WEBVTT 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:11.519 In the meat. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:31.359 Reaction from yesterday's Supreme Court decision overturning Rover's Wade continues across the country and right here in West Michigan. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:32.640 Good morning, Tim. 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:33.520 How are we doing? 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.600 Hey, grab your Bibles, open them up with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:39.359 First Corinthians chapter 6. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:40.479 It is so good to be with you. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:42.719 Let me add my word of greeting to Rachel's earlier. 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:43.840 My name is Chris Cuba. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:46.000 I have the privilege of being lead pastor here at United City. 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:47.679 Missed being with you last week. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:54.320 Was so grateful that you got a chance to hear from one of my very, very good friends, Matt Kendrick, and church planner that we support in Fort Worth. 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:58.159 And it's just incredible to be able to see how God is using him. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:06.480 He started last week, though, a sermon series that we have entitled Blurred Lines that I want to continue on talking about today. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:09.519 And I'm grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:23.920 The whole sermon series is in the middle of 1 Corinthians as we look and see, as we're kind of walking through this book and beginning to see some of the issues that the Apostle Paul addressed in the church at Corinth. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:41.280 And what we see is a situation where we have the cultural worldview and the cultural ideal of what things are supposed to be, and you have that intersecting with what the biblical worldview says and what the Bible actually says we should do. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:53.200 And what happens is that if you don't have clarity on what God's word says, when the culture and the Bible intersect, lines get blurry. 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:58.959 What happens is that people begin to ask questions like, well, what am I allowed to do and what am I not allowed to do? 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:02.879 What am I allowed to say and what am I not allowed to say? 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:08.159 What am I allowed to participate in and what am I supposed to avoid? 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:16.080 And lack of clarity in what God's word says leads to blurred lines. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:19.840 I want to go there today, if you'll give me an opportunity to. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.960 Rachel mentioned it's going to be a PG-13 meet, so I don't want you to think I'm going to be shock-jocked or anything like that. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:38.879 I'm not going to say things in any way that are going to be inappropriate or whatever, but I do want to address some things that are very prevalent in our culture because the Bible very clearly speaks about certain things. 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:44.080 And if we've got clarity on what God's Word says, then we're going to know how to act. 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:58.879 Because one of the things that I have discovered over the course of time is that there are certain things whenever you begin to read God's Word, that if you actually do believe them, then it should affect how you live and what you do. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:06.400 This whole idea that somehow I can be a believer, but it doesn't actually affect this area of my life is totally foreign to what God's Word says. 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:14.800 Instead, it is super clear that if I believe these things, then it means these implications for my life. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.159 The issue in Corinth at the time was the issue of sexuality. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:26.479 What you could do with your body and what you could do with yourself sexually, who you could have sex with and when you could have sex with somebody. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:32.800 Essentially, the motto of the day in Corinth was my body, my choice. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.520 It was a slogan before it became a slogan. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:41.840 It was an idea before it became a poster. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:47.919 It was a worldview before it became an identity for people. 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:58.560 And so what I want us to see in this passage of scripture is that Paul addresses whether that idea of my body, my choice is actually true. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:02.879 Essentially, what he answers is this fundamental question. 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:06.879 What is the purpose of the body? 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:09.599 What is the purpose of the body? 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:15.199 You need to know that your answer to that question will determine how you treat your body. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:21.360 Your answer to that question will ultimately determine what you put into your body. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:28.160 Your answer to that question will be the thing that determines what you feel about the issue of abortion. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:34.879 Your answer to that question will determine who and when you have sex with somebody else. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:41.199 Your answer to that question will ultimately affect what you believe about the LGBTQ issues. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:50.079 I would argue that how you answer that question about the purpose for your body ultimately should be a deciding factor in who you vote for in just a few weeks. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:52.560 First Corinthians chapter 6. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:55.279 Let's begin reading in verse 12. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:00.879 It says, All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:05.360 All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:08.480 Food is meant for the stomach, and the stomach for food. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.600 And God will destroy both one and the other. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.720 The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:20.800 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:24.240 Do you not know what that your bodies are members of Christ? 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:28.000 Shall I then take members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:28.800 Never. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:33.680 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:37.120 For as it is written, the two will become one flesh. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:40.560 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:43.279 Flee from sexual immorality. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:50.000 Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his body, his own body. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:55.120 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? 00:05:55.360 --> 00:06:01.759 You are not your own, but you were bought with the price, so glorify God in your body. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:04.399 Believers care about the body. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:14.079 And the way that the Christian has a worldview about the body is fundamentally and radically different than the worldview that is put forth by the culture. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:21.360 But because we don't think about it this way, the lines get blurry, and this is what was happening in the city of Corinth. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:27.439 They began again to think that I could believe in God and it's not going to affect how I actually live. 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:42.480 And so, because of that, they thought it was totally normal and natural whenever they had a sexual desire or urge to go down to the temple to get a prostitute, to sleep with that prostitute, and then to carry on as though nothing had actually happened. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:51.759 There was no regard whatsoever for the actions that they were taking as though they were affecting their relationship with the Lord. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:58.399 The Corinthians were doing things in their bodies sexually that show they didn't understand how these things two things go together. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:06.800 What I want to do is I want to point out three things from this text that help us understand how and why we should care about our body. 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:08.720 How and why we should care about our body. 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:13.360 The first thing is this freedom doesn't mean anything goes. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:16.879 Freedom doesn't mean anything goes. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:28.560 The whole premise of my body, my choice is that I want to be free from anyone telling me what I should do, how I should do it, or that I should have any limits or restrictions with my body. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:33.120 The reason is it's because it's mine and you can't tell me what to do. 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:40.800 In verse 12, Paul repeats a phrase two different times that would have been a chant or a motto or a slogan in the city of Corinth. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:45.519 You might notice in verse 12, it's actually in quotations there. 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:50.000 The quotation is this all things are lawful for me. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:56.879 I want you to picture people walking in the city of Corinth with signs that says, all things are lawful for me. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:04.240 Essentially, it is though they are saying what our modern day thing is this my body, my choice. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:08.240 We can do whatever we want. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:15.600 Essentially, we're saying that you shouldn't care and you shouldn't legislate and you shouldn't judge because it's an expression of rights. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:19.199 And Paul says this for the believer, that's not true. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:21.519 That's not actually how it goes. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:25.839 Just because something is legal doesn't mean that it's wise. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:30.000 Just because that you can doesn't mean that you should. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:36.639 Just because something is allowed or done, doesn't mean that it should be allowed or done by you. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:41.759 Because not all things it says there are helpful. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:43.840 That should be the question. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.720 Is this action helpful to me? 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.720 Is it good for me? 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:57.440 And not only for me, but I also, as a believer in Jesus, must live in such a way where I ask this question Is what I'm doing helpful to me? 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:00.159 And is what I'm doing helpful to you? 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:04.000 Because as believers, we're governed by a different starting point. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:08.000 We actually care about our actions and what our choices do to other people. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:12.240 We no longer live for ourselves, but we defer to others. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:15.279 Philippians chapter 2, verses 5 through 7. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:29.840 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God, a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:33.279 The question doesn't become, can I do this? 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:38.080 The question that should guide our lives should be, should I do this? 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:40.320 Is this gonna help me? 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:43.200 Is this gonna help someone else? 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:50.240 Paul says, just because you can doesn't mean that it means that you're free to do whatever it is that you want. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:57.679 Something that was meant to be freeing can often be the very thing that leads you down a path of slavery. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:08.480 Something that you thought would be fun and enjoyable and life-giving ends up being the very thing that defines you, that destroys you, that defeats you. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:18.399 Ask someone who has the freedom to look at porn if they are at the end and they're addicted to pornography if they feel like they are free. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.840 They will describe to you something that is very different than freedom. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:24.879 They describe to you something that is slavery. 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:39.600 Talk to somebody who goes to celebrate recovery on Wednesday night about the freedom that they have to drink or the freedom that they have to put whatever they want inside of their body, and they will begin to tell you that they've lost their freedoms a long time ago. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:43.120 That instead they're enslaved to those desires. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:51.279 And what once was meant to be an expression of their rights and their freedom has now become the thing that has enslaved them. 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:58.480 When it comes to sex, the argument here is that sex is no big deal, that sex is just like going eating lunch or going to eating dinner. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:06.159 If you have an urge, if you have a desire, then you should just go and do whatever you need to do in order to fulfill that need and to fulfill that desire. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:12.000 But we know that sex is way more than just a physical need and a physical desire. 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:19.519 If sex was just physical, why is rape so much more psychologically damaging than all other forms of physical violence? 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:28.000 If sex is just physical, then why is sexual abuse so difficult for people to just shake off even after becoming adults? 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:33.840 If sex is just physical, why is it so hard for a spouse to get over adultery? 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:40.159 If sex is just physical, why are the vast majority of people's deepest regrets sexual? 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:52.320 When someone tells me that they need to talk, I'm just waiting for them to pull me aside and be able to say, you know, I cheated on a test last week, or I cheated on a test a number of years ago, and I just need to clear my conscience and tell someone. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:53.919 No one's ever done that. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:00.960 Instead, when someone says, Hey, I need to talk to you, I know almost exactly what it's gonna be. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:12.720 It's gonna be some sort of sexual mistake or some sort of sexual regret or some sort of sexual thing that they did that still causes immense pain and damage and guilt and shame in their lives. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.360 And they can't get past it. 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:25.679 It can damage a lot. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:39.840 If we just treat it like it's just no big deal, then what you're gonna ultimately begin to see is that the thing that God gave you, meant to be enjoyed and meant to be celebrated, can become the very thing that enslaves you. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:44.240 God desires the best for you. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:58.399 He wants you to experience life that is free from all of the bondage that exists when you use the gifts that he gave for freedom and you use them in a way that is selfish and that is for you. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:00.559 It's not for the way that he intended. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:06.080 Second thing I want you to see from this passage is that God has a purpose for your body. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:09.039 God has a purpose for your body. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:13.919 When you become a believer, the Holy Spirit, the Bible tells us, begins to live inside of you. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:20.399 Romans chapter 8, verse 6 says that it is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that basically seals your redemption. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:23.679 It's a guarantee of your future inheritance. 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:32.000 And because of this, God desires that you use your body not for your purpose, but for his purpose. 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:38.000 You see, my body, my choice, it says this you should use your body for whatever you desire. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:42.559 You should give your body to whoever you want, whenever you want to. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:47.120 You should please your body with anything that you choose or anything that you want. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:59.120 You should enjoy your body to do whatever feels good to you, and you can discard or destroy anything that is inside of you that you no longer want or that is inconvenient for you. 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:06.159 Or if you decide that you wake up one day and decide that you were in the wrong body, then you can now change your body. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:10.000 And you can make your body fit what you feel. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:16.879 Or we are told today that you can wake up and decide that if you don't like your body, then you can shame it or you can begin to abuse it. 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:20.879 But for the believer in Jesus Christ, it has to be different. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:29.519 The believer says, This is God's body, I am to redeem it, and I am to use my body for a purpose. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:31.600 God is the one who created it. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:42.480 God is the one who gets to call the shots, God is the one who tells me what I do and how I use my body ultimately to be accountable to Him. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:47.279 Ultimately, if you think about it, everything goes back to this fundamental reality. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:51.759 Do I believe Genesis chapter 1, verse 1 to be true or not? 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:59.679 Here's what it says in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:05.759 If this is true, it fundamentally changes everything. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:14.879 Because that means that he created all of this, and as the designer, he gets to determine the purpose and the use of his design. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:21.200 Otherwise, essentially what we're saying is this I am God, I get to call the shots. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:31.519 Paul says that theology where God is in charge means my body isn't made for temporary pleasure, but instead, my body was made for an eternal purpose. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:38.000 Let me just state a few things because I don't want there to be any question whatsoever as to what I'm saying and what I'm not. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:43.919 This means you don't get to sleep with whoever you want to sleep with whenever you want to sleep with them. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:57.039 This means instead that I've got to use my sexuality as a service to the Lord, as a gift giving back to him so that I can enjoy his good gifts in the context which he has given them. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:03.360 This means that if you become pregnant, you don't get to end life if you decide that you don't want it. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:05.279 You don't have that right. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:13.279 At the end of the day, it is God's body, it is God's life, and so therefore, you don't get to determine what you do with God's life. 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.840 Let me say it very clearly. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:19.600 This means that you don't get to change your sex if you don't like the one you've been given. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:28.159 If God is the one who is the creator, that doesn't mean that I always like what He created, but I don't get to change what He created. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:37.200 My body is not for me, it's for Him to be used to serve Him, to sacrifice for Him, to ultimately give Him glory. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.679 First Corinthians chapter 10, verse 31. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:45.200 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:51.039 The idea is that no matter what, in all things I am to give my body to the Lord. 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:58.639 My body has a purpose, and I must see how God wants and will use my body for his glory. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.960 What does this mean? 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.799 Look again at verse 18. 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:06.640 Flee from sexual immorality. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:13.920 Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:19.359 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:22.799 You are not your own, for you were bought with the price. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:26.160 So glorify God in your body. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:30.480 Believers care about the body, and because of that, here is what I want you to do. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:35.279 Number three, honor God with your body. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.440 Honor God with your body. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:43.039 Let me give you some very practical ways to do this. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.319 We have an election coming up on November 5th. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.599 You might have heard about that. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:50.640 It's coming up, and uh people have mentioned it a few times. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:56.559 Uh the word is that this is apparently supposed to be the most important election of our lifetime. 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:01.519 I don't necessarily know if that's the truth, although I think it probably is every single time. 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:16.240 Because if you actually think about it, uh while we think about it, particularly in terms of, especially when it comes to a national election and a presidential election, we think about it in terms of the personalities most often that are running for that position. 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:30.720 But the reality actually is, is while there's a personality in that position and a person in that position, those policies that are put in place by someone actually last much longer than just that personality. 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:35.599 So here would be my application to you as to how to honor God with your body. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:41.039 First thing is this vote for policies that honor the body. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:44.799 Vote for policies that honor the body. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:50.079 I didn't say vote for people, because I would just tell you, it's a train wreck, all right? 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.119 It's a train wreck, all right? 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.400 It's it's not good. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:19:05.839 But the policies that people put in place affect people, and we care about people, so therefore, I need to vote for policies that are gonna be best for people. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:14.559 And therefore, that's how you can maybe reconcile at times what is, let's be honest, a difficult decision. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:25.440 And so, therefore, I need to say what is it that most aligns with what God's word says related to the issues that he speaks about. 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:31.519 You know, I've heard a lot that, man, the church has just gotten way more political over the course of the last decade or so. 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:33.119 And I would argue against that. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:35.759 I do not think the church has gotten way more political. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:38.720 I think politics has gotten way more theological. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:46.640 And therefore, they do not have a right to legislate what God says is true. 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:56.559 And so, therefore, we must be careful that we don't allow the cultural worldview, when it intersects with the biblical worldview, for the lines to be blurry. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:09.759 We instead must allow what God's word says to speak so clearly that whenever there is a situation, which let's be honest, God's word doesn't have a definitive statement on every single political issue that is out there. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:14.240 But on the ones that He does, we need to make sure that's what we're thinking. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:16.960 Like that's what we're holding closely to. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.519 Let's talk about a few of these. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:26.160 We've got to be people for life. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:32.960 People not just that believe in the right to be born, which is vital, but the right to live as humans made in the image of God. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:38.480 So vote for policies which promote life. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:43.119 Vote for policies which promote God's view of sex. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:51.599 The reason why we care about what people do in their bedrooms and who they marry and what they want to call themselves is because none of those things are private. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:21:02.400 We seek the welfare of the city and we want all humans to experience flourishing, and they will never be able to do so if they deny the purpose for their bodies. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:06.400 So, as a Christian, I want to vote as a Christian. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:08.720 I want to vote biblically. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:15.920 I want to vote not only for what I know is true, but I want to see that play out in the policies that are chosen. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:32.799 You will never find a situation to where the policy and the platform is 100% in alignment with what God's word says because ultimately we know our hope is in Jesus, and when the hope is in God's word, our hope is not in politicians or policies or platforms. 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:55.519 That being said, we must vote as a Christian and say what is going to push back the cause of evil and what is going to most closely align with what God's Word does actually say. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:59.680 Folks, please do not get caught up in all of the personality. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:24.640 That exists, particularly in the midst of this presidential race, and miss the opportunity to vote in such a way as a part of the process that God has allowed us to enjoy here as Americans and vote in such a way where it is obvious what we believe about God affects how we live, what we stand for, what we uphold as important. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.680 It isn't my body, my choice. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:33.839 It's God's body, God's purpose that should drive my decisions, including who I vote for in the ballot. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:37.680 Second thing is this guard what you put into your body. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:40.000 Guard what you put into your body. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:44.240 Just because you can doesn't mean you should. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:49.119 What is legal doesn't mean that it's immoral. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:52.480 What is okay for me may not be okay for you. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:54.079 We're actually going to look at this in a few weeks. 00:22:54.160 --> 00:23:10.240 In 1 Corinthians chapter 8, we're going to see that there's certain times when I may have a right to do something that I will gladly set aside that right because I want to defer to a weaker brother who may not necessarily be able to enjoy the same freedoms that I have. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:13.200 Let's speak to what this looks like. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.680 One, be careful with alcohol. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:18.880 It's repeatedly warned about in the scriptures. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:26.880 The scriptures, I believe, do not teach that alcohol is explicitly forbidden, but it constantly teaches about the dangers of abusing alcohol. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:40.240 And so I just want to encourage you, while you may have the right and the freedom to be able to partake in alcohol, you need to be very, very cautious with this and understand, ask this question is this helpful to me and is this helpful to other people? 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:42.079 I can assure you of this. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:56.000 The stuff that took place all over Northeast Houston the last two nights in so many people's homes, perhaps some, including of your own, where you are basically drunk and you are drinking well beyond your ability to make sense. 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:57.279 I would simply tell you this. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.839 That is in no way what God desires. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:02.079 In no way what God desires. 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:21.119 This rampant living where essentially I'm having to navigate on a constant basis who my kids spend time with because other people and their friends are basically going to open up their homes and serve alcohol to minors, is not only illegal, it is highly immoral and dangerous. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:32.880 And we've got to live in such a way where we guard what we put into our bodies and we teach our children to guard what they put into their bodies. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.279 Why? 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.119 Because our bodies matter. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.640 God desires that we honor our bodies. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:40.559 We need to be careful about food. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:46.000 Being mindful to enjoy food is a gift, but never allowing food to become a God. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:51.519 Be careful with substances or anything that would alter your mind or your thinking. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:55.599 Take care of your body and don't abuse it or don't destroy it. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:03.920 We know that our bodies, according to 2 Corinthians chapter 4, are wasting away day by day, and we aren't improving, but we are decaying. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:09.920 Some of you might give testimony to that, that you don't seem to be on the way up, you seem to be on the way down. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.480 But I would simply tell you this we should never ever abuse our bodies. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:20.160 They're temples and to be used and deployed for the service of God. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:24.960 Third, flee sexual immorality. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:28.160 Flee sexual immorality. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:30.240 Verse 18 is clear. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:32.880 It doesn't say fight sexual immorality. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:35.599 See how close you can get without crossing the line? 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:38.400 It says to flee sexual immorality. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:46.079 Or to be like Joseph in Genesis when Potiphar's wife was making a run at him, he ran away and left the situation. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:54.480 Please understand, anything, literally anything sexually outside of a married husband with a married wife is to be fleed from. 00:25:55.440 --> 00:26:04.400 The simple fact is this a married man or a married woman cannot have sex with someone who isn't their spouse if they are not alone with that person. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:09.839 Same thing is true if you aren't married but you're just dating or you're just talking. 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.960 Don't live together. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:14.480 Don't have sex of any kind together. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:16.960 Don't send pictures to each other. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:18.720 Don't get near it. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:21.119 Run away from it. 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:29.119 Figure out how you can say no 15 steps before you find yourself in a situation to where you regret saying yes. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.079 Number four. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:35.599 Serve God with your body. 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:39.200 Serve God with your body. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:45.359 Dave Pounds has been a member of United City Church since 1983. 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:53.519 Shortly after coming and being a part of this church, he joined the First Impressions team and began holding a door. 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:58.160 It was part of his ministry and part of his service to his church. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:05.519 Twenty-five years ago, there was this lady named Edna Stringer who got assigned. 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:09.599 She also wanted to go and serve, holding out doors, and she got assigned. 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:18.400 We don't know if it was a strategic assignment or not, but we know she was assigned to a door near Dave Pounds. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:30.960 Dave began to take notice of Miss Edna and thought that the uh serving group that they had recruited was uh a quite attractive group, and so Dave began to go and put his moves on her. 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:38.000 And shortly after that, Dave and Edna got married, been married for the last 24 years. 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:51.039 You might have noticed Dave and Edna because they, if you've come in on the south side, this door right over here, that's their door. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.640 That's where they serve. 00:27:53.039 --> 00:28:00.400 That's where they greet and meet every week and give you a shake, shaking your hand to greet you as you walk into the services. 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:07.680 Dave and Edna are in their 80s now, and Dave would say this: their bodies aren't quite as pristine as they used to be. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:16.720 Edna has had breast cancer, Dave has had prostate cancer, currently battles with a myriad of lung-related diseases. 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:22.880 They've got aches and they've got pains, they've got frustrations of the reality of a body that is getting older. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:30.480 Yet it doesn't stop both of them from serving every single week at Umbull Elementary as one of the Kids Hope volunteers. 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:40.240 It doesn't stop them from serving every single week at the exact same doors, greeting people as they come in here at United States. 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:52.240 Even though at times it may feel like their body is breaking down, it doesn't change their serving, it doesn't change their loving, it doesn't change their smiles and their love for the Lord and their love for his church. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:57.279 Here's my advice be like David and the Pounds. 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:02.079 Be just like David and the Pounds. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:13.119 There's certain weeks whenever it may be hard for them to get here and hard for him to serve, but you know what they do? 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:25.599 They show up and they greet and they welcome you because ultimately they love what God is doing in the midst of our church, seeing the life change that they get to experience. 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:32.720 And I tell you, it's a perfect testimony in a picture of what I believe God desires. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:37.920 It's not just a matter of what we avoid, it's also what we pursue with our bodies. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:40.400 And I want you to be like David Endapels. 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:46.000 For as long as God has given you breath, you're gonna use it to worship the Lord. 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:52.799 As long as God has given you the ability to use your body, you're gonna use it in service to the Lord. 00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:58.160 And they would be the first to tell you it is absolutely worth it. 00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:01.279 Would you bow your hands and would you close your eyes on the cross? 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:18.799 Ultimately, you've just kind of done whatever you want to do. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:23.519 You've just left with whatever you want to sleep with. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:27.519 Taking whatever you desire to take, whenever you want to take it. 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:38.160 You've ultimately made your decisions about how you use your time and what you give your energy to, as to what you like most. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:43.440 Without any thought whatsoever as to what God is calling you to do. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:49.200 So for some of you, you need to repent for how you've abused your body. 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:55.200 You've used it for pleasure and for selfish gain instead of service. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:58.079 Could you make a commitment today? 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:01.759 To honor God with your body, with your choices. 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:08.319 Others of you need to dedicate your body to the Lord by first dedicating your life to Him. 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:17.440 Listen to this, 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 9 says, Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:31.440 Do not be deceived, neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:39.200 Verse 11, and such were some of you. 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:49.359 That you were washed, you were sanctified, you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.799 I want you to know this today. 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:55.440 Your actions in the past don't have to be the definition of your future. 00:32:56.880 --> 00:33:03.680 You can't make up for what you have done, but you can receive forgiveness in a relationship with your creator. 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:07.599 He can restore the years the locusts have eaten. 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:16.480 And your sexual problems in the past and your shameful acts in the past do not have to be what defines you. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:23.440 Instead, God can cover you with his grace, cover you with his mercy, but it requires you to turn to him. 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.519 I want to invite you to do that today. 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:31.039 You can place your faith and you can place your trust in Jesus as your Savior and as your Lord. 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:36.240 I want to invite you to do that by coming forward and talking with one of our team members today. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:42.880 Let us pray with you today so that you can leave here knowing today that you have a relationship with Jesus. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:46.559 You can dedicate your body to Him. 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:57.200 Others of you need to come and join United City Church, not just in formal membership administratively, but in terms of an all-in commitment in service to his church. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:00.240 Would you come and lead the way today? 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:09.760 Others of you need to be baptized to take the physical next step with your body to be dunked in water as an act of obedience to what God has called you to do. 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:12.239 You come today and let us schedule your baptism. 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:13.920 Others of you need prayer. 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:18.880 Won't you come and let us pray with and pray for you? 00:34:19.920 --> 00:34:24.079 Father in heaven, I pray that you would move in these moments we have left together. 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:29.440 I pray, God, that you would lead people to make life-changing next steps in these moments. 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:42.559 Give them boldness and give them courage to respond to you, to receive your mercy and receive your grace, to make public a decision that you're leading them to make with their bodies. 00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:45.679 So they can bring glory and honor to you here on this earth. 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:47.920 It's in the name of Jesus that I pray. 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:48.559 Amen. 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:49.199 Would you stand? 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:53.119 And as you stand, our team is up front and they're on the sides, ready to receive you. 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:55.119 As God is leading, you respond right now. 00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:56.000 Come on. 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:45.599 But I also hear hope that today, if this is a conviction to you, that you would lean into that conviction and you would receive the grace and the mercy of our Lord Jesus. 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:57.920 And that you would allow that to lead you to not just do what you've always done, but instead for you to live holy lives, set apart, called out for what God has called you to do. 00:36:58.320 --> 00:37:02.559 Church family, I got a few quick announcements for you that I want to let you know about before you're dismissed. 00:37:02.719 --> 00:37:06.079 One, this coming Saturday is a very, very important day in our church. 00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:07.920 It's what we call serve day. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:10.400 We're gonna rally here at the church at 8 o'clock. 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:16.159 We're all gonna meet here and then we're gonna deploy all over this community to go and to serve those that are in need. 00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:17.599 There's a bunch of different projects. 00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:19.440 You can sign up online to do this. 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:23.599 Let me encourage you to do this with your life groups, that you can do it together. 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:30.880 But uh if that's not the case, I want to encourage you to regardless just show up and that you can be a part of this and serve as a family. 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:39.599 We're trying to design multiple projects that are designed that you can serve as a family and be a significant opportunity for you to be able to help serve this community. 00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:44.559 Uh, one quick announcement before we are dismissed today that's very exciting in the life of our church. 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:51.199 Uh, we have been for the last few months in search of someone to come and lead our United City Espanol. 00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:59.280 We've got Spanish services that meet at one o'clock each and every week uh here at United City, and God's been doing some amazing things in the midst of that. 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:02.880 And we have interviewed a number of different candidates the entire time, though. 00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:10.880 Gerbin Romero has been our associate uh Spanish pastor and has been doing a great job giving interim leadership during that time. 00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:19.599 And in the midst of the process of really uh interviewing candidates and walking through that whole thing, I kind of had this thought in my mind the whole time. 00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:28.719 I had a Spanish council that was working with me as well that was helping me in this process, and they all came back and essentially we all came to the same conclusion. 00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:30.159 We want Gerbin. 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.840 We just want Gerbin. 00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:35.119 Like, we don't want anybody else. 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:47.440 We want Gerbin to be our guy, and so I want to ask Gerbin and Andrea Romero to come on up here, and I want to introduce to you our new Spanish pastors, a United City Skin Yo. 00:38:47.679 --> 00:38:48.880 Let's give them a hand. 00:38:56.320 --> 00:39:04.159 They have been doing a phenomenal job, uh, not only in this interim leadership, but it's gonna be incredible to see how God's gonna use them in the days ahead. 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:06.960 You see, they're a beautiful family, they're three incredible boys. 00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:10.719 Uh, God has just got his hand all over this couple, and we are so thankful. 00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:20.719 Uh, again, he was already here on the ground serving, and so we're excited to come alongside of him as he now takes this formal role, and we're just excited to see what's gonna happen the days ahead. 00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:28.320 Let me just remind you if you know anyone who is Spanish speaking, invite them to come and be a part of our services at one o'clock. 00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:34.480 We see first-time guests every single week in all four of our services, including our Espanol service. 00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:35.519 God has been on the move. 00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:42.800 And so let's just do me a favor, would you just extend a hand as we pray a prayer of blessing over the Romero family as they take this new role? 00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:44.800 Father, we come before you and we thank you. 00:39:44.960 --> 00:39:55.519 We thank you so much, God, just for how you have blessed this couple, how you have gone before them, God, how you have appointed them for such a time as this to be able to lead this very important ministry in the life of our church. 00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:58.639 God, I pray that you would use them, give them favor relationally. 00:39:58.800 --> 00:40:01.360 God, I pray that you would anoint his words as he preaches. 00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:03.199 I pray, God, that you would bless their family. 00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:04.480 I pray that you would protect them. 00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:09.920 I pray, God, that you would go before their boys and give them a love and a hunger for the church that is just such a gift. 00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:15.039 God, I pray that you would just Andrea, Lord, thank you for her leadership, for the way that God that you use her as well. 00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:26.719 We pray, God, that you would allow United City Espanol to see the greatest days ever ahead, and that you would use this great couple as a way to achieve that and to use their leadership to be able to see this happen. 00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:30.239 It's in the name of Jesus that I pray, amen and amen. 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:31.039 Thank y'all for being here. 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:32.559 Y'all have a good day. 00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:41.440 Wow, what an amazing message we got to hear this morning. 00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:45.840 I hope the Lord showed himself to you in a fresh, new way. 00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:59.920 Hey, if you made a decision today to follow Jesus or a decision for Christ, we would love to process that with you, and so text the word next to 55498, and someone from our team will be more than happy to reach out and process that with you. 00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:04.000 If you missed the message or you missed a note or two and you want to go back, don't worry. 00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:05.440 We've got the option for that as well. 00:41:05.599 --> 00:41:08.400 It's going to be available on Spotify as well as Apple Music. 00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:10.079 This has been an amazing morning. 00:41:10.239 --> 00:41:12.639 We love you guys so much, and we hope to see you next week. 00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:13.599 Bye-bye.