By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
(Unless
otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard
Bible)[1]
GREETING
Psalm 134:1-2.1 Behold, bless ye the Lord, all
ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.2 Lift
up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.
Life Center Service Tonight: 7:00 pm.
2.
Join me this week in DC, St Louis and Milwaukee, WI.
3.
Please register for the International AIM Convention
under “COGIC Department of Evangelism.” July 1-5, Tampa, FL.
4.
Missouri Midwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Holy
Convocation 4th Annual Holy Convocation July 21-26. In 2020 I will be
celebrating 5 years as a jurisdictional bishop. Special guests include: Evangelist
Renee Winston, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Bishop J. Drew Sheard GBM, Dr. Joyce
Rodgers, Bishop Todd Hall and many more
LESSON NOTES
I.
IS ANY KIND OF
COSMETIC SURGERY A SIN: "TUMMY TUCKS," IMPLANTS, FEET, TEETH,
FACELIFT, ETC? The Bible does not specifically address
this. However, there are some principles in the Word that we must remember.
A.
Why do people do
this in the first place? Many people have these types of
surgeries because they want to feel good about themselves. Society has some
very odd views in regard to beauty. Some people have been bullied in their
lives in regard to weight and looks. There is nothing wrong with wanting to feel good about yourself. However, you should never make
such a major decision based on what other people have said or felt about you.
People can be wicked. Some will accept you and some will reject you no matter
what you do. We must be influenced by God and not be
moved by how others have treated us.
Acts 20:23-24 New American Standard Bible.
23
Except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in
every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not
consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my
course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify
solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
B.
Nothing like surgery
should be taken lightly. Surgery is serious. The worst side effect can be death.
We must remember that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost; we do not own
it. God must give us peace and direction concerning anything that will alter
his temple.
1 Corinthians
6:19-20 New American Standard Bible.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple
of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not
your own? 20 For
you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Proverbs 3:5-6 New American Standard Bible.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
C.
We must be careful of
quick fixes. Western society is in love with quick fixes. Surgery will do no good if
our mindset and lifestyle does not change. The fruit of the Spirit consists of
self-control. We must allow the Holy Spirit to have free course in our lives
and produce discipline.
2 Peter 1:5-6 New American Standard Bible.
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all
diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and
in your perseverance,
godliness,
Galatians 5:22-23 New American Standard Bible.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,
self-control; against such things there is no law.
II.
IS GOD AGAINST
BOTOX? Along with treating
certain health conditions, this can also be used to reduce wrinkles. Cultures
of every age have had the concern of preserving youth and preventing old age
and death. The Bible does not speak to God being
against Botox; but it does honor old age. According to the Bible getting old is
a blessing and not a curse.
Exodus 20:12 New American Standard Bible.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your
days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.
Psalm 91:16 New American Standard Bible.
“With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”
And let him see My salvation.”
Proverbs 16:31 New American Standard Bible.
A gray
head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.
It is found in the way of righteousness.
Proverbs 20:29 New American Standard Bible.
The
glory of young men is their strength,
And the honor of old men is their gray hair.
And the honor of old men is their gray hair.
Isaiah 46:4 New American Standard Bible.
Even to
your old age I will be the
same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
III.
SINCE THE WORD
HATES EVERY FALSE WAY (PSALM 119:104) ARE FALSE EYELASHES, COLORED CONTACT
LENSES, HAIR DYE, WIGS, EXTENSIONS, ETC A SIN?
A.
The following texts are not referring to wigs, false
eyelashes, dyed hair, etc.
Psalm 119:104 New American Standard Bible.
From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
Therefore I hate every false way.
Matthew 5:36 New American Standard Bible.
Nor shall you make an
oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
B.
The Bible refers to
how God symbolically “decked” his people out to make them beautiful.
Ezekiel 16:11-12 New American Standard Bible.
11 I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on
your hands and a necklace around your neck. 12 I also put a
ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
C.
God is against
vanity and trying to draw attention to ourselves. God values
character and godliness over looks.
1 Samuel 16:7 New American Standard Bible.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his
appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for
God sees not as man sees, for
man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
2 Corinthians
4:18 New American Standard Bible.
while we look not at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things
which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
1 Timothy 4:8 New American Standard Bible .
for bodily discipline
is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it
holds promise for the present life and also
for the life to come.
1 Peter 3:1-4 New American Standard Bible.
1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to
your own husbands so that even if any of
them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the
behavior of their wives, 2 as
they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. 3 Your
adornment must not be merely
external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable
quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
IV.
IS IT WRONG FOR MEN TO WEAR GIRDLES OR FOR ANYONE TO WEAR A
BODY-SHAPER?
This goes to the motive of the heart. There is nothing wrong with taking (good) pride in yourself. This type of pride causes you to bathe and groom yourself. As representatives of the Lord, we should want to always look our best. We also should live disciplined lives. But, looking your best and being a “sex symbol” are two totally different things. It is never proper for a man or woman of God (minister or laity) to be a “sex symbol.”
Proverbs 23:1-2 New American Standard Bible.
1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you,
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man of great appetite.
Consider carefully what is before you,
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man of great appetite.
Proverbs 23:20 New American Standard Bible.
Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat
Jeremiah 17:9 New American Standard Bible.
“The heart is more
deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?
And is desperately sick;
Who can understand it?
2 Timothy 3:5-6 New American Standard Bible.
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they
have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 6 For among them
are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with
sins, led on by various impulses,
[1] New American
Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, The Lockman Foundation
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