A Holy Life

1 Thessalonians 4:1–8 NIV

1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 4:1–2 NIV

1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

V1-2) We are called to Holiness

Not just “Super Saints” but all Christians!

“The coach that made the team run the same drill every practice.”

Paul is like a coach trying to push his team to keep doing what they know to do… to make a spiritual muscle memory.

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 NIV

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;

V3-5) Self-Control Grows Holiness.

As a child I hated katas, they where boring.

Now I understand that the kata focuses the mind- meditation on the Word focuses both the mind and the soul.

1 Thessalonians 4:6–7 NIV

6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

V6-7) God’s will for us is a life of Holiness.

pleo-nok-teö (to wrong) “to go beyond what is right,” “to transgress,” “to overreach.” It refers to stepping outside the acceptable and protective boundaries set by God.

 J. Wesley Adams and Donald C. Stamps, Fire Bible (Springfield, MO: Life Publishers International, 2011), 1 Th 4:6.

This applies to all areas of life. In this passage it deals with one of the most common and destructive forms of sin and that is sexual impurity.

This includes how we look and think of others, not just our physical actions, but our lustful hearts.

We have so much freedom within His boundaries, but how many times do we trade that freedom for a cheep poison?

1 Thessalonians 4:8 NIV

8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

V8) When we reject this we are not rejecting man’s teaching, but God’s

One may think that we are just trying to control others, or that we are hatful for not celebrating sin. It is not us that one rejects. It is the one true and Holy God and they will have to face it one day.

We don’t have to remain this way. If we truly want to be Holy we need to be both obedient and daily Pray and Ask The Lord to Fill Me with Your Holy Spirit.

Take Home

Are you willing to be emptied of self and filled with the Holy Spirit? If so Pray and Ask.