GoGroup question and Sermon Note - Sun July 16th

Questions

1. Describe what is your goal as a Christian (Your main goal in life)
2. Beside your main goal in life, do you have a personal short term goal you want to achieve? (Can be in work, family, hobby, etc)
Please share how you're doing with tat goal. How do you work on it, how long do you think you can achieve, how it is related to your main goal in life.
3. Please share if you have any tips, dealing with LUST. Please share simple ideas to avoid them, because this is really not easy.
Remember, in this world we are surrounded by lustful views we cannot avoid.
How do you think Job can make covenant with his eyes against lust (Job 31:1)
4. Please mention your hobbies, as many as possible.
5. From all your hobbies, which one do you think you are doing too much so you need to reduce or fast from it for a certain period?
6. Let's make commitment together if there something we need to fast, to gain self control over it.
Pray for each aother for it.

Have a wonderful go group discussion this week.

GoSOLID


SERMON NOTE
Sunday, July 16th 2006
Title : Seven Habit of Highly Defective People Part #3

GOALS and GAPS
In our Chrdtian life we should have the right goal.
Our goal as a Christian should be : Get closer to the Lord. It should be a constant and continual desire. That 1st goal sould be above any other goal (family, hobby etc)
As we don't pursue that goal, the gap between we and God become bigger and bigger, and when we never think about that goal may be our Christian life will be like 'auto pilot'. We may go to church every Sunday and doing church activities but we don't really realising God.

Habit #6 : LUST.
On all internet surveys, Lust was always the #1.
Every book of the New Testament warns us to avoid lust because it leads to sexual immorality.
Mat 5:28, Mark 7:21-23, Acts 15:29, Romans 13:12-13
1Cor 5:11, 6:13, 6:18, 2Cor12:21, Jude 7

Define LUST to have an inordinate desire especially sexual.
When lust came, there is a chemical reaction and it is addicted so we will want more. It happen mostly on men.
It can be illustrated like having test drive on a car. The seller let us try and enjoy the luxury of the car, the smell of its leather, comfortable driving, and when we realise we already sign the contract, purchase it.

Lust isn't limited to sexual things, it is lusting after something in this sense, it is related to greed but mostly focused on other people.
For women, lust is more spiritually and emotionally like thinking about how is it like to be married to another husband.

Sexual sin is more grievous than other sins.
We easily tolerate mixed standards in everything.
We must make covenant with our eyes likr Job
Job 31:1 "I make covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman."
We must make covenant with our minds too.
Because by not having covenant with our eyes and minds we make worse defect.
We will reap the benefits in our heart and in our relationship with God and families.
Minimise the opportunity for temptation.
From ladies perspective you must dress modestly.

The CURE of LUST is LOVE.
When we lust we USE people and when we love we VALUE our relationship with people.

How can we attain love instead of lust?
- firstly by reading and staying in the word of God (Ps. 119:9 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.)
- By being a accountable to someone for eyes and thoughts
- By making your spouse the center of your desires and not allowing desires for someone else to creep in.

Habit #7 : GLUTTONY
Gluttony is misdirected hunger, It is the pursuit of physical or personal pleasures.
Several types of gluttonous behaviors are things like watching too much TV, sleeping too much, playing too many games on the computer, a hobby that is out of control and of course over eating.
It was describes by one person as they no longer eat to live but live to eat.
Stoppong gluttony is about gaining power...
The gluttons says "I have no will power."
Stopping gluttony is about having control...
"Don't let anything have control over you. FASTing is good, it disciplines you.
When it comes to being gluttonous about food it is hard because you just can't stop eating.

The CURE of GLUTTONY is SELF CONTROL
We over eat, we over sleep, we over work, we over play, we over over. So how do we become self controlled and defeat the voice that is inside us saying just one more time won't hurt.

Self control enables us to stay within God's ordained boundries.
People in God's word that were mastered themselves, their appetites and emotions so they could please God and not themselves, Self control is the evidence that you are allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life.
Self control provides protection.
Self control provides freedom.

Here are a few other steps to gain the cure;
- know what you want
- Don't settle for anything less.
- Be purposeful in everything you do.
- Depend on Christ.

GoSOLID