God’s Wedding Gift Series

God’s Wedding Gift

Exodus 20:14

At the end of their first date, a young man in a bygone era took his favorite girl home. He decided to try for that important first kiss. With an air of confidence, he leaned his hand against the wall, smiled, and said, “How about a good night kiss?”

“Are you crazy?” she said. “My parents will see us!”

“Oh, come on! Who’s gonna see us at this hour?”

“No, please. Can you imagine if we get caught?”

“Come on, they’re all sleeping!”

“No way. It’s too risky!”

“Please, please, please. I like you so much.”

“No, no, no. I like you too, but I just can’t!”

“Oh yes you can. Please?”

“No, no. I just can’t.”

“Pleeeeease?. . .”

Then to their surprise, the porch light went on, the door opened, and there stood the girl’s sister, hair disheveled, in her pajamas. In a sleepy voice she said, “Dad says to go ahead and give him a kiss. Or I can do it. If need be, dad will come down himself and do it. Whatever you do, tell your date to take his hand off the intercom button.” (Keith Todd, www.sermonfodder. com; source: sem-joke@yahoogroups.com)

There was a time when just a kiss on a date was considered “risky”. Now, couples are expected to jump into bed together, if not on their first date, at least by the time they get serious with each other. So-called virgins are laughed at. They are considered weird, and sex outside of marriage has become the norm in our society.

According to Leadership Journal (Winter 2006) the percentage of Americans who’ve had sex on a first date is 29%. Average number of sexual partners men have in a lifetime—20. Average number of sexual partners women have in a lifetime—6. Number of adults weekly who have sexual encounters with someone other than their spouse—26 million. Percentage of American teenagers who have had sex by the time they finish high school—65%. Number of sexual scenes per hour on the top-rated television shows among teenagers—6.7. Overall percentage of television shows that feature sexual content—70% (Leadership Journal, Winter 2006, pg. 35)

The sexual revolution of the 60’s was supposed to bring us real enlightenment, freedom from our sexual hang-ups, and barrels of fun.

Instead, we got an AID’s epidemic, 38 sexually transmitted diseases, and

millions of broken homes.

There’s got to be a better way! And there is. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Exodus 20, Exodus 20, where in just one short sentence God tells us how to have fun, fantastic sex without all the hang-ups. Exodus 20:14 -- "You shall not commit adultery."

There you have it. Keep sex exclusively within the marriage relationship and you will have a good time. You see, God is the one who created sex. & When He did, He called it “VERY GOOD” in Genesis 1:31.

Sex is not some “dirty little secret” of every married couple. It’s a beautiful creation of God. The pastor who performed our wedding ceremony called it, “God’s Wedding Gift!”

The point is, “Don’t spoil the gift!” Don’t take what God created as good and beautiful and ruin it by taking it outside the context of marriage.

You say, “Phil, what’s the harm? A little fun on the side can’t be all that bad. Why should I care about sexual purity?” Well, if you turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Thessalonians 4, we’ll find five good reasons to keep sex within the confines of marriage. 1 Thessalonians 4, starting at vs.1 (read to vs.3)

We should avoid sexual immorality, because 1st of all IT PLEASES GOD. OUR SEXUAL PURITY IS GOD’S WILL. IT’S WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US AS HIS PEOPLE.

NFL running back, Shaun Alexander, in his new book talks about the time when he was meeting women from a lot of different backgrounds at the University of Alabama. His mother had taught him never to exploit women – that sex was meant only for marriage – and to treat women with respect. He knew the boundary lines it wasn’t right to cross… He knew if he didn’t keep his focus, he could fall. And it could occur anytime.

“One time it almost did,” he writes. “It happened the first year of college when I’d gone home for a visit. To protect her privacy, I’ll call her Sherron. One night we were alone in my room while my mom was gone. We were kissing, and I thought seriously about having sex with her. But something in me kept whispering, This isn’t right.

“Just then the phone ran,” Shaun says. It was his mother, and she asked, “Is everything good, Shaun?”

“Uh…yeah, Mom,” Shaun said. “It’s good.”

“What’s going on?” she asked.