A Tale of Two Women

A Tale of Two Women

Revelation 14: ⁸ A second angel followed the first one, saying, “She has fallen! Great Babylon has fallen! She made all peoples drink her wine—the strong wine of her immoral lust!”

 

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Being sheltered from sex made me want it more! Me and my friends talked about it, but soon the urge to actually do it bubbled over. Purity was thrown out the window as I joined in with “everyone else.”

 

• Purity was considered an old concept by most people.
• After having sex, I wanted more and more of it.
• After a while, the line of morality moved further and further away and soon I did not question if something were “right” or “wrong.”

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw a second angel who had a message that GOD made immorality fall. This announcement was the second important thing to GOD that HE did not want people to overlook.

 

My Observations:

• GOD made humans sexual beings.
• GOD defined what holy sex looked like.
• Humans redefined what sex should be and fell as if drunk.

 

Marital sex between a man and a woman seems like a taboo subject. I mean, it caused divisions, arguments and rage to those who want to do what they want to do. BUT GOD has provided a definition that seems harsh, but is not.

 

HE speaks from a protective perspective and always has our best interest in mind. When HE declares something as the right way, I should heed it. I am glad HE cares for us all to guide us through HIS standards.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer emphasize and how large was the problem?
• Does it sound out of date to define sex “morally?”
• Will you consider GOD as a solution versus HIM being a problem today?

Control Lessons

Control Lessons

1 Thessalonians 4: ³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; ⁶ and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ⁸ Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

 

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Stumbling onto a magazine filled with nudity, something inside me caught fire. “This is great!” I thought to myself. I told a friend what I saw and he got excited! His parents had a subscription channel, way back in the day, that sent a somewhat scrambled signal, but you could still make out the distorted images. It was “R” rated and we celebrated the brief moments of nudity.

 

• I did not want to control myself.
• Something inside me wanted to see the real thing.
• When I saw the real thing, I wanted to see and do more and more.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy gave some difficult news to a group of people who may have been exposed to sex in ways that were not pleasing to the LORD. They do not condemn the people, rather urge the to “learn to control” themselves. This control would help in GOD’s calling.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s calling on my life includes self-control.
• The LORD is the one who sees what I do in secret.
• GOD gave me the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me and wants me to feed HIM with things that are pleasing to HIM.

 

Self-control is a learned skill. I mean, when I really, really like something that is not good for me, I need specific ways to reduce or avoid that thing. Whether it be food, drugs or sex, addictions can be difficult to stop. BUT GOD provides help.

 

HE does not want me to fail, rather HE provides ways to help me live a life that is pure and holy for HIM. HE guides me away from harmful things that cause insatiable desires and focuses my attention on HIM. I am glad GOD is the one who provides a way.

 

Challenge

• What is the will of GOD the writers spoke of?
• Have you ever gotten into a crowd that said “It is okay” to do what you are doing, yet something inside you says it is not?
• Will you ask GOD for self-control so HE can guide you to live a life that is pleasing and purposeful from HIM today?

Not So Bad Zone

 

Not So Bad Zone

Romans 1: ²⁴ And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other. ²⁵ They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever! Amen.

 

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I was a bit nervous after bringing home the porn. I spent hours in the bathroom staring at its contents, “playing” with myself and did not get “caught.” After a while that was not enough. I had to have the real thing.

 

I was nervous again but did it anyway. I convinced someone to join me in sex. Afterwards, I looked around and the heavens did not open to burn me up. “Maybe I’m not so bad after all” I said to myself, continuing in my indulgence.

 

• There have been many times when I compared my sin to what other people were doing.
• There been many times when I thought I did not receive any consequence to the actions I knew were wrong.
• There been many times when I brought other people into my filthy world and soon that was not enough.

 

Paul writes something very disturbing. He mentions what GOD dictated to him. GOD has given people over to do as they please and fulfil whatever their evil hears desire. After the shameful act, then the lie appears. “That was not so bad.”

 

• GOD wants me to open my eyes to my sin.
• GOD wants me to stay away from the lie of “not so bad.”
• GOD wants me to confess my filthy heart to HIM daily, never thinking I am “not so bad.”

 

Each time I think I am “not so bad” I commit a “smaller” act of sin that takes my mind further away from thinking of GOD. After a while, I question my salvation because I get to a place where I am not acknowledging GOD at all. BUT GOD shows me grace.

 

HE watched me in the middle of my sin and decided to die for me instead of zapping me with some excruciatingly painful sentence. HE gave me another chance and wants me to do the same to others. I am glad GOD forgave me of all my sins.

 

• Are you addicted to porn?
• Do you or did you crave a sexual relationship outside of marriage as GOD defines it?
• Will you open your eyes to GOD’s grace and stop comparing your sin to other people so you can confess your sins to GOD and HE will be faithful and just to forgive you today?

Where was I when HE found me?

1 Timothy 1: ¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

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As I sat at the bar on another Saturday night with “friends” I thought to myself “what am I doing here?” I mean this is definitely not fulfilling! After being popular it seemed like I was living out a sentence of reclusion in a “Podunk” town. I was in the middle of a crowd feeling lonely but this time not lonely for people.

What was missing? People invited me out so that wasn’t it. We had laughter so that wasn’t it. We had shallow meaningless conversations so that wasn’t it. What could fill my emptiness?

• When I try to fill my life with sensuous pleasure I may be running away from something.
• When I try to surround myself with frolicking I may need to face something.
• When I go to the extreme to make myself happy I may need to deal with something.

What was I missing?  I was “the man” on campus then I wasn’t “the man” in this small town. Was it the town that was the problem? Nah! GOD had a different path that HE wanted me on.

• No matter what my past was GOD wants to pour out HIS love on me.
• No matter what I’ve done GOD wants to show HIS faithfulness to me.
• No matter where I’ve wandered to GOD wants to give me grace in abundance.

Somehow GOD saw right through my sinful façade. HE dug to the core and considered me trustworthy to carry HIS message. HE appointed me to HIS service in the middle of my ignorance and unbelief. HE found me when I wasn’t looking for HIM.

• Is your heart empty?
• Are you unfulfilled?
• Is your life out of control?
• Can you look to CHRIST to fill the hole in your heart?
• Won’t you give up that lifestyle for one that is fulfilling and full of GOD?

LORD am I worthy to handle my desires?

2 Thessalonians 1: ¹¹ With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. ¹² We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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When I heard the familiar tinkling of “Pop Goes the Weasel” or “Turkey in the Straw”, like a dog in a psych experiment, I wanted some ice cream from the truck even if dinner was minutes away.  When a pretty girl batted her eye at my wallet, like a showman’s puppet, I would fall for the possibility.

When a title or large responsibility would surface, I put on my Peacock feathers and paraded around hoping to be noticed. I would forsake my family and friends to move to the next level. In many cases my desires led to disappointment.

• When my desires are not coupled with GOD then I face disappointment.
• When my desires are focused only on what’s in it for me then I face failure.
• When my desires are targeted on the shiny new thing then I lose my peace if I don’t get it immediately.

My desires aren’t always aligned with GOD’s ways.  In fact many of my desires lead me on a path that is quite opposite of GOD.  I wonder if I am worthy to handle my desires.

• Since GOD knows my heart HE can develop situations where my desires are HIS desires.
• Since GOD knows my ways HE can orchestrate scenarios where my sinful desires fail and “good” desires grow fruit.
• Since GOD knows my mind HE can provide all that I need in spite of my worries, doubts and fears.

Yes, GOD knows my every thought and some of them are actually good! HE places wonderful desires in my mind to serve others, fight fear and most of all, to love HIM. When I ask HIM for stuff, I make the mistake of thinking I can handle that specific desire. I should ask HIM if I am ready for whatever my desire is and be willing to accept HIS answer.

• What do you desire?
• Are your desires aligned with GOD’s desires for you?
• Do you find yourself achieving your desires only to face consequence over and over?
• Can you ask GOD to guide your desires?

Wrong way signs

Romans 13: ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

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Everyone was drinking and I held my ground “not” to do the same. It felt good for a while but after the seventeenth meeting under the same conditions I felt I should loosen up.  I mean everyone is doing it and I wanted a promotion. No, I didn’t dive into drinking but I jumped in on the drunken conversations.

With sober mind I listened to the flirtatious words and silly sophomoric jokes about body parts. “Hmm” I thought to myself. “Who would know?” as I joined in.

• There is nothing I can hide from GOD.
• Sometimes I treat GOD as a being who doesn’t see what I do.
• Many times I ignore the fact that GOD wants me to maintain self-control and I go the “wrong way.”

Knowing what GOD wants was something I tried to avoid because then I could do what I wanted without consequence. It’s called “plausible denial.” BUT GOD wants so much more from me.  HE wants me to learn of HIS ways so I can act like HIM in the “night” just like I do in the “day.”

What I mean is can you imagine me talking about body parts and flirting in front of my wife, kids, parents or in church? Well I can’t. So why do it when no one who would actually care isn’t around?

• GOD forgives me for lust but somehow a blessing is blocked here on Earth.
• GOD throws my sin away from me as far as the east is from the west but somehow the consequence of my actions still linger.
• GOD saved me eternally by dying for my sins but somehow my sins get in the way of HIS full use of me here on Earth.

Feeding my lusts, acting jealous, desiring more and more of stuff and less and less of GOD doesn’t take me away from GOD but somehow my usefulness diminishes.  Yes I will see heaven but that is no longer a goal to shoot for.  In order to be used fully of GOD, HE wants me to be open, honest and true to HIS ways. HE wants me to go the “right way.”

• What lifestyle are you living?
• Are you trying to do things your way instead of following GOD’s way?
• What are you hiding?
• Can you turn your life over to HIM little by little?

Get off the sex boat

Romans 1: ²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

 ²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

 ²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

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Alcohol, teenage years and dorm rooms are not a good mix for sexual purity. I can attest to this because I fell in the grips of this specific sin. Amongst the guys it seemed like some sort of contest or a conquest of women and the institution was no help as they passed out bags of contraceptives. I guess sexual purity wasn’t so important, right? Wrong!

• To GOD sex is pure to Satan sex is wild.
• To GOD sex is reserved for marriage between a man and women to Satan it’s “anything goes.”
• To GOD sex is special to Satan sex is common.

I tried to justify my actions by having a “girlfriend.” I mean maybe I was going to marry this one or that one but that doesn’t quite cut it when it comes to following GOD. HE wants me to have pure thoughts, deeds and actions which include controlling sexuality.

• When I follow GOD’s plan sex is special between me and my wife.
• When I follow GOD’s plan sex is a gift not a sensual pleasure.
• When I follow GOD’s plan sex is not considered filthy and HE will keep me focused on HIS will.

GOD will allow my mind to become as depraved as I want it to be which is quite surprising. The more I disobey HIM, the more HE will “help” me disobey HIM. After a while I would find myself in a place where my witness was no longer real or accepted. There is something special about sex to GOD and Satan knows it. Maybe that’s why sex is Satan’s biggest assault on GOD’s people.

• Are you following GOD’s “sexual” plan for you?
• Are you deep into sensuality and sexuality and feel you cannot change your lifestyle?
• Do you think pornography or a gay lifestyle or adultery or even “flirting” is alright with GOD?
• GOD is forgiving to anyone for any sin, won’t you give your sexuality over to HIM?

I was tempted… No it was just me!

1 John 2: ¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

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Aw man! “Do I have to talk about lust today” I thought to myself. I mean I have a good excuse for my lusts so I’m quite justified in my actions right? Wrong! Yes as a child I stumbled onto pornography and in college women approached me and after college I made enough money to buy nice things and want more and when I was wrong I didn’t need to admit it because I’m always right! Whew!

It’s not my fault these things popped in front of me. You know who I blame, Satan. Yeah, he tempted me into looking at women and ogling over them. He was the one who put all these nice things in front of me so I would crave the best. He made me like power and control right? Uh, maybe it wasn’t him.

• I was born with the lust of the flesh which is a visual sexual lust.
• I was born with the lust of the eyes which is a material lust.
• I was born with the pride of life which is a power and control lust.

My sin is “my sin.” I can try to blame Satan for tempting me, but believe it or not, I always have a choice. I can try to blame my parents and I can try to blame society, but when it comes down to it, I have the choice to follow GOD’s ways or “my” ways.

The “world” offers many sensual pleasures that go against GOD.

• When I love what the world offers, I quickly forget GOD’s rules.
• When I love what the world offers, I try to ignore learning about GOD.
• When I love what the world offers, I don’t want to hear about consequences so I can continue in my lust.
• When I love what the world offers, I try to justify my sin and blame it on someone or something else.

Lust is a nasty sticky gooey gross sin that seems to permeate my soul. I know John wrote this passage, but Paul said it best. “When I want to do good, I sin and do the things I don’t want to do.” Who can save me from this sin? JESUS!

JESUS saved me from my lusts and gave me a purpose and a focus. Yes my lusts flare up now and then because I’m selfish, but now I know a center I can always return to and be forgiven.

• What are your lusts?
• Are you prideful with your words, in other words do your conversations have “me” and “my” in them most of the time?
• Do you desire the next gadget, better clothes, nicer car, bigger home or more money?
• Are your thoughts sexually pure or are you ogling over a person or pornography?

Am I free to do as I please?

1 Peter 2: ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

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After many drinks we decided to play a game. Everyone huddled in our room and one person was blindfolded. The person was asked a number of questions about their dream mate, one of which was “what would you take off first?” This was our trick to see if a drunken girl would take off their clothes. The answer of course is the blindfold.

Now I imagine myself trying to tell this person about CHRIST or her parents or any of the ogling guys or women in the room. It just doesn’t seem very effective for GOD’s kingdom.

• No matter how I slice it, sin is sin and GOD does not like sin.
• Salvation "from" sin doesn’t give me the freedom "to" sin.
• Justifying my sinful actions only leads to more sin and less GOD.

Somehow GOD made me with ‘”free will” or the ability to choose between good and evil. When I believed in HIS SON as my savior from the consequence of sin, I became eternally saved.  Does this mean “on with the party?” Emphatically NO!

• GOD is to be feared and never taken lightly.
• GOD is love AND HE is the judge of every human.
• GOD desires me to love and respect every human as one of HIS creations.

Let’s face it my evil plans are my evil plans. I can try to justify my evil actions saying that my salvation has removed my sins, but it is clear that my attitude towards sin should be different. GOD says even the demons “believe” and tremble fearing HIS power. They know their plan has failed and wish to ruin as many lives as they can before their judgment.

Sin cannot be totally removed from my life until I am transformed by GOD, but until then I can live with love for others, respect for authority and fear of GOD as I am supposed to.

• Are you trying to justify your sinful living?
• Is GOD pleased with how you are living?
• Can you sacrifice your sin for one day to serve CHRIST?
• Will you apologize to “that” person you have evil thoughts about?

What does GOD want from me?

Ephesians 5:  ⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

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“Everything smells like chlorine” I said to myself as I headed back to the lockers. “It’s freezing and I only have a few minutes to get dressed and go to class.” But a few people weren’t getting dressed rather they were huddled by the door separating the girls lockers from the boys. “I wonder what they are doing.”

When they finally cleared the way, I looked through the crude notch in the door. For the remainder of the semester, I had to make a choice, remain pure or not.

• GOD makes it clear no immoral person shall inherit HIS kingdom.
• GOD makes it clear no greedy person shall inherit HIS kingdom.
• GOD makes it clear no sexually impure person shall inherit HIS kingdom.

Wow that seems harsh! I mean didn’t GOD save me and I am saved forever? YES, CHRIST died for “all” of my sins but I still have a need to find out what is pleasing to HIM.

• Goodness means understanding GOD’s ways and mimicking them, knowing HE alone has the power.
• Righteousness means understanding GOD is the only way I am clean through belief in HIS death, burial and resurrection.
• Truth means understanding GOD’s word which is the Bible and discovering how HE wants me to live.

Many times in my life I have wanted “freedom” to do what I felt like doing and usually it wasn’t what GOD wanted me to do. When the winds of life came, I went running back to GOD begging HIM for forgiveness and asking HIM to do something else for me especially when I was in trouble.

My life is not “my life” rather it is GOD’s life and HE wants me to act like it. Free will allows me to act a fool, but the HOLY SPIRIT enables me to constantly come back to the course GOD wants me to be on. I now know what GOD wants from me, my life trusting in HIM.

• Do you have even a “hint of sexual impurity?”
• Are you greedy in any kind of way?
• Do you make coarse jokes?
• Are your words about GOD “empty?”
• Can you expose your darkness for the purpose of bringing someone else to the “light?”

Married folks go have sex or else!

1 Corinthians 7: 1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.

5Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command.

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From what I understand the divorce rate is at 50% even amongst people who profess to be Christians. The first contributor to this downfall is money and the next is emotional separation which can lead to infidelity. There are a lot of temptations that come up against a marriage but sex has to be one of the biggest.

When I married my wife I took a vow to be with her until death. This vow meant to stay together physically and emotionally. There have been times when my selfishness has gotten in the way of the emotional union. After an argument or misunderstanding occurred then I bet you can tell there was no lovin’ going on.

Paul writes “do not deprive each other” and “our bodies are not really ours but our spouses.” He writes this because he knows how powerful sex truly is. If I get angry and withhold sex or emotional unity from my wife then she may be tempted to look elsewhere.

I usually don’t quote books in my quiet time, but here are the 12 steps to adultery from “Temptations Men Face by Tom Eisenman”

1. Readiness – Wanting it.
2. Alertness – Looking for it.
3. The “innocent” meeting – Harmless flirting.
4. The “intentional” meeting – Being at the right place at the right time.
5. Public Lingering – Group settings discussing personal history.
6. Private Lingering – Ideas, feelings and caring shared.
7. Purposeful Isolation – Specific meeting to “help” the other person.
8. Pleasurable Isolation – Sheer enjoyment.
9. Affectionate Embracing – Physical support for one another.
10. Passionate Embracing – “Besides my spouse, no one makes feel this way” move.
11. Capitulation – SEX!
12. Acceptance – They ask themselves if they are a couple.

There are no happy endings to this type of story, but GOD can lead me in the right direction before it starts.

GOD made sex as a holy and honorable act that is reserved as a sacred time, kind of a pleasurable act of worship. Paul says sex is a “duty” which seems more like a “task” but it seems to be the driver of many ills to society today.

I didn’t address the statement Paul said of remaining single because it would take too long. I would just say that if sex is a driver in your life then carefully and prayerfully ask GOD to deliver the right person who will put up with your nonsense. I did.

Are you handling sex in a GODLY fashion?
Are you involved in a relationship with a married person?
Are you angry or blaming your spouse for too many things?
Have you deprived your partner emotional or physical connectedness?

Add GOD to your sexual fantasy! (May be explicit for some)

1 Corinthians 6: 18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

 

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Okay, I get the message LORD that YOU want me to address sexuality this week! GOD wants me to remain pure, but I don’t, thus the problem. My sexual journey began at 12 when I opened a Playboy magazine in department store. Okay, the internet wasn't invented back then!

 

“Wow!” I thought I hit the Jackpot! I knew girls were made different but I never knew they were made that different! Okay, some of you may be thinking to yourself what took you so long? Well, my parents did all they could to keep us on track for GOD, but there comes a time when the child has to walk for themselves.

 

Anyway, I brought the magazine home and “hid it.” Notice I said “hid it.” If it were okay then why not leave it out for everyone to see?

• GOD says all sin will be exposed.
• GOD says everything hidden in darkness will be shown in the light.
• GOD says sex is a wonderful, special time that HE created specifically for a married man and woman to enjoy passionately.
• GOD says that the “two shall become one flesh” which is extremely symbolic for the union we have with HIM.

 

CHRIST sent the HOLY SPIRIT to do the dirtiest job inside of me. HE has to sit there while I lust, sin and justify my sinful actions. What an amazing GOD. No wonder the HOLY SPIRIT prays for me in utterances I don’t understand. It’s because HE knows my sinful tendencies and begs the FATHER to forgive and grow me.

• Find some new GODLY friends to pledge “purity of mind” to.
• Break old patterns of self medication through masturbation by occupying your mind with a project, game or leading someone else in purity.
• Flee from that lustful relationship one hour, then one day then one week at a time.
• Stop saying that “GOD made me this way” and say “I choose to disobey YOU GOD” before your illicit sex act.
• GOD says “flee from sexual immorality.” I guess this means for me to go in the opposite direction the world is going. They may laugh at me and say my ways are old and preposterous, but GOD says “stay pure as a sacrifice and I will bless you.”
• What does GOD say about your sexual activity?
• Do you think if you ignore GOD then the consequences of your sin will go away?
• If “Christians” fall into the sin of judging your lifestyle then can you find the right Christians who are open and honest and willing to help you out of the lifestyle you KNOW is outside of GOD’s will?
• Can you give the HOLY SPIRIT a vacation from lust today, maybe just for an hour then all day to start?
• Can you praise GOD for making you special and wonderful?

Let’s have sex! (May be explicit to some)

1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?

 

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What would Paul write about the church today? When I saw this chapter quite frankly I didn’t want to address it. Paul is writing to the church telling them to throw a man out for having sex with his stepmother.

 

“Here we go” I thought to myself. How am I, a person who has lusted while being a Christian, discussing sexual morals? Well, since sex has turned into shades of grey instead of black and white, I will try my best.

 

First, let me say that “sin is sin” no matter how small. All sin requires death and separation from GOD. JESUS paid for sin and our “belief” brings humans back together with HIM. Now with that said, GOD still requests that humans stop sinning.

• Sexuality is quite special to GOD that’s why it is being attacked.
• Those who remain sexually pure throughout life “I believe” will receive a special reward.
• Pure sex means sex between a married man and woman.
• When I say GOD doesn’t really mean that, then I am inviting other sins in my life.
• Once “one sin” enters, then it is only a matter of time when others will cause a downward spiral.

When I ask myself “who set the rules” I quickly get the answer, “GOD did!” I can say GOD is stupid and ignore HIS rules or I can straighten up and follow them. Paul wanted this man thrown out because he was bragging about sex with his mother. I know it was his stepmother, but see how that sounds!

• Bragging about sin is worst than committing the sin.
• Bragging about sin means it wasn’t a mistake or an addiction.
• Bragging about sin is like saying to GOD “forget YOU and all YOUR rules, YOU better save me anyway!”

I get nervous when I read there will be people “who think they are saved” who will shocked that they aren’t. I keep thinking how terrible it would be if I rejected GOD over a little self pleasure thinking “Oh well, GOD will forgive me” and HE doesn’t. Remember what I have said before…

 

It’s not the “lack of knowledge of JESUS” that sends a person to Hell, it is rejection of GOD’s SON and what HE stands for that separates us for eternity. I do believe “once saved / eternally saved” but I still question do I have the right attitude towards sexual sin that is pleasing to GOD?

• Are you blatantly falling into sexual sin?
• What sexual sin are you trying to hide?
• Have you been sleeping with someone outside of marriage, looking at porn, lusting over another person, sleeping with the same sex, sleeping with someone who is not your spouse, or sleeping with animals? (Is this too explicit?)
• Can you consider sacrificing this type pleasure for GOD’s pleasure?

Nobody will know, but if I’m “sneaky” enough then…

Romans: 11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

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Back in the day sexuality, while loose, was done behind closed doors. In other words we didn’t have the internet or other ways to connect with people. Today sex spills into the family rooms on TV and the internet as common place.

 

It’s actually too easy to find porn and garbage on the internet. Once I taught a class on how to use the internet on company computers to a group of administrative assistants. The company had strict policies on personal use and pornography. I mistyped a website name voila there was porn!

 

It was actually quite amusing and we laughed as I quickly tried to scramble to remove the site. That incident was amusing, but I have a kids who are inquisitive teens and I would like them to understand the true and fulfilling purpose of sexuality.

 

• GOD made sex pleasurable.
• GOD planned sex to occur between a married man and woman.
• GOD knows the emotions that are connected with sex.
• GOD designed a way to have a fulfilling sex life while remaining true to HIS words.

 

The words in this scripture are written with choice in mind. We can choose to “get loose” or be fulfilled in GOD. I chose to “get loose” in college and found a life that was not fulfilling. I thought I was having fun when in reality my life was crumbling and I didn’t know how to fix it.

 

GOD allows me to sin and knows the consequences of my actions. HE allows me to fall into holes and uses HIS grace and mercy to constantly pick me up. HE blesses me when I don’t deserve it.

• GOD is pleased when I try to remain pure for HIM.
• GOD is pleased when I dedicate sex to my spouse.
• GOD is pleased when I remain sober.
• GOD is pleased when I control myself.

Some of my old “friends” think I’m crazy but I choose to have “fun” in ways that are please to the LORD because I look forward to HIS pending return.

 

• Are you trying to please the LORD but doing sex “your way?”
• Do you think you can’t have “fun” without getting drunk?
• Does your life have meaning and purpose or does it feel empty?

GOD is with you even when mistakes are made.

Acts 27:22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."

 

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I look back at times in my life where I goofed. I mean I "blew it" and then I felt rotten. I wish that I could learn lessons without bumping my head, but alas, I tend to learn the hard way. 

 

I could mention some light things like touching hot stoves as an example of a lesson learned the hard way, but what impact would that have? I'd rather go into sexuality. Oh boy! This is a tough one. 

 

I will try to keep it PG-13 rated. In college I made the mistake of beginning my sexual journey. Back in the day there wasn't much discussion about sex, just "don't do it." GOD has very clear guidelines for sex.

 

GOD said sex was supposed to happen when I got married. GOD also said I would enjoy sex with the mate HE would supply, for as long as we remain alive and well. GOD said sex should happen between a man and women and that's it.

 

I said to myself "well, at least I'm having sex with a women and maybe I'll marry this one." I tried to justify what I was doing as being "right" or "better" than what someone else was doing.

• GOD says "sin is sin" no matter how large or small. 
• GOD says "be open about telling people about my sins and maybe they will see their own." 
• GOD says "care enough about people to warn them about the sins I have committed." 

 

Paul warns experienced sailors not to sail because they would become shipwrecked. They didn't listen to the warning and did what they wanted to do. They sailed when it was calm but GOD sent a hurricane and the men were so scared that they began to make irrational decisions.

• GOD saw the mistakes I would make before he created me. 
• GOD forgave me for those mistakes and created me anyway. 
• GOD sent HIS SON to take the punishment for my mistakes. 
• GOD still does not take sin lightly. 

GOD says I can't change the past, but I can help someone's future. By gently and lovingly telling people about my sins, I hope and pray they can see their own and not "shipwreck" their lives.

 

Even "when" they do fall into sin, they are forgiven. How do I know? HE forgave me.

• Are you stuck in sin even though GOD clearly says not to?
• Do you believe that JESUS' death and resurrection wipes away "ALL" your sins?
• Can you forgive yourself for your sins?
• Can you forgive someone for their sins they committed against you?
• Are you afraid to talk about your sinful past in efforts to try to cover it up?
• Who are you trying to impress, GOD or humans?

Sex is a subject we need to address.

Adultery
27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce
31"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

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Wow... What can I say that won't take 200 pages to write? JESUS really does speak to the heart behind the words so I will be careful while being frank.

Humans are sexual beings. GOD created sexuality as one of the many physical pleasures humans can enjoy while waiting on HIS return. While HE forgives us for sins, HE still said that sex is for marriage.

I can only point to some issues today that need to be discussed.

• GOD loves marriage, yet divorce is at its highest in history.
• GOD hates adultery, yet this is at an all time high.
• GOD hates lust, yet TV lust and internet porn skyrocket.

OK, "this issue is huge", you say. What's the solution? With any big problem, the solution begins with me. I'm not going to condemn anyone for their past behavior, GOD has already forgiven those sins. What I will do is prepare us for serving GOD in a way that pleases HIM moving forward.

I have made many mistakes in the past, yet GOD wants me to serve HIM with purity.

• HE gets excited when I stay away from adultery.
• The HOLY SPIRIT jumps for joy when I choose purity instead of lust.
• GOD enjoys when I treat my wife as my one and only soul mate.

GOD wants me to love those who have fallen in these areas and to say to them HE forgives you as HE has forgiven me.

• Can you forget focusing on the sin and focus on the forgiver today?
• Is there someone in your life you are mistreating with sex?
• Do you think you have committed adultery before?
• Can you forgive yourself, because GOD has already forgiven you?