Overcomer - Is it Helpful?

1 Corinthians 10:23-33

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

This passage taken from the first letter to the Christians at Corinth gets to the heart of the whole business of gluttony vs self-control.  Is there stuff we can eat and drink or otherwise consume without sinning?  Sure.  But would it help us or hurt us in the long run?  Good question.

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly thinking about things you have consumed that were not really wrong - but didn’t really help.  How do you become more careful about your consumption?

How important is it to you - not to make other people stumble?  How’s your example?

Prayer

Father in heaven you have given me every opportunity to grow up in my faith.  You have blessed me and forgiven me.  Now I pray that you will help me  cultivate a healthy conscience so I live a life that is a good example to the people around me.  Live and love through me today - in Jesus’ name. Amen

Memory Verse

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23a

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:  What is something you feel OK about yourself that might be a poor example to others?  Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Sunday we are celebrating the 135th Anniversary of Davison Free Methodist Church.  You are invited to join the party and bring a friend.

Overcomer - Keep adding!

2 Peter 1:3-11

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter agrees with Paul. Self-control is an essential quality of the Jesus centered life.  So here in this powerful passage he makes it very clear - we are to make every effort to add this to our spiritual repertoire.  But the really good news comes in the very first verse - God has given us all we need to make this godly life happen.  Go for it!

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly thinking about the ways that God grows us up.  Practically speaking how to we add to our faith?

What is the payoff for adding perseverance and self-control to our lives? (vs.10-11) Is it worth it?

Prayer

Father in heaven thank you for giving me everything I need to grow up spiritually.   But I know I need to cooperate with you and not just become spiritually passive.  So walk with me today and every day as I put one foot in front of the other.. Amen

Memory Verse

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23a

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:  

How can we help each other become more spiritually productive this week ? (vs 8) Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday we are celebrating the 135th Anniversary of Davison Free Methodist Church.  You are invited to join the party and bring a friend.

Overcomer - Blamelessness

Titus 1:6-16

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”  13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Yikes! You can only imagine what it must have felt like for the early followers of Jesus to read this letter.  This one leaves a mark!  Self-control is a prerequisite for leadership in the church.  Some folks are just lazy gluttons, detestable etc.  Tell us what you really think Paul!  Which just goes to show us that sometimes correction has to be given.  Especially when it involves people whose lives are out of control.

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly thinking about the ways that lack of self-control can express itself.  Gluttony is a much wider, broader issue than just overeating isn’t it?

Looking at this passage as a whole - is there a possible connection between being gluttonous and being generally out of control?

Prayer

Father in heaven help me to reign in my appetites.  This week may everything I watch and read and eat and drink be consumed carefully and thoughtfully.  Deliver me from the sins of excess and carelessness.  I trust you to teach me to guard my heart Lord. Amen

Memory Verse

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23a

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:  How is your fasting going?  Need any help? Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday we are celebrating the 135th Anniversary of Davison Free Methodist Church.  You are invited to join the party and bring a friend.

Overcomer - Just enough - not too much!

Proverbs 25:16-28

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—

   too much of it, and you will vomit.

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—

   too much of you, and they will hate you.

18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow

   is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.

19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot

   is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.

20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,

   or like vinegar poured on a wound,

   is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

   if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

   and the Lord will reward you.

23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain

   is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof

   than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul

   is good news from a distant land.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

   are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,

   nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through

   is a person who lacks self-control.

Here’s another powerful section from the Bible’s book of wise sayings. This time the focus is on the foolishness of over-indulgence and the wisdom of self-restraint.  Since we live in a society where more is better - most of the time anyway - it is a good thing to be reminded that sometimes less is more.  Really.

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly thinking about all the examples of ways in which we can overdo things to the point of pain.  

What do you think of the analogy in the last verse 28?  Is it true?  How so?

Prayer

Father as I continue my focus on increasing self-control I know that some things are permissible but just not really helpful.  Help me to be more careful about what I eat and drink and consume and use so that I bring honor to you.  Guard my heart Lord. Amen

Memory Verse

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23a

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:  What would be something we could ‘fast’ from this week? Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday we are celebrating the 135th Anniversary of Davison Free Methodist Church.  You are invited to join the party and bring a friend.

Overcomer - Self-control Wins!

Galatians 5:13-26

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

This passage contains our memory verse for this week: verses 22 & 23a.  Notice that this comes to us as some practical advice on how to overcome various temptations that attack ‘the flesh.’  Our bodies have appetites that scream to be fulfilled.  Eating and drinking are necessary to support life.  But if we are not self-controlled they will bring death.  Obviously we are taught to chose life!

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly thinking about ways in which gluttony can be expressed through more than just food.  What appetites can lead us to gluttony?

Compare the list of evil acts in vs. 19-21 to the list of fruit in vs 22-23.  Can you see how the second list could counteract the first?

Prayer

Father as I begin a new week focusing on self-control I recognize that this is a fruit that grows out of my relationship with you.  May I do my part to open up to your Spirit as I trust you to do your part to change my heart.  Please grow your fruit in the soil of my soul. Amen

Memory Verse

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23a

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:   How could we be more self-controlled? Name one or two specific ways. Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday we are celebrating the 135th Anniversary of Davison Free Methodist Church.  You are invited to join the party and bring a friend.

Overcomer - Armor of Light

Romans 13:11-14

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.  So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Once more we are approaching the end of one of the New Testament letters.  Now the focus shifts from the theological truths to practical application.  If we are made new in Christ - justified by faith - then we must live like it.  Living out our new life in Christ involves putting aside dark things and putting on the armor of light.  How inspiring and challenging is that?

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly thinking about why we are warned not to slumber.  Do you sometimes just get careless about your purity instead of being vigilant?

Notice how the last verse concludes on the positive solution.  What are some positive steps you could take today?

Prayer

Dear Lord, I choose to clothe myself with Jesus.  So cover me with your love and grace.  remind me of all you have done to pardon and deliver me from sin and self.  I draw near to you right now.  I trust that as I do - you are drawing near to me. Amen

Memory Verse

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.  1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 NIV

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:   How can we team up to resist sexual temptations and promote purity?  Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday Pastor Glenn Teal will teach on the topic “Self-control overcomes Gluttony.”  This is a great Sunday to invite a friend.  Pray for an open opportunity to do just that!

Overcomer - Stop and Start!

Ephesians 5:1-20

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,

   rise from the dead,

   and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here in another pastoral letter, Paul admonishes his friends in the faith to avoid sexual immorality and to pursue purity.  Again there is an interesting mix of warning and encouraging.  Stop that bad stuff - start this good stuff.  When dealing with temptation we should always remember both parts of this equation: stop and start!

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly making note of what we are to stop and what we are to start.

So in your life today - what verse or two speaks the loudest to you.  Why?

Prayer

Dear Lord, you know how much I need your help to live a pure life.  By your grace alive in me I choose to stop unhealthy habits and to start some holy habits.  Show me exactly how that looks and give me the courage to do it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Memory Verse

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.  1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 NIV

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:   What would be the best positive step we could each take to build a more proactive approach to purity?  Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday Pastor Glenn Teal will teach on the topic “Self-control overcomes Gluttony.”  This is a great Sunday to invite a friend.  Pray for an open opportunity to do just that!

Overcomer - Honor God with your Body

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

This is the passage where our memory verse is found - see verses 19b & 20.  The call to honor God with our body comes after a strong warning about sexual immorality.  But notice how the focus is on the positive NOT the negative.  Here is a great example of the lesson we learned back at the beginning of this series:  Don't fixate on the temptation - focus on the solution.

Reflect

Questions

Read verse 15 and 16 again. Really focus on the startling image the author points out as a great reason to avoid immorality.  

What do you think about this teaching concerning the connections between the body and the spirit?

Is it true?  How so?

Prayer

Father in heaven, I thank you today for both the body and the spirit you have given me. Help me to honor you with both parts - every part of who I am.  Purity seems like a very high bar in a world like ours - but with your help I am committed to pursue purity - in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Memory Verse

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.  1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 NIV

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:   

What evidence is there to support the idea that sex is more than just physical - it is also spiritual. 

Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday Pastor Glenn Teal will teach on the topic “Self-control overcomes Gluttony.”  This is a great Sunday to invite a friend.  Pray for an open opportunity to do just that!

Overcomer - Purity Wins!

Tuesday October 20

PROVERBS 5:7-23

7 Now then, my sons, listen to me;

   do not turn aside from what I say.

8 Keep to a path far from her,

   do not go near the door of her house,

9 lest you lose your honor to others

   and your dignity to one who is cruel,

10 lest strangers feast on your wealth

   and your toil enrich the house of another.

11 At the end of your life you will groan,

   when your flesh and body are spent.

12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!

   How my heart spurned correction!

13 I would not obey my teachers

   or turn my ear to my instructors.

14 And I was soon in serious trouble

   in the assembly of God’s people.”

15 Drink water from your own cistern,

   running water from your own well.

16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,

   your streams of water in the public squares?

17 Let them be yours alone,

   never to be shared with strangers.

18 May your fountain be blessed,

   and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19 A loving doe, a graceful deer—

   may her breasts satisfy you always,

   may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?

   Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord,

   and he examines all your paths.

22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;

   the cords of their sins hold them fast.

23 For lack of discipline they will die,

   led astray by their own great folly.

Once more we read the collected teachings of one of the wisest men who ever lived.  This time the topic is sexual purity vs sexual immorality.  Here we read some practical real-world advice on why lust is so ‘deadly’ and why diligence is so wise.  Make the wise choice!

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly thinking carefully about the many regrets that arise from sexual sin.  .  

We almost chose Proverbs 5:19 as our memory verse.  If you are married what does this verse have to say about the level of romance in your marriage?

Prayer

Father in heaven, you created me as a person with a sexual appetite and you declared it to be good.  Help me today and every day to pursue the goodness of my sexual desires and to avoid the darkness that so often surrounds them.  I choose purity - in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Memory Verse

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.  1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 NIV

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:   How can we support and encourage each other in our commitment to stay sexually pure?  Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday Pastor Glenn Teal will teach on the topic “Self-control overcomes Gluttony.”  This is a great Sunday to invite a friend.  Pray for an open opportunity to do just that!

Overcomer - No Lust!

Galatians 5:13-25

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Here toward the end of Paul’s epistle to the Galatian Christians the author turns the focus to the practical.  What difference does it make to follow Jesus?  And among all the various changes Jesus brings into our lives is the ability to exercise self-control even over our sexual impulses.  Strong stuff for people like us.

Reflect

Questions

Read this passage slowly look for the ways that the Spirit helps to overcome the flesh.  

Notice how the subject of fleshly passions comes up after the list of the Fruit of the Spirit.  How are these related?

Prayer

Dear Lord you know the world I live in.  Sexual temptations seem to surround me.  But in you I can find freedom and deliverance . So help me to keep on being crucified with Christ so that I can live by the Spirit. Amen.

Memory Verse

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.  1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 NIV

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:  How do each of the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit help us overcome sexual temptation?  Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday Pastor Glenn Teal will teach on the topic “Self-control overcomes Gluttony.”  This is a great Sunday to invite a friend.  Pray for an open opportunity to do just that!