This series is based on the series of the same name from Northpoint Church
Today folks is a great day - today we start a very interesting series of messages - "God and your Bod" . . .
For the next 4 weeks we're gonna shine a light on our bodies and what God has to say to us about them . . . (extremely thankful for a fella names Andy Stanley (Pastor) North Point Church - lot of this information is from him . . . )
We're gonna start this series . . . kick it off by talking about body and health extremes . . . How some of us are neglectors of our bodies . . . and we live way out on that end of the health scale . . . We eat to much and drink to much and don't care to much . . .we're body neglectors . . . and on the flipside . . . some of us are over focused on our bodies and are health nuts to the extreme . . . . We're body worshippers . . . .
Two extremes - body worshippers and body neglectors.
Now . . . most of us don't think of ourselves in terms of those extremes . . . because if we look around us - we can always find someone more extreme than us . . . If you are a body worshipper and a real health nut . . . you can always find someone whose a bigger health nut than you . . . and they are the extreme ones - not you.
And even though your maybe not into health and don't eat right and you're not in shape at all . . . you know some people who are worse than you . . and they are the real body neglectors - not your - you're somewhere in between - right?
Now - (if we're honest) - (don't do this out loud) (just in your mind). How many would say - I'm kind of a neglector - I lean towards unhealthy . . . (gauge . . . you're past center . . . ). Or how many of you would lean towards being a body worshipper . . . if you're hones you'd say you lean towards the extreme of being a health nut and words like fit and lean and thin and high protein are words you like . . . (gauge - you lean there . . . )
Some of you don't know where to lean . . . but most of us lean in one direction or the other . . .
Two extremes, (let me repeat).
One extreme - body worship - this extreme is all about handfuls of vitamins and 5 or 6 workouts a week and counting calories and you spend a lot of time and energy and money on how you look - you're clothes - your hair - your body . . . and you feel a lot of guilt and pride about how you look - your guilty on a Wednesday morning because you had a bit of a donut and you didn't workout - but you're over proud because you're more thin or lean or fit than someone else . . . (compare to much).
The other extreme - body neglectors . . . your not fit - you don't eat right - and you abuse your body . . . and you know you ought to do something about it but you don't or can't or won't and your Dr. has warned you and your wife/husband has warned you . . . but you've grown real content with the fact that this is just me and I'll enjoy my life like this . . . whatever . . .
Body worshippers and body neglectors . . .
Most of us lean into one of those extremes or the other . . . okay . . .
Now that's great so far . . . but here's the question we need to ask . . .
Why are we talking about this in church?
Why would we ever spend time on it? - over the next 4 weeks (heart, hands, feet)
You will be amazed - I think, as I was, that the Bible has an incredible amount to say about the body - and the Bible addresses those of us who are neglectors, and those of us who are worshippers of our bodies . . . . . . and, whether or not you are already a Christ follower, or if you are just beginning to check this whole thing out . . . whether you're convinced about what will be said, or still have questions . . . here's one thing I know for sure - as we move toward extremes - by either neglecting our bodies or spending to much time and money and effort to make sure our health is perfect. As we move to either of those extremes, . . . . . . we put unnecessary pressure on the people closest to us . . . . . . Whether your into the whole God thing or not - as you move towards extremes on these things - your gonna strain your relationships with those you love because of the extra ordinary amount of attention or the lack of attention that you give your body . . .
Hear this - your body is yours . . . but the way you treat it may impact the people that you love the most. (and that is a big deal) . . . . . .
For those who are healthaholics or exerciseaholics . . . you know the tension you've created in your family by being a little extreme - your wife or husband or kids may feel like you spend more time with the people at the gym than you do with them . . . because you can't handle missing a run, and you can't stand to miss a work-out, and some of your diet and food issues have created unnecessary guilt for other people in your home . . . and maybe that tension is something you've simply blocked away and hid from it by saying - "but it's healthy - it's healthy" . . . and yet there is an unnecessary tension in your home because you have allowed yourself to work towards an extreme.
Now, here's how that relates to being here, and here's how that connects to why we meet together as community every weekend.
You can't be right with God and not right with the people he's brought into your life . . . that doesn't work.
Now we all think we can . . . make that work . . . and you know what we think . . . . . . "I can't stand her - but I love God" - "I fought with him all week but I love God" - "I can't stand them but I love God" . . . but God says (hold on) what you do to them - whoever "them" is for you - what you do to them - you do to me - (that's what God says . . . ) and you can't separate those two things . . . and so there's a tension between worshipping your body and neglecting the relationships God considers most valuable . . .
Now - to be honest - I'm not much of a healthaholic - I'd rather arm-curl a burger than some weights (picture it!). But during the past few years I've worked out fairly consistently . . . anyways a couple years ago - I was working out every miring early - trying hard - working at being in shape - but what I didn't realize is that those early mornings every day started affecting my energy and attitude with my family at night . . . Clearly for several weeks there, I had allowed something good (working out) to compete with a uch more important thing - (my family) - and I had to look at why it was so important a priority for me to be at the gym . . . .
Tension - worshipping your body and neglecting relationships God considers valuable .
Those of you who are body neglectors - maybe you don't realize this - (I don't know), and maybe it hasn't come up in your family but it will, . . . by neglecting your body . . . by not giving it what it needs to be healthier . . . In time you are going to impact some other bodies . . . let me explain, . . . . . . See . . . . . . if you don't learn to take care of yourself . . . the people you love the most will be forced to take care of you . . . if you and I don't take care of our bodies . . . then we are gonna cause unnecessary time and financial pressures on other people, to take care of our bodies . . . Now - you can hide behind the idea that it's my body . . . I'll do what I want . . . and anyway - my dad was like this and so were all my uncles and my grandmother had the same size pants as me . . . and I saw a picture of my great great aunt and she was big boned too . . . .
Some of us think, and maybe say "I can't help the way I am" . . . and we hide behind our food issues or our lack of discipline . . . and then we say . . . "it's my problem not yours . . . just leave me alone" . . . but the truth is . . . If you and I neglect our bodies long enough . . . we will cause significant unnecessary pressure to those we love the most - and they will be forced to take care of our bodies because we didn't take care of them ourselves . . .
I know a family that has dealt with this for generations . . . A grandfather - who didn't take health seriously at all - in fact he smoked and drank himself into unhealthy at a very early age . . . and by those unhealthy extreme choices . . . forced his family to have to take care of him for some 30 years . . . (30 years . . . )
And now, it's someone else's time and someone else's money and his choices have overflowed into the lives of those who loved him the most . . .
And what's worse is that the next 2 generations in that family have followed suit . . . and it has hindered so many future generations of that family . . .
See folks, we cannot go to extremes with our bodies and not affect relationships . . . and you can't be right with God - but not right with the people He's put in your life . . . Catch this next level . . .
See (if we're honest) - on either side . . . of these extremes, at the end of the day - they both boil down to a pretty self centered approach to life . . . . . . (if we're honest) . . . we're either totally consumed with making our body look good at nearly any cost to the people around us . . . or we say, "it's my body and I can do with it what I want - I can neglect it if I want . . . I make the decisions . . . it's all about me" . . . and both ends of the extremes . . .if we're not careful and if we're honest - are all about me . . . and that subtle self centeredness - takes it's toll on our relationships . . . over time . . .
Now, here's the cool part. The Bible offers a solution to both of these extremes . . . and you might be surprised that the answer is not balance . . . I think the most popular answer (in our culture) . . . is to say - lets just all move closer together and find balance . . . neglectors move towards the body worshippers and the body worshippers move towards the neglectors - (I don't think so) - see if you're a body worshipper - your gonna say . . . I'm not moving over there - I've taken my whole life to not be there.
But . . . now if you're a neglector . . . you're thinking okay this is good . . . bring those worshippers a little closer . . . my couch is big enough . . . (I'd even share the remote!)
Nearly every health book you read talks about balance . . . as the answer to extremes, and folks, hear this balance is good . . . . . . But I'd like to offer another word that might be more accurate - to what God could say to us . . .
Perspective.
God gives us a perspective on our bodies that if we were to adopt it - (hear this part, it's good news !!). If you take God's perspective on your body - your not gonna be less healthy - or have less fun in life - your not gonna have to give up habits that are good for you . . . but . . . If we - (if you and I) could begin to put into action God's perspective on our bodies . . . it would radically change our lives and it would also be an incredible pay off to the people we love the most . . . to the people who are most important to us . . . now . . . . . .
The Bible verses were gonna study a bit today were written to a few people in a town called Corinth . . . and they had a misunderstanding about the body . . . Here's what they thought and I think lots of us buy into the same line of thinking . . . (ready -big breath!). They thought - everyone of us - every man or woman has a spirit and God is all about the spirit - and the spiritual side of mankind really needs to be connected with God . . . but on the other hand we have these physical bodies . . . and that's totally different thing - see . . . . . . they compartmentalize their lives . . . and said . . . I can do whatever I want with my body. And they did let me tell you (immoral society) . . . . . . They said I can do whatever I want with my body and I can still keep my spirit connected to God, and even if there is a contradiction that's okay . . . because God doesn't care about this body, it's dying anyway . . . He just cares about soul things, spiritual things . . . and so they compartmentalized their lives, . . . . . . and you know what, so do we lots of us . . . come to church here on the weekends and we connect with God and were trying to seek him during the week and we want our hearts and minds and spirits connected to Him . . . but then we neglect/or become compulsive about our bodies, . . . . . . and we don't see that, as a spiritual issue . . . we think it's a body issue and not a spiritual issue . . . and we don't mix the two together . . . we compartmentalize them . . . But folks, hear this - (how you treat your body is a spiritual issue) (repeat) . . . Listen, to what the apostle Paul said to these compartmentalizing Corinthians . . .
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
I Corinthians 6:19 & 20 (NIV)
(His key point was this)
Your Body is a Temple
Now, when the apostle Paul used that word Temple - he knew it would have an impact . . . because in Corinth . . . where he was writing this . . . there was a huge temple in the middle of the city - they knew what a temple was . . .
A temple was a place that was built for the sole purpose of worship . . . now in their case that temple in Corinth was built to worship Aphrodite, the goddess of love . . . . . . But they understood what Paul was saying when he said your body is a temple - See . . . Paul was saying - I don't know what you think about your body - but God thinks it's a temple, and furthermore Paul says for those who follow Jesus Christ and have placed your faith in Him - The Holy Spirit has moved into your body . . . and you hold - inside of you, a piece of God . . . and God views you as a temple.
See . . . our bodies aren't to be worshipped (God is) and they aren't to be neglected . . .
Your body is a temple . . . in fact (try this . . . !)- next time you see someone that's really attractive you can say - "Hey - nice temple" . . . because that's what it is - a temple that holds the spirit of God . . .
Then Paul goes on to say - (look at this) . . .
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
I Corinthians 6:19 & 20 (NIV)
See folks, when we make a decision to follow Christ - the Holy Spirit comes and lives - dwells in this temple . . . God sends His spirit to you . . . (in your body) (crazy - but very cool!)
Then, listen to what Paul says . . .
"You are not your own" - your body belongs to God . . . Now if you're a neglector you probably say - well that's good I haven't done much with it - maybe it's good it's not mine . . . . . . But you body worshippers are saying - I've put all this time and energy into it . . . what do you mean it's not mine . . . of course it's mine . . . and God says . . . hold on - your body belongs to me for 2 reasons . . . . First, God says - you're not your own because I created you . . . and the creator owns the creation . . . Second, God says - you're not your own because I sent my son to die for you . . . I purchased you with the life of my son . . . . . .
So, . . . if you're here today . . . and you're not signed up to follow Christ with your life - if you are seeking a relationship Christ - great - your body belongs to God - because he created you . . . And if you are here and you're a Christ follower today - you belong to God because He died and paid for you and your sin . . . . . then Paul closes by saying Honor God with your body . . .
And so God says, "if you want to know what I say about your body - here it is - don't neglect it - don't worship it - honor me with it" . . . .
Use your body to reflect back to me (God says) and to everyone else around you . . . . . . who I am . . . God says - reflect my love and grace and mercy . . . back to me from your body.
Don't neglect it - don't worship it - honor me with it!
Colossians - Paul says - connect these tow scripture together (Awesome truth)
"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (all things - includes us . . . )
Colossians 1:16 (NIV)
Now if you put those verses together . . . here's what you get . . . that your body was created by God - for God . . . to honor God. (repeat) (think about that . . . )
Now what if we began to look at our bodies with that truth in our minds . . . (take a moment with that and think . . . . . )
God created our bodies for a purpose (now . . . . . . )
If you're at a point in your life spiritually where you're checking things out with God . . . maybe you've said - I'm just gonna start to listen and try to just get this whole Jesus thing . . . .
This part may be for you . . . (catch this)
There is a very important relationship between the created thing and the purpose of that creation . . . . .
Everything you've ever created had a purpose behind it . . . whether it had practical use or simply for enjoyment (painted a picture or built a tree house . . .) . . . whatever is created has a purpose in the mind of the creator. Here's my point . . .
(If you believe that there was a creator who created not only this world but humankind as well) . . . . If you believe that . . . Hear this . . . for you (as the creation) to ever sense true purpose in your life, . . . you have got to connect to the creator because (only in the creator does the creation find it's true purpose . . .) See . . . . all of us have questions: Like why am I here? and What is the purpose of my life? and What is life all about? . . . And those questions ring louder in your mind every year you get older . . . well folks . . . answers to those question are only found, when you connect with your creator . . . those are issues and questions of purpose (that you're asking. . . ) and the answers, are only found in relationship with God . . . so . . .
Why say all that? (stick with me) . . . because if you ever come to a place in your life where there is not enough success, or not enough music, or not enough money, or not enough relationship, or not enough booze or whatever . . . to take or make those questions of purpose go away . . . . to take those why am I here questions - away . . . I want you to know . . . that . . .
In this Book . . . the Bible we find our purpose . . . and when you realize - and come eye to eye with your creator and connect with Him relationally . . . you will find purpose, that has the potential to revolutionize your life . . .
Because when the creation connects with the creator - it just doesn't get any better than that. See all those other things won't fill you up . . . and all those other things won't help you find purpose and they won't last.
See . . . God gave us our bodies for a purpose . . . to honor Him . . . and when you lock in on that purpose . . . something begins to change within us that will eventually change the outside . . . of us as well . . . our bodies . . .
And here's the purpose of our bodies.
It was created by God - for God - to honor God. (we're gonna talk about this for several weeks) because the best thing you can do with your body physically is to line your body up with the purpose of bringing honor to God.
That's what your body was designed to do
So, let's talk about perspective and how to avoid . . . the extreme of body worshipping I think that . . . we have to look at our bodies in line with their purpose (we were) (created by God - for God - to honor God.)
And anything more than that perspective would be using our bodies in a way the creator never intended . . . (practical)
Quick Check List
How much time . . .
How much money . . .
How much mental space (thoughts) . . .
How much . . . time and money do you spend on your physical body? . . . . . and is that time honoring to God?
Just asking - no guilt . . . and does that time, money and thought investment line up with the purpose of your body? . . .
Created by God - for God - to honor God . . .
Now on the flip side . . . .for all you neglectors . . . Your body is a temple - it is sacred - your body was created by the God of the universe . . . So perspective here would say . . . treat your body in line with it's purpose of honoring God . . . (again thought provoking questions)
What are you doing to keep your body in such a place physically that you can honor God with it . . .
Is your temple a mess? Is what your putting in the temple a mess? Will the way you are treating your physical body not allow you to complete God's purpose for your life . . . ? See . . .
I think God would say to us . . . neglectors make sure you don't take something that I have created to be Holy - sacred - a temple to honor me . . . and neglect it . . . or misuse it . . . or hurt other people with it . . . because the purpose is clear . . . We were created to honor God with our bodies and if we compartmentalize and say - well God has nothing to do with my body - I can do with it what I want, well . . . . . . then we're confused about our purpose . . .
See . . . with God . . . all of our being is one - body - mind - spirit . . . He created us in such a way so as to connect with Him - creation to creator in all areas . . . No compartmentalization.
We were created by God - for God - to honor God. And over the next few weeks - we're gonna talk about how we can honor God with our hearts - our hands . . . and our feet . . .
Can't think of a better way to walk into summer - hand in hand with God. |
