Michael Todd - Cuffed to Cake
Well, today we are in week six of a series we’re calling «Coughing Season,» and before you clap, today is going to hurt. All that worship we just did was to prepare you for this whooping that we are about to receive. The one thing I love about our church is that we believe in the Word of God—not just some of it or the parts that are culturally popular today; we believe in the whole thing, and we look at it through the lens of Jesus and what He did for us in the New Testament through the finished work of Jesus Christ. We use all of it to point us toward truth.
Today, I’m probably going to discuss a subject that you’ve never heard a message on before, so I just want to prepare everybody: you’re not going to be able to cross-reference this except in the Bible. This week I’ve been studying, talking, counseling, and asking people questions, because this one is a problem for me too. Everybody say, «Me too.» That’s what I try to do every Sunday: I’m not here to say, «Look at you.» As a pastor, as a leader, as an imperfect man striving to be like Jesus, all I’m trying to say is this is the truth, and me too—I need the Holy Spirit’s help to do this one as well. I know I’m on a platform, but I’m the same as you. Everybody say, «Me too.»
So today, as I preach this message, I’m going to approach it with the utmost humility because—me too. When I tell you the title, some of you are going to want to check out. Here’s somebody saying, «Me too.» What I’m asking you to do for the next hour is to hold on, no matter what. I just need you to lock in. Everybody say, «Lock in.» No matter what, I’m going to step on something that offends you, so hold on, okay? Because the truth, even spoken in love, when you don’t want to hear it, can be offensive.
I’ve been on this journey of losing weight, and there were a couple of people down the road— not enough, but a few—who said, «Hey, brother, you’re getting a little charged up; you’re getting a little fluffy there.» I wasn’t hearing that—I thought I was sexy! Even the truth spoken in love, when you don’t want to hear it, can be offensive.
That’s why sometimes your wife can tell you your breath stinks, and even though you know you just slept for a whole eight hours, ate onions the night before, and didn’t brush your teeth before going to bed, it’s still a little offensive when she tells you the truth: «Baby, back up! You want to kiss right now?» I’m just trying to get this in your head, because the truth is, some of y’all just tell the truth, and there’s no love attached to it, so you need to shut up and sit down. The Holy Spirit says if you’re going to do all these things—prophesy and cast out demons in my name—and you don’t have love, you’re like a gong or a clanging cymbal. Some of y’all are just loud without love, and you don’t want to hear that, neither does God. Okay, let me stop.
So I’m not just talking about the truth; I’m talking about the truth spoken in love. Today, I’m going to tell us the truth in love, and I’m asking everybody who has been watching this series with a closed heart to open up. We’re in week six; there are only three more weeks of this, and then we’ll move on to something else for now. But I’m asking you not to be a spectator anymore—will you be a participator in what God is doing right now? Will you just open your hands like you’re ready to receive? Come on, wherever you are—in your house, at your cubicle, in the recliner—say, «God, I will participate with your principles.» Because if you don’t participate with what God places in your hand as principles, then you will not have the outcome He promises.
Most people want God’s promises without His principles, and then they are mad at God when they skip the steps. You can’t be mad at God if you do not do what’s prescribed. So I’m asking you to participate in the principles that God gives us through His Word so you can have the—everybody say—promise.
So, last week we talked about condemnation and how many of us are not reaching our purpose because we’re cuffed to condemnation. It was one of the most complete messages I think I’ve ever preached in my time of ministry on what happens to many people after they come to faith in Christ. The reason I had to preach last week’s message is that I couldn’t preach this week’s message until I gave you the foundation or the framework to know that when God confronts you with something after you’ve put your life in Jesus Christ, it’s not for condemnation; it’s for—say this with me—conviction. Write that word down. Conviction is not a bad thing; it’s necessary for you to be put on the right path.
It’s like the boundary lines in a game; they clearly mark for you where out of bounds is, and they blow a whistle to let you know when you’ve stepped out of bounds. When they blow that whistle, your whole pace changes because you have a conviction—the game is stopped now because you stepped out of the position you were supposed to be in. Some of us don’t stop when we hear God’s whistle. We hear Him blowing, «Stop! Not that relationship! Not in that business! Don’t invest there!» No! And you’re just over there tiptoeing and doing your dance, out of bounds. God says, «I want you to have—everybody say—conviction!»
So today, I’m just telling you, if you haven’t watched last week’s sermon or any of the other five, you need to go back and watch them because today I have to go right into what God’s called me to talk to you about. The title of today’s message is, «Cuffed to Cake"—the subtitle is «Satan’s Favorite Sin: Gluttony.» Yeah, I already had tons of security prepared for me today. Cuffed to Cake—Satan’s favorite sin. Just say it with me: gluttony. How many people, by show of hands, have ever heard a full message on gluttony? In the comments, why in the world, if this is one of the seven deadly sins, have some of us been in church for four and five decades and never heard a complete Sunday morning message on gluttony? We talk about pride; we talk about sexual immorality; we talk about politics. Well, y’all talk about politics; I’m up here pointing people to Jesus. But you’ve never heard a message that starts and ends with your mouth.
So today, I’m going to tell you what most people can’t tell you because they’ve never given this area to God. You can preach, prophesy, lay hands on the sick, and then leave that environment and commit sin with a knife and a fork! Oh, I’m coming for you today, because some of y’all are judging people for what they do, and the whole time you’re judging them, you’re stuffing your face with things that are killing your temple. Somehow, you think you’re better than them because you’re not sleeping in bed with someone, but something is sleeping in bed with you—falling asleep with Oreos next to your mouth! Oh, come on! You’ve got a whole bag of caramel popcorn next to your bed—got a drawer full of candy and chocolate. Just look at your neighbor and say, «He’s talking about you!» Ah, no, I’m talking about you, and the truth of the matter is, some of you are more faithful and committed and loyal to your stomach than you are to your Savior!
Okay, let’s level the playing field. How many people, by show of hands—and we’re a hot church—somebody just put their hands up—they don’t even know what I’m asking right now—they just said, «Me! It’s me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer!» That’s why I love our church; we’re a humble, open, and transparent church. Somebody say, «Let’s get hot!» How many people love cake? Come on! What’s your favorite type of cake? Yell it! Put it in the comments: pound cake, red velvet cake, chocolate cake—what did they say? Oh, carrot cake! And y’all are saying stuff your grandma made: tres leches, I don’t know that. Okay, 7-Up cake? What did they say? «Sock it to me» cake? It is socking it to you! Okay!
Let it be said that a lot of people like cake! And I know there are some judgmental people right there saying, «I don’t like cake! I hate cake.» How many people like steak? Because cake and steak are the same thing, just different flavors. How many people like seafood? How many people like candy? Come on, what’s your favorite candy? Starburst? Jolly Rancher? Sour Patch Kids? What did you say? Snickers? Gummy bears? How many gummy people do I have in the room right now? I love gummy! Okay, how many people like ice cream? Now, there are still some people that haven’t raised their hand—self-righteous Pharisees and Sadducees. It’s okay, because cake is not just food!
Okay, let me just ask this question: How many people have known you were full and took one more bite? Come on, everybody’s hands should be up—Thanksgiving, Christmas, last night, this morning—okay. Write this point down, because somebody was trying to figure out how to simply define gluttony, and I think this is the best definition I can give: «The bite over is gluttony.» If this is the line, and you know, «I don’t even need—there’s no reason—I don’t even—I’m not even"—but those last 17 bites were so good! My mama told me: Y’all better let go of this poverty mentality that has you killing your body because you don’t want to waste food—so it wastes in you!
The bite over is gluttony, and if you have ever taken one bite over what was necessary for you to enjoy and have and taste good, I’m not saying food is bad! Yeah, I mean, it wasn’t necessary! The Bible says the bite over is the same as sleeping with somebody else’s wife. The Bible says the bite over—somebody say, «The bite over"—is the same as murdering somebody. This is the parallel that God gives us: that gluttony is the same thing as lying. I can’t be around no liars; I can’t stand liars! You better watch a snake—that’s what the devil came as—a snake! And that’s what Shaquisha is too; she’s a snake! I can’t mess with a sniper, yet you love to be around people who go over the line and live in gluttony.
As a matter of fact, we celebrate it! I can’t talk about all cultures, but Western culture—as well as I’ll be even more specific—Black culture: we have to find a new hobby! Eating is not a hobby! No! Okay, I’m just going to get in your business—what do we do when someone is born? Eat! What do we do when someone dies? Eat! What do we do to celebrate a promotion? Eat! What do we do when we’re feeling sad? Eat! When do you not eat? Now, this applies to Mexicans, Indians, and white people too, but I’m just going to go… how in Western culture is our favorite pastime eating? It’s because we’ve given ourselves over to a cultural concept and not a kingdom principle.
I’m going to say it again: we have bowed to the culture of the buffet. We have bowed to the idol of big portions! You won’t even go places! «No, no, we ain’t going there! I want to give me 14 French fries. Uh-uh! When I go out to eat, there’s a mission: I want to eat here, and I want to eat when I get home.» Y’all are just greedy! Because since we were young, we were fashioned and formed to satisfy an emotional need through our mouths. Okay, gluttony is usually us trying to satisfy an emotional need with a physical, tangible taste. And I don’t care who you are or where you’re at, because this thing has proven to come into every person’s life at some point through something. And that’s why I want to take you to Proverbs 23:20, where it says, «Do not join those—don’t link up with them—don’t hang out with those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty.»
You thought you were poor because of how much money you make? Your poverty stems from what you put in your body! And drowsiness will clothe them in rags. What I eat can deplete me. I need to be thinking from now on: What I eat can either nourish me and give me life, or what I eat will deplete me. Food is neutral, the same way money is. It just depends on who has it. If a drug dealer has money, it’s going to be flipped to kill more people through the substance of drugs, because the motive was decided before he got the money. What is your motive before you get the food?
I’m going to eat until I’m stuffed like a tick, and then I’m going to pass out and sleep the rest of the afternoon? I have had that as my goal! I’m not going to talk about you; I’ve literally had it as my goal that I’m about to leave here and eat so good that I don’t want to eat till tomorrow, and then I’m going to sleep, and I’m going to wake up and think about how good it was! Let me give you a definition for gluttony. It’s getting quieter and quieter every minute as I go deeper into the series, and I’m not even past point one: gluttony—watch this—is a limitless appetite. What kills anointings is the wrong appetite. It’s a limitless appetite for food, drink, and overindulgence, to the point where, watch this, one is no longer eating just to live but rather living to eat.
I might have ruined some of your weekends because every weekend, where are we going to eat? Many of your friendships are based around food and not fellowship. You have more conversations about dining than about what’s going on in your lives. I’m not saying food is bad; I need everyone to hear me. Jesus made food a cornerstone of everything He was doing. The Last Supper wasn’t the last basketball game; they weren’t playing basketball. They were around a table, joining in community with food. The issue isn’t taking food away; it’s whether you are cuffed or enslaved to food.
I need to say something because some of you are like, «I’m good; I don’t even buy that kind of stuff. I don’t even be around it,» until you go somewhere. This is the line for many people: if the food is free, oh yes! Because you would be good if it had your money attached to it, but if you walk into a place where the food is paid for, or if you go serve on a team and they have free Chick-fil-A sandwiches, you take as many as you want. Some of your purses still smell like old Chick-fil-A sandwiches because at that moment, it’s free. But free always costs, and the food that’s free may be costing you your spiritual freedom.
Okay, let me get back to my point. Write down another definition of gluttony: the sin of gluttony is, watch this, this is heavy, idolatry. It is a choice of comfort and control through food. I can’t control what’s happening out there, but I’m going to control what goes in here. And the only thing that goes in here is what makes me feel good. What I need to say to some of you is that food may be an idol. I know you’re a prophetess, and you pray and worship with the angels, but when you come back to earth, let me ask you: what is food to you? I need everyone to answer this question seriously. Fill in the blank: food is ______ for me. Some of us say things like, «Food is comfort for me.»
If I hit any of your areas, we’ve got to be honest. You have to stay open. I know the person next to you is looking at you crazy, but your freedom is wrapped up in the truth. So I want you to be honest today. If food is comfort for you, just slip one finger in the air. In the chat, someone else might say, «Food is peace for me.» Come on, hands up! Stop looking around. Does your hand need to be raised? I saw a woman say, «Is anyone else?» Okay, here’s another big one: food is love for me. I don’t know about you, but when my mom goes into the kitchen, from the depths of my ancestors, I start singing some old Negro spirituals. When she starts chopping onions, red peppers, and soaking a ham hock for a day and a half, I don’t know, there’s just something about that. It equates to love.
Now, you can be faking it, and I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it, but the first plate at Thanksgiving was good. The fifth plate? Then you had the nerve to get a plate to go? Oh God, are we the same person? Y’all got saran wrap? It’s okay; I’ll just put it in the bag. I know I’ve taken food in just a sack before. What is wrong with me? But I found out there was a season in my life when food was love. Do you know marriages suffer because some men have this idea that the woman is the only one supposed to be domestic?
I cannot believe it’s 2022, and I have to go ahead and say it. The reason they’re struggling in their marriage is that, for that man, food equaled love. Not our being faithful, not providing for you, not helping you reach your dreams, and not offering you the things you need. None of that matters if it doesn’t come with a ham hock, fried shrimp, and garlic mashed potatoes at least four nights a week. If food is comfort for you, just slip a finger in the air. Food is what for you? I’m not going to answer; I’m just giving you suggestions right now.
But I need everyone, on your notes, to put: food is _____, and I need you to fill in the blank. Let me give you a few more examples. Food may be enjoyment for me. Some of us find more delight in our meals than in ourselves. We take more pictures of our food — oh come here; I’m coming for you. We’ve never seen you on Instagram, but we see every meal you eat. But it’s so much enjoyment that you want to document it more than your children. Okay, stop, let me stop. Food is safety for other people because it was sometimes the only presence during some of the hardest, most depressing seasons of your life. Can I be honest? Sometimes there were things that never made me feel better until I had that certain meal, because for some reason that meal made me feel better even when words couldn’t.
Some of you might say, «Food is a friend to me.» Some of you might say, «I don’t need anybody else. God has me on a journey of being in His will by myself for an appointed time. I’m His strongest soldier.» But you haven’t left Ben and Jerry’s alone, and you have not stopped going to the Chinese buffet. It’s because it’s not just something that you do; it’s something you need. And I need everyone to hear me say this: if food has ever been comfort for you, it may be an idol because comfort is the thing that the Holy Spirit promises to be, according to John 14:26. He said the Holy Spirit will be the one who comforts me. If food is peace for you, Isaiah 9:6 says, «No, Jesus is the Prince of Peace.» If food is love for you, 1 John 4:8 says, «God is love.»
I just want to let you know that it’s taking the place of God in your life. If food is enjoyment for you, I’m not saying you can’t enjoy it, but Psalm 37:4 says delight in the Lord and give Him the best part of your enjoyment. If food is safety, Proverbs 18:10 says, «The Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it.» Uh-oh, because you know the righteous run to the refrigerator! I can’t sleep; I bind the spirit of fear, and I activate the refrigerator of God. You’re standing there, naked in front of the fridge, asking yourself, «Is it a cereal night or a sandwich night?» What else do we have? Y’all know we all do it. There you are, staring into the fridge, contemplating what stain you’re about to have on that outfit. The righteous don’t run to the refrigerator; they run into the strong tower, and that’s where they are safe.
Food is a friend. Proverbs 18:24 says Jesus will be a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Let me tell you the primary reason for food, and I know this is going to frustrate some of you, but I want to let you know, because maybe you don’t know: the primary reason for food is fuel. It should not be love, joy, or peace. The primary source of food should be fuel so that this vehicle God gave me can last as long as it needs to be able to accomplish the purpose that God sent me here for. But every time I sit down with my knife and fork, I make a decision. Today I present before you life and death, and He says, «Choose life.» But many times in our humanity, we choose comfort over our calling. That’s why I’m doing this series on uncuffing from the things that have control over your life other than God, because if you don’t, you will let a cookie control you.
Okay, can we be honest? How many people have gotten out of bed and gone somewhere to get something to eat at a time you should not have left your house? And about 50 percent of y’all are lying; it’s okay. I have so much to say right now, and I’m really trying to hold back. The cookie has control, and if the Oreo cookie has control, the cookie from your friend that you think is attractive will have control too. I should have titled this «Cuffing to the Cookie.» Read between the lines. Here I am. Do you see the lines? Read between them because God knows if you can’t control this cookie, I just have to step on it because you’re coming to the altar asking for prayer because you can’t stop. God is messing with that cookie. Who got the cookie in the cookie jar? Y’all remember that little nursery rhyme?
What the problem is, being at their house eating cookies started when you were at your house and couldn’t stop eating cookies. God is trying to get us control over the things that seem little, so that when you step into a situation that feels overwhelming, you will have the discipline, the pattern, or the principles in your life so ingrained that you say, «Oh, this is just the same test, just a different class. I’ve worked this muscle before. I can say no to this because I’ve been saying no to that. I don’t have to say yes to this because I learned how to deny myself right here.» But if you cannot deny a Reese’s Pieces, I have so many things in my mind that I want to say. I hear the hangry folk right now, the hungry and angry ones. «What about what Solomon said? Didn’t he say eating and drinking and being merry?» Yes, but let me give you context. Ecclesiastes 2:24 says: «So I decided, why is this man that ever lived, there’s nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and find satisfaction in work?» Then I realize that these pleasures are from the hand of God.
There are two things I want to draw from this that I need everyone to see: enjoying food, enjoying drink, and work are all connected. Most of us won’t do the latter. You want to enjoy the drink and food but never work? Do not ask for the equation to work if you don’t use all the pieces of the formula. You want to enjoy food? Go ahead. You want to enjoy drink? Do it. You want to enjoy the gym? The devil is a liar. All I’m saying is enjoy, enjoy work, and this should be the pattern of the believer so that we can do everything in moderation. Then I realize that these pleasures are from the hand of God. Good food is from God. Just write it down as a point: food is good. Just can’t be god. I can’t believe that a person might preach about this and act like they never eat anything that they don’t like at a regular count. I hear you! Write this point down and highlight it: food is good. Everybody say it: food is good. It just can’t be God.
That’s why when Jesus talks about this, Solomon in the Old Testament is talking about this, and then Jesus, the fulfillment of the Word, says something about it in Luke 12:22: «Then Jesus said to His disciples…» So this is big JC talking right here. «Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.» Shopping for life is more than food and the body more than clothes. If your life is about fashion and food, what are you doing? «I’m a food blogger and a fashionista.»
I’m not mad at how you make your coin; it just can’t be God. And if you’ve logged more hours on what Saint Laurent has put out, and you don’t know any scriptures to be the sure foundation of your life, something may be out of priority in your life. I’m just trying to help us all uncuff from the cake, because many of us are falling into the trap that the enemy loves to use to get people out of their calling. I’m going to prove it to you in just a second, and most of you don’t understand this because you’re saying like, «Hold on; the Corinthians church used to say the body was made for food, and food was made for the stomach.» It’s like we’ve got bodies, appetites; we’re hungry; we want to eat.
But Paul has to address this, and many of them didn’t know. Maybe you don’t know that there are three parts of you. Somebody say three parts of me. I want to give them to you so you understand the priority of these parts. The first part is your spirit; your spirit is the first and most valuable part of you, and it’s eternal. Your spirit will last longer than your body. Okay, I need everybody to hear me say that. That’s why I’m not scared of dying because what I’ve done spiritually has prepared my greatest self—my spirit—to live with God eternally in a place with rewards. Your second part, somebody say, «three parts of me,» is your soul. Your soul, watch this, is the most vulnerable.
Your mind, will, and emotions are the most vulnerable because you come into this world ready to be programmed. Depending on what family you’re born into, what environment you’re born into, and the cultural norms of the places and people that surround you—what college you go to—your mind, will, and emotions get shaped or educated. I want you to know that your soul matters. People may say, «I’m my own person,» but no, you’re not. Everything that you are is a conglomerate of what you’ve consumed—what TV shows you watch, what music you listen to, what ideologies you’ve adopted. You’ve got to protect your soul, and your soul needs to be healthy. That’s the second part. The third part, and the most temporal part, is your body, but it’s important because it’s man’s vehicle.
Your spirit is the most valuable and eternal; your soul is the most vulnerable and gets educated; your body is man’s vehicle and it eventually expires. The saddest truth about our body is that many times, it expires before God’s due date. You can’t tell me that the culture we live in isn’t taking years off of our lives because we are chained to comfort and convenience. Studies show that over 300,000 people die each year from obesity. There’s a difference between fat on the outside and fat on the inside.
This is why skinny people— you judgmental self-righteous Pharisees who have been sitting here thinking, «I eat salad and kale"—listen to me: gluttony is a spirit. You may have a high metabolism and genetics that help you stay skinny, but your spirit keeps grabbing those cookies. This is why we can’t judge by outward appearance. That’s what Samuel learned when he was looking for David; it says that man judges the outward, but God judges the heart. So I need to let you know this is a heart issue. Write that down: gluttony is a heart issue. If you don’t understand that, you’ll think you’re doing something right just because you don’t look fat.
What I’ve learned in my studies is that there are types of fat that you’ll never see on the outside, but they wrap around your vital organs. I think they call it visceral fat, and it wraps around your organs. So you can be in perfect shape, but because of what you eat and the DNA that God placed in you—you might not be supposed to have dairy or other things, but you don’t care because you love ice cream. What you’re doing is looking good but dying on the inside. You can’t tell me that every man and woman of God was supposed to die at the time they did; some happened to be 400 pounds. We’re looking down on people who are living in a way that’s taking away their potential for revelation before their time. We need every man and woman of God to last and reach those they are assigned to. I’m not just talking about on a platform; I’m talking about in your job, in your home. We need you to last, but could you be contributing to the very reason why someone won’t know God because you won’t be here to tell them?
I’ve got to take care of this vehicle; I only get one. Somebody say, «My body is more precious than I thought.» This isn’t for vanity; I want to look in the mirror and feel good. There’s nothing wrong with that! I’m on my way to getting one ab for Pastor Natalie. I told her that before I die, girl, I’m gonna have one; I don’t know what side it will be on or where it’s going to appear, but I’m getting me one just for you. There’s nothing wrong with that, but this isn’t why I’m asking you to examine if gluttony is the thing you’re chained to.
It reminds me of a story; my dad had this brown Fiat sports car. I remember being about eight or nine years old, and I overheard him telling my mom how my mind works. He said, «I can’t drive the Fiat because I need to put some gas in it, but I don’t have any gas.» It was this little brown sports car—do you have a picture of the Fiat? I want to show you; this was the Fiat right here. I remember it. We used to love this car because it would just be Dad and one of the boys, and he would take us on father-son days, sharing time together. My dad was always so thoughtful; he spent personal time with all of us. So, I wanted to do something in return for my dad.
What I did was solve his problem: I would make sure there was fuel in his car. So, at eight or nine years old, I took a jug of distilled water from the garage and said, «My daddy is such a good guy; he needs gas.» I poured a gallon of distilled water into his sports car. That car never ran again. I destroyed that vehicle—not because of what it hit, but because of what I put into it. There could have been many more miles and years; it could have been a legacy passed down, but it wasn’t because of what was put in it. I’m asking you today, what fuel are you putting in your vehicle? Will it keep you here for victory?
Two great theologians, D.L. Moody, some of you might have his bibles and resources—D.L. Moody was an evangelist from Chicago. If you’ve never looked up a revivalist or evangelist, he would be someone good to study. He really looked up to Charles Spurgeon, another theologian in London. One day, D.L. Moody decided to go meet him. He found out where he lived, traveled from Chicago to London, and knocked on the door. Charles Spurgeon answered, cigar in his mouth. D.L. Moody was taken aback and said, «I’ve been mentored by you for years, I’ve read all your writings; how could a man of God do that?» Charles Spurgeon liked a debate, so he walked down his steps and pointed at Moody’s stomach, saying, «The same way a man of God can do that.»
The reason I share this is that many of us judge others: «Oh, you’re smoking; oh, you’re drinking,» and we ignore our own issues, calling it a «beer belly.» We’ve accepted as a culture habits that are killing our calling, and I have to challenge all of us. Could the reason God didn’t give you a platform be that if He put you up there, it would only condone what you do behind the scenes that’s taking you out? As a pastor, this is something I’ve had to confront. We often center our gatherings around food. «Hey, Doc, want to meet for breakfast?» No. If I go to breakfast with you, lunch with someone from my staff, and dinner with my family—all out to eat—how in the world am I going to wake up tomorrow? Cheesecake Factory, Cheddars, and Chili’s in one day? I’ve had three to-go boxes one day, and I was excited. Y’all don’t play me; I was thrilled to have food for the next three days! I couldn’t understand why people would leave food at restaurants.
«Would you like a box?» I’d be like, «No, I’m sorry; give me another box!» I’m being too real today, and some of y’all are judging me. I couldn’t fathom why anyone would leave good, thick chicken tenders dipped in buffalo sauce sitting on the table. What’s wrong with you? «Oh, you must be rich!» You start judging based on surface behavior when maybe they were just exhibiting self-control, which is a fruit of having the Holy Spirit. You want to shout? Jesus wants you to have self-control. The more spiritual act this week—beyond shouting—might be saying no to temptation.
Gluttony is all about the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 states, «People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.» Out of our hearts is where we worship; whatever is there, we elevate with our lives. I want to say this: gluttony isn’t a weight issue; it’s a worship issue. A lot of people want to make gluttony a weight issue, but it isn’t about that. It’s about who or what you worship. Some of us have forgotten to do things for God’s glory. Do you eat for God’s glory? It may not sound biblical or theological, but 1 Corinthians 10:31 states, «So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.»
I love the Bible! God confronts our humanity directly. He can’t just say, «whatever you do,» because you might think it’s too vague. Let me give you three things: whatever you eat—eat for my glory. Today, your spiritual act of worship is to eat in a way that glorifies God. Heavenly Father, I pray over every salad, every grilled chicken. You are the Lord of the salmon; I ask you to pour out on the cucumbers, pour out on the tomatoes, pour out on the fruit. This week, we make a fresh commitment. You ever heard that in church?
We say stuff like, «I give you my life, not my fork; I’ll give you my soul, not my steak; I’ll give you everything except my sweets.» But whatever you eat, drink, or do—let’s highlight it again. Whatever you eat, drink, and do, do it for God’s glory. I’m just going back to the scripture because they don’t believe me. They think I made this up. 1 Corinthians 10:31 states that regardless of which translation you use, it doesn’t change. Whatever, whatever, whatever: if you eat it or drink it, do it for the glory of the Lord.
The reason I’m telling you this is that maybe you’ve stopped doing a lot of stuff, but you’ve never started eating for the glory of God. I see that some of you are starting to sweat; it’s uncomfortable. The only reason it’s uncomfortable is that it has become a stronghold. Anything that has control of you that isn’t God is a stronghold that needs to be brought down. That’s why for some of you, your biological makeup is reacting as your mind grapples with these issues. You’re probably upset because you had a plan for what you were going to eat after church, and all you can think about now is that.
You’re literally experiencing a visceral reaction—do you know what they call that? Addiction. The same way a drug addict’s body starts crying out for their substance and they have withdrawal symptoms—stop drinking coffee for a week and some of you will have a complete meltdown. You can go without Chick-fil-A for a month! I’m going to leave it alone; some of you are just getting irritated. Whatever it is for you, and again, this is about the different body types God created that respond to food differently. This is why this isn’t about just one standard of living. Weight is about worship. We know there are all kinds of reasons why people may have larger figures: thyroid problems, reactions to medicine, metabolism issues, and some things are genetic. There are many different factors involved.
So that’s not what I’m talking about. What I’m discussing is your intent. I’m referring to when you go to the cabinet. I know people with diabetes who are literally told to stop eating sweets; they’re told that if they do so, the diabetes will leave their body, yet they cannot stop eating cake. The doctor tells them to avoid double-decker chocolate cake, and they say, «It’s just one bite.» To me, that’s not a knock on them because they’re human; it only indicates that they’re bound to it. Maybe you’ve never prayed about it. I’m just saying the Bible says to acknowledge God in all your ways, and He’ll direct your paths. Perhaps you didn’t know; maybe you’ve never invited God into the area of your cake.
The reason I need to tell you this is that what I found out while studying scripture is that gluttony is Satan’s favorite sin because it’s subtle. It flows under the radar. «Prove it to me, Pastor Mike.» The two places in the Bible where Satan had a chance to end humanity and eliminate the Savior of humanity, what does he use? In the garden, he used food to kick Adam and Eve out. «Oh God, this is…» And if you had one chance to take out your phone for all eternity, you would use your most powerful weapon. When Jesus is baptized and then taken to the desert by the Holy Spirit, what does the enemy say to Jesus? «If you really are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.» He tried to use food to ensnare Jesus and forfeit His calling. I’m preaching up here. It’s the devil’s favorite sin because it’s subtle.
«I have to eat every day. It’s just…» you know, «it’s vegan.» I mean, vegan ice cream—how bad can a pint of vegan ice cream even be? We have convinced and coerced ourselves into believing that somehow this life is better controlled by food than by God. «Can you bring me out some food, please? I just want to let you know my struggle.» This may not be you, but this is me. See, I’m bound to cake. There’s one cake, two cakes, seven-up cake, peach cake, strawberry cake—oh, muffins! I like muffins. Oh, seven-up—that’s good! Dr. Pepper, Rice Krispies—hostess, yeah! Put these over here; the Hostess treats are popular.
Okay, here we go: Dum Dums, Cheetos. Matter of fact, I need everything! Come put some of it down here on the floor—oh, donuts! Yes, we love donuts! Lucky Charms—what’s your favorite cereal? Huh, Reese’s? Captain Crunch? Sugar with a crunch! Come on, McDonald’s fries—there is something special about McDonald’s fries! Y’all just start throwing it to me—Starburst! I can eat 200 Starbursts, and don’t tell me not to do it today because I’m talking about gluttony. Oh, it started when I was a kid. Does anybody remember? Oh, this is cracking a bottle of cookies with Coca-Cola? No—just throw it over here! I want it all over me! Who can eat just one Oreo? And don’t give me no milk, either!
And don’t give me the like Oreos! Oh my gosh—French fries, Coke, Cheez-Its, Lunchables. My daughter said, «Daddy, give me a French fry.» I don’t know where these sugar cookies that are at the store come from, but these things are from the Lord! No, just come! Beef jerky, cherry pies—these got me through. Goldfish—and my favorite: oh, gummy worms! Oh God, I can’t open it! Jesus, get this open! Somebody open this, please—because I’m feeding popcorn, Cheetos, Chips Ahoy! Oh my God, I’m not going to eat them!
For many of us, this looks like a regular week. «God, I’m ready to do Your will, but let me pack a lunch.» Send me! I’ll go, but please let me know when lunch and dinner are! All I’m saying is some of you are so triggered even by the brands. These brands have a place in your heart. As I’m sitting here, I just think about how, for many of us, it would be easier to give up heroin than to give up Hershey’s. That’s an addiction. It would be easier for us to give up crack than cookies. That’s an addiction. It would be easier for us to give up gangbanging than to give up gummy worms. Why? Somebody’s got to get it—it’s because it’s something we’re bound to.
Today, I’m asking you: Have you been turning to these things to fill up the emotional hole that only God can heal? It happened to me when I was six. What was there? The Keebler—this little elf helped me through some of my hardest moments. And don’t put them in the freezer! You know the crazy thing about this? I got convicted this week: my children came into the world, and what I had—sometimes because God has worked on my finances, I give to them consistently. I’ll say, «Y’all be good. I’ll give you a donut. If y’all behave during donut date night, I’ll make sure to give you some candy.» The rewards aren’t even my words anymore; they have a father. They have somebody to speak words of affirmation. It’s not even my words anymore—it’s what I’m putting in their mouths to develop an appetite.
When the reward system comes out, I’m giving them things that may take years off of their purpose. Now I’ve programmed them to not view food as fuel but as a reward. That’s why when you get a raise, you go to eat because somebody gave you a piece of candy when you got an A. These are principles that have now been ingrained into our lives, and we’re wondering why God can’t use us at another level. It’s because we’re still bound to the cake. I want to free you today. I don’t just want to talk about the problem; we need to discuss the solution. So I need you to just give me a few more minutes because I know I’ve taken my time to make this relatable.
Some of you tried to turn me off the moment I said anything about your food because there are two things you shouldn’t mess with: people’s kids and people’s food. But today, maybe God on Pentecost Sunday, when God gave His Holy Spirit, told me to preach this message because you can’t do this without the Holy Spirit. It’s not going to be self-will; it’s not going to be a good effort. A valiant try—it’s going to be the Holy Spirit that helps you change what has been a generational habit, and you’re going to get uncuffed from the cake. All right, let me help you real quick. I’m going to leave this right here, and no, you can’t have any.
All right, here we go. Let me just say this: say, «God’s grace is enough.» How many people really believe that God’s grace is enough? Like, okay, in church, we talk about God’s grace to overcome pornography, God’s grace to overcome fear, God’s grace to overcome depression; it’s God’s grace that will help us overcome alcoholism and greed. So I want to tell you—it’s God’s grace, His unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor and kindness that will help you and me overcome gluttony. Yep.
So I’m just going to assume maybe you didn’t know; maybe you didn’t know that gluttony was this big of a deal. I am 35 years old and have never heard a whole message on gluttony, so where I’m still learning about everything, I’ll just assume that for today, this is the first time you’re hearing about gluttony. And maybe you didn’t know, so I just want to share the truth of God’s Word.
1 Corinthians 6:10: Did you not know? «No, I didn’t know!» that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This is Pentecost Sunday, right? The Holy Spirit is not just an idea or a concept; He is a spirit that comes to live somewhere. Did you not know that you are the Airbnb for the Holy Spirit? You are the Holy Spirit’s house. Oh God!
You are the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God! You are not your own; you were bought at a price! Therefore, honor God with your body—not just in prayer language, not just in offering. The first thing you can do to honor God is with your body. He would prefer a sacrifice of praise in your body than you coming up to the front with a hundred thousand dollars. Oh my gosh!
In church, we’ve been so backwards! We celebrate, «Oh, Brother So-and-So gave a hundred thousand dollars,» but he’s killing himself! We won’t even tell him that in private because he’s a big giver. Cut that out! That man is living a life that goes against honoring God, yet you honor him over and above! Here you see Brother Johnson—y’all need to go talk to Brother Johnson about his business. Don’t talk to him about eating, because he’s not honoring God with his body.
I just don’t want God to only be able to send people to me for certain things. I want God to say, «You can go talk to my son right there about whatever! It doesn’t matter what it is; it’s a marital problem; go talk to him! He’s trustworthy. He isn’t perfect, but he’s progressing!» That’s what I want to let everybody know: you can take a progressive step today on this journey. «Joe is about to go to the buffet at the mall after this service.» I’m not saying don’t go to the buffet!
Just one plate and water! Fill it up! Some of y’all will have the Leaning Tower of Pisa on your plates! You understand what I’m saying? I’m not saying deny; I’m saying temper. Y’all hear what I’m saying? Go for just one plate; only drink water! Just try it for a week! «I’m going to eat; I’m going to eat one plate.» But I’m gonna make sure it’s a platter!
Could you bring me my food? If that’s where you’ve got to start, this whole journey is about progression, not perfection. Let me add one more thing: one plate, water, and a 20-minute walk after every time you eat this week. Put on a podcast. Put this back on! And all I’m gonna do is eat what I want eat; I’m only gonna drink water! Also, hit it with the arm movements too—it really helps for the arms! People might think you look crazy, but it truly helps! It’s about progression, not perfection.
I’m not telling anybody to go eat kale; I ain’t never just eating kale! The Lord has made too many great things on this planet. But what I am saying is: Did you not know you’re the house of the Holy Spirit? How do you act when a friend comes over that you don’t even really know? You throw stuff in the back; you’re putting things in the closet, dusting everything off, spraying Febreze on things that aren’t even supposed to be sprayed!
Did you just Febreze the tallest thing? Why? Because you’re trying to make a good impression on someone who is coming to visit. But when the Holy Spirit says to you, «Your body is my house, I choose to live in you,» it’s time for some of us to make a decision to remodel. I want to give you four positive things about your body regarding this somewhat negative topic of gluttony.
I’ve tried to be funny today; I’ve tried to be honest; I’ve tried to make this relatable. But the truth is the truth. As a church, we’ve got to take care of our bodies so that we can fulfill our purpose. That means we’re going to have to uncuff from some of the things we’ve been turning to.
So number one: you are a holy place. Somebody say that: I am a holy place! This year, as God has said, «Here is holy.» Part of the reason it’s holy right here is because you’re here. Wherever I am, there’s a holy place—there in that job; there in that marriage. Somebody say one more time, with faith: I am a holy place! So then I would encourage you to treat your body like it. You are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and God chooses to live in you!
Point number two: you have a holy person. I want you to know that the Holy Spirit could dwell in anything, but He chooses to dwell in me and you. See 1 Corinthians 6:19: «Your bodies are the temples of…» not just anybody, but «you’re the temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you.» So if there’s any question, «Where does the Holy Spirit live?» It’s in you!
Holy Spirit, come! He’s rising up within me! I just need the Holy Spirit to work on this situation! Holy Spirit, you’re in me, and I am confused, fearful, and don’t know what to do about this situation! Holy Spirit, stand up on the inside of me! Give me wisdom beyond my years. The prayer I pray—Charles and my mom can tell you—I literally pray all the time: «God, give me wisdom beyond my years.» Let me walk in the knowledge and understanding of the Holy Spirit! The only reason I’m standing here is because I use the Holy Spirit that’s inside of me! He is my advantage!
We did a series last year called The Upgrade. He is the upgrade! Why in the world would you go through this life and only live at salvation when Jesus promises that it’s better for me to leave? Because when I get out of here, you’re going to get the upgrade! If somebody came and said, «Mr. Todd, do you want the upgrade to the penthouse suite in our hotel, and it’s free?» There would be no question in my mind; I would go from the budget room to the penthouse suite! Why? Because everybody loves the upgrade! If Jesus, I told you salvation was the door, but you can live on a level with the Holy Spirit—that’s the upgrade, and it’s better for you. Why wouldn’t you accept the upgrade?
I’m encouraging everybody to go back and watch that entire series called «The Upgrade» and be filled with the Holy Spirit. What I’m saying is that the Holy Spirit chooses to live right here in you, so you are a holy place—the temple of the Holy Spirit—and you have a holy person living inside you. I’d like to think about it this way: you’re the headquarters for the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit’s going to do something about a situation, He will do it through you. Stop looking outside of yourself for the prayer to be answered; you don’t even see yourself as part of the solution. There are things going on right now that I’m saying, «Holy Spirit, give me an opportunity. Show me how we can play a part in that.»
God, show me what we can do. When we gave to the hospital that had the horrific events happen this week, at ten o’clock that night, they called me to pray on the news. I said, «Holy Spirit, tell me what I’m supposed to do.» I got out of bed, went to Channel 2 right on the scene, and Pastor Paul and I prayed together. God said that was the first thing, and I asked, «Holy Spirit, what do I say?» He prayed through me over the city of Tulsa, and then the next day the team said, «We’re going to give to that and whatever else the Holy Spirit says to do,» because we are solutions, not problems. But that means the Holy Spirit has to work that inside of you.
Watch number three: 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, «You are not your own.» That’s the problem right there. I built this; nobody was there for me. Everything I have—I’m self-made. Really? Parents didn’t have anything to do with this? You dressed yourself; nobody helped you? I’m self-made. That spirit of arrogance and pride is something that God has repelled from. He said, «You’re not your own; you were bought.» God did something to purchase you. Number three: you were bought for a huge price—salvation. I wanted your body to be purchased; it would be the equivalent of me taking something that somebody else purchased. «Can I see your shoes?» My dad always wears nice shoes. «Come on up here, Bishop. Can you pass me your shoes?»
Yeah, give me both of them. «Captain, these shoes were bought at a high price.» He’s giving me scriptures too; he’s telling me what to read. That’s good, but I probably won’t use it today. I know that—that’s a snake or a… what is that? What kind of animal is that? Do you know? He doesn’t even know. He said a zebra. I don’t know; it’s a gator now. I didn’t ask my dad what price these shoes were bought at, but the way we treat our bodies is the way I’m about to treat these shoes. We act like the price… Now I need to go inside. Yeah, I look good—that’s not enough. I don’t know the price; I have no idea how much he paid for these, but it doesn’t matter at this point how much you paid for them because I have an intention for them.
If I asked him to come put these shoes back on, y’all would think he’s crazy to use something like this. Yet, every day we fill ourselves with this stuff not knowing the price that Jesus paid for our bodies. Then we pray prayers like, «If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me,» and God’s like, «This is what you’ve given me to work with? I’m trying to take you to the red carpet! I’m trying to lift you up, and if I be lifted up, all men would be drawn to me!» I’m trying to put you in place, but you still won’t give me the thing that I bought and regarded as valuable. When Jesus went to the cross, He paid a very high price so that He could be not just Savior, but Lord. He doesn’t want to just save you from hell; He wants to lead you in life. And if you are just worried about heaven, you will end up living your life like hell.
This is where God says, «Let me be Lord. Let me teach you how to live. Let me help you uncover because I’m the one who paid for this.» I’m just asking if you would start, one thing at a time, removing. I know there’ll still be the smell of it for a while, and I know there’ll still be some residue, and I know some people will only remember the image. I know, I know, I know, because the value is still there even though it may look like it’s damaged. If this gets in the right person’s hands, these things will not just look like they look; they’ll be—everybody say—restored! That’s better than new! I’m about to preach this right, and God’s saying, «If you would give me control of your life… Mo, come take these! We got to get these to a shoe person.» Yeah, because these shoes are going to be—everybody say—restored! That’s what God’s about to do with your life through your mouth. That’s what God’s about to do. This may be the most spiritual message you hear all year at Transformation Church. What would happen if the thing you never thought you could give up—God got control of you? You would indeed be transformed.
Last thing: just in case you didn’t know, salvation is free, but it’s not cheap. I need everybody to hear me say that—your salvation is free; you can come to Jesus no matter who you are. But it was paid for with the blood of the only perfect man that walked this earth, and His name is Jesus. Okay, we like that name around here. Number four: you are a holy place; that’s number one. You have a holy person; you were bought for a huge price. But the last one: you have a heavenly purpose. The reason why God is asking us to live differently through what we eat and not cross the line is that we’re supposed to do everything again for God’s glory. This is why we have to exercise the fruit of the spirit of self-control. He wouldn’t have made it one of the fruits of the Spirit if it was just supposed to be something easy. It’s something that the Holy Spirit has to help us with.
So how do you beat gluttony? Three very practical ways. And I want to say this: some of us—because this stuff is tied to real deep issues—some of us need to go to a therapist. Where the camera? Some of us need to be able to do the spiritual work and the practical work, so you need to go to a therapist. Some people need to see a nutritionist; some people need to consult their doctor. I’m not telling you to sit up in your room tonight and die because you stopped eating. The puzzle box said that we’re going to get control over this, and we find you three days from now passed out because of hypoglycemia. I’m not asking you to do that. I’m asking you to make a decision that I’m going to eat for the glory of God, and I’m going to be uncuffed from cake. So whatever you need to do, hear me clearly: you need accountability; you need a small group.
The reason why some of y’all need to join summer small groups is because you just need to say, «Hello, my name is Johnny and I have a problem with cake.» I had to come clean to my wife about my love affair with Blue Bell cookies and cream—specifically, that heifer tried to rob me; she tried to take my life. I was looking at pictures of myself a year ago; I was carrying around so much extra weight, and it was preventing me from being as available to God because my vehicle had damage. Y’all, I gotta be honest with you: I could not have preached this message to you a year ago because I’m not going to get up here and fake. The only reason I can preach this message today is because God has had me on a year-long journey of becoming a disciple—a disciplined one—not just in prayer, but in portions. I’ve had to become a disciplined person; I wake up every day and work out. I had to retrain my staff.
I told them, «I’m not doing any meetings until after I work out,» and they thought I was playing until I started canceling meetings that they put before I worked out. I said, «Because that meeting is going to be unprofitable. There will be ten thousand meetings like that, but if I’m not here ten years from now, there are no more meetings! I have to take care of my temple.» Does that mean I gotta wake up early? Yes. All this week I have to write a book, so I’ve gotta wake up at 5:30 every morning this week and I’m going to work out five times. Why? Because I’m disciplined. I will not be caught slipping in a place that God would want to use me but I’m not available. Many of us, the thing that God would do in our lives, we could not handle—not because of what’s in our mind or our spirit, but because of how we take care of His temple. And God told me very clearly in prayer, «This is not for everybody—I’m sharing my testimony.» He said, «Michael, I only can bless the ministry at the level your body can take it.»
So you want to be the captain of Transformation Church? Keep eating the cake! And when I think about all the lives that could potentially be transformed if our ministry continues to expand and grow and get more people involved in serving and loving and telling people about it, and joining belong groups—God’s saying, «No, no, stop it! He won’t stop eating cookies! Stop it! He wants seconds and thirds! Stop it! He hasn’t learned how to be disciplined and can disconnect from convenience and comfort to answer My call. He ain’t ready for deep things: healing the sick! He doesn’t want to heal the sick!» And this is the crazy thing: as many of us want to see God do the miracles again—do the miracles again: heal the sick! We want the healing through the raising of the dead and the laying on of hands, but God can also do miracles through healthy habits! You see how quiet it is? Yeah? Come on!
All right, glory to God—thank you, Jesus! You’d rather it be a magic trick than a commitment to discipline. God said, «I’ll heal diabetes; stop eating it! I’ll cancel cancer!» And it takes the same faith and the same Holy Spirit to walk out of that room with the free food and still go and have a good attitude. Yeah? You see, cause some of y’all do it, but you’re mad the whole time: «I hate you, cause you can eat!» Nobody’s forcing you to do anything; this is a choice to live your life uncuffed and not controlled by cake! Okay? So simple: let’s get out of here. You gotta say yes, no, and go. Say it: yes, no, go! Say it again: yes, no, go! Say it one more time: yes, no, go! This is how we’re going to beat gluttony: you’re going to say yes to the truth. The truth is gluttony is a sin.
Some of y’all have not… I’ve been preaching for an hour and 36 minutes and you still can’t believe that this is a sin. The truth is that gluttony is a sin! My body is a temple, and I have to uncuff from cake. That’s the truth. Whether you do anything with it or not, you’ve gotta say yes to the truth. I’ve shown you scripture after scripture; I’ve proven it to you in His word. And if I have a scripture, the conviction of the Holy Spirit is sitting in your belly right now. Okay, everybody say yes. Okay, then you have to say no; you have to say no to temptation. PSA: food ain’t going away! «God, if you didn’t want me to have it, remove the temptation! Lord!»
That’s what we’ve been praying—stupid stuff! «God, if I’m not supposed to have sex with him, Lord, just let them become ugly to me!» God said, «No!» I’ve prayed dumb prayers like that: «Lord, if you don’t want me to watch this, just let the TV not turn on!» The electricity is gone, and every time you hit that power button, it’s coming on! I just need to let believers know: the temptation is not going away! Your response in the middle of temptation can transform your life. Yesterday, my one-year-old, Gia Joy, had her first birthday party. I showed them a picture of my baby. Look at daddy’s chunky baby right there.
Now, six weeks ago, I got on Instagram, hyped off of the first message of this series, and decided to get out in front and lead the people of God. I just want to say, I overcommitted. This is an Instagram post that many people didn’t see, but it was just in the middle of the day, at the end of my workout. I was like, «Let’s talk about uncuffing! We uncuffing! Where y’all watching from?» I just did a little Instagram Live—just doing too much. And I started seeing what people were uncuffing from, and I said, «You know what? Six weeks—no sweets, no wheat! That’s what I’ma do! I’ma lead us: six weeks, no sweets, no wheat!» I didn’t really take into account consideration of how much wheat is in everything and how many things intentionally contain sugar.
When I put it out there, my word, I felt compelled—I said it to the people I lead and I told them it’s a commitment, so I’m going to do it. I did not consider that half of my family has birthdays in May: my dad’s birthday, my brother’s birthday, I mean extended family—everybody’s birthday is in May. Each birthday comes with a mountain of food, and every birthday, including yesterday for my wife’s, I don’t know why she would put me in the den of temptation like this. There were cakes, what did we have? Brunch! There were donuts, biscuits, pancakes, eggs, and she made grits—Creole grits. She prepared all this food, I became a super host yesterday. I had to keep myself distracted, «Y’all need anything? Y’all need anything? Anyone need a refill? Is anybody okay?»
I didn’t care about what anyone thought about me; I was trying to resist the temptation I paid for because I almost gave myself an excuse: «I bought all this food; it’s my baby’s birthday.» God, you must have… and the Holy Spirit said, «I’m trying to teach you how to say no to temptation.» I grew more spiritually at my one-year-old daughter’s birthday yesterday than I have in this church service. This is for the edification of the believers, and the truth is, where we truly grow is on the court of life. Everyone here believes the same thing; when you go to your job and they treat you poorly, that’s when you grow in love. When you have to talk to your wife and she doesn’t care how much you pray, that’s when you grow in patience and long-suffering. Yesterday, at Jesus' first birthday, I grew in self-control. We see this in Daniel’s life; the reason we call it «Daniel’s Fast» is because he discovered a secret that I’m going to share with you.
I won’t go into it deeply, but I’ll give it to you: how do you kill the beast of feasting? How do you reset if you’re used to feasting all the time? God literally provides a playbook on how to kill this desire within us that wants to consume more. And you can apply this to other areas; some of you, we’ve been talking about food, but you need to fast from shopping. I’m not just talking about clothes—guys, you’re at Bass Pro Shop, you’re on Nike.com, you’re at all these places—I’m talking about whatever causes relentless consumption. Some of you have more tech gadgets that you’ll never use. Consume, consume, consume, and God says, «I know one clear way to kill that: fasting.»
I’m asking you, what can you give up until the end of the year? Someone almost threw up; what just happened? Did someone have a gag reflex? But for real, if that’s your response, it may have too much control over you! It’s funny that in Matthew 6, when Jesus was talking about fasting, He said, «When you fast.» So for a believer, it’s assumed that this is something we all do; He said, «When you pray, when you give, when you fast,» not «if.» Some of you, if you’ve never fasted, and you may have just joined Transformation Church, don’t wait for 21 days of prayer and fasting; you can start today. Okay, I’ll leave that alone because I’ll let the Holy Spirit lead.
Yes, the last point is: go do something! Don’t hear all of this and then say, «Oh, child, that was a word today!» When I tell you, girl, what are you talking about? Girl, Gloria! You’re adding an extra syllable: gluttony! Girl, let me tell you, «Get behind me, Satan! I rebuke you!» «Me? Water? I must cleanse my palate.» Did somebody hand me some water, please? Yes, oh God, rebuke you, Satan! But the truth is, you only need one taste. That’s why the Bible tells you to flee; don’t consult with lustful desires. Most people, when it says «lustful desires,» think it’s just about sex. Lust involves things I desire that I should not; it surpasses the line, and youthful desires involve lacking maturity to make that decision.
So what I do is flee from anything controlled by my immaturity or desire that crosses the line. The reason I threw the bag was that all it takes is one taste, one text—my other «t’s» have just gone to the gutter. Holy Spirit, help me! Alright, here we go, the third point is to go do something. Go work out, go move, go walking, meet with a nutritionist, get a personal trainer, see a psychiatrist, visit your physician—go do something! If you hear this word and do nothing, there’s a scriptural word for that: you are disobedient. What I’m saying is, we listen to the Word of God as our standard, not our pastor. The reason I’m using all these analogies and examples is just to help us understand, but the Word of God is very clear about one of the seven deadly sins: gluttony. He’s saying, «Let’s do something about that!» If you don’t do something, you’re being disobedient.
James 2:14 says, «Faith without works is dead.» So don’t come in here believing for outrageous faith for a house when you’re not taking care of the Holy Spirit’s house! This has guided me in my journey of discipline with my speech and health. Philippians 2:13 is my favorite scripture; I probably use it once a service because it gives me hope, for God is working in you! Somebody say, «God’s working in me!» He led you to watch this sermon on Pentecost Sunday; God has you here. He has you watching—someone sent this to you! Someone shared this with you, and you just found it by clicking on YouTube. This is an appointment with Heaven because God is working in you, giving you, watch this, the desire first and then the power to do what pleases him. Anytime I get overwhelmed, I quote this: «God, I’m about to revert to my old ways, but today Your word says You’re working in me.» So, I just have to believe that this friction I’m feeling is proof that something’s happening: You’re working in me! Somebody say, «God’s working in me!»
You’re going to give me, God, what I don’t deserve; You’re going to give me the desire to do this. It doesn’t feel like a desire yet, but God, just give me the desire for today. Did you hear what I just said? Give me the desire, not forever, because if you look too far, you’ll get discouraged. Give me the desire for today. And Father, if You would be so kind, not just give me the desire today; I don’t even have the power to do this, so give me the desire and the power to do not what I want, but what pleases You. Father, thank You that You’re working in us right now, giving us both the desire and the power to do what pleases You. Sometimes the desire begins with understanding, and maybe we didn’t know. God, today, thank You for teaching us and giving us revelation on gluttony! No longer will the enemy be able to sift and snipe us out with this subtle sin; today, he’s been exposed, and I thank You that the body of Christ will become awakened to how much You paid to be the Lord of our bodies. God, it was a high price, and You thought so much of us that You would give Your Holy Spirit to us and make us His temple, His home. What a privilege and honor! Today, God, we repent for listening to culture over the Kingdom. Father, today, we dethrone food, and we thank You that food is fuel so that we can do the work You’ve called us to do. But God, we put You back in Your rightful place in our lives as Lord and King. Our bodies are not our own; today, we say, like Paul, we beat our bodies into submission so that after running the race You’ve set before us, we might not be disqualified. We don’t want to save everybody else and die prematurely; we don’t want to bless everyone else’s family and not be there for our own. God, today, Father, give us the ability by Your Holy Spirit. This is not self-help; this is not willpower; this is Holy Spirit power. We need You, God! Today, we are uncuffing from the cake. God, let this word change the culture in the Church. I thank You that we will glorify You in what we eat, what we drink, and whatever we do; it’s all for Your glory. Somebody say, «It’s all for Your glory!» In Jesus' name, amen.
If you’re watching this right now in that same attitude, there’s a lot of conviction going on right now, and that may be in this one area. For some of us, this isn’t our issue—not our problem; there’s something else, and God’s saying, «I want that too! I want to take your whole life and turn it around as a testimony.» We should, in our bodies, in our speech, in our lives, and our actions, in our families, be walking billboards for the glory of God. People should be able to look at how we handle finances, love people, and stand in the gap and think, «That person knows God. That person must have been with God!»
We should be walking billboards for the glory of God. Maybe you haven’t been that; I wasn’t. I was a liar, a manipulator, addicted to pornography—had all kinds of manipulative things in my heart—I had a felony case for car insurance fraud. I was jacked up, and God looked beyond all my faults and saw my needs. He said, «Mike, if you would give me your life, I can use you. I promise you, everyone won’t understand, but I have a plan for you. Before you were in your mother’s womb, I had a plan to prosper you and give you hope and a future, but you’ve got to do it My way.» I remember throwing my hands up and surrendering to God. I said, «You know what? My way isn’t working anyway; I’m going to give You a chance.» And literally, by giving God a chance, it transformed my entire life. I am the man I am today—not perfect, but progressing—because I accepted the love of Jesus.
Today, I want to offer you this free gift paid for at a high price. If you’re saying, «Pastor Mike, I want to give my life to Jesus; I want to accept what He’s done for me,» it’s very simple. According to Romans 10:9-10, all you have to do is believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord; by faith, everybody say, «By faith,» you are turning or repenting from your old way of living and putting your faith and your life in Jesus Christ. The Bible says, «Anyone who is in Christ Jesus is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, everything is becoming new.»
Today, God wants to give you a new, fresh life, but it’s your decision. So on the count of three, we’re about to pray, and if you say, «Pastor, I want to be included in that prayer today. I want to give my life to Jesus Christ,» just shoot your hand up. I don’t care who you came with; I don’t care what you did yesterday; I don’t care what you were planning to do tomorrow.
Right now, today is the day of salvation, and God has orchestrated this moment to give you an opportunity to say yes to Jesus. One, you’re making the greatest decision of your life! Two, I’m proud of you; you’ve got a whole family here that’s going to cheer for you. But forget all that; your name is going to be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life for all eternity. Three, if you want to accept Jesus, just lift your hand in the room. I see you, sir. I see you in the room online watching on rebroadcast. Yeah, to God be the glory! Listen, at Transformation Church, we’re a family; nobody prays alone, so right now, we’re about to pray a prayer together. Everyone’s going to say it for the benefit of those who are coming to Christ. Just lift your hands and say:
God, thank You for sending Jesus just for me. Today I give You my life; I believe You lived, You died, and You rose again with all power just for me. Fool, Jesus, thank You! Today I give You my life; use me for Your glory; change me; renew me; transform me. I’m Yours! In Jesus' name, amen.