Sexual Immorality

- this summer we’re in a series entitled Handling Problems in a Christ-Centered Way…as part of our theme this year of In Christ Alone…

- this is the 500^th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation which was all about how salvation is by grace alone, through faith, in Christ alone, according to the Scriptures alone, to the glory of God alone…

- and this summer we’re studying some of the practical areas of the Christian life this set of doctrines affects and informs…

- in other words – if we really believe that about our Lord…His sufficiency…that’s He’s all we need…what does that look like in our daily life…at home, at work, at the ballfield…

- so far we’ve looked at issues like anger, and pride, and worry, bitterness.

- today we will spend some time talking about how our relationship with Christ can help us address our view of sex.

This topic is a bit challenging to talk about at times. We don’t necessarily, plan events around talking about sexual struggles. But there are lots of Reasons to study this.

some reasons this is important to discuss…

• If you disciple others, you will need to help people with this issue. (Parenting, mentoring, being a godly friend/accountability partner, point man group or ladies bible study)
• We face a lot of sexual temptation in our culture (internet, television, stores, and public issues).
  • Friend requests with inappropriate profile pictures.
• The Bible communicates a lot about sexual sin.
  • Gen. 19 – Sodom; Gen. 39 – Joseph; David & Bathsheba; Rahab the ‘harlot’
  • into the NT, Jesus spoke of adultery, fornication; John 4 – the woman at the well living with a man who was not her husband.
  • many passages where the Epistles mention the subject:
  • Sex is to be for God’s glory – we need to teach about it rightly, not let the culture define it and the church ignore it.
• Sexual sin brings with it severe consequences – ministries destroyed, families split apart.
• Sexual Sin is very deceiving (Picanna illustration)

My friend Sacha from Seminary is from Brazil, and he introduced me to Picanha. It is the best cut of meat at a Brazilian steakhouse, a chuhascaria.

Picanha – Beef Rump Cap

It is basically a beef tenderloin, or a filet mignon, but better. It has a fat cap, so you get all the flavor of the fat, and all the tenderness of a filet.

There is a Brazilian steakhouse down in Indy, called fogo de chao, and my friend Sacha says, don’t eat the chicken, don’t eat the sausage, don’t eat the salad bar (I love salad, and they have an amazing salad bar), only eat the Picanha. I got to have it down in brazil, and it was amazing.

Now imagine if I bring out this freshly barbequed Picanha, it has been trimmed to perfection, it's perfectly caramelized on the outside, it smells amazing…then I told you, close your eyes and I will give you some Picanha …but instead of the Picanha, I give you a white castle slider…and not just any white castle slider, but a slider from the dumpster that is molded and maggoty, and you eat it thinking you are having Picanha.

That is what the deceptive nature of sexual sin is like…you think you are getting something delicious, enjoyable and special, but you have been deceived and are eating something that is not only terrible, but can destroy you and your family and dishonor the Lord.

That is why we want to address sexual immorality in a Christ centered way…

This morning we are talking about Understanding and Overcoming Sexual immorality in Christ alone

Even though sexual sin is very power and deceiving, What we will see is that The Gospel can cut through that deception, and is much more powerful and it provides hope for a person to change and grow.

With that in mind please turn in your bibles to 1 Thess 4:1-8…that is on page 160 in the back section, the NT in bible under the seat in front of you.

1 Thessalonians 4:1–8

¹ Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. ² For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. ⁸ So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Let’s study 4 principles from the Word of God to help us handle the problem of sexual immorality in a Christ centered way..

1. Sexual immorality goes against our purpose
   1. Our Purpose is decided by the Lord
   2. Notice in the text the high level of instruction, direction and referencing authority.

1. 1. Our Purpose is very clear

1. 1. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. ¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? ²⁰ For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Now that we have defined our purpose and how sexual sin goes against that purpose… our next point is where sexual sin begins.

1. Sexual Immorality begins in our desires
   1. The issue here is not having to figure out what to do, knowing God’s will. It is cultivating the desire to do God’s will.

1. 1. Sexual Sin starts in the heart

1. 1. We have a tendency to excuse our sin.

As we look at the heart we realize that…

1. 1. Not all desires are inherently sinful

- if you don’t have a desire for food, you wouldn’t eat

- if you don’t have a desire for rest, you wouldn’t sleep

1. 1. 1 Timothy 3:1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

The problem is…

1. 1. We often enslave ourselves to poorly chosen desires.

- We often misuse or abuse those desires [willingly place ourselves at their feet] – they become our master

• food --- can become gluttony
• rest --- can become laziness
• right --- can became fighting in communication

The man with the chicken coop…he wanted complete control of his fantasy world, but that fantasy world got such a hold on him, that he would look at porn at work, and he eventually got fired…so his perfect fantasy world did not serve him well. It took much more than it gave.

A key point of this passage and in the Christian life in general is that

1. 1. Our desires can be controlled and changed

Point: Desires are not inherently sinful!

1. 1. V5 references we are not to function with lustful passions….like gentiles who do not know God…in other words, don’t live like you have no idea who God is, what he wants, and so then do whatever you want…

Illustration: Favorite Color or Mushrooms…

We often don’t want to do the work of aiming our mind, controlling what we want, what we think about, and what brings us pleasure. It takes a lot of work, but it impacts our whole life.

1. 1. Proverbs 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

There is a need for diligence because sexual sin is so powerful and deceptive.

1. Sexual Immorality is characterized by Deceitfulness
   1. Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

1. 1. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
   2. 1 Thess 4:8 – indicates that there were some in the church that rejected the idea that their sexuality needed to come under the Lordship of Christ.

1. 1. Wrong view of pleasure and consequences

Wrong View:

Biblical View:

1. 1. Wrong view of intimacy in marriage

This helps us have a right view of marriage, but also a…

1. 1. Right view of singleness

1. 1. sometimes we can talk about this topic and make it sounds like everyone is doing a bad job, especially singles.

1. 1. this is for singles and married folks…men and women

The Gospel provides the ability and motivation to pursue holiness…

1. Sexual Immorality can be prevented and overcome through Christ
   1. Because we have a high priest

1. 1. Because we have been made alive

1. 1. Because of grace we have a choice

1. 1. Because our relationship with Christ can radically change the way we view pleasure

1. 1. Because we will give an account