Avoiding sexual immorality pt1

Avoiding Sexual Immorality pt. 1

1 Thessalonians 4:1-3a

ICC’s PM 7/10/22

I. Introduction

1. Opening-

2. Prayers

i. Jesus, we pay we may see you as worthy this evening

3. Catch- Perhaps one of the hardest points in counseling is when you start to talk about what you need to do

i. I’ve done this often and we need to start with the sins others have committed.

1. Yes, we are sinners, but we are also sufferers.

2. We’ve been sinned against by others and the world is just broken, causing suffering in our our lives

3. So, as a counselor or even a friend we are to listen and pray and comfort those who are hurt.

4. One of the most important things is to remind others of the gospel, who Jesus is and what he has done.

ii. But then a change needs to happen because all that hearing of the truth maters nothing unless we’re doers.

1. And so counseling makes a shift to here is what you need to do as a follower of christ,

2. here is how you need to respond to all the suffering.

3. And man, oh man, that is hard because I have to do something with my life, I need to change my thinking and acting

iii. And after much love between Paul and the Thessalonians, he finally get to the what they have to do

4. Review

i. We’re in a new part of the book

1. Paul’s Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (1)

2. Paul’s Ministry to the Thessalonians (2-3)

3. Paul’s Exhortation of the Thessalonians (4-5)

ii. Paul often shows the indicates comes before the imperatives

1. This means that addressing how we are called to “walk” as Christians, he has already provided a foundation for this particular way of life[i]

2. Before he gets to what we have to do he says what God has done

3. And this is fine throughout the bible

4. The Ten Commandments have a prologue that is God’s statement to the Israelites (and to us): “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). This is the indicative. It is a statement of fact. It is a statement of what God had done. Only the Lord God could have brought them out of Egypt and out of slavery. That was the basis of their identity. The Lord then said, “You shall have no other gods before me” (v. 3). That is the imperative. It is a command. It is what God had called them to do. The indicative, the act of God, always precedes the imperative, the command of God. [ii]

5. If we mess it up we see God’s instructions as the burdens of a fall of deity

a. I’ve been reading a biography called the last king of America recounting the life of King George III

i. He was actually one of the most christian kings of England who was faithful to his wife and cared about his people

ii. But he is probably now remembered from the fictional line in the Hamilton Musical\

“You'll remember that I served you well, Oceans rise Empires fall We have seen each other through it all

And when push, Comes to shove, I will send a fully armed battalion, To remind you of my love![iii]”

b. If we forget what God has done and look just at the what he tells us to do he appear to be this fictional version of King George

i. But this is not God

iii. We saw Paul’s great love and care for them that they knew from personal experience and from this letter

1. Chapters 1-3 shows his care, now he calls them to care

So let’s see

How the church reminds christians about real purity

1. We ask Christians to live holy (1a)

i. Explanation

1. Paul begins with finally and then goes on for two chapters

a. But it has been sadi the the finally is a really bad translation of the greek words loipos

b. It means something that is lacking

c. It is often used to describe the transition to the practical part, to say I’ve said some things, but there is something still lacking

Philippians 3:1- Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2. He calls them his brothers.

a. A statement not just of their relationship, but his confidence they are believers and they will listen to what he has to say

b. Only in Galatians does Paul comes strong expressing his frustrating with them for abandoning the truth

3. So he asks and urges them

a. Ask mean to inquire or request something of someone

b. He has no ability to force them from a distance, but is calling them to act

c. The word urge means come alongside as he wants them to know that He is trying to do it too

4. But the source and reason for this call is Jesus Christ

a. Paul often does this, connecting his appeal not to him, but to Jesus

1 Corinthians 1:10- I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

2 Corinthians 5:20- Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

b. So, these words take on a wait as this sermon should take on a weight… this is not the call of a pastor only, but as close as the pastor gets to the words of christ, this is a call of Christ.

ii. Illustration

1. The church asks Christians to live holy

a. Christianity has always been a force for good by the call we make to convince others this is good

b. Do you know the Christian ethic has never been traditional but always counter cultural to some degree

c. I was reading about how the sexual ethic of the Roman culture the church was growing up in thought it ridiculous for men to be faithful to their wives

i. One piece of literature tells of travel to the afterlife where the Isle of the Blessed is described as “all the wives are shared in common without jealousy. . . and all the boys submit to their pursuers without resistance

d. The Christian church made a call for men to love their lives and commit to only one woman

e. Today, we still do this through persuasion, through the power of our words and example to say this way is better

2. Christians Ask people to live holy lives

iii. Application

1. The church doesn’t have any authority to make anyone do anything except for disfellowship

a. The church has no armies, no police, no enforcement

b. So we ask people to do what God says

c. And if a professing Christian refuses, we only have the power to remove the blessings given by Christian fellowship

1 Corinthians 5:9–13- I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

d. So, This is actually a loving act

Trans: We’ve seen how the church asks people follow, but we also need to see how

2. We instruct Christians to please God (1b)

i. Explanation

1. They had received this instruction about God when Paul and his crew had first been there

a. They knew this truth

b. They are to do this more

c. We must remember that much of Christian instruction is not telling you something you do not know, but reminder you of the truth you already believe

2 Peter 1:12–13- Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,

2. They were to walk and please God

a. That is to live a live pleasing to God

b. The walk is such a perfect image because it is everday metaphor for our conduct or behavior

c. The christian’s whole life goal is to be pleasing to the one who rescued us

2 Corinthians 5:9–10- So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

i. Everybody lives to please somebody. Many people live to please themselves. They have no sensitivity to the needs of others. [iv]

ii. Before we were in Christ were we enslaved to sin, having to do what our passions told us, and those passions were salves of Satan

iii. But now, Christ has freed us, so we get the privilege of serving him

iv. That attitudes

3. So, let’s see how every decision is an opportunity please God this is the Y diagram

a. Every Decision in life is a choice

Luke 9:23- And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

b. It’s a choice, do we please God

c. Or do we choose to please our selfish desires

d. Only two options on the shelf, Pleasing God or pleasing self.

e. Please self starts off easy, what could be more natural

f. But it ends hard because the creator’s ways

Proverbs 13:15- Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

g. PleasingGod starts off hard, because our sinful flesh doesn’t like saying no

h. But it ends easier becasuse Jesus cares for his people

Matthew 11:28–29- Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

i. Flip to Jeremiah 44:16-18 The wanted to serve these other Gods because they believe they got what they wanted when they served the queen of heaven instead of Yahweh

i. Another passage

““For their mother has played the harlot; She who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, Who give me my bread and my water, My wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’” (Hosea 2:5, NASB95)

““For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil, And lavished on her silver and gold, Which they used for Baal. Hosea 2:8)

ii. Israel thought they receive these great things from their foreign gods, but it was from the true God alone

iii. They were sure of what they wanted and that they knew best of what they needed

iv. They did not seek to learn from God about their needs and trust him for his provision. Instead, they began worshipping themselves.

j. Instead, serving God is principle orientated, focused on him

2 Corinthians 5:9- So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

k. These habits and lifestyle choices that we make don’t just spring from nowhere… they are our outer man

i. Often we feel struck doing something and we wonder why

ii. But there is something that has been going on for a while undernearth that lead to this

iii. Like roots in the ground that have slowly spouted

l. there is an inner man, and our thinking directs our actions

m. This is what the bible calls the heart

i. Not emotions hear, but the cneter of a person

n. Jesus said

Matthew 15:19- For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

i. Everything starts in our heart

o. If we sow in our heart to the flesh, we reap it

Galatians 6:8- For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

p. Sow to the spirit, reap eternal life

i. This is the precious gift of Christ

q. Every response to temptation is an act of worship

i. Who will we worship, the God who creates and reeedems, or the lies of

4. It is possible to obey God and yet not please Him.

a. Jonah is a case in point. He obeyed God and did what he was commanded, but his heart was not in it.

b. God blessed His Word but He could not bless His servant. So Jonah sat outside the city of Nineveh angry with everybody, including the Lord! Our obedience should be “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6).[v]

ii. Illustration

1. The goal is to please God

a. Movies are fascinating things

b. You have two audiences you’re trying to please the people who make moves & and people who pay for movies

i. You see this in things like the academy awards where movie makes the creators really excited,

ii. but most of us have no clue what these movies are about and don’t toonin

iii. There is often conflict between these two audiences

c. In the christian life Jesus is the director who calls the shots and He must also be your audience—the only One you seek to please; the One whose acceptance you most cherish; the One whose “well done, good and faithful servant” affirmation satisfies[vi]

2. Do you want to please Jesus?

iii. Application

1. The question of what is the meaning of life is often asked, and so we better have an answer

a. Westminster Confession well said, it is glorify God and enjoy him forever

b. Simply put this means bringing him delight by by being and doing what He desires. It requires obeying His Word (1 Thess. 4:1, 2), by depending on His power (Heb. 13:20, 21). It involves both your heart and your behavior (Ps. 19:14). [vii]

c. Thus

2. This is very practical in daily life

a. Say you’re in a conflict

i. This belief will set your reconciliation efforts in terms of timing, energy, risk, etc.

ii. If you tend to act rashly or blow up angrily, then a commitment to please God will harness you.

iii. If, however, you tend to withdraw, procrastinate, or avoid conflict, then this commitment will push you.

iv. Your goal is not ultimately to win or get what you want, but to please God

b. Say you’re at a job… how will you work?

i. Pleasing God means your vocation, whether it is translating ancient languages, selling property, retired, or stay at home mom is to… your calling is actually to worship God

ii. The first goal is not how much money can I make on this job, but how much glory can I bring Christ not how impressive will my kids turn out, but how much will I show my trust in Christ

Trans: So while he asks them to put Christ first, there is also another reality that

3. Jesus commands people to be Holy (2)

i. Explanation

1. The is a military term that mean commandments

a. It refers to orders handed down from superior officers. We are soldiers in God’s army, and we must obey orders.

“No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer” (2 Tim. 2:4,

2. So these ethical instructions do not just proceed from men, but from Jesus Christ, the god of the universe

1 Thessalonians 2:13- And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

1 Corinthians 14:37- If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

1. Peter proclaimed the certainty of the Scriptures and the necessity of heeding the unalterable and certain Word of God (2 Pet. 1:16–21).

2. John too recognized that his teaching was from God; to reject his teaching was to reject God (1 John 4:6).[viii]

b. One commentator wrote, “Where the word of God is welcomed with obedient faith, there the power of God is at work”

ii. Illustration

1. Jesus commands holiness

a. The commandments of God are good, but anything negatives comes from us

i. It’s not because of God, but because of us

ii. when water is added to lime an exothermic event takes place

iii. you will see smoke and feel heat

iv. The water is not hot, but the reaction comes from the line to produce slaked lime

b. The more commands god gives, the more possible it is for us to sin because the wicked heart rebels against it[1]

c. How will we respond?

2. These moral instructions are commands from Jesus

iii. Application

1. You must see it not just as advice, but as orders from your commander, from your God

2. And there must because God has shown himself trustworthy, we can follow his insructions.

III. Therefore

1. Since we have seen (Cohesion)- We will continue specifically to the issue of sexual immorality next time

i. What God has done leads to what we should do

ii. We ask Christian to live holy

iii. We instruction Christians to please God

iv. And we give the commands that are from Jesus

2. We know we must (Resolution)-

i. IN his book, the gospel primer, Milton Vincent shows us The gospel allows us to see God as trustworthy

ii. Every time I deliberately disobey a command of God, it is because I am in that moment doubtful as to God’s true intentions in giving me that command. Does He really have my best interests at heart? Or is He withholding something from me that I would be better off having? Such questions, whether consciously asked or not, lie underneath every act of disobedience.

iii. However, the gospel changes my view of God’s commandments, in that it helps me to see the heart of the Person from whom those commandments come. I realize that if God loved me enough to sacrifice His Son’s life for me, then He must be guided by that same love when He speaks His commandments to me. Viewing God’s commands and prohibitions in this light, I can see them for what they really are: friendly signposts from a heavenly Father who is seeking to love me through each directive, so that I might experience His very fullness forever.

iv. When controlling my thoughts as described above, the gospel cures me of my suspicion of God, thereby disposing me to walk more trustingly on the path of obedience to His commands. (17-18)

IV. Closing prayer

1. Lord, may we trust what you say is morally right and may you provide the strength of Christ to follow them

[1]Charles Spurgeon, 300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Lynnea Smoyer (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017).

[i]James H. Grant Jr., 1 & 2 Thessalonians: The Hope of Salvation, ed. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011), 89. [ii]James H. Grant Jr., 1 & 2 Thessalonians: The Hope of Salvation, ed. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011), 90. [iii] source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/h/hamiltonlyrics/youllbebacklyrics.html [iv]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 175. [v]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 175. [vi]Robert D. Jones, “Resolving Conflict Christ’s Way,” ed. David A. Powlison, The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Number 1, Fall 2000 19 (2000): 15–16. [vii]Robert D. Jones, “Resolving Conflict Christ’s Way,” ed. David A. Powlison, The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Number 1, Fall 2000 19 (2000): 15. [viii]Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989), 154.