Sex
Sex is a potent gift from God. Our sexuality is an integral
part of our makeup as human beings. Sex can be delightful and
fulfilling. It can also be devastating. Some people think of sex
as a religious experience (gothic folks) and to some I guess it
can turn into that. It should not surprise you to find out that
the bible does not avoid the subject, it does not hesitate to
exploit every avenue of love lust passion and desire.
Some people have a problem with sex because they let it control
their lives. The way they think the way they live and the way
they feel. In the beginning people have a tendency to explore
sex cautiously. Once a person becomes more sure of themselves in
a sexual capacity they seem to loose control and throw caution to
the wind.
Pornography would fall under the category of lust of the
flesh. Lust is an overpowering desire to enter into actual
fulfillment of one's fantasy. When lust is allowed to run free it
takes charge, normal restraints are removed. A person doesn't
think about their personal reputation as they proceed, they
rationalize wrong and ignore the consequences. The eye is the
light of the body and if the eye is full of dark images then the
mind will be full of darkness and we all will admit that our
minds have a huge influence upon our heart. Is there any sex
that is not a Pandora's box? Sex in a loving marriage is the
only sex which does not bring forth destruction. God has built
certain boundaries this is true. There are thing's allowed and
thing's forbidden. But these are not boundaries of bondage,
rather these are boundaries of protection. To protect us from
the consequences of sexual immorality.
Fantasy is also dangerous to one's spiritual well being. You
might say well it is locked away in my mind how can that harm
anyone? James 1:14-15 says Each one is tempted when, by his own
evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. That thought you
have in your head is a seed which if it is nurtured will give
birth to sin which brings forth death. Romans 12:2 says "do not
conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind". Ephesians 4:22 says
"put off you old self and your former way of life, to become new
in your attitude of your minds, put on the new self, created to
be like God." It is easy to become promiscuous in today's
society. Some of you are darkened in your understanding because
of the lifestyle you have chosen to live. This separates you
from the life of God and perhaps it is due to the fact that you
heart has been hardened.
Many of you will say that I am out of my mind that I don't
live in the 90's. You might say it is impossible to live the way
your saying. There is a way to do it without giving up anything.
There is a way to gain. There is a way not to be manipulated by
other people, magazines, t.v., media, the movie industry etc. It
is not to crawl under a rock and hide. It is to climb to the top
of the rock and stand! The bible states that Jesus is the same
yesterday, today and forever. This means that what He said 2000
years ago applies to today. The wrong's on yesterday are the
wrong's of today and tomorrow. The Lords value system has not
changed with time. People are inventors of evil things. We want
to change those things around us to fit our lifestyle, no matter
right or wrong. The Lord is consistent and un-changing in his
thoughts and ways.
We know that God speaks against sex outside of marriage (1
Corinthians 6:9) he hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) he doesn't
tolerate homosexuality (Romans chapter 1). God does not condemn
sex- he condemns the misuse of sex. Hebrews 13:4 says Marriage
should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God
will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Sex bonds
people together. If the bonding is with someone other than your
spouse or an unnatural act this defaces the picture of God's
covenant with his people. A marriage represents not only a man
and women's dedication and faithfulness to one another it
portrays Gods love toward his own bride which is the church. Not
the church we see on television but the church which makes up
true believers which forms the body of Christ.
The ideal of this article is not to down talk sex but to
bring the truth out about the nature of sex. The bible says
plainly in Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery. So if you
are looking for truth concerning sex you will find out that other
peoples mates are off limits. In committing adultery with
someone you not only break one of God's commandments but actually
a few are broken. Like the one saying You shall not steal. If
you take a mans wife you take something that is not yours. This
is stealing. "You shall not covet your neighbors wife". If you
steal her, sleep with her then you have obviously coveted her
also. There is a dishonor in adultery also. Exodus 20:12 says
"Honor your father and mother". Many times lies will occur to
cover up the mess a person gets themselves into by committing the
act of adultery. Exodus 20:16 says "You shall not give false
witness". Then if things really get messy and out of hand an act
of adultery could lead to murder. Yes murder!
Galatians 5:16 "live by the spirit and you will not gratify
the desires of the sinful nature." This is the advantage of
being Christ's possessions Romans 8:1 "Therefore there is no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." You see lust is
very powerful and will lead you boldly down paths that you would
not normally go. Jesus went down all of the roads of temptation
and saw the fruit hanging deliciously from the tree's of the
world but he never touched, sniffed, or tasted any of them. He
saw them yes but he refused to be a slave to the world. He
controlled his own destiny. He did not allow sin or perversion
which were abundantly available to him to control his life.
There is a story in the old testament about a man named David.
He happened to be the King of Israel at the time. David did
exactly what I have just described. He saw a women bathing on a
roof top. It wasn't enough that he looked at her, he demanded to
know her name. He found out her name was Bethsheba. She was the
wife of one of his most loyal soldiers named Uriah. This did not
stop David from sleeping with her and she became pregnant. Not
knowing what to do David ordered Uriah to come back from battle.
He had hoped that Uriah would spend a night with his wife and
relax thus he would think he was the father of the child. But
Uriah was a very loyal soldier and this is what he said to David
"The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master
Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could
I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely
as you live, I will not do such a thing!"
Uriah was so dedicated to David as a warrior and a friend he
wanted to go back to battle. So David decided to send him back,
to the front lines where the worst battle raged in hopes he would
be killed "2 Samuel 11:14-15. This plan worked and Uriah was
killed (verse 24). David was free now to have Bethsheba as his
own. But she would cost him a great price. David thought that he
had gotten away with this act but he had been seen by God
(Hebrews 4:13). As a result of this sin the baby he conceived
with Bethsheba died. He would have 3 other son's to die
tragically as a result of a one night stand. David did all of
this but God still loved him and told him "And if all this had
been too little, I would have given you even more". (2 Samuel
12:8)
David did repent (Psalm 51) and God restored him even calling
him a man after his own heart (Acts 13:22). God did not want
David to continue in darkness. Matthew 10:26 says There is
nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will
not be made known". David's sin had been revealed and he had
repented but the damage and the effects that others felt because
of his sin would be deep scars upon their souls.
There is a way out! Repentance through the blood of Christ.
Once we admit that we have sin and say I'm sorry asking for the
Lords forgiveness you no longer have to obey the evil prompting
of the world and of the flesh. You will not only be free of sin
but free to obey God and walk in righteousness and purity. The
bible says that we are all born into sin. Sin is our nature.
Lust is natural for the sinful person. This sin will one day
result in a spiritual and eternal death. But Christ who became
sinful flesh upon the cross who shed his blood as a final
sacrifice to sin has invited and called us all to repentance.
Paul writes in Ephesians 1:18-19 "I pray also that the eyes of
your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope
to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious
inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for
us who believe."
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and
believe in your heart that has raised him from the dead you
shall be saved!
Proverbs says "for as he thinks within himself, so he is..."
What do you think of yourself? So you say, I can't control the
thoughts that come into my head. Once the thoughts get in how do
I get them out. There is a cure! The bible says to meditate
upon the Lord, be an example to the world in conversation, in
charity, in faith and purity, for by doing this you will save
yourself and those that hear you. Philippians 4:8 says "
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good
report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
on these things". You see we are encouraged to put on the mind of
Christ (Philippians 2:5). Your mind is a very complex machine.
There is a simplistic way of looking at it though. Say your mind
is like a cup, if you continue to fill that cup up it will
eventually run over the brim. The same with your mind. If you
choose to take in obscenity and to fill your mind up with bad
things, those bad things will spill out in your behavior. If you
follow a purer path and feed your mind clean and righteous things
then you will spill over with good things. It is as simple as
that. You become and are that which you allow yourself to be
exposed to.
Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan, to die for our sins and
he also came that we would have life (John 10:10) "God
demonstrated his love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us". He did not come to call the
righteous but those who are lost.
Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are
not your own. (1 Corinthians 6:15-19)
Your choice to believe in God or Satan if the difference
between freedom and bondage.
Most people confuse love and lust. Let me explain a few of
the differences. Love is patient, love is kind, love does not
envy, does not boast, is not proud, or rude, not self seeking,
not angry, love forgives, love hates evil, love rejoices in the
truth, always protects, trusts, always hopes, perseveres, love
never fails, is unending, always endures, is faithful love is
committed. Lust on the other hand is impulsive, is critical,
boastful, lust is easily threatened, disrespectful, demanding,
moody, vengeful, not rational, lust is untruthful, jealous, and
suspicious, lust is not dependable, is insecure, lust will cheat
and is not trustworthy. Over 50% of marriages fail today because
of infidelity. Infidelity is lust. If relationships were
grounded in love then marriages would last. Those who are dating
would respect and honor one another.
Because we are flesh and blood we will always be tempted. We
will continue to have things laid before us we should not partake
of. There is no way flesh and blood can resist. If sex is your
vise if it has become your addiction you will be a servant of
sex. There is one way to be released from the bonds of flesh
where you can find freedom. The freedom is only found is Jesus
Christ.
Some people live for sex, whether it is looking at a dirty
magazine, frequenting sex shops, strip clubs, picking up
prostitutes, or just having sexual relationships out side of
marriage. This type of behavior demeans personal relationships
and in demoralizing others our values system drops. The thing we
live for (SEX) becomes the thing we can not live without. It
becomes an addiction a flesh narcotic that demands to be used.
We must keep in mind that the spirit lives forever and the
flesh will one day die. It is much better in the long run to
feed the spirit than the flesh. 1 Corinthians 15:44 "It is sown
a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a
natural body, there is a spiritual body".
Knowing that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,
it is foolish to waste our time on the flesh and things of this
world. There is a spiritual universe out there that I have
experienced that is far more fulfilling than any one night stand.
There is no disease in the spiritual world, no aids, no
herpes, no venereal diseases, no loneliness, guilt, pain,
depression, sadness, WHY? Because Jesus is the Lord there. He is
Holy and Pure. Once a person decides to follow Jesus into life,
their old way of life is crucified. The old person dies to sin
and is made new by the washing of the Word and the cleansing of
the Blood of Christ.
It all begins with recognizing that we are all sinners, born
into sin and eternally lost without Jesus. Then it takes us
being called by His spirit to repentance, asking forgiveness of
our sins and receiving His spirit into our heart. We must
believe that Christ is the Son of God and that through His death
and resurrection we have been pardoned for our sins through his
sacrifice and obedience to the cross by the shedding of His
blood. Then we must allow God to reshape us mentally and
spiritually. The Lord said He would never leave us nor forsake
us. He promised that He would be with us until the ends of the
world.
In Christ
Dale Thompson
BRIDE
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