Spiritual Decluttering

by Pastor Ben

Big Idea :
God desires us to declutter every areas of our lives by learning to live in contentment so that we can fully focus in serving him in His kingdom

What are the causes of Cluttering?
# Over Consumption (due to overwhelming choices)

# Fleeting Pleasures

# Inextinguishable Discontent

satan puts in us the fear of "what ifs"

The more worry we are in keeping it, the more time we need to manage it
The more we need to make us happy, the more tempted to covet
The more tightly we hold onto it, the more complacent we are

The things you have in life, end up owning you
- Tyler Durden -

Cure for Cluttering :
Contentment
1 Timothy 6-8
- Godliness
- Riches in the Lord

Contentment is the state of being mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are

Philippians 4:11-13
I’m not saying this because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me. I know what it’s like not to have what I need. I also know what it’s like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. I can do all this by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.

Learning to find sufficiency in the Lord Jesus Christ

Philippians 4:19
My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches. These riches come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 55:1-3
“Come, all you who are thirsty. Come and drink the water I offer to you. You who do not have any money, come. Buy and eat the grain I give you. Come and buy wine and milk. You will not have to pay anything for it. Why spend money on what is not food? Why work for what does not satisfy you? Listen carefully to me. Then you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the richest food there is. Listen and come to me. Pay attention to me. Then you will live. I will make a covenant with you that will last forever. I will give you my faithful love. I promised it to David.

The Cornerstone of contentment is the cross
* Our bondage to sin is broken
* Our salvation is secure
* Our friendship with God is possible
* Our future in heaven is guaranteed

Giving Thanks (acknowledges God is enough)
"Contentment is not possessing everything but giving thanks for everything you possess"

Contentment is also about surrendering our will
"Contentment is a matter of accepting from God's hand what he sends ... even pain and suffering ... to accept is to surrender our will to Him

Contentment is also about serving Him in his kingdom
Hebrews 12:1
A huge cloud of witnesses is all around us. So let us throw off everything that stands in our way. Let us throw off any sin that holds on to us so tightly. And let us keep on running the race marked out for us.

Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.

Luke 12:15
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.”

Matthew 6:20-21
Instead, gather for yourselves riches in heaven. There, moths and rats do not destroy them. There, thieves do not break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your riches are.

"Give away... because it breaks covetousness, greed and giving releases blessings"