Fornication (Romans 1:26-29, 2 Chronicles 21:10-11)

Fornication = sexual relations between unmarried persons, sexual relations between a married and an unmarried person, sexual relations between married persons who are not married to each other, sexual relations between persons so closely related they are forbidden by law to marry (incest), forced sexual relations with any person (rape), sexual relations with anyone under age of consent (statutory rape).

God has put certain desires in every person, but there is a right way and a wrong way to fulfill these desires.

Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

The Cause of Fornication

2 Chronicles 21:5–11 KJV 1900

Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord. Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever. In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king. Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots. So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers. Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.

Notice the cause and effect. Because Jehoram made high places (opportunity), it caused Jerusalem to commit fornication. Of course this is spiritual fornication, but the method is the same. When someone is given an opportunity to commit fornication, there is more chance to go through with fornication.

Because Jehoram said it was OK to commit this fornication, Jerusalem went through with it.

Our world today worships fornication. The more people you’ve fornicated with, the more popular you are.

NO ONE FORCED JERUSALEM TO COMMIT FORNICATION, THEY CHOSE TO. WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT FORNICATION ARISES, YOU CHOSE TO GO THROUGH WITH IT OR NOT.

The Cases of Fornication

Case 1 (Seeing)

Genesis 9:21–24 “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.”

Strong drink often leads to fornication.

Hosea 4:11 “Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.”

Notice the commercials and billboards of men and women getting all close to each other with drink in hand. It’s just another opportunity to lead you into fornication.

Saw = to inspect, observe, give attention to.

We have a generation where they teach sex education often beginning in 5th grade. Public schools are setting up high places so children can go commit fornication.

We have the world in our hands (cell phones). This is another opportunity that is hurting not only children, but adults. If something runs through your mind that you want to check out, you can pull it up in your hand.

The convenience that internet plays in our day can destroy people’s minds, and even marriages.

Noah’s son was mesmerized at the scene, and his father had no idea what had happened.

TV shows (Bachelor, Bachelorette, Jersey Shore, Naked and Afraid)

Facebook, Snapchat, Instagrams of “church people” in provocative clothing.

Pornography (scars your mind, unrealistic expectations when married, rather have porn than marriage)

Seeing the opportunity and dwelling on it is just as bad as committing the act (Matthew 5:27–28 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” )

Notice in the Scripture in Matthew, it’s not all on the man. It’s on the woman as well. (committed adultery with her)

Christian friend, it matters how you dress. You don’t need tight fitting jeans, a tank top, short shorts. Men don’t need tight fitting jeans, tank tops, and short shorts, swim suits, bikinis, short dresses, shoulder showing dresses. (just because it’s a dress doesn’t mean you need to wear it!!!) THE WAY YOU DRESS CAN GIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO COMMIT FORNICATION IN THEIR MIND, AND YOU COULD BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF IT.

Case 2 (Incest)

Genesis 19:30–38 KJV 1900

And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Here is strong drink again being mixed with fornication. (When a man offers a woman a drink or vice versa, it is often to get them to lay with them)

Habakkuk 2:15 “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, That puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, That thou mayest look on their nakedness!”

It’s of the utmost importance we teach our children purity in their lives.

Sodom had got into the girls, and not the scriptures.

If we don’t teach our children these basic truths, what could happen. Also adults:

Child abuse

Mother/son and Father/daughter relationships

1 Corinthians 5:1–2 “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.”

THIS HAPPENED IN A LOCAL NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

Case 3 (Adultery)

2 Samuel 11:1–5 “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.”

Again, opportunity arises for David when he see Bathsheba on the roof. He could’ve turned around and walked away, but the opportunity was too much. David didn’t sin when he saw her, much like Ham, he lingered too long and done some investigating on Bathsheba.

These two married people committed adultery. Notice how much covering up they had to do. Lies, tales, and eventually murder had transpired in the midst of covering up adultery. They lose a son and the name of David is marred forever because of his sin with Bathsheba.

Don’t let the opportunity consume you. David, a man after God’s own heart, went after his own one time and it marred his name forever.

Case 4 (Rape)

2 Samuel 13

If you have so called “friends” that would give you ideas of how to get a girl in bed, you need to change your friends.

The Cure for Fornication

Run

1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”

Genesis 39:2–12 KJV 1900

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Women have an off switch. Men do not. MEN, IF OPPORTUNITY ARISES, YOU NEED TO RUN. Josephs’ best and only option was to flee!

Men, never be alone with a woman. Women, never be alone with a man. If you give in, it could ruin your marriage, your church, your family, and your life.

Refrain

1 Thessalonians 4:1–5 “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:”

It is God’s will that we abstain (to be distant) from fornication.

The world admires and appreciates fornication, so be distant from the world.

When you have access to an ex’s social media account, there’s no reason to stalk it by yourself. You need to get away from that.

Give your passwords to your spouse.

You should never be scared for your spouse or parents to look through your phone, tablet, computer, or search history.

If you are hiding passwords from your spouse, you’re probably hiding a secret life.

If watching shows and movies, listening to provocative music, having worldly heroes pull you in the direction to commit fornication, you need to get away from it. If you have to, throw out your TV, phone, tablet, etc. IT’S NOT GOD’S WILL YOU HAVE A TV, PHONE, OR TABLE, BUT IT IS GOD’S WILL YOU ABSTAIN FROM FORNICATION.

1 Corinthians 7:1–2 “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”

How much can I touch a woman before marriage? (try touching a live downed electric wire, or the blade of a running chainsaw) NOT TO TOUCH A WOMAN MEANS NOT TO TOUCH A WOMAN.

If you can’t avoid (refrain) fornication, get married to someone of the opposite sex.

Remove

If you can’t be refrain from things that entice you to commit fornication, remove them.

Colossians 3:5 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”

God expects us to get rid of the things that need to be killed.

If you can’t quit looking at things on your phone, delete those apps or get a blocker, so there is no opportunity to commit fornication.

If you can’t quit watching filth on TV, smash it.

If you can’t quit thinking of certain things, fill up your mind with scripture. (thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee)

Don’t even go those places where you are enticed to commit fornication (bars, concerts, parties, etc)