Guarding Faith in a Media-Driven World
Summary
In a sermon centered on maintaining a clear faith in a blurry world, the speaker delves into the pervasive influence of media and the voices that lead people away from Jesus Christ. The speaker begins by describing the characteristics of ungodly sinners, drawing parallels to the modern-day inundation of media through social media, movies, and music that can subtly influence thoughts, words, and actions. The analogy of being under the influence of alcohol is used to illustrate the gradual impact media can have on an individual's spiritual life.
The speaker then transitions to biblical stories, such as the Israelites' rebellion against God despite witnessing miracles, to highlight the dangers of believing we possess all knowledge and do not need divine guidance. The sermon warns against the voices that promote sensuality, selfishness, and the pursuit of worldly pleasures, as exemplified by false teachers who have crept into the church, distorting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The speaker urges the congregation to discern these influences and to contend for the faith.
The sermon also touches on various biblical events and figures, including the defilement of the flesh, the rejection of authority, and the importance of evaluating the voices we hear today. The speaker recounts the story of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah, the Archangel Michael's dispute with the devil, and the tales of Cain, Balam, and Korah, emphasizing the need to recognize the characteristics of the voices that influence us.
Furthermore, the speaker discusses the concept of spiritual beings interacting with humans, as in the case of demons producing a hybrid species with women, leading to God's decision to save only Noah and his family. The sermon also addresses the influence of media on individuals, comparing media consumption to alcohol consumption, and the importance of being aware of its impact on behavior and beliefs.
Lastly, the speaker highlights the pervasiveness of sexual perversion in today's society, even among secular voices, and the impact of social media influencers on young people's views of sexuality. The sermon concludes with a call to be mindful of the content we consume and to recognize the pervasiveness of pornography in various forms of media.
Key Takeaways:
- The voices we allow into our lives, whether through media or personal interactions, have the power to shape our worldview and spiritual health. Just as alcohol can subtly influence one's actions, so too can media consumption dull our spiritual senses and lead us away from a Christ-centered life. It is crucial for believers to be vigilant and discerning about the content they engage with, ensuring it aligns with their faith and values. [35:08]
- Biblical narratives, such as the Israelites' rebellion and the stories of Cain, Balam, and Korah, serve as cautionary tales for modern believers. They remind us that even those who have witnessed God's power can fall prey to pride and self-sufficiency. These stories encourage us to remain humble and reliant on God, rather than our own understanding or the persuasive voices of the world. [53:58]
- False teachers and ungodly influencers do not need traditional platforms like pulpits to spread their messages; they can permeate our lives through everyday media. As Christians, we must be aware of the subtle ways in which these voices can distort the Gospel and lead us astray. It is our responsibility to contend for the faith by actively evaluating and filtering the messages we receive. [28:17]
- The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding the spiritual realm and its interactions with humanity. The accounts of angels, demons, and their influence on the physical world remind us that there is more to our existence than the material. Recognizing the spiritual forces at play can help us better navigate our faith and the challenges we face in a world that often dismisses the supernatural. [43:47]
- The sexual perversion pervasive in today's society, often amplified by social media influencers, has a profound impact on young people's understanding of sexuality. As Christians, we are called to uphold the purity and sanctity of sexual relations as God intended. It is imperative to guard against the counterfeit and perverted versions of sexuality that the enemy promotes, which can lead to destructive behaviors and beliefs. [57:39]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Jude 1:5-16
2. Genesis 6:1-4
3. Genesis 19:1-29
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the characteristics of the ungodly people mentioned in Jude 1:5-16? How do these characteristics relate to the influences we encounter today? [32:19]
2. In Genesis 6:1-4, what actions did the "sons of God" take, and what was God's response to these actions?
3. How did Lot's interactions with the angels in Genesis 19:1-29 illustrate the pervasiveness of sin in Sodom and Gomorrah? [43:07]
4. According to the sermon, what analogy is used to describe the influence of media on our spiritual lives? [34:21]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of the Israelites' rebellion in Jude 1:5-16 serve as a warning for modern believers about the dangers of pride and self-sufficiency? [39:09]
2. What does the account of the angels in Genesis 6:1-4 teach us about the consequences of leaving one's God-given position and authority? [40:25]
3. How does the story of Lot in Genesis 19:1-29 reflect the impact of living in a morally corrupt environment? What lessons can we draw from Lot's experience? [43:07]
4. In what ways can the analogy of media consumption to alcohol consumption help us understand the gradual impact of media on our spiritual lives? [34:21]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the types of media you consume daily. Are there any specific influences that you need to evaluate and possibly eliminate to maintain a Christ-centered life? [34:21]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of discerning the voices we listen to. How can you practically apply this discernment in your daily life, especially regarding social media and entertainment? [28:17]
3. Think about a time when you felt influenced by a worldly voice that led you away from your faith. How did you recognize this influence, and what steps did you take to counteract it? [28:57]
4. The sermon mentions the pervasiveness of sexual perversion in today's society. How can you guard your heart and mind against these influences, especially in the context of social media? [57:39]
5. How can you encourage and support others in your small group to be vigilant and discerning about the content they engage with? Share specific strategies or practices that have helped you.
6. Reflect on the biblical narratives mentioned in the sermon (e.g., Israelites' rebellion, Lot in Sodom). How can these stories inspire you to remain humble and reliant on God in your daily life? [39:09]
7. The sermon calls for believers to contend for the faith. What practical steps can you take this week to actively evaluate and filter the messages you receive through various media? [28:17]
Devotional
Day 1: Guarding Spiritual Sensibilities
Media's subtle influence can erode our spiritual alertness, much like alcohol impairs judgment. It's essential to remain vigilant and discerning, ensuring that what we consume does not lead us away from a Christ-centered life. [35:08]
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: How can you actively filter the media you consume to better align with your faith and values?
Day 2: Humility Before Divine Wisdom
Witnessing God's power does not make one immune to pride. The stories of the Israelites, Cain, Balam, and Korah teach us to remain humble and seek God's guidance rather than relying solely on our own understanding. [53:58]
1 Corinthians 10:12 - "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"
Reflection: In what ways might you be relying on your own understanding instead of seeking God's wisdom in your daily decisions?
Day 3: Contending for Authentic Faith
Everyday media can be a platform for false teachings, subtly distorting the Gospel. Christians must actively evaluate and filter messages, contending for an authentic faith that resists being led astray. [28:17]
Jude 1:3-4 - "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to discern and resist messages that distort the Gospel in your daily life?
Day 4: Recognizing the Spiritual Realm
Understanding the spiritual realm's influence on humanity is crucial. Recognizing the interactions between angels, demons, and the physical world can help us navigate our faith in a materialistic society. [43:47]
Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Reflection: How can you become more aware of the spiritual forces at play in your life and seek God's protection and guidance?
Day 5: Upholding Sanctity in Sexuality
The pervasiveness of sexual perversion, amplified by media influencers, impacts young people's views on sexuality. Christians must guard against distorted portrayals and uphold the sanctity of sexual relations as intended by God. [57:39]
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 - "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable."
Reflection: How can you promote and model God's design for sexuality in your own life and in your interactions with others?
Quotes
"Am I under the influence and not know it? When we talk about being under the influence, right away our mind goes to alcohol, but I want you to ask this question this morning not in the realm of drinking but in the realm of your consumption of media." [35:08] (Download)
"The more deviant, the more demon, the more disobedient, the more rebellious media we take in... the greater chance it will be under its influence. The more time we give to it, the more that influence will grow, and the more our spiritual senses will be dulled." [36:34] (Download)
"Jude shares all these things as rapid fire as bullet points to say all of these serve as examples of a truth: You and I, by contending for the faith, need to evaluate the voices we're listening to." [33:36] (Download)
"Jude writes and he says I want you to contend for the faith... I want you to push back and I want you to do some evaluating to ask the question, are you under their influence, are you under their teaching." [28:17] (Download)
"What Jude is talking about is be careful of voices of influences in the world that creep in... not all voices in the world are bad... but we need to be discerning of which ones to let in and which to keep out." [28:57] (Download)
"We have to evaluate, we have to discern, we have to contend for the faith. So let's evaluate what we're tuning into, the podcast we're subscribing to, the movies we're watching, the music we're listening to, the people who entertain us." [50:30] (Download)
"God loves sex; he loves it. He's The Mastermind behind it; it is pure, it is Holy, and it is to be pleasurable. And what God creates, Satan counterfeits and Satan begins to pervert it all over the place." [56:07] (Download)
"What makes this generation feels so perverted? It's the pervasiveness of it; it's everywhere, it's all over the place, it's impacting young and old alike so much that even the secular voices in our world are concerned about it." [57:39] (Download)
"Great Britain said it is the pandemic of all pandemics, the issue of pornography and sexual perversion, and so we need to recognize that it's all over the place." [01:00:20] (Download)
"Let's talk about what we're scanning through as we go through our social media feeds; what's coming up, what's the commentary about your self sexual care. It's all over the place and you don't think that this is impacting you?" [01:01:01] (Download)
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