Don't Mess With Gods Purpose-3

Don’t Mess With God’s Purpose-3

1 Corinthians 7:4-5

KBC Sunday July 11, 2021 AM

Introduction:

I. The Purity Of Self Control

1 Corinthians 7:1-2

A. Paul answers with a word of guidance

1 Corinthians 7:1

B. Paul answers with a word of loyalty

1 Corinthians 7:2

2 Corinthians 13:1

II. The Purity Of Self Consecration

1 Corinthians 7:3-4

A. A partnership of sacrifice

1 Corinthians 7:3

B. A partnership of sanctification

1 Corinthians 7:3

I need to point out that this problem is not new, also I need to point out, the solution is not new either. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the believers in Corinth were dealing with the same issues Christian couples face today.

From the garden of Eden...to 1st century Corinth, to 21st century to West Georgia, this challenge is not new, and neither is its remedy.

1 Corinthians 7:4-7 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. 7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

3. The Purity Of Self Clarity

1 Corinthians 7:4-6

God did not leave us in darkness concerning marriage. God's Holy Word teaches believers complete and perfect accuracy on a marriage union between a man and a women.

A. A lesson to learn on faith

1. Faith expresses itself with a heart of servitude

1 Corinthians 7:4 AV

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

When you said I do, your spouse, demands your fidelity!

Matthew 19:5 AV

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Proverbs 5:18 AV

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

There is to be mutual ownership of each other's body in marriage. Note the clarity and forcefulness of this verse. The reason is obvious throughout society. Far too many marriages have dissatisfying sexual relationships; therefore, seeking sexual satisfaction elsewhere has become so common that it has become an acceptable practice in some circles and societies.

As stated, God is clear and forceful in His instructions. And what He has to say in these few verses could go a long way in solving many of the problems existing in so many marriages.

Both the husband and wife have equal rights over the other's body. Neither spouse has full authority over their body-not in God's eyes. The body of each belongs to the other; each has obligations to the other. That is part of the marriage union wrought by God.

Both the husband and wife belong to each other so fully that to withhold is an act of fraud, of cheating the other of what he is due. Each owes his or her body to the other.

2. Faith Expresses itself with a heart of Love

1 Corinthians 7:5 AV

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

There is time of separation that expresses our love, fasting and prayer.

Ecclesiastes 3:5 AV

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

Physical love is a Divine command to Christian spouses! Spiritual love for Jesus is also a Divine command to Christian spouses!

That You are NOT your own you have been bought with a price!

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 AV

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

You should know that your heart can't be right with God if your body is not available to be used to fulfill the commands of God.

This short but power-packed word, ''now,'' is an indicator that if Christian spouses don't understand that they are BLOOD-BOUGHT SERVANTS of Jesus who are commanded to do WITH THEIR BODIES what Jesus tells them to do, then you will not understand God's answer to the question that you asked.

Let me be even more plain: If you think being a Christian means you can still do whatever you want to do...or NOT do what you don't want to do...and you aim to live for yourself and nobody else...you will not like this answer from the hand of Paul and from the heart of God.

There are no other commands that have ''exception clauses'' based on your personal preferences or desires. The same people who've gotten mad with my teaching on this subject would not want me watering down other commands.

Thou shalt not steal...unless it's something you want.

Thou shalt not kill...unless they're getting on your nerves.

Thou shalt not lie...unless it gets you out of trouble.

Honor your father and your mother...unless they make you mad.

I've never tried to water those down...and I won't this one.

If you don't want a physical relationship with your spouse, you should have stayed single. It makes no sense that God would ordain the marriage bed as the outlet for the sexual expression and then bless, honor, and allow your coldness toward your spouse.

Marital love is a commitment to be honored, not a privilege to be earned.

Many years ago, I knew a man whose young wife made intimacy a reward for getting the house cleaned. If he had performed a requisite number of household chores, she would respond to his overtures. If he had not for whatever reason, she was indifferent.

One would be hard-pressed to find a more ungodly attitude toward the marriage bed. In fact, you might have to visit a street corner or a brothel to find an attitude that would even rival the sinfulness of that one. Granted, the disobedience to God may manifest differently at a brothel than on a cold marriage bed but they are both disobedient nonetheless.

Your spouse's desire is your duty to fulfill.

A lady was married to an indifferent man. They went to see a Christian counselor. The counselor gave her a passionate kiss and said, ''She needs that at least 3 times per week.'' The man said, ''I'll bring her by on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.''

That little joke may be funny. But sinning against God by sinning against your spouse is no laughing matter.

Conclusion:

Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana of Galilee in John 2.

If I've made you uncomfortable or upset, that is not my desire. I want to help you. So, let me give you one question to ask. And by that, I mean it's a simple question for you to ask your spouse:

What can I do to serve you!

If you ask that question today, your mate knows the context. They are likely sitting here listening to the same sermon you are. And if not, just say, ''Pastor preached on this issue today and I want to ask what can I do to serve you?''

And if your spouse ASKS that question, keep in mind, you will answer to God for your response.

As we close today, I simply want the theme verse of our marriages today to be from:

Romans 12:1 AV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.