Sermon for 2/29/2004
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Introduction:
More and more people seem to forget Henry Ford’s sage advice when asked about his rule for marital bliss and longevity on his 50th wedding anniversary. He replied, “Just the same as in the automobile business, stick to one model.”
Stick to the model- one person of the opposite sex until death do us part.
WBTU:
A. Two weeks ago in our study of 1 Thessalonians we came to Paul’s prayer for the church in Thessalonica. He prayed that their faith would grow to maturity. He prayed that their love would increase and abound for one another. He prayed that their hearts would be blameless in holiness.
B. In Chapter 4 he takes these same topics and goes over specifics in each area. He talks about the goal of our faith in vs. 13-18. He talks about how to love each other in vs. 9-12.
C. He gives specifics in the area of holiness in vs. 1-8. He talks about one area in holiness that we all need to hear in this culture. They needed to hear it in the first century. It was a sex permeated society. Could go down to the local pagan temple and get a prostitute. Had idols that glorified sex. Wealthy and powerful people have mistresses in every port. Divorce was rampant and expected. Many, even emperors, had homosexual lovers
D. God created sex. It is a powerful force to cement two people together. It is a powerful force upon which our whole society is built.
E. A man and a woman grow to adulthood and they commit themselves to each other. (Gen 2:22 NIV) Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.(Gen 2:23 NIV) The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ’woman, ’ for she was taken out of man."(Gen 2:24 NIV) For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
F. From this relationship, out of their love for each other, children are conceived. These parents bring up these children in a healthy and stable home where they are nurtured and disciplined. The marriage relationship is the bedrock of our society.
G. One flesh means more than sex but the physical part is important to the relationship. God made us male and female. God made sex and He has the authority to govern its use. From the beginning, He established marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman. God created sex both for the continuance of the race and for the pleasure of the marriage partners.
H. (Heb 13:4 NIV) Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.
I. God’s commandments concerning sex are not for the purpose of robbing people of joy, but rather of protecting them that they might not lose their joy.
J. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” builds a wall around marriage that makes the relationship not a prison, but a safe and beautiful garden.
K. “Abstain from fornication (sexual immorality)”- Anything that takes sexual issues outside the bonds of marriage. No amount of legal action or philosophy can change this. Throughout the Bible, God warns against sexual sin; and these warnings must be heeded.
L. God’s purpose is our sanctification, that we might live separated lives in purity of mind and body. Sanctification= At the moment of our salvation, we are declared righteous in God’s eyes. That is called justification. Then throughout our lives, the Holy Spirit works to bring our morality into conformity with our status in God’s eyes. The Holy Spirit is continuing to make us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Sanctification is a work of God, but we also must do our part (let the Holy Spirit work) in becoming more holy.
M. As we look at our culture, we hear it saying that we can express our sexuality any way that we want. We see Vs. 5 in action in our world. We hear many forces tell us that we need to get out of their bedroom. Traditional marriage is an outdated institution and we need freedom to express our sexuality in many different ways.
N. This is an “R” rated sermon. The Passion of the Christ is rated “R” and this sermon is rated “R.” Why? Because some things need to be said.
O. Homosexual marriage. Neither Greece nor Rome ever legalized it. No western civilization prior to our generation has ever sanctioned it. But in November 2003, four judges in a Massachusetts court decided that thousands of years of collective wisdom were wrong and that homosexual couples have a right to marry. Emboldened by this move, the newly elected mayor of San Francisco disobeyed the law and had the county clerk do homosexual marriages for several thousands before they were stopped a few days ago.
P. Why the push for homosexual marriage? So people can legitimize their relationship and feel good about their behavior. This goes against Creation and it also goes against evolution.
Q. Get out of our bedroom. Let’s just have marriages between close relatives. Leviticus 18 talks about this. Sexual relations with children (as long as they are consenting), even sexual relations with animals, your pets. Let’s just legalize all of this by marriage licenses.
R. Let’s just face it. This is all headed toward the abolition of marriage. It is a restricting institution. What we need is free love, sex. Let’s bring back polygamy.
S. This past summer, the Supreme Court of the United States in the Lawrence case, said that private, consensual sexual behavior between two adults cannot b e restricted and is constitutionally protected. In theory- and this is what Justice Antonin Scalia said in his dissent- there would no way you could refuse to recognize such things as polygamy or adult incest. Most people think that next the Supreme Court will say that homosexual marriage is a constitutionally protected right.
T. Think about the children. Think about the homes and role models they will grow up in. Think about their sexual confusion and/ or sexual abuse.
U. President Bush will back a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in an attempt to halt same- sex unions like the thousands that have been allowed this month in San Francisco. White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, “He has always strongly believed that marriage is a scared institution between a man and a woman. There is widespread support in this country for protecting and defending the sanctity of marriage.” He said the president wants to end “growing confusion” that has arisen from court decisions. The only way to do that is through a constitutional amendment. It will take 2/3rd of both houses of Congress and 3/4th of the state legislatures to ratify it. The chance of 2/3rd of Congress passing this is slim. This is how sick we have become. We cannot even agree on the most basic building block of our society.
V. Chuck Colson says, “The ship is sinking. We’re not going to have any society left if we don’t protect the marriage bond. And the homosexual movement is trying to unravel it. You’ve got to stop it. We have got to talk about this lovingly, openly and honestly. I think this is the #1 domestic issue facing America today, and I don’t see how any self-respecting preacher can ignore it.
W. I take up his challenge. Call your senator, call your congressman and say that we want a Constitutional Amendment to protect marriage. I don’t care what your politics are. I don’t care how you feel about President Bush. We are for the Bible, we are for decency, godliness, and righteousness or we are not.
Thesis: How? How can we reverse the rampant sexual immorality?
For instances:
1. Teach and protect your children.
A. Melissa Millis feels bombarded by everyday messages of sexual promiscuity, whether it’s Janet Jackson’s bare breast during the Super Bowl or her classmates’ casual sex talk. So Millis, a high school senior in Michigan, and thousands of others students across the nation wore T-shirts on the Friday before Valentines Day, to publicly show their commitment to not having sex outside marriage. They called the effort the “Day of Purity.” “The way sex is talked about, it’s so casual, like it’s an everyday thing, like going to McDonald’s,” said Millis, 17. The grass roots effort is sponsored by Christian groups nationwide. But the Day of Purity is being watched with a wary eye by groups that promote sexual tolerance, such as the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Alice Leeds, a spokeswoman for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays says, “The word ‘purity’ in this context is morally self-righteous. It’s redefining it in their context to conform to their frankly bigoted agenda.” Participants said having the Day of Purity right before Valentine’s Day is especially appropriate since teenagers often feel pressure to have sex with their girlfriends or boyfriends on the holiday. “A lot of girls feel that in order to keep their relationship, they have to have sex,” said Kelly Cruse, 16. “I think this need for acceptance is very destructive to a girl.”
B. Virginity is a thing to be avoided. Sexual activity among teens is the norm.
C. (Eph 5:3 NIV) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
D. (2 Tim 2:22 NIV) Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
E. Joseph in Potiphar’s house
F. We need to promote abstinence among our children and youth.
G. I am so thankful that I was a virgin until I got married. I was able to make objective decisions about a future spouse. I was able to leave those that would not be good for me and free to pursue those that would be. Why do we have so many divorces? Because many people are not able to make good decisions because of sex.
H. WE cannot long for what we have never experienced. We can yearn for those things but we cannot long for something. To become sexually active is to have a desire ignited in our bodies that should not be ignited until marriage. IT is like taking a match to gasoline. However, if we never light it.
I. When I was a bachelor someone would ask me intimate questions. I would answer truthfully. It got back to me that I was different or maybe even homosexual. They would call Jesus a homosexual. What a sick society!
J. Let me say that if the sexual organs are not used they will not shrivel up and fall off or somehow malfunction. Look at Crystal!
K. We are not dogs. When dogs get in heat… We have a choice. We are not creatures of pure instinct. We can say No. It is healthy and good to say No. It is good for your future marriage to say No. It is good for your soul to say No.
L. We need to protect our children and youth. Date rape causes problems. Protect our youth from sexual predators whether peers or adults.
M. It will get worse. Look at Sodom and Gomorrah. We don’t know but maybe the only culture to legalize homosexuality. Look what happened (Genesis 19). Two men (angels) went to visit Lot and during the night men surrounded the house and told Lot to bring those men out so they could have sex with them. Lot offered them his daughter but they refused and they wanted those men. Rape. We might come to the place when the raping of our boys will become more common than our girls. We will have to deal with it as parents.
2. Lead us not into temptation
A. Sex begins in the mind. Jesus knew this very well. (Mt 5:28 NIV) But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
B. Traditional pornography. Sports Illustrated. Get rid of it.
C. Romance novels. Get rid of them.
D. TV shows that are sexual suggestive.
E. Soap operas.
E. Internet pornography. Block it.
F. Movies
G. Music
3. Deliverance from evil.
A. In the sex crazy society, we cannot avoid all temptation.
B. Pray for deliverance- have a daily time
C. Seek out accountability with another Christian.
D. Tell your spouse. Work on your marriage.
E. If need counseling, go
F. If it is a homosexual issue, please call me. There are organizations that can help. Exodus International has support groups.
G. Sex should not be our master. (Rom 6:13 NIV) Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
H. (1 Cor 6:13 NIV) The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
I. Need the Lord and others.
4. What about love?
A. Vs. 6
B. What about love? Don’t you want someone to care about you?
C. What’s love got to do, got to do with it, what’s love but a second hand emotion?
D. Are you looking out for the other person’s best interests or for your own?
E. "All By Myself"
When I was young
I never needed anyone
And making love was just for fun
Those days are gone
Livin’ alone
I think of all the friends I’ve known
When I dial the telephone
Nobody’s home
All by myself
Don’t wanna be
All by myself
Anymore
F. Taking advantage of others, defrauding others by not representing yourself for what you really want.
G. Living together. Move in and out of people’s lives. All by myself. Don’t wanna be, all by myself. Anymore.
H. Couples who have been married for years and they are still affectionate. Wonderful.
I. True love. To be there for others. Love never fails.
J. I tell you of a love that never fails. That is the love that Jesus Christ has for you. Many people are looking for love in all of the wrong places.
K. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Even at death he will be there.
Conclusion:
Vs. 8-
(1 Cor 6:19 NIV) Do 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;
(1 Cor 6:20 NIV) you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
