They Are Doing The Most

“All Things Are Lawful – But Are They Profitable?”
A Word for the Generation That’s Doing the Most
Based on 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 10:23

The Text

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 
1 Corinthians 6:12

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” 
1 Corinthians 10:23

The Introduction

Saints, I want to talk to the young people today.

I see you. I know you smart. I know you gifted. I know you living in a world that tells you every single day – you can do whatever you want, be whatever you want, live however you feel.

And church… some of that is TRUE.

God gave you FREE WILL. He made you with the capacity to CHOOSE. You got freedom in Christ that religion tried to take from you. So when Paul writes to the church at Corinth and says “all things are lawful,” he’s not being reckless – he’s acknowledging the FREEDOM that comes with being in Christ Jesus.

But here’s where the sermon starts, beloved.

Freedom ain’t the same as wisdom.

Point One: You Got the Right – But Is It Right FOR You?

The Corinthian church was young. Sound familiar? They were talented, Spirit-filled, living in a culture that said do what feels good. Corinth was the culture capital. The entertainment capital. The “everybody doing it” capital.

And they came into the church carrying all of that with them.

Paul meets them RIGHT where they are. He doesn’t scream at them. He REASONS with them. He says – yes, all things are lawful. You have the liberty. You have the right. The law can’t condemn you. Grace covers you.

But then he asks the real question: Is it expedient?

That word “expedient” means – does it profit you? Does it move you FORWARD?

Young people, I need you to hear this. Just because something is LEGAL doesn’t mean it’s BENEFICIAL. Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Just because everybody’s doing it doesn’t mean it’s building anything in your life.

Some of y’all have the RIGHT to hang with those people. You got the right to spend your coins however you want. You got the right to scroll that app til 2 in the morning. You got the right to let that relationship go on and on even though you know it’s going nowhere.

You got the RIGHT.

But baby – is it PROFITABLE?

Point Two: Watch What Gets Power Over You

Paul goes deeper in verse 12. He says – I will not be brought under the power of any.

This is the part the enemy doesn’t want you to catch.

See, freedom becomes bondage the moment something starts to CONTROL you. When you can’t start your morning without checking that phone. When you can’t feel confident without that substance. When your peace depends on what somebody posted about you. When you keep going back to that same situation knowing it drains your anointing every single time –

That ain’t freedom. That’s a chain with a designer label on it.

Paul says – I refuse to be mastered by anything that God didn’t put over me. The only thing with rightful authority over your life is the Holy Ghost. Everything else that tries to take that throne – you cast it DOWN.

Generation – this is your assignment. Identify what has power over you. Bring it to the altar. Let God break it.

Point Three: Does It Edify?

In chapter 10, Paul adds one more standard. He says all things edify not.

Edify means to BUILD UP. To construct. To strengthen.

Every decision you make either builds something or tears something down. Builds your character, your calling, your community – or it chips away at it slowly, quietly, until you look up one day and wonder where your fire went.

Ask yourself before every choice – does this edify me? Does this edify my community? Does this edify the Kingdom?

This generation has the most tools, the most platform, the most access of any generation your age in BLACK HISTORY. You got gifts the ancestors prayed over. You carry bloodlines that survived the Middle Passage, survived Jim Crow, survived systems designed to break you.

Don’t let something lawful steal what God ordained.

The Close

So I leave you with this.

You are FREE. Shout that. Walk in it. Don’t let religion make you small. Christ paid for your freedom with His blood.

AND – walk worthy of that freedom. Use your liberty to BUILD. Use your platform to EDIFY. Use your choices to PROFIT your purpose.

When the enemy comes to you with something that looks good, feels good, and everybody else is doing it – ask three questions Paul already gave you:

Is it expedient? Is it under my power or over it? Does it edify?

If it fails all three – beloved, put it DOWN.

You are too anointed, too chosen, too covered to be brought under the power of anything less than the will of God for your life.

Can I get a witness?

To God be the glory. Amen.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33