Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, May 26, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
ARE YOU GUILTY OF BIBLE GLUTTONY?
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Text: 2 Timothy 4:3
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; Introduction: Gluttony is the practice of overeating. Believe it or not, the Bible does say something on the subject. Deuteronomy 21:20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Luke 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! Gluttony can be practiced at a single meal (as I have done from time to time), or it can be practiced at many or most meals. Gluttony is committed when a person eats more food than he burns up in energy. One person may be able to eat more than another person without being a glutton, because he burns up more energy. Most Americans are gluttons. A person is a BIBLE glutton when he acts like he loves to hear the Bible, read the Bible, or study the Bible, but he does not do the WORK that the Bible commands.
I. BIBLE GLUTTONY IS A LUST OF THE FLESH
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
A. A taking in of new things
B. A telling of new things
C. A thrill of new things
II. BIBLE GLUTTONY IS MARKED BY A LISTENING TO FABLES
2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
A. They major on minors
B. They major on myths
C. They major on the mind
1. Instead of the heart and action
III. BIBLE GLUTTONY IS MARKED BY A LEARNING TO FORGET
James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
A. They see their reflection in the word of God
B. They stumble at the requirement of the word of God
C. They systematically rebel at the word of God
IV. BIBLE GLUTTONY IS MARKED BY A LAZINESS IN THE FIELDS
Matthew 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
A. There is work mandated NOW
1. John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
B. There are workers missing
1. Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
C. There are warnings given
1. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.