POSSESSING YOUR OWN VESSEL IN HONOUR
I Thessalonians 4: 1-8 Sanctification and Love
1 Finally then,
brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received
from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you
actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For
you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your
sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in
sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like
the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no man
transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the
avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly
warned you. 7 For God has not
called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who
gives His Holy Spirit to you.
I WALK - Paul writes frequently about the walk that is the Christian Life.
“ Walk in a manner worthy of the calling” – Ephesians 4:1
“ Walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk” – Ephesians 4: 17
“ Walk in love” – Ephesians 5:2
“ Walk as children of light” – Ephesians 5:8
“ For we walk by faith, not by sight” – II Corinthians 5:7
II WARNING - In the Christian faith, we battle obstacles, temptations, snares, traps, detours that the enemy places to catch us
III WORLD of Thessalonica
· Baby Christians
· Ungodly, immoral culture
· Dominating idolatry = sexual immorality
· No preliminary Christian culture to act as a restraining force
· Immorality + slavery ( leisure time) = sexual indulgences
We too live in a culture indulging itself in every conceivable and inconceivable sexual activity.
Paul devotes a great deal of space to sexual purity – Why?
CRITICAL PROBLEM – THEN AND NOW!!
IV WALK in Holiness! Why?
WILL of God – vs. 3
Sanctification = set apart from sin to God
God’s commandments concerning sex:
· NOT to ROB job
· But…to PROTECT, so as not to lose joy
Key = vs. 8 – HOLY SPIRIT
Presence of
the Holy Spirit makes our body the
I Corinthians 16: 19-20
Walking in the Spirit gives victory over lusts of the flesh – Galatians 5:16
VI WALKING in the Spirit
Step #1 – REALIZE - vs. 4 – KNOW
– The knowledge necessary to accomplish a goal
– No QUICK FIX for LUST
– Requires diligence, faith, daily dependence on His grace
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6: 7-9
Step #2 – FERTILIZE
Principle: People reap what they sow
Do we indulge the flesh?
“ Some Christians sow to the flesh every day and wonder why they do not reap holiness.” John Stott
We cannot undo past choices, but starting today, right now, we can choose to sow to please the Spirit.
WHEN THE EYE STAYS,
THE MIND STRAYS
Truth: “For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell. It would wipe out everything I own.”
Job 31: 11-12
Step #3 – PRIORITIZE
· Take time to read the Scriptures daily
· Gather with fellow believers in our local church to worship and be instructed by God’s Word
· Serve in our local church
· Seek God in prayer
· Talk with a Christian friend about God’s character and faithfulness
· Memorize passages of God’s Word and meditate on His promises
· Read a Christian book that encourages us to love God more.
· Listen to a Christian song that strengthens our faith.