Beloved: Welcome to another week of the month of September 2020. May the peace and joy that come from the Spirit of God fill your life all through it, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Now, as we begin this new week, let me remind you of the words of Paul, which say, “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.” (1Thess 4:3-6NIV) And why am I bringing you this admonition at this time? It is because, just as it was in the days of Paul, there is so much sexual immorality in the world now, and so many children of God are getting involved (1Cor 7:2).
What I am saying is that sexual immorality is no longer a big deal for many children of God today. They no longer see sex before marriage or sex outside marriage as anything serious. And that is because that is the picture those of the world are daily painting about it. I mean that everyday they do and say things that make adultery or fornication or orgy look great. And they give those who will not join them in this nonsense the impression that they are not normal or that they are greatly missing out on the sweetness of sex.
But what is the will of God for us? As Paul tells us in that text, the will of God is for us to avoid sexual immorality and to learn to control our bodies in a way that is holy and honourable. And notice that it is not sex we are instructed by God to avoid. What we are instructed by Him to avoid is sexual immorality, that is, immoral and improper ways of handling sex.
Now these immoral ways, of course, include sex before marriage, sex outside marriage, rape, prostitution, sex with animals, sex among people of the same sex, group sex and any other form of impure thing people who are not married may do together with their bodies. It is these that we are warned by God to avoid. In fact, as Paul makes clear in another letter of his, what God wants really is for us to run away from these things (1Cor 6:18-20).
And why does God want us to run away from sexual immorality? First, it is because it defiles our bodies, which are His temple, and make them unfit for Him to use for His glory. Second, it is because it unites us with people in unholy ways, opening the door for all kinds of problems that should never have been a part of our lives to come into them. Third, it exposes us to both God’s periodic and eternal judgment. Actually, all the sexually transmitted diseases that we know of today are expressions of God’s judgment on sexual immorality and perversion among men.
So, nothing is wrong with you, if you abstain from any form of sexual immorality. Nothing is wrong with you, if you are not married and are still a virgin. Nothing is wrong with you, if you are not co-habiting with someone you are not married to. And nothing is wrong with you, if you will not give yourself to pornography or any of these sexually explicit materials that are defiling and running many lives today.
Yes, as I said before, those of the world around you may try to make you feel that you are not alright or that you are missing greatly by not joining them in their sexual sins. Don’t listen to them or feel bad because of their senseless talks. You are on the right track. And apart from the fact that your life will be kept safe from strange and destructive diseases, someday, the Lord, whom you are honouring with your body, will vindicate you and reward you for staying true to Him.
Do have a great week.
Copyright © 2020, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to alaythiabiblechurch@gmail.com | alaythia4all@gmail.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 07085711280)
By: J.O. Lawal | Date: September 20, 2020 | Series: From Pastor’s Desk | Number: Vol. 9, No. 20
One reply on “Avoid sexual immorality”
Generally I do not learn article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, quite great post. Alayne Clifford Konstantin