Sexual immorality – a matter of life and death (2)

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord. Another thing that we are warned about from the example of the Israelites after leaving Egypt, is not to engage in sexual immorality.

Primary Text

“We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did – and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.” 1 Corinthians 10v8 (NIV)

I thought to share today what was shared with the youth in my church some weeks back on the topic of sex. I hope you will be blessed by it and perhaps you or your children, nieces, nephews, friends ... can benefit from it.

Myths about sex

A myth is a folk story like “heaven helps those who help themselves” which is not scriptural, as God is our Help! Another is “money is the root of all evil” which is false, given the Scriptures tell us “the love of money is the root of all evil.” To this end, there are some myths/untruths about sex:

1.     God hates sex. This is false, however God has put a boundary around sex to be between a man and a woman, who are married. 

2.     Sex is purely physical. This is not true. Sex is deeply spiritual and emotional.

3.     Sex is no big deal – it is just fun like drinking beer. Not true – a lot of people have destroyed their lives and destinies because of casual sex for example unplanned for pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. In the news, we hear of big men and women who have lost their careers because of sexual immorality.

4.     Everybody is doing it, why not me? The answer is you are not everyone, you are peculiar, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2v9). One danger of doing it like everyone else is that they scar you, move on, and wound you for life. That is why God has put boundaries around sex.

What happens when you violate this rule that is God’s plan for sex?

1.     The life of God is taken out from you. When you participate in casual sex, sex out of marriage, adultery, fornication, incest (sleeping with relatives because it is convenient), the life of God is taken out of you. This of course is the plan of the devil who has come to steal, to kill and to destroy, as opposed to the plan of God which is to give you life and life more abundantly (John 10v10).

2.     You invite demonic deposits. When the Spirit of God left Saul, an evil spirit began to torment him. 1 John 4v4 says – “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world.” But when through sin you have driven away the greater one from within you, you are left exposed to the devil. Because of the sin of Achan, who took of the accursed thing in Jericho, when God told them not to, Israel could no longer stand before their enemies, and the people of Ai beat them (see Joshua 7). Beloved, when you commit sexual immorality, you leave yourself very exposed, you will be unable to stand before your adversary, and God will not be with you.

3.     Indeed, another consequence is that you drive out the Holy Spirit of God who should be in you and with you leaves you, because you are violating your body, which is the temple of God, where He lives (1 Corinthians 6v15-20). David prayed, take not Your Spirit from me (Psalm 51v11), which means the Spirit of God can leave you.

On the other hand, when you have the Holy Spirit:

1.     He will always comfort you. John 14v26. Never do anything to drive Him away. One reason people go into depression is because the Holy Spirit leaves

2.     You will have His guidance. John 16v13. He will show you your future. A lot of people are confused about what to do or what their purpose in life is. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor, Teacher, and Helper

3.     He can help you and attract helpers to you. When you participate in sexual immorality, you lose His help.

4.     You will have His joy and peace. Romans 15v13, 1 Thessalonians 1v6

5.     You have His power. Romans 8v26

Beloved, like Joseph, flee from sexual immorality. Don’t say you want to minister to the people. Avoid the company of those who will corrupt your life. Never allow people to cheapen you.

If you are in a relationship, conduct yourself properly. Meet in public places. If you are convinced that this is the person you want to marry, go ahead and get married. Avoid improper touching. Write down rules for yourselves based on the Bible and make a covenant with God. This gives you power with God.

If then you have been participating in sexual immorality:

1.     Genuinely repent. Repent and turn away from doing it

2.     Remove yourself from things that stimulate these thoughts, and from fantasies and stimulants

Prayer

Father, we thank You for this exhortation. We pray You will help us, heal us, protect us, and keep our minds in Jesus name, amen.