Another awesome day of worship at Out of the Box. 262 people in worship this morning and the Spirit was on the move. The response to the new series “Danger” has been phenomenal. There are many new faces in the services each week and we are making strides with our newest ministry, Recovery At Hillsville.
Out of the Box, you Rock!
I have received so many messages already from the Danger series but I would love to hear your thoughts as well. I want to know that we are sharing messages that are relevant and needed and your comments and notes help to clarify that we are hitting the bulls eye. Thank you to everyone who has shared your thoughts. I am working on the next series already, a series that will speak to life, death, and life after death. Stay tuned for more information on that new series.
Here are some notes from the message yesterday. Danger – Dangerous Influences
Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.
Proverbs 25:26
We started by talking about the avenues we have for dangerous influences to enter into our lives. Things like the movies that we watch, television shows, magazines we read, games that we play, the music that we listen, the books that we read, and the people that we hang out with.
I used a movie that is a little dated but its sequel was out just a couple of years ago. Several people have been surprised at the statistics I shared about the movie “Hangover.” Here they are again.
Facts of the movie…
91 different versions of the F BOMB or approximately one F Bomb Per Minute
41 S WORDS
9 slang terms for the male private parts
2 for the female
14 Hells
14 A Words
31 different versions of God’s name in vain
Innumerable sexual references & sexual scenes
Most people I talk to who saw the movie say they never even heard all this stuff. The fact they didn’t hear it because we have become so desensitized by the dangerous influences that we have allowed into our lives. Again, my hope is not to make people feel guilty for seeing the movie but to help us realize just how dangerous these things are.
I’m not your mama and God gave you good common sense. You have to take the steps necessary for you to live the abundant life Jesus promised but I can assure you it won’t happen if the spring is polluted. If you know what I mean. Satan is a thief, and a liar. His desire and mission is to steal, kill, and destroy your testimony. I don’t mean destroy your testimony by non Christians saying, “Look they watch and do the same things we do.” I’m talking about the fact that you will live defeated. Your choice.
Could it be that we as Christians have given way to the dangerous influences of the ENEMY?
Could it be we have become a muddied spring?
Could it be that we have become a Polluted well?
THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER
1) A little bit of POISON goes a long way.
Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast — as you really are.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7
2) Just because everyone does it, doesn’t make it RIGHT.
Do not become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops a well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 12:2 Message
3) Just because I COULD, doesn’t mean I SHOULD.
“Everything is permissible for me”-but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”-but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12
Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
3 Questions we need to ask ourselves
• Am I being ENTERTAINED by sin?
• Is this pleasing to GOD?
• Does this lure me away from CHRIST?
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart…
Psalm 24:3-4
You can do as you have been doing and not lose your salvation. Grace is grace and it is Jesus plus nothing that gets you into a relationship with Jesus. However, if you continue to do as you please, it will slowly but surely kill your spiritual life. God created us for more than this.
I love you church!
Pastor Ronnie