1 Thess. 4:1-8

Can anybody remember what our main question from last week is?

What do people see when they look at your life?

Is it positive or negative? Does it exalt Christ or exalt you? Do you lead others to Christ or lead others astray?

So we’re going through 1 Thessalonians for a couple weeks, but we’re going to bounce around a little bit tonight. As I was reading through these passages, I came to chapter 4 and it smacked me in the face because its personal, its something we deal with today, in our schools, works, relationships, and by ourselves. And even if just one of you hears something that helps you tonight this will all be worth it! We’re going to get real tonight, It might get a little uncomfortable or we might get in somebody’s business but if we don’t talk about then who will and when will we stop?

So we will be in 1 Thessalonians 4:2–8 “For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness. Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

Verse 2 says, “For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” Paul is telling the Thessalonians that he, Timothy, and Silas have given them commands from the Lord and they know what they are. They have been taught these commands that the Lord wants them to follow, the same way we have been taught. But knowing the commands is one thing; doing them is another. Following Christ is not a sprint to the finish line; it is a marathon that requires commitment and discipline. You don’t enter this race to try it out; you enter this race to finish. You burn your bridges. You turn away from your past. You don’t look back, and you can’t go back. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, do we tend to think that we’re good to go? I said a prayer, got dunked in a pool, and now I’m free to do whatever. Our faith in Christ isn’t just a one day decision, it’s a lifetime, daily choice to get up and follow Him and His commands for our lives. We don’t become the model Christians that everybody thinks they should be overnight, it takes time. It comes commitment, devotion, discipline, and surrender.

Verses 3-5, shows God’s will for our lives, “For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God.”

God’s Will is that we would become holy and stay pure

A lot of times we ask ourselves or other people, “How can I know God’s will for my life?” It’s in the Bible! Scripture reveals God’s will for us! It’s not a secret, it’s right here in these words, all we have to do is just read it!

In verse 3, there is a big churchy word, what is it? Sanctification.

What does it mean to be sanctified? To be set apart or be different

Sanctification is both a standing and a process. On one hand, when you come to Christ, He transfers you into a new kingdom. You now stand redeemed and forgiven. You are not partially redeemed; you are fully redeemed (Col 1:13-14). You instantly have a new standing with God. On the other hand, however, you still live in a fallen world in unredeemed flesh. While you are saved from the penalty of sin, the power of sin is an ever-present reality with which you still must wrestle. In this sense, sanctification is the ongoing process whereby you grow in holiness. The process of sanctification touches every part of your life. Not just one or the other, every part.

When Paul starts his discussion of sanctification addressing the problem of sexual immorality is not an accident. Much like the world today, Thessalonica was a sex-crazed city. They had no boundaries, everything was free game. No restrictions. No guilt. It was simply accepted, and it was readily available if you desired it. So Paul fully recognized that the saved believers in Thessalonica would have the temptation of sexual sin and it was a big deal. So he gives the motivation to achieve victory. God’s will for our lives. If we aim to please God, then we first must know what pleases Him. God does not leave us with any question as to how He feels about sexual sin. Paul makes this clear to the Thessalonians: “For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality” (4:3). “Stay completely away from it.” The command is simple and direct: “Abstain from sexual immorality” (4:3). No excuses. No “what ifs.” Stay away from it.

Sexual Immorality comes from the Greek word, “porniea”, where we get the word pornography from, refers to any illicit sexual behavior or activity outside what God has designed. Pornography is one of the biggest problems in today’s world. 90% of men have reported that they have consumed or watched porn in the last month. 90%! The stereotype is watching porn is mostly a male problem… 60% of women have reported they have consumed or watched porn in the last month as well! It not just a male or female problem, its a problem for everybody! People get addicted to this stuff and then they feel stuck. They begin to think, once I get a boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife it will go away! It doesn’t, it just transfers into real life! Then you find yourself in situations that you said you would never get yourself in and guess what… you’re in it! Then it becomes the question, “Well how far can we go?” or “How far is too far?” Next thing you know, you are in over your head. As soon as your thoughts or intentions become impure or you start to feel a certain way. Its too far! Don’t put yourself in a situation that has you toeing the line.

Sex according to God finds its perfect fulfillment only in the marriage relationship between a man and woman. God’s design for sex was for marriage and multiply the earth. We have contorted that idea into one that fits our own selfish desires and pleasures. Pleasing God means saying “no” to the flesh. You have to control your mind and flesh, but we can’t do it on our own. We have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us.

Verse 6, says, “This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you.” Sexual sin is a transgression not only against the holiness of God but also against the dignity of other people. Most people never think of sexual sin in this way. Even a “harmless” casual hook up encounter with another person is an offence against that other person. “God has written ‘No Trespassing’ over every man or woman who is not one’s own wife or husband. When we commit sexual sin with another person we cross a boundary that God never intended to be crossed. We are taking from someone something that does not belong to us. Genesis 2:24 “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.” You bond with that person. Its not a moment you just do and forget! It’s either a bonding moment or a bondage moment! The only time that God removes the “No Trespassing” signs are when a man and woman are married. Outside of marriage, the “No Trespassing” sign applies to both parties. A sexual encounter never involves just one person sinning; two people are sinning. Sexual sin is saying to God, “I don’t care if I sin against You, and I also don’t care if I cause this other person to sin against You.”

The last part of verse 6, says 1 Thessalonians 4:6 “because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you.” The Thessalonians needed to hear that they were accountable for their actions, even those things done in secret. What you do in the darkness of your room, God knows, or the hiding spot that you think nobody will you with your BF/GF, God sees. Crossing God’s boundaries has consequences because the Lord is the “avenger of all.” We are held responsible for our actions. We will have to pay for our sins, it our choice whether we pay for them for ourselves or we have an advocate step in for us.

Verses 7-8, say 1 Thessalonians 4:7–8 “For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness. Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.” The “this” to which he refers is God’s call to a life of purity and sanctification, specifically as it relates to sexual purity. So if we reject the call of purity and sanctification, we reject God. Pleasing God means living a pure life. Rejecting God means living an impure life.

In verse 8 Paul draws a line in the sand. On one side of the line is obedience and on the other side is disobedience. If we cross the line, we reject both God and His Spirit. To acknowledge the boundaries that God has established means that we desire to acknowledge the God who established those boundaries. In so doing, we honor God and His indwelling Spirit. Everything in your Christian life rests on this relationship, including your response to sexual temptation. Our motivation to obey God comes not only from the benefits of obedience but also from our commitment to acknowledge God for who He is.

As uncomfortable as this was for you to sit through, this is one of the most passionate things I will talk about after the Gospel, because this is something I have personally struggled with and through since 7th grade! Some of my biggest regrets in my entire life have came and happened because this addiction and if I can help any of you going through the same thing, even if its just one of you! I want to do everything I can to talk and help you through this! But the only way to be freed and cleansed of this addiction or struggle is through confessing and surrendering it to Jesus Christ! He is the only one that can free you from this, He is the only one who can truly get you out of the pit you feel stuck in. He is the only one who can cleanse you of this sin! The good news is this, when Jesus when to die on the cross for us, all of our sins were on His shoulders. All of the wrath and anger of God at our sins was satisfied by Jesus! Our sins go in the grave with Him and He comes out without them! You can’t clean yourself up, He cleans you. But you have to let Him!

So as we close tonight, I want us to have a moment of honesty and courage. This may not go the way I hope it does but if just one of you does this tonight, it will all be worth it. So in just a second, everyone close your eyes, nobody looking cause I will call you out on it. If tonight, you realized, this message was talking directly to you, maybe you’ve been addicted to pornography for a while now, or you have gone to far over the line with someone in the past and it has become a regret in your life or you are worried you will take it too far. I want you to look up at me or raise your hand for me on the count of 3. I want this to be a time of honesty and courage. I don’t want any of you to be going through this like I did and feel like I was alone and didn’t have anybody to talk to because they would be disappointed or look down at me. Come talk to me, because I have been where you are! I’m here for you. I love each and every one of you. I don’t want you to go through this alone. If tonight you want to be freed from this burden, this addiction, and lay it down at the foot of the cross and surrender it all to Jesus, this is for you too. So as on the count of 3 if that’s you tonight, look up at me or raise your hand. 3...2...1...

Wait for hands, if any, go up. Thank them for their courage and honesty. That took a lot for you to do that, I know! But after we pray, if you want to stay in here for a little bit and talk and prayer with me while we break up for questions, I would absolutely love to. Or if you want to wait and catch me before we leave that’s fine too. Just know I’m here ready to talk when you are.

Lets pray

Reflecting on the sermon, how can one maintain accountability and support in their struggle against sexual temptation?

What steps can you take to ensure you are living a life that pleases God, particularly in the context of sexual purity?

How does the concept of sanctification influence your daily choices and actions?

What does Paul mean by saying that sanctification is both a standing and a process?

In what ways can reflecting on your own struggles lead you to help others who may be facing similar issues?