Sermon Notes By Dr. Shana Wise
Wise Choice Ministry's theme for this month is applying Kingdom principles for good health: mind, body, and soul. Our theme scripture is
3 John 1:2-4 NKJV, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
I believe that we can pray for others to have good health and prosper, and I also believe in teaching and education. I have worked in the healthcare field for over twenty years as a nurse, and I have seen various health disparities that afflict many people. Some of these health problems are unavoidable but others are caused by ignorance, lack of disciple, and sin.
The number of deaths for leading causes of death:
• Heart disease: 696,962
• Cancer: 602,350
• COVID-19: 350,831
• Accidents (unintentional injuries): 200,955
• Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 160,264
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 152,657
• Alzheimer’s disease: 134,242
• Diabetes: 102,188
• Influenza and Pneumonia: 53,544
• Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 52,547
Many people are dying in the USA due to these health conditions which in some cases can be avoided if people would apply the education and discipline given to prevent these diseases. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, nephritis, and some cancers can be avoided if we practice the discipline of healthy eating and lifestyle.
Hosea 4:6 NKJV, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Let us examine some of the sins rooted in selfishness. These sins left unchecked in our spirit or go without repentance and change can lead to detrimental consequences within our beings. They can leave us to be unhealthy in our minds, body, and soul. They will influence our actions, and our actions can be harmful to ourselves and others.
Seven silent sins are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. I want to examine some of these sins and highlight the sin of gluttony.
Enjoy this article from www.bibleinfo.com on the seven deadly sins:
1. Lust
Lust is a strong passion or longing, especially for sexual desires.
The Bible speaks about lust in 2 Timothy 2:22, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love [and] peace...”
The Bible also mentions lust in the following verses: Job 31:1, Matthew 5:28, Philippians 4:8, James 1:14-15, 1 Peter 2:11, and 1 John 2:16.
Chastity or self-control cures lust by controlling passion and leveraging that energy for the good of others.
2. Gluttony
Gluttony is excessive and ongoing eating of food or drink.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Additional Bible references include Psalm 78:17-19, Philippians 3:19-20, Proverbs 23:1-3, Proverbs 23:19-21 and 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.
Temperance cures gluttony by implanting the desire to be healthy, therefore making one fit to serve others.
3. Greed
Greed is an excessive pursuit of material goods.
The Bible says the following in Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
Other biblical texts which mention greed include Exodus 20:17, Proverbs 11:24, Proverbs 28:25, Ecclesiastes 5:10, Philippians 4:6, and 1 Timothy 6:9-10.
Charity cures greed by putting the desire to help others above storing up treasure for oneself.
4. Sloth
Sloth is excessive laziness or the failure to act and utilize one’s talents.
Solomon spoke of sloth in Proverbs 6:6 saying, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise.”
The Bible also mentions sloth in the following verses: Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 24:33-34, Romans 12:11-13, Colossians 3:23, and 2 Thessalonians 3:10.
Diligence or zeal cures slothfulness by placing the interest of others above a life of ease and relaxation.
5. Wrath
Wrath is strong anger and hate towards another person.
The Bible speaks about wrath in Romans 12:19, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”
Additional Bible verses include Psalm 37:8, Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 15:1, Ephesians 4:26-27, Colossians 3:8, and James 1:19-20.
Patience cures wrath by first understanding the needs and desires of others before acting or speaking.
6. Envy
Envy is the intense desire to have an item that someone else possesses.
The Bible says the following in Proverbs 14:30, “A sound heart is a life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.”
Other biblical texts which mention envy include Job 5:2, Psalm 37:1, Proverbs 24:19-20, Ecclesiastes 4:4, Galatians 5:26, and James 3:14-16.
Kindness cures envy by placing the desire to help others above the need to supersede them.
7. Pride
Pride is an excessive view of oneself without regard for others.
The Bible says the following in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “...let not the mighty man boast of his might...but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me...”
Pride is also mentioned in the following verses: Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 16:18, Romans 12:16, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 6:3, and James 4:6-7.
Humility cures pride by removing one's ego and boastfulness, therefore allowing the attitude of service.
Seven sins & the Christian church
According to Christian tradition, the seven deadly sins (also known as cardinal sins or capital vices) could not be forgiven. However, according to the Bible, these seven deadly sins are completely forgivable by God, but this doesn’t give us free license to commit these sins. Biblically, the only sin that cannot be forgiven is a complete rejection of God’s grace, which is outright rebellion against God—also known as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
The root cause of these sins
Each one of these deadly sins listed above has its root in the desire for more and the human need for excess. Each sin goes against the root of Christianity which is: love for God, love for our fellow man, and love for our bodies (keeping them as clean temples for God, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-12, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” This strikes at the root of each of these deadly sins. Paul in effect is saying that God can take care of our needs and there is no need to lust or desire excessive things.
What cures these deadly sins?
The cure for these sins is the gift of a new heart that acts in accordance with the love and law of God. This new heart can only come from God. Ezekiel 36:26-27 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Humanity's only hope is the miracle of a regenerated heart that acts according to the direction of the Holy Spirit to walk in God’s statutes and judgments.
Personality Quiz: Which of the seven deadly sins are you?
Power does not come from self to change the heart. On the contrary, this verse clearly points out that God alone gives you a new heart and causes you to walk in His ways. As this event becomes a reality in your life, the seven deadly sins of gluttony, envy, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and greed will lose their power in your life. With the indwelling Holy Spirit in your life, you will instead desire to live a life based upon the principles of the Bible.
History of the seven deadly sins
The seven deadly sins were first compiled by Pope Gregory I around the year 600. They are pride, greed, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy, and sloth. Gregory also compiled a list of the seven virtues: faith, hope, charity, justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude. The Bible would validate all of these concepts, but nowhere are they recorded in a list like this and nowhere in the Bible are they specifically referred to as the seven deadly sins or seven virtues. They do not pre-date the Ten Commandments which were given at Mt. Sinai around 1450 B.C. It is probably true that they were used extensively to teach principles from God's Word, particularly in the centuries before the invention of the printing press when the Bible was not available for the common man to read and study.
Seven deadly sins in the Bible
As mentioned before, the list of seven deadly sins in question does not appear in any Bible verse. However, a slightly different set of sins can be found in Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
and one who sows discord among brethren.”
Additionally, Galatians 5:19-21 mentions several more sins to be on our guard against: “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The seven virtues
The seven virtues were originally defined in the poem, Psychomachia, by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, a Christian governor who died around 410 A.D. Because of the poem’s prevalence the concept and idea of the seven virtues spread throughout Europe. The following is a listing of the seven virtues and how they cure each of the seven deadly sins:
Kindness = cures envy by placing the desire to help others above the need to supersede them
Temperance = cures gluttony by implanting the desire to be healthy, therefore making one fit to serve others.
Charity or love = cures greed by putting the desire to help others above storing up treasure for oneself.
Chastity or self-control = cures lust by controlling passion and leveraging that energy for the good of others.
Humility = cures pride by removing one's ego and boastfulness, therefore allowing the attitude of service.
Diligence or Zeal = cures slothfulness by placing the best interest of others above the life of ease and relaxation.
Patience = cures wrath by taking time to understand the needs and desires of others before acting or speaking.
Gluttony
Notes by Pastor Shana Wise (also available on PowerPoint)
Gluttony The Silent Sin That’s Killing this Generation
Definition of Gluttony
· Definition of Gluttony (Merriam Webster’s Dictionary): excess in eating or drinking.
· Pastor Wise Definition of gluttony (in the spirit): Not being satisfied with what you have already been given (or have; your reasonable portion).
Alarming facts for pastors and leaders in the church
• Most funerals that you will perform will be for someone who died of complications of heart disease, stroke, or diabetes. These diseases often stem from a lack of self-discipline or control of diet and lifestyle.
• Question: How much of your church budget, teaching, and preaching is spent on health and nutrition?
• How many leaders in the church can demonstrate self-discipline and self-control when it comes to our eating habits and healthy lifestyle living (exercise, balance of our day-to-day livelihood)?
How can we overcome gluttony?
Change Our Thinking
• Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ did not have a problem with gluttony.
• What does God have to say about it? Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• You are what you think. Proverbs 23:7(a) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Self-Discipline
• Self-Discipline has been given to us by God. 2 Timothy 1:7
• Gluttony is not necessarily about a diet change; it is about a lifestyle change.
• One of the biggest challenges for us to overcome is ourselves.
• Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Knowledge
• Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
• Every answer we need is found in the Word of God. There are hundreds of scriptures that address gluttony and lack of self-control. Like all scripture, we must practice applying it to our everyday lives.
• Educate yourself on health. Listen to what the doctors and researchers have to say about healthy living and lifestyle.
• When we know better, we do better (physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally).
Scriptures to Overcome the Spirit of Gluttony
Proverbs 25: 16 If you find honey, eat just enough-too much of it, and you will vomit
Psalm 78:18 They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they
craved.
1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God
Romans 13:14 Rather, clothes yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Matthews 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
then food, and the body more than clothes?
Scriptures Read Before You Eat if You Have Problems with Gluttony
Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, it is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word, that comes from the mouth of God.
John 4:34 My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Proverbs: 28:7 A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Ecclesiastes 6:9 Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Watch the Message on YouTube
About the Author
Dr. Shana Wise is an ordained Pastor and CEO of Wise Choice Ministries (est. 2016). She is the founder of The Well Christian Women’s Network formally known as Christian Women Preachers United. Dr. Wise is the author of women’s devotional, Acts of Intercession, The Impact of Your Election, and co-author of Basic Ministry Training Manual (available on Amazon) and Chief Women Arise. She received a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2019 from St. Thomas Christian University. Her passion is to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, equip others to apply the Word to their lives, and demonstrate the Word through the power of the Holy Spirit. She is a televangelist that appears on social media outlets. Shana is married to Deacon Ron Wise and is the mother of four children.
For speaking engagements email: wisechoiceministries512@gmail.com.
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Acts of Intercession
The Impact of Your Election
Basic Ministry Training Manual
Chief Women Arise
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