Tag: 1st Thessalonians 4:3-8
Sexual purity is not optional!
Scripture reading for November 17th: 1st Thessalonians 4, Psalm 80, Proverbs 13
1st Thessalonians 4: 3-8 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, Who gives His Holy Spirit.”
Paul, through the Holy Spirit, lays out God’s will for believers in the area of sexual conduct. The Holy Spirit living in believers brings a sensitivity to God’s will in this area of life. Before salvation, sexual desires motivate people to take whatever their flesh dictates. But sexual immorality defiles the one involved, the partner, families and children, the body of Christ and is an offense against God. Paul warns that God will avenge such sins, as He knows everything done in darkness. He calls His children to holiness and purity in the area of sexual conduct because He desires godly offspring. When we disregard God’s clear instructions, we will fall under conviction by the Holy Spirit. Confession and repentance, turning away from the sin, is not optional to restore our relationship with God. His is watching as are our family.
Psalm 80:1,3 “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who lead Joseph like a flock. You Who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. . . .Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved.”
Prayer: Father God, have mercy on our nation in this sin of sexual immorality. We confess that through the media, we have watched and listened to that which is impure and violated Your holy Word. We have taken lightly or disregarded Your clear instructions against adultery, fornication, homosexuality, and perversion of even our children. Restore us, O God, and let Your face shine on us, that we may be saved!
Proverbs 13:9 “The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.”
Abstain from sexual immorality!
Scripture reading for June 20th: Proverbs 29-31, 1st Thessalonians 4
1st Thessalonians 4: 3-8 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, Who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”
Paul called believers to clearly know and follow the Lord’s will for them and their sexuality. They were to abstain from all forms of immorality as decreed in God’s Word. They were to control their bodies and live in holiness since the Holy Spirit lived in them and they were His temple. When a person engages in immorality, adultery, fornication, or homosexuality, they are doing wrong not only to their own souls, but to the one they are involved with. God promises to avenge this wrong. Paul told them about this and warned them solemnly. If they disregarded his warning, they were also disregarding God Himself! Beware!
1st Thessalonians 4:10-12 “. .for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with you hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
Prayer: Father God, I desire to be holy as You are holy! Thank You for the Holy Spirit and Your Holy Word to lead me in Your way everlasting. Help me to never wrong others by sexual misconduct and to faithfully warn those who are engaged in that life-style that they may escape Your holy wrath. Help me to live quietly and walk properly before outsiders.
Proverbs 29:1 “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.” Proverbs 29:3 “He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.”
Sexual purity is not optional!
Scripture reading for June 18th: Proverbs 29-31, 1st Thessalonians 4
Key Scriptures: 1st Thessalonians 4:3-8 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”
Paul solemnly warned the Thessalonians against sexual immorality. God’s Word is very clear about what He considers “immorality”. Adultery is sexual immorality in a marriage covenant when one partner steps out on another. Fornication is any sexual acts outside of a marriage relationship. Homosexuality is any sexual acts between those of the same sex. Bestiality is sexual misconduct with animals. Pornography is lusting for sexual contact through images or imagination. These acts “transgress and wrong” those involved and they must and will answer to God. We disregard God Himself when we claim to be a believer and still continue in sexual immorality. Be warned: God will avenge!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, have mercy on our land and its people. We have transgressed against Your Holy Word and Spirit and each other in these sins of sexual immorality. Help me to control my own body and thoughts and solemnly warn this people about Your plan for our sanctification in Jesus Christ. turning away Your wrath.
Proverbs 29:1 “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.”
Proverbs 29:8 “Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.”
Learn to control your body!
Scripture reading for September 16th: 1st Thessalonians 4
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st Thessalonians 4:3-8 “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit.”
God has designed men and women with sexual desire and drive. This is to be fulfilled in a marriage commitment with a spouse of the opposite gender. God has also given us all a will and control over our appetites and bodies. After salvation, we can and must learn to control our bodies and their appetites. Sexual immorality is to be avoided in all its forms. We are set apart for God and are to love our brothers and sisters and not wrong them by sexual sins. Paul warned the church that God would punish men for all sexual sin and that rejection of this teaching and failure to apply it was rejection of God!
Observations for over-comers: Sexual sin is a favorite temptation and trap of Satan through our flesh. Over-comers learn to control their bodies and live by the word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. “For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the chords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.” (Proverbs 5:21-23)