Franklin's next album. They went home and wrote the song that night. In thanks, Goffin and King granted Wexler a co-writing credit.

Looking out on the morning rain I used to feel so uninspired And when I knew I had to face another day Lord, it made me feel so tired Before the day I met you, life was so unkind But you're the key to my peace of mind

'Cause you make me feel You make me feel You make me feel like A natural woman (woman)

When my soul was in the lost and found You came along to claim it I didn't know just what was wrong with me 'Til your kiss helped me name it Now I'm no longer doubtful, of what I'm living for And if I make you happy I don't need to do more

'Cause you make me feel You make me feel You make me feel like A natural woman (woman)

1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV

20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1

Transition To Close

Illustration: Tony Evans once told a story of

llustration: Tony Evans once told a story of

A MAN one day was low on funds and all he had was one valuable thing to his name—a family ring that had been passed down for generations. He didn’t want to part with the ring that so full of memories, but he needed money to survive. He took his ring off, took it to the pawnshop, and gave it to the pawnbroker. The pawnbroker gave him a few dollars for it accompanied by a ticket. On the back of the ticket, a redemption price and date were listed. The gentleman intended to buy his ring back but the date rolled quickly and he still did not have the money. He came and pled with the pawnbroker not to sell his ring in his shop. He begged for more time but the pawnbroker would not budge from the original agreement. The next day was the day for the ring to be sold. The remorseful seller came by that day only to find his beautiful ring polished and sitting in the shop window. It now cost twenty-five times the price he sold it for. Some of us today have pawned our lives for a pittance. We pawned our souls and we don’t have what it takes to redeem it. But, two thousand years ago, God sent Jesus Christ to pick up the tab for the lives we pawned. The beautiful thing about the Lord Jesus Christ is that He can afford to pay the price.

Close: The Son Glorified God!

Shake and Shine for Jesus!

Matthew 5:16 ESV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Instead seeking him or her, seek first the kingdom and his righteousness...

Matthew 5:

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

By the tender mercies of God, present your bodies as a living sacrifice...

Matthew 6:33

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Therefore regard no one according to the flesh...

2 Corinthians 5:16–19 ESV

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:16-18

Because when you glorify God, God glorifies you...

I

John 17:1–5 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:17–20 ESV

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

John 17:22–24 ESV

22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 12:

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.