Change Your Status
The World At Your Finger Tips. Part 3
Locations & Times
Foundation Bible Church
1107 W Broad St, Elizabethtown, NC 28337, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Part 3: The World at your finger tips
Change Your Status
Matthew 12:33-37
Today is the last message in this series called Change your Status. A status is an update you can publish on your profile that informs your friends and family about your latest news and activities. When you change your status you can update it on any topic you want to share; such as your current mood, or what your plans are for the evening.
Your status leaves room for self expression of ideals, values, and etc,… that you believe are important at anytime to share. However, lets face a few facts about status updates:
Much of what we read or see is not necessary. Who really needs to see how many times you went…..you get the idea.
We value self expression and opinion too much at the expense of hurting others.The world at your fingers tips has brought us closer and further apart. Now many feel like they have to carve out a path for self expression to be noticed or seen. The danger in this is people turn violent, vocal, and counter cultural to do it. We become increasingly self centered.
The goal of this series has been to get us to see the dangers of having the world at our finger tips so we can balance faith with the advantages and disadvantages of technology. The reason this series has been so important is because:
Technology will change, but God’s word will not.
The Bible is for all of life; including technology.
Technology broadens your opportunity to influence others for Christ; if used wisely.
Besides, if we don't address technology from the Bible, we will neglect the influence of the Bible and technology will change or consume us; and the results or our life will dishonor Christ.
Today, we will see that God has a plan for your cell phone and He will hold you accountable for your use of it. Every generation of believers will be judged on the basis of how they have fulfilled the Great Commission. God has allowed technology to grow to give us more opportunities to reach the world for Christ, if we use the technology wisely.
Social Media allows us to connect with People who otherwise I may have never knew or heard of or been given the opportunity to influence for Christ. For those of you who work 70-100 hours a week and can’t meet people, social media brings them to you, if you use it wisely.
Besides, it’s not forcing Christ on anyone because the power to follow or un-follow is in their hands.
What are you doing to reach the world for Christ with the technologies that exist?
For those who are not as computer savy as others, one of your great ministries can be to pray for those who are using it.
Pray for Foundation
Pray for Real Word Outdoor
As we end this series today, I want to give a helpful principle that will allow you to prepare for your future Judgement from God. I want to use the passage we read earlier because it deals with being Judged for our communication. We will all be held accountable for what we have said and social media is a big form of communication that God will hold us accountable for.
The text said that “every carless word” will be held accountable or judged.
The word carless could be replaced with the word lazy to get the image of what Jesus is saying. Jesus is saying that every word that is not thought out careful to be useful will be held accountable for.
These are words that we just blurt out without effort or thought into their value or benefit.
Our speech should reflect our salvation and the work of Christ in our life. Matthew 12:37
for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Our speech is a big part of who we are. Truth is, our speech reveals who we are or whose we are. Your speech reveals that you are a believer or an unbeliever or that you are walking in fellowship with Christ or out of fellowship with Christ.
Critical Speech doesn't not reveal Christ.
Cursing doesn't not reveal Christ.
Gossip doesn't not reveal Christ.
When our speech doesn’t reveal JESUS, it’s clear that it is a heart issue. Matthew 12:34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. The key is to not waste our words since we have a limited time in life to use them.
We need to change our status before we hit send so we can think, before we speak.
Technology tip of the week: Since we are Judged, we should use Judgement in our post and online activity! Therefore,
In your communication: Reflect your faith, not your feelings: This is hard because our feelings are real and powerful at times. Emotions such as anger, depression, aggravation, and etc…can give rise to post and activity that may not reflect the value, discipline, and blessing of Christ in our life. At judgement, the excuse “I got caught up in the moment or my emotions will not suffice.” Or even “I didn't mean what I said.” According to Jesus words in Matthew 12:34, everyone means what they say. Just because you feel like it is needed at that moment doesn't mean that it is. Feeling can be deceptive. Eve felt she needed the fruit from the tree of Knowledge of good and evil.
Be slow to speak: If we are slow to speak as the bible says, it allows us to change our status to reflect our faith and not our feelings. James 1:19 What’s important in our speech is not how we feel, but who we follow, Jesus Christ.
Remember the internet is a glass house and someone is always watching.
The Bible even speaks that we should ponder our responses or answers.
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
If you want to be righteous, you have to strive to be right and the only way to be right is to have the influence of Christ, our righteousness in our life.
Before we post or spend time online we should ask: “Will this help or hinder my testimony for Christ in my life.” or “Does this bring more focus on Jesus or myself.”
Prepare your heart everyday with the influence of Christ through scripture reading, meditation and prayer. It’s obvious, we may spend more time online and interacting with social media than we do in the word of God or prayer.
I have to say that social media has helped me train to be more biblical in my speech because I know what I say is more scrutinized. But if I would go deeper and remember that God who is superior to man is judging our conversations and activity then my motivation should be greater than ever before to be righteous and not waste my words or opportunities to use technology to reflect or honor Christ.
Today, as well close this series I want to remind you that our words are so powerful and we will be held accountable for them.
I think a fitting way to end this series is to ask God to help us make the most of our words for Christ sake and not our own. When our speech reflects more of Christ in our life, the results are, we will see more of God’s activity in our life. Because:
When God speaks, powerful things happen. Everyday you have is an opportunity for God to speak through you and do powerful things in the world.
Let’s pray about our decision today:
If you are here and are unsaved, God plan for your today is salvation.
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
Romans 10:9-10
If you are saved, God wants your influence for Him in the world to grow.
Change Your Status
Matthew 12:33-37
Today is the last message in this series called Change your Status. A status is an update you can publish on your profile that informs your friends and family about your latest news and activities. When you change your status you can update it on any topic you want to share; such as your current mood, or what your plans are for the evening.
Your status leaves room for self expression of ideals, values, and etc,… that you believe are important at anytime to share. However, lets face a few facts about status updates:
Much of what we read or see is not necessary. Who really needs to see how many times you went…..you get the idea.
We value self expression and opinion too much at the expense of hurting others.The world at your fingers tips has brought us closer and further apart. Now many feel like they have to carve out a path for self expression to be noticed or seen. The danger in this is people turn violent, vocal, and counter cultural to do it. We become increasingly self centered.
The goal of this series has been to get us to see the dangers of having the world at our finger tips so we can balance faith with the advantages and disadvantages of technology. The reason this series has been so important is because:
Technology will change, but God’s word will not.
The Bible is for all of life; including technology.
Technology broadens your opportunity to influence others for Christ; if used wisely.
Besides, if we don't address technology from the Bible, we will neglect the influence of the Bible and technology will change or consume us; and the results or our life will dishonor Christ.
Today, we will see that God has a plan for your cell phone and He will hold you accountable for your use of it. Every generation of believers will be judged on the basis of how they have fulfilled the Great Commission. God has allowed technology to grow to give us more opportunities to reach the world for Christ, if we use the technology wisely.
Social Media allows us to connect with People who otherwise I may have never knew or heard of or been given the opportunity to influence for Christ. For those of you who work 70-100 hours a week and can’t meet people, social media brings them to you, if you use it wisely.
Besides, it’s not forcing Christ on anyone because the power to follow or un-follow is in their hands.
What are you doing to reach the world for Christ with the technologies that exist?
For those who are not as computer savy as others, one of your great ministries can be to pray for those who are using it.
Pray for Foundation
Pray for Real Word Outdoor
As we end this series today, I want to give a helpful principle that will allow you to prepare for your future Judgement from God. I want to use the passage we read earlier because it deals with being Judged for our communication. We will all be held accountable for what we have said and social media is a big form of communication that God will hold us accountable for.
The text said that “every carless word” will be held accountable or judged.
The word carless could be replaced with the word lazy to get the image of what Jesus is saying. Jesus is saying that every word that is not thought out careful to be useful will be held accountable for.
These are words that we just blurt out without effort or thought into their value or benefit.
Our speech should reflect our salvation and the work of Christ in our life. Matthew 12:37
for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Our speech is a big part of who we are. Truth is, our speech reveals who we are or whose we are. Your speech reveals that you are a believer or an unbeliever or that you are walking in fellowship with Christ or out of fellowship with Christ.
Critical Speech doesn't not reveal Christ.
Cursing doesn't not reveal Christ.
Gossip doesn't not reveal Christ.
When our speech doesn’t reveal JESUS, it’s clear that it is a heart issue. Matthew 12:34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. The key is to not waste our words since we have a limited time in life to use them.
We need to change our status before we hit send so we can think, before we speak.
Technology tip of the week: Since we are Judged, we should use Judgement in our post and online activity! Therefore,
In your communication: Reflect your faith, not your feelings: This is hard because our feelings are real and powerful at times. Emotions such as anger, depression, aggravation, and etc…can give rise to post and activity that may not reflect the value, discipline, and blessing of Christ in our life. At judgement, the excuse “I got caught up in the moment or my emotions will not suffice.” Or even “I didn't mean what I said.” According to Jesus words in Matthew 12:34, everyone means what they say. Just because you feel like it is needed at that moment doesn't mean that it is. Feeling can be deceptive. Eve felt she needed the fruit from the tree of Knowledge of good and evil.
Be slow to speak: If we are slow to speak as the bible says, it allows us to change our status to reflect our faith and not our feelings. James 1:19 What’s important in our speech is not how we feel, but who we follow, Jesus Christ.
Remember the internet is a glass house and someone is always watching.
The Bible even speaks that we should ponder our responses or answers.
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
If you want to be righteous, you have to strive to be right and the only way to be right is to have the influence of Christ, our righteousness in our life.
Before we post or spend time online we should ask: “Will this help or hinder my testimony for Christ in my life.” or “Does this bring more focus on Jesus or myself.”
Prepare your heart everyday with the influence of Christ through scripture reading, meditation and prayer. It’s obvious, we may spend more time online and interacting with social media than we do in the word of God or prayer.
I have to say that social media has helped me train to be more biblical in my speech because I know what I say is more scrutinized. But if I would go deeper and remember that God who is superior to man is judging our conversations and activity then my motivation should be greater than ever before to be righteous and not waste my words or opportunities to use technology to reflect or honor Christ.
Today, as well close this series I want to remind you that our words are so powerful and we will be held accountable for them.
I think a fitting way to end this series is to ask God to help us make the most of our words for Christ sake and not our own. When our speech reflects more of Christ in our life, the results are, we will see more of God’s activity in our life. Because:
When God speaks, powerful things happen. Everyday you have is an opportunity for God to speak through you and do powerful things in the world.
Let’s pray about our decision today:
If you are here and are unsaved, God plan for your today is salvation.
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
Romans 10:9-10
If you are saved, God wants your influence for Him in the world to grow.
Home Study Guide:
Take time this week to read over James 3:2-12.
The tongue is controlled by the heart and without the influence of Christ it can cause a lot of harm and damage.
When the heart is right with God, your words can be right as well.
Take time everyday to allow God to influence your heart so you can impact the world for Jesus with your words.
Take time this week to read over James 3:2-12.
The tongue is controlled by the heart and without the influence of Christ it can cause a lot of harm and damage.
When the heart is right with God, your words can be right as well.
Take time everyday to allow God to influence your heart so you can impact the world for Jesus with your words.
Focus on The Family
Social Media tips
http://media.focusonthefamily.com/free-downloads/pdf/social-networking-challenges-every-parent-should-know.pdfChurch Website
Parents we use our website to help you find out what your child is learning in Galaxy kids as well as give you access to devotionals for your kids to do during the week.
https://cometothefoundation.org.routing.wpmanagedhost.com
