My Life Stinks

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  My Life Stinks

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  Well good morning everybody. Welcome to our first Sunday after Resurrection Sunday. Back to reality. No choir, no special things happening. You're just stuck with me. I apologize. But somebody had to do it. In all seriousness, there were some pretty, uh, unique pictures on display during the sermon last week, don't you think? I thought it was, you know, some of them were really striking. There was somebody who made a reference to, um, the first, uh, disciples to run and see the empty tomb. And I think we found a more updated version. And, you know, I have a hard time wondering if, I think, Adam sees sombrero Jesus off to the side and in his love for sandwiches, I think that he. Didn't that look more like a loaf of bread on Sombrero Jesus's head than anything else? So anyway, I think I picture Adam for some reason, just being torn between a sandwich and then looking up at the Lord's head. No. In all seriousness, I just wanted to take a moment just to, really express my deep appreciation for these two men. Having served as a preaching pastor. And when the holidays, come and we ping back and forth between Christmas and Easter. Of course, with Christmas, you have, Christmas Eve service and then also whatever Christmas Sunday is going to look like. And then with Resurrection Sunday, there's Good Friday and then Resurrection Sunday. So those men really have to double down, and it takes a lot of effort and things don't slow down. In fact, they pick up all the ministry related things that aren't even connected to the messages or the worship and music on Sunday still go on. And so they still have to handle all those things. And of course, God has gifted them in a very special way, and it's very life giving for them to be able to do those things. So it's not a burden. But those of us know that even when we serve in the strength that he supplies, there's still an element that requires sacrifice and diligence. And these men, this is why it's my great joy to preach for Adam, this Sunday. Because at least, you know he got the Sunday off. Now, Ronald, he got the short end of the stick there. If I would try to lead worship and preach today, well, that would not necessarily be a blessing to anyone. But in all seriousness, can we just take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for the men who get up here nearly every single Sunday, to preach God's Word faithfully, to take worship songs that fit the theme of the message, and allow our hearts to be engaged in praise. Can we just thank them both? It is such a blessing to have them and we're grateful.
  Well, now it's time to turn to the message. And as I thought about what I would preach, my mind kept drifting back to the reality that I was born and raised on a farm. Uh, any fellow farmers in here? Show of hands. Alright. Anyone? Uh, we've all visited farms, right? So, you may not know this, but we had dairy cows and pigs, horses, dogs and cats, of course. Um, but farms are really smelly places, aren't they? Um, I would say that they're distinct in that regard that they smell. But there's one particular stench that has always hung with me in my memory. And that was whenever one of the large animals would die. When a heifer or a sow, big, big adult animal would die. It's not like when a dog or cat dies and you just go to the backyard and you dig a hole, you know, bury them. No, these animals would require a massive hole. You can't do that to your yard. And you have to actually call a rendering service. And then they come and pick the animal up. Well, sometimes that rendering service can get there in the next couple of days, but sometimes if they're really backed up on farms. They can be there in a week or so. And just those animals laying out in the hot sun, cooking flies, maggots, all the other stuff that comes along with it. Before you know it, that animal can smell really, really badly. In fact, whenever that truck would come up our driveway, we would run for cover because it carried with it such a horrific stench that it just made you want to run for cover. And it was absolutely unforgettable. Now, on the same farm, there was actually a lot of very pleasant smells. We had lilac bushes on our farm. I love the smell of lilac bushes. Does anyone else? I got company there. They just. They look beautiful. They smell wonderful. Big, big fan. Of course we had fruit trees. We had apple trees and pear trees and raspberry patch, and that when those fruits ripen, there's a sense of smell. But you, you take it to a whole new level when my mom would, make an apple pie or a raspberry pie, right? Combined with the cinnamon, it would just fill the house. It was a wonderful aroma. And then another great smell was the sweet smell of alfalfa or hay being cut. It just has this really earthy, aroma that is just wonderful to smell. And of course, there was sweet corn after being shucked in boiling water. And all of it reminds us of summertime, which is coming soon. This is life, isn't it? This is our lives. It's filled with a variety of smells and aromas that cover the spectrum. Some disgusting stenches, some fragrant aromas. And this really does help us set the stage for today's message. Because if you've looked at the title, the message has an intriguing one. "My life stinks". And today we're going to address two spiritual realities that will determine whether your life will be a stench or be a sweet fragrance to the Lord. Two realities. Reality number one is this...the stench of sin makes life unpleasant. The stench of sin makes life unpleasant and reality number two...the aroma of Christ makes life so, so sweet. As already noted, there's a stark contrast between a stench and a fragrant aroma. Fragrances are pleasant. They're appealing, associated with beauty. They can enhance moods and evoke positive memories. While on the flip side, stenches are unpleasant, often repulsive. They are typically associated with death, decay, filth, or something offensive. The same is true spiritually and the Apostle Paul captures these realities in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16. I invite you to turn there. You can see it for yourself. 2 Corinthians chapter two, verses 14 through 16. And here is what God's Word says. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved, and among those who are perishing, to one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life." Verse 16 mentions both the aroma of death and the aroma of life to life, and these two distinct gospel focus and life versus death realities are seen and contrasted throughout Scripture. Have you ever heard somebody say, "my life stinks." We all have at some point, maybe not those exact words, but we understand what they mean. My life stinks. Well, Scripture actually affirms that to be a very true and accurate statement. At first it may seem like a discouraging statement, but it's true. Just as God's Word proclaims, your life and mine are going to smell like something. That's the reality. Our lives are going to smell like something. They're going to give off an aroma that impacts what God smells and what other people around you smell. So when somebody says, my life stinks, what do they mean? I think most of us would interpret that as negative. Maybe the reality of sin that is plaguing their life is causing their life to stink. Maybe foolish decisions are causing their life to stink. Maybe a selfish attitude is causing their life to stink. Maybe foolish and life draining circle of friends or co-workers is causing life to stink. Or worse yet, maybe it's because there's no relationship with the Lord or with his church and it's causing their life  to stink. God wants you and I to come to our senses. He wants us to be mindful of the things that can cause our lives to stink spiritually, as well as the ways that our lives can be a fragrant aroma to him.
  And to help us see this correctly, or should I say smell this? I created a special list and I know it's ten points. It's in your handout that you received. Don't worry, we're going to make it. We're going to make it. And I've entitled it The Stinky List. It's a simple way for you to remember this message and God's desire for you to always come to your senses. And this is by no means an exhaustive list, but one that I compiled over time is I had the chance to survey my own heart struggles, and also have the blessing and the privilege to do a lot of counseling at the church. So I get to see a lot of struggles that people bring in and the things that they're dealing with. And so this is very practical and by God's design, insightful for our continued growth and our sanctification. Did you know the only thing that you will take with you when you die? Well, we know your soul will depart, right? We know you'll get a new body eventually in the resurrection. The only thing that you take with you is your sanctification. That's what you did. That's what you take with you. That's your starting place. That's where eternal rewards are based out of. That's where the sum and substance of life is. And so praise the Lord. We get to have an opportunity today just to think about some things really, practically that impact the one thing that we actually get to take with us, our growth and maturity and our understanding of who God is. Praise the Lord.
  1.  Well, let's get started with number one on the list. My life will be a stench if I do not know or follow the Lord. Proverbs 13:15. Well known to many, the way of the transgressor is hard. It's a hard life. This life in our fallen world is already filled with toil and pain due to sin. And the Lord knows this. In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 11, he invites all who are weary, all who are heavy laden, to come to him so that he can give them rest. It is a spiritual rest, calling every person to trust fully and completely in him alone for forgiveness and redemption. And then in Matthew 16:26, Jesus continues by asking for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? The Lord knows in our pursuit of happiness, success, and fulfillment, it's easy to become consumed by the things of this world. We chase after careers. We chase after reputations. We chase after possessions. It's true. Thinking that somehow they're going to bring us joy and meaning in this life. And Matthew 16:26 reminds us of a profound truth. No matter what we achieve, no matter what we acquire, it is utterly meaningless. It's vain if we do not have a true saving relationship with the Lord. Imagine a life built solely and completely on on worldly achievements: the corporate ladder, amassing an incredible amount of wealth, gaining extraordinary followership and popularity as an influencer, whatever it might be, without the gospel and a foundation rooted in a saving relationship with Christ, these pursuits will ultimately leave you feeling empty and unfulfilled. Worldly things we strive for quickly fade, and they can become burdensome, can't they? They exhaust us. They're life draining, and it can lead to a life filled with anxieties and dissatisfaction. And when we don't know the Lord, we miss out on the true purpose of our existence. Sinful pursuits blind us of our need for Christ. And without this vital relationship, we risk the reality of living a wasted life. There's a book titled Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper, actually tells the story of an 80 year old man who came up after one of the services and he had responded to the gospel, and he was sitting up in the front, and he had his head buried in his hands, and he was bawling. And you know what he kept repeating? I've wasted it. I've wasted it. I've wasted it. Powerful. 80 years old. And it's fitting, coming on the heels of Resurrection Sunday, the thief on the cross that died, that professed trust in Christ. Right? Lived a life of waste. Would we all agree up until that point? And yet God can and will redeem a situation. It's not wasted. We know where that 80 year old man is probably now, considering the time frame of when the book was written, perhaps he could still be alive. And if he is still alive and the book was written some 20 years ago, then that means that the Lord blessed him with additional time so that he could put a redeemed life on display. As you reflect on this verse, consider what you are investing in. Are you building a life that aligns with God's will of being discipled and making disciples? Or are you chasing after passing pleasures that will only leave you in want? I know how much my life stunk when I did not know or follow Christ, and many of you in Christ can testify to the same. God has called us, right? It's a command. It is. It is rooted in the Great Commission, right? The primary focus and the responsibility that he's given to us is to make disciples. And to help other people understand really why their life stinks and who it is that they're missing out on. My life will stink if I do not know or follow the Lord.
  2. Our journey through the list continues. Let's look at number two. My life will be a stench if I do not fear God nor keep his commandments. Who can tell me who the Holy Spirit used to record Ecclesiastes?  Solomon. Yeah. You're right. You say it loud and proud. You're right, King Solomon. One of the wisest men to ever live. And most of us know that he was loaded with material possessions. He sinfully and selfishly had hundreds of wives and maidservants. And so, by the world's standards, he was in want for absolutely nothing. And Solomon is living proof that you can have plenty of wisdom in your head, and still fail to apply wisdom in your heart. Listen, you can have access to wisdom and still not fear God. And fearing God means recognizing his sovereignty, his holiness, and his authority over our lives. A godly fear is designed to shape our daily decisions, and without it we may find ourself dismissing or at least minimizing his holiness. Our flesh will open the door for us to be driven by sinful desires, rather than fearing God with a desire to honor him. It happened to Solomon. So let's not think that it couldn't happen to us. Solomon is the one who reflected on his life, who God used to pen these infamous words. The conclusion when all has been said and done, fear God and keep his commandments, because this applies to every person. A life without a healthy fear of God and adherence to his commandments stinks. On the other hand, when we fear God and commit ourselves to his instruction, we find stability and strength in him, don't we? It's true. Our lives become a reflection of his love and grace. We gain true wisdom and understanding, helping us to navigate life's challenges and make choices that align with his will. Heart question for you. Do you fear God? Do I fear God? If we don't, our lives will stink because sin will be residing in our hearts waiting for us to compromise. If you don't think that God takes sin seriously. I've shared this before. He flooded the entire planet and saved but all but eight people. And if you don't think that God takes sin seriously, that even in the end times, there's going to be a series of judgments that come, right?...trumpet, bowl, seal judgments. Events that are going to take one third of the earthly population away. When we love God, we love his holiness, and then we'll despise our sinfulness and fear him in a way that honors him. Fearing God, we're told in the Proverbs, is the beginning of wisdom. It's the beginning. And if you don't fear God, then you won't fear the effects or consequences of simple choices. Only a person captured by the holiness and wrath that God has toward sin will turn around and show fear and reverence. So I just ask you, as you ponder Ecclesiastes 12:13 with me, and I had a chance to do it this week. Are there any areas in your life where you may not be fearing God, where you may be disregarding his commandments? Is there sin in your walk that continues to compromise your spiritual health? That is a direct revelation about where your heart is and your posture is as it relates to fearing God, fearing God. When I disregard it and I yield to a temptation, I do not fear God in that moment. I need to repent of that. Embrace God's call to fear him and keep his commandments. Reach up to the Lord in repentance. Reach up to him. Reach out to others in life group or a discipleship group or a Bible study for accountability and it will help you to have victory.
  3. Our stinky list continues with number three on the list, my life will be a stench if I do not have fruit of the Holy Spirit. Number three, to me, is perhaps the most disturbing and graphic. And to see the reality of just how unpleasant the stench of sin can be. Go to Galatians chapter 5 with me because it spells it out so clearly. It's good just to see the word. It's good just to read it. See it for yourself. Galatians chapter 5. Galatians. Ephesians. Starting in verse 16 of chapter 5. "But I say, walk by the Holy Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. For these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. 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 make it their habit. Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Here in Galatians 5, the apostle Paul contrasts the life led by the Holy Spirit with one driven by our sinful flesh. And he emphasized two paths either we're going to walk in hopefulness and harmony with the Holy Spirit producing his fruit, or we succumb to the life draining desires of the flesh, resulting in a life filled with chaos and despair...or fruit of the flesh. And imagine living each day without the transformative qualities of the Spirit. And some may not have to imagine. Without love, we become distant and disconnected from God and others. Without peace, we experience turmoil and anxiety. Without patience and kindness, our interactions become strained and contentious. The absence of these fruits can make life feel heavy and draining, leading to feelings of hopelessness and despair. On the contrary, when we yield to the Spirit's work in our lives, we begin to reflect his fruit in our thoughts, in our words, and our actions. Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to respond to the daily challenges that we're going to face with grace and compassion. And so again, I ask you, and this is spiritual heart surgery that I performed on myself all week reflecting and preparing. So I think I know how you feel right about now, or at least I like to think that I know. It's got some, there's some weight here. There's some weight here for our growth. As we reflect on this passage, are there any specific areas where you struggle with those desires of the flesh mentioned in Galatians 5:16-21? Right? And I'm talking about patterns of sin in your life. Listen, we all get angry. We all, um, can be show an aspect of jealousy. I'm talking about patterns, ongoing patterns of sin that you see in your life. How has it caused your life to stink? God wants to help with that. God's got an answer for that. He does. The sweet fruit of the Holy Spirit stands in stark contrast with the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. I mean, those are the fruit. We name our kids after them. We have a Mercy, right? 100 bucks for the first person that names their person self-control. Okay, that's all I'm saying. I'll put it out there. I'm serious. I'll give you $100. If you name your child self-control. That would be. That would be fascinating. But I want you to notice verse 24 automatically assumes that we're going to put the deeds of the flesh to death. Why? Because life will absolutely stink if we don't.

  4. Number four on the list. My life will be a stench if I do not apply the gospel of forgiveness in my relationships. By divine design, the gospel saves your relationship with God. But do you know what...God designed it to save your relationships with others? That's how it works. The gospel has saved my marriage with my wife, Victoria. The gospel has saved it because we practice forgiveness in our home, don't we? It saves our relationship with those who are close to us. It's allowed me to retain friendships because when I sinned against them, they forgave me. Or likewise, I have had to forgive them. The work continues. It's not just a one time message so that you can go to heaven after you die. God calls us to apply the gospel each and every day, and we see this spelled out for us so clearly in Ephesians 4:32 it says, be kind, tender hearted, and forgiving, just as the Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven you. You notice that progression there. Be kind. What is the importance of kindness? It keeps other people's hearts tender. And what will a kind, tender hearted person do? They forgive. They'll forgive. But you know what happens when bitter deeds of the flesh move in. And before you know it, you can have unkindness, hard heartedness and unforgiveness in your heart. You see it all the time in broken relationships, especially in the most sanctifying relationship, marriages. Right? We see it. In kindness. I don't know that there's a more underestimated and underappreciated fruit of the Holy Spirit than kindness. When properly understood, God's kindness leads us to repentance. It's kindness, and it's why it's so important. And you know, I get it. Killing each other with kindness makes a great sign at Hobby Lobby. And there's different kinds of kindness. There's this kindness that actually manifests itself through just being polite, having manners. Right? That's instilled in all people, not just the life of the Christian. That's not the kindness that I'm talking about here. I'm talking about the gospel fruit of being divinely enabled to be kind to people who sin against you. That is powerful. That is potent. And I have to say it as a warning, because if you can hear the sound of my voice, and if you're in any relationship or if you're in a marriage where you have now started to have this track record of treating each other unkindly. Oh my goodness. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when that relationship is going to be over unkindness, hard heartedness, unforgiveness. It will not last. So we need to see that. It's a divine fruit of the Holy Spirit that enables your heart to remain tender and forgiving. It's the true fruit. It's kind. And God wants us to be sweet smelling examples and to follow him. And what does Paul write in the very next verse after verse 32 of Ephesians? He says, therefore be imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for us an offering and sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. He leads us by example...his kindness, his tender heartedness towards us, his forgiveness. And so you can use this to evaluate your marriage. You can do this to evaluate your relationship with your kids. You can use this to evaluate your friendships with coworkers or classmates. Is there kindness there? Is there kindness? Look for it because it's going to keep their heart tender towards you and your heart tender towards them. And if we don't follow Christ's example, say it with me. My life is going to stink. Yes. You're listening. You're listening.
  5. Number five on our list. My life will stink if I do not have discipleship and accountability. Proverbs 11:14, where there is no guidance, the people fall. But in abundance of counselors there is victory. And this proverb, of course, this maxim is true for everyone in the room. God designed us to be dependent disciples on Him and His guidance first, and to be dependent upon the wisdom of godly influences of leaders and teachers and disciplers. And when we fall into a pattern of sin, it is no different than falling off a ledge, Spiritually, it's going to hurt. It's going to hurt. The question is to what degree? Discipleship is designed to protect us, but in abundance of counselors, there is victory. Your translation might say safety, which I like too. When I was talking to our teenage students, I asked them if they've ever seen the videos where you see these, um, kids and some young adults doing these insane jumps right?  Off skateboards going down deep rails, some jumping off the side of buildings, trying to get to, um, ledges that are literally a couple stories lower down and to land successfully, many of which do not...getting horrifically injured. And for what? Views on TikTok. And is it really worth it to get paralyzed or severely injured for the rest of your life for views on TikTok? No it's not. That's foolish. Discipleship protects us from our foolishness and not only protects us physically, but relationally, spiritually, financially from making foolish and potentially life threateningchoices. Our biological DNA...probably should have Todd come up to explain it, but I'll give my best attempt, is our genetic code. It's what makes us up. It's what gives us life. You would not have life in this room right now, physically, if you did not have your DNA. Your deoxyribonucleic acid. Not bad. Huh? Some stuff sticks in there. I remember that from a long time ago when they taught us in science class, I really do. Spiritually, the same is true. There is no life in the body of Christ without spiritual DNA, without discipleship and accountability. Discipleship and accountability are by divine design. It is God's will for all of us to be discipled by Christ and to be discipled by others, to be accountable to Christ. Each of us will give an account to God, Romans 14:12. And to be accountable to others. Submit yourself to one another in the fear of Christ, Ephesians 5:21. It's his design. Who are you discipling? Who's discipling you right now? Who is holding you accountable spiritually in your walk, in your dating relationship or in your marriage? In your parenting? In your purity? These are Biblical questions. This shouldn't make anyone uncomfortable answering. They are basic questions in Biblical Christianity. It's our commission. It's designed. Discipleship paves the way to open up those doors to embrace the roles that God has ordained for us. And it turns around and it allows us to be a fragrant aroma to Christ. So say it with me. Without DNA, without DNA, my life is going to stink. Yeah, we're getting there.
  6. All right. My life will be a stench if I do not honor authority. I think most of us understand that there are different God ordained authorities. And this will be more apparent when our passages are read in just a moment. The challenge we face isn't with authorities in place, but submitting to those authorities that challenges the hearts. We're okay with. I'm okay with lots of authorities. It's submitting to them when my heart gets challenged.  I want to read these two texts with you. And while we read them together, I want you to be sensitive to your heart response to the commands within them. Okay? I want you to see how you do. It's going to be fun. Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." How did you do? Oh, it wasn't bad, right? Hope not. Did your heart struggle with any aspect of the commands to obey and to submit? I think most folks in our church understand that the elders here at the church and the ministry leaders that we have at HBC really do have your best interests in mind when it comes to your spiritual maturation and growth. But there can still be tension there sometimes, right? Let's be honest. Well, let's go ahead and let's just keep going a little bit. Now let's go to this next one. Okay. 1 Peter 2:13-20 proclaims, "submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution. Every human institution: government agencies, state and federal level. Submit yourself to them. Schools. Agencies. Police departments. Tracking with me. Right? This is what's in mind. And God's word is so amazing. He put institutions right. He knows every human institution. He knows that in different societies, there's going to be different reflections of authority, whether to a king as one in authority, or to governors sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and to the praise of those who do right. Okay, let's rephrase that. Whether to President Obama. Whether to President Biden. Whether to President Trump. Whether whatever governor has been ordained by God to oversee the state. Verse 15, for such is the will of God, that by doing right, you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Honor the president. Verse 18. Servants or employees, be submissive to your masters. Your bosses with all respect. Not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. How are we doing now? A little bit harder, isn't it? And if we're being honest, there's probably some pushback rooted in your flesh. Your inner lawyer has just risen up to defend your heart because it's our sin nature to push back, be submissive to my boss even when they are being unreasonable? And all God's people said, no way. No way. Well, unreasonable when they asked me to stay later. And they know I have plans and or they put that stack of work on my desk at the last minute. We need verse 19. Look...for this finds favor if for the sake of conscience toward God, a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly, for what credit is there if when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it. This finds favor with God. And, seeing the divine order of submission is critical. It is mission critical. We know submission has gotten a bad rap right?...since the beginning of time, by the way. But when you see God's order of submission, it puts things in place because the Son submits to the Father and the Holy Spirit submits to the Father and the Son, and the church submits to God, and the elders lead the church and submit to God, and the members submit to the elders and submit to God. And then you have government which God has placed, and the governing authorities and families must submit to all those things. And then you have fathers submitting right?...to all those things, and then you have wives submitting to their husbands, and then you have kids submitting to their parents, and then you have animals that we were called to subdue the earth and have authority submitting to all of them. Sothere's some promise for you young kids that might be in the room. You do have authority over someone...your pet in the house. Okay. You do? I say that...you're laughing, but, hey, I want to give them a glimpse of hope right here. Otherwise, it seems like the decks are stacked against them. But isn't it so true that submission is such an ugly term? It's woven into the very fabric of the Godhead. It's woven into God's divine order of submission to all authority. And so if I do not submit to the authorities that God has placed over me, then say it with me, my life is going to stink. Are there any authorities currently in your life that you're struggling to submit to right now? Some teenagers in the room are tempted to say, yes, all of them. And you know, that wouldn't shock me. It wouldn't. Because our sin nature by default encourages our flesh to push back rather than submit. It just does. I was talking to two young men, had the privilege, both interested in going to the military. So we talked about this issue of authority. Right. Because you get orders and there's a lot of parallels serving God and country. Serving God and people in the church, there's parallels there. And so we just even talked about the authority of yielding to your parents. So how are you doing there? Well. Well. I don't know. What makes you think it's going to be different than when you go into the service, and then they ask you to do something. And I can share firsthand, because I am a military veteran, I went to West Point Prep. I was active duty. And I know that when I lived at home with my parents, they told me to clean my room and guess what? I had to clean it. And then when I lived at military prep school, guess what? They told me I had to clean my room and I cleaned it and it involved making hospital corners on my bed and all my shirts being measured exactly the same distance apart. Same with my shoes. It involved brass sewing buttons and pipes in the bathroom that no one would ever see. I wanted them to see it. Even my own heart this week. Uh, my wife's a school teacher, local Christian school. They had Grandparent's Day on Friday. Wonderful event, but parking is just absolutely crazy, so they had to make arrangements for that. Well, Friday there's coffee. Okay, there's $1 coffees. I'm giving this to you. This is a big time one. One of my favorite things. Lowes has boxcar coffee. You go there on Fridays. You can get $1 coffee any size, right? Really good. Freshly brewed coffee. $1 coffee. Enjoy it. You're welcome. And I went there and I texted my wife, and I just said, hey, would you like me to pick you and one of the teachers that she works with up a coffee, she's like, sure, that'd be great. And she even asked for an extra one that she was going to give to somebody else. So I fill up the coffees, I'm driving it there, and as I go into pull into the parking lot, I'm pulling into the parking lot at the school. There's a police officer in front going like this. Nope. Nope. So I roll down my window and already in my heart I'm like, there's no way I'm parking over at the high school and walking over with four things of coffee. I already had that going on in my heart. And I said, hey, my wife's a teacher at the school. I'm just here. I'm not here to park. I'm just here to drop the coffee off and leave. And he's like, sure, go ahead. He was reasonable. But what happens if he wasn't? I think you all get where I'm going with this. There's an opportunity there for me, isn't there? There's a divine appointed opportunity for me to yield and submit to that authority so that I can not only be a good testimony to that officer who's just trying to do a job. They asked him that no cars come into that lot, and if he said that, then so be it. And I'd have to my wife, whom I love and want to give her coffee anyway, walk, you know, a few extra minutes to get from from the high school. That's the reality of God's word for us submitting to the authority, isn't it? It isn't just part of a maturing process for Christians, but it's a true recognition of the divine order of submission that understands that our testimony can find favor in the sight of God and be pleasing unto him.

  7. Number seven on the stinky list. My life will be a stench if I do not forsake my lusts and idols. Turn with me to 1 John, and we're going to hustle through these. I realize my time is disappearing on me. God's word uses explicit warnings about falling in love with the world in 1 John 2:15-17. The Lord had the apostle Paul. I'm sorry, not Paul...John record, "Do not love the world nor the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life is not from the father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lust. But the one who does the will of God lives forever." Evil lusts are really lies. I tell people that all the time in counseling. I've preached it from this pulpit before. It's good to write the lies of the flesh, the lies. If you're a Bible writer, write it in there. They're lies, that's what they are. And the lies of the flesh are sinful cravings for physical gratification, for comfort, for pleasure and indulgence. And we live in a world that often equates happiness with these passing pleasures. But then why don't these lies ever lead to fulfillment? Why do they always leave us so empty? Because they stink. Vicki. That's why. They stink. And the same is true of the lies of the eyes, which is an allurement of visual temptation. Coveting what others have, whether it's material wealth, beauty, or success. The world continues to lie to us. But true contentment, we know, is found in the Lord. Joy is found in a godly image, not a worldly one. The lies of pride tempt us to elevate ourselves above others, seeking recognition, status, and worldly influence. These lies encourage a culture that prizes achievement and self-promotion. We must remember that our worth is found not in our accomplishments, but in our identity in Christ. It's there. And this is why God's Word emphasizes, even in verse 17, the transient nature of this world. The world is passing away along with its desires. Listen, many selfish pursuits that consume our time and energy will ultimately fade away. And if you live for the lies of lust, say it with me. My life is going to stink. And these lies are so dangerous because if not dealt with, they eventually turn into idols that we worship. Our self-image instead of God's image, our net worth in this life instead of the riches of eternal life. And John closes the epistle by saying this, little children guard your selves from idols. Why? Because if you worship something else besides the Lord Jesus Christ. Say it with me. My life is going to stink.
  8. We're on the home stretch. We're going to get a stink break. Okay. Um, after the final three on the list and I got to go fast. Number eight. My life will be a stench if I do not keep good company. Listen, if your friends stink, guess what? Your life will too. A bad company is like sailing in a boat full of holes. It is going down. And there's nothing that you're going to do to prevent that. And God's Word says, do not be deceived. In other words, don't think it will not happen to you. Bad company will corrupt...or you could translate it harm, destroy, pervert good morals. And so if you hang out with friends who think that it's okay to lie. Eventually, guess what? There's going to be an erosion of trust. If you hang out with a gossip, guess who is going to turn into one too? It's unavoidable. Now, to be fair to our context here. There were people in Corinth who were denying the resurrection, and it was having, um, or saying the resurrection of the dead already occurred and it was having a negative impact on believers. Yet the principle for us remains the same that we pull from here. Bad company likes to use peer pressure to force you into doing something, or believing something that you know doesn't honor the Lord. And that's why God's Word seriously warns us about keeping the wrong company. It's going to stink. Don't do it. Don't do it. Young people, evangelizing and witnessing to unbelievers is one thing, but friendships and negative influences that cause you to compromise your testimony is what's being called into question here. There's other friends...make some hard decisions. This is one of the hard decisions I remember as a young believer for 20 plus years ago, you know, had to give up a lot, forsake a lot of friendships. But the Lord has amply supplied tenfold.
  9. All right, number nine on the stinky list. My life will be a stench if I do not make wise decisions. It's never God's will for us to make foolish decisions. Ephesians 5:17, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. He wants us to take the wise path. That's his will for our lives. Ephesians 5:18 do not get intoxicated with wine. Okay, listen. Probably one of the greatest areas in counseling where I have a big burden and passion for guys who struggle with enslaving patterns of sin in the areas of alcohol and drugs. Painful...it will waste your life. It is the epitome of dissipation. But don't think that we can't get intoxicated with other things, right? Everybody can be intoxicated with different things: material possessions, shopping, amazon, the next delivery...addicting. It happens. And if I make foolish decisions, say it with me. My life is going to stink.
  10. Ladies and gentlemen, drum roll for number ten on the stinky list. My life will be a stench if I do not walk in humility. And this is really the perfect bookend on this message. There are elements of pride when we yield to anything on this list. And this is why, 1 Peter 5, calls believers to clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. For God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 16:18-19 provide a strong warning. Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be. It should say it is bitter to be prideful. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. How dangerous and damning is pride. Listen to what Jonathan Edwards writes. "Pride is the worst viper in the heart. It is the first sin that ever entered into the universe. It lies lowest of all in the foundation of the whole building of sin. Of all lusts, it is the most secret, deceitful, and unsearchable in its ways of working. It is ready to mix with everything. Nothing is so hateful to God, contrary to the spirit of the gospel or of so dangerous consequence. There is no one sin that does so much to let the devil into the hearts of saints and expose them to their delusions." End quote. If I could summarize that statement, I would say this. Pride is the ultimate stench to God's nostrils. Pride is the ultimate stench to God's nostrils.
  Well, we began our message with the hope of covering two realities that will determine whether your life will be a stench or a sweet aroma. And so we only had the chance to cover. Reality number one. So I think that should mean that I should be able to come back next Sunday and do the remainder, although, um, I might be in serious trouble. Um, actually, I'm going to go ahead and just preach those second hour. So it's just going to be a combined. So it's going to be pretty full I know you're going to have to stay. I'm joking, I'm joking.
  All we have to do is flip the script. Are you ready for this? All we have to do is flip the script. My life will be a fragrant aroma in Christ if I know and follow the Lord. My life will be a fragrant aroma, if I fear God and keep his commandments. My life will be a fragrant aroma, if I have fruit of the Holy Spirit, if I apply the gospel of forgiveness in my relationships, if I have discipleship and accountability, if I honor authority, if I forsake my lusts and idols, if I keep good company, if I make wise decisions, and if I walk in humility, my life will be a fragrant aroma.

  So I leave you with an image that I want you to take with you, that will capture...kind of like the cliff notes of the stinky list. Can I do that? The cliff notes. I was watching a movie over Christmas break. Great movie if you haven't seen it...clean, great family movie. We don't usually endorse movies from the pulpit, but it's a faith based film called The Forge. Raise your hand. Anyone out there seen The Forge? All right. It's this, um, young guy in a broken family, and, um, he's playing video games, hanging out with the wrong friends, all this stuff not working. His mom's frustrated, right? There's a lot of anger built up because of the broken home. Just a lot of issues going on. So he finally goes out and he looks for a job. He goes in and applies at this company, and, um, he ends up meeting the owner of the company in the process. At first he was disrespectful of him. And then when he found out he was holding an application, I don't want to give too much of the film away. Long story short, is, um, there's a transformation in this kid's life, and his spiritual mentor gave him one of the best pieces of advice. I'm not kidding you that I have ever heard. He said to him, be a fountain, not a drain. Be a fountain, not a drain. I think all of us know what the what drains are like. I think of a sewer drain. Or I can think of our own kitchen sink drain and stuff, getting stuck in the disposal and pulling stuff out and the smell and just how foul all of it can be draining. But that's what our sin does. It drains us. It drains us. And he was trying to get the young man to say, don't be a drain on your mom anymore. Help around the house. Help financially. Do the things that you can pour in, be filled up. But I got to share this with you because he had to share it with him. You cannot be a fountain if you are not connected to THE fountain. You cannot be filled up and used and be a fountain if you're not connected to the fountain. So I say that for any person in here who's unsure about where they're at with their relationship with Christ. Maybe there's been a lot more drainage in your life than fountain life giving. Maybe you've been a lot more life draining. Are you in Christ? Are you truly born again so that you can be a fountain. Jesus says the very words...a fountain of living water will spring up within you. Right? Proverbs 4:23, watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the wellspring of life. That's why we look at this list. That's why we have to be attentive. That is what it looks like to be diligent and do the work on our hearts. So I want to leave that with you. And thank you all very much for allowing me to go a little bit longer. Thank you. Let's pray together.
  Our father in heaven, we rejoice in just the comprehensive nature of your word. And you had all this in mind when you thought of our sanctification. You knew, um, you were going to do a work not just in justification, But that as you caught fish, as you caught people, um, they were going to be cleaned. And there's a process that takes place. I pray for everyone who was here today that you would allow them to continue to meditate on the reality of the stinky list, and to consider the aroma of their own life, and, Lord, that you would use it in great measure to help them understand and see. Are they truly born again? And what are some areas where sin is actually draining them spiritually? Help them to address it. Help them to be a fountain in that area instead. May kindness continue to pervade our homes through the power of the gospel. We rejoice in everything that you're doing. We give you thanks and praise in Christ's name. Amen.