Whose God Is Their Belly
I. Introduction: Would you bow your head to your belly button and pray to your own belly? Well, what if your belly is what drives you and you obey the tummy God?
A. There is only one true God (I Corinthians 8:4-6 and Ephesians 4:4-6).
- Such reference is to the Father (John 17:1-3).
- Which is not a denial that there are two other persons within the realm of God; being deity (Acts 5:1-4 and Romans 9:1-5).
- Thoughts need to proceed in this towards temperance [self-control], especially when talking about satisfying fleshly desires whether liberties or not (Proverbs 23:1-3 and I Corinthians 9:27).
- We also need to consider how carnal wants and deception [even self-deception] can go hand in hand (Ephesians 4:22).
II. Body: The Language Of Our Lesson (Philippians 3:18-19; cf. Romans 16:17-18).
A. The big point - CARNAL MINDEDNESS isn’t of God, doesn’t lead to Heaven, etc. (Romans 8:1-8 and Galatians 5:16-26).
- Clear lines exist (I John 2:15-17; cf. John 15:18-19 and James 4:4).
- Understand that even within the framework of authorized liberties, there is the principle of using this world without abusing such (I Corinthians 7:31-34).
- Even when it comes to filling our bellies, our [saints] bodies are not our own (I Corinthians 6:20; cf. Romans 6:19).
- Present your body to who (Romans 12:1-2)?
- Even within marriage, you are not to consider your body as only yours (I Corinthians 7:1-4).
- Serving one’s own wants makes you the enemy of Christ even if you think your intentions are good (Mark 8:31-38).
- Think of contentment and the desire for earthly wealth and what that leads to (I Timothy 6:6-10).
- Saints belong to someone other than ourselves (I Corinthians 3:23).
- Furthermore, if ye are dead with Christ why would you live according to the world in satisfying your own flesh (Colossians 2:20-23)?
- If my actions are tending to carnal lusts, why am I making my salvation harder on myself (I Peter 2:11)?
- Who is glorified in what I am saying or doing (I Corinthians 10:31)?
- Are my words or actions pleasing to God? How would I know (Colossians 3:16-17 and I Thessalonians 4:1-2)?
III. Conclusion: Serving one’s own desires may be who you used to be (Titus 3:3). Now, ye serve the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:24).