Complete Sermon Notes

A Prisoner of Appetite – Is Unhealthy Eating a Sin?

Intro.: Unhealthy – the ability to take care of our body but choosing not to do so.

• This is a struggle for most of us – When I’m overweight it’s BECAUSE of neglect in this area. And it’s hard to preach on what you’re not “living out”.

NOT HERE TO BEAT UP BUT ENCOURAGE  ⇙

Growing up – called Chubber Lang, Stuffed Pig, etc.

• I was 240lbs. this time last year – Would Jesus be overweight?

• Would Paul lose credibility? Would we take James less seriously?

Thomas Costain’s history, The Three Edwards, described the life of Raynald III, a fourteenth-century duke in what is now Belgium.

Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus. After a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald but did not kill him. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room….

…This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald’s size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”

Raynald stayed in that room for 10 years & wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year…a prisoner of his own appetite.

KEY: The physical affects the spiritual.

• We’ve been talking about the filling of the Holy Spirit, and disobedience.

The School Of Obedience by Andrew Murray, “The one thing God asked of Adam in Paradise was obedience. The one thing by which a creature can glorify God, or enjoy His favor and blessing, is obedience. The one cause of the power sin has got in the world, and the ruin it has wrought, is disobedience.”

• “The secret of a true obedience is the return to close and continual fellowship with God” – JUST OBEY MY VOICE.

Does the Bible say anything about – Addiction? Wise Stewardship? Disciplining our bodies? … Gluttony?

• RECOMMENDED READING: “Breaking the Stronghold of Food” by Dr. Michael Brown.

Gluttony: to gulp down – it’s the over-indulgence and consumption of food or drink. Its often tied to wealth, extravagance, and waste.

• The modern American lifestyle promotes gluttony –

Unhealthy food is tied with gluttony – “I ate too many apples and broccoli today”, not.

But there is hope:

• Submitting to God rather than the god of our bellies – Philippians 3, “their god is their stomach [belly]…Their mind is set on earthly things.”

• You can change your appetite and palate: Greg Laurie’s example

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The excuse verse actually confirms my message: 1 Cor. 6:12 NIV, “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.

• Context is “Do not be deceived” – do not use your liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.

Appetite is a strong pull – Prov. 23:1-3 PARAPHRASED: “When eating with a ruler, pay attention to what is being served. If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat; don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.”

Resolutions are good: re-evaluate, re-examine, AND change

Why THEY fail? The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak – feed the Spirit

1. FIND THE MOTIVATION – ASK GOD FOR HELP

• “Breaking the Stronghold of Food”, free copies of WWWDD, sign up in lobby.

“Abundant life” – energetic and even tempered. Being moody and angry are often the result of a poor diet and conviction.

• Our example to our kids and others.

• God’s grace is divine empowerment – Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses…

2. IT’S A “LIFESTYLE” – THERE ARE NO SHORT CUTS

“Lose weight quick” is a great marketing slogan but it’s not realistic – wear this belt, take this pill, only workout 8 minutes a day.

All you do – do to the glory of God –

When it’s a lifestyle, I’m prepared for the ups and downs.

3. CHOOSE THE PAIN OF DISCIPLINE OVER REGRET

Physical Discipline Always Has Spiritual Benefits – Discipline then joy. Patience then peace. Abstinence then fulfilment.

WITHDRAWALS are a sign that change is taking place.

1 Cor. 9:27 – I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize…I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should…I keep on disciplining my body, making it serve me.

• eliminate (someone) from a competition because of an infringement of the rules.

• make (someone) unsuitable for an office or activity.

Elliotts Commentary: The body is spoken of as his adversary, or the seat of those lusts and appetites which “war against the mind” (Romans 7:23; Galatians 5:17)….make it a slave. The idea is carried on that the body is not only conquered, but led captive. We must remember that the language all throughout this passage is figurative, and the statement here refers, not to the infliction of actual pain on the body, but to the subduing of the appetites and passions which are located in it. The true position of our natural appetites is that they should be entirely our servants, and not our masters; that we “should not follow or be led by them,” but that they should follow and be led by us.

• Puritan author, John Owen, writes, “Secret lusts lie lurking in your own heart which will never give up until they are either destroyed or satisfied.” The flesh—although it feels comfortable and natural at times—is not a friend to be trusted: “The carnal mind is enmity against God” (Romans 8:7). The flesh says, “Feed me so I can destroy you…destroy your health, your relationships, your soul.”

4. FALL FORWARD – the enemy use regret and procrastination

Those who succeed in this area, are those who have fallen.

5. CONSUME LIFE-GIVING FOODS: In the beginning, God gave all creation “the herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” (Genesis 1:29).

Delicacies are now our diet –

Life giving foods from the soil – Colorful foods have a purpose

Dead foods fuel disease – chemicals contribute BIG TIME to mental anguish.

Today’s Tip: Formulate a Plan:

1. The power of the made up mind [discipling the body].

2. Expect temptation and withdrawals – PLAN accordingly.

3. Out of sight, out of mind.

4. Don’t center things around food.

5. Have healthy options available.

6. Move more – stay active.

7. Fall forward

30 day focus on health as a church – I’m doing a healthy Daniel fast with intermediate fasting.

ISAIAH 58:7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

• PRACTICAL APPLICATION – Consider Fasting – it’s a purifying process. The desire of the carnal nature (the cravings of the body) are restrained. Fasting breaks addictions and strongholds – it renews the mind and edifies the soul. It’s not a recommendation; it’s essential.

• GIVE MORE OF YOUR TIME AWAY – idealness / laziness lead to gluttony.

HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT? HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE NEGLECT OUR HEALTH, HURT OUR FAMILIES, AND LEAVE A POOR EXAMPLE …