“1Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour…”
–1 Thessalonians Chapter 4, Verses 1-4
The Word of God through my pastor during our noon day prayer time resonated soundly within my spirit, and challenged me to continue to seek a closer walk with God. Society today is not far from those ‘ancient’ Bible days in which sin ran unchecked throughout the land. I believe Judges 21:25 sums it up best,
“In those days there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
One can only look at television, listen to the latest hip-hop, go visit the schools in your state, or look at the latest newspaper clippings to plainly see that many men and women making everyday choices that bring them pleasure–no matter the consequences or the hurt this causes to others. “Keeping it real” is a term used to justify sinful, lascivious behaviors such as drunkenness, sexual immorality. Sex is valued above personality, morals, or values. Our children are bombarded with movies that glorify witchcraft, murder, hatred, sexual immorality and the like. The ways of God and His word is considered by some to be “outdated” and “out of touch” with the “freshness” and the “newness” of today’s modern ways. If one were to carefully compare this modern world with the recounts of the cities, Sodom and Gomorrah–would they be so different. Upon careful studying, one might be stunned to read about different people, different culture, but the same issues and situations as in today’s society. Genesis 13:13 says, “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.” The stench of the sin from Sodom and Gomorrah caused the Lord great pain. This is where Abraham’s nephew, Lot, chose to make his home–the streets were so bad that no visitor was encouraged to be found out after dark. Homosexuality ran rampant and they used each others’ bodies to please each other–of no account to any morals or values. Their lack of purity–moral and sexual–to destroy the city.
As Christians, we must continue on in the Lord as this scripture urges us. 1 Thessalonians 4 uses two strong words in verse 1–’beseech’ and ‘exhort.’ Beseech is to “make an urgent appeal.” Exhort is to “urge, advise, or caution earnestly.” As Christians, Jesus cautioned us against adopting worldly(carnal)ways of the world and to “walk in the spirit” and seek the things of God. Paul is urging strongly the church at Thessalonica to walk in the way that would please God. Why? So that we would continue to grow more and more in Christ Jesus. Jesus gave us guidelines here on earth to go by. God wants us to live a pure life–in every way.
Today at noon day, I was urged to keep walking with God. In walking, one must keep moving forward and progressing–with each step pleasing to God. I could not help but take an inward inventory of my steps. “Have my steps been pleasing to God?” In order to be accepted by God, I must please Him. There is no alternative path, but in walking with God there comes great blessings. Just as in not pleasing God by walking down His path, there is judgement. Many times we know what is acceptable and what is not to God. He makes sure that we understand what it takes to please Him–and once it is known to us we are held responsible. God’s word says that when we see the light, we must walk therein. It is always easier to put God’s ways aside and pick up ungodly ways, habits, or decisions. Ultimately, God is the supreme authority–and there is no getting around Him. In the times that I have tried alternate resolutions to issues, God always brings me back to the first resolution He spoke in my spirit.
The Word of God must be kept. Our feelings, or our beliefs make no difference. God has given us His laws and his commandments on how we are to live. This usually involves sacrifice on our part–to put down those things that are not pleasing in His sight. We know when it is the right thing to do because our flesh becomes increasingly uncomfortable with each passing moment. Jesus gave us a major commandment that we are to be sanctified, and walk in sanctification. Sanctification simply means set apart to do God’s will. God calls us to be morally pure., and not to give in to our fleshly desires, but to abstain fornication. Fornication is not simply the act of sex outside of marriage, but it is any kind of sexual immorality. One cannot do the will of God and be in bondage to their fleshly desires. As we do all we can do to sanctify ourselves, then the very God of peace will come in and sanctify us wholly. Also, reading and meditating on God’s word sanctifies.
Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.” John 17:17
We as believers must know that it is our duty to resist the passions of lust that are waiting to enslave man. When one succombs to lust, they become a slave to that lust, and once entangled with that yoke of bondage–it becomes almost impossible to break the bonds. Sexual immorality ranges from immoral reading, romancing, even looking in ways that are not pleasing to God. As believers it is our Christian duty not to give our bodies to any immoral person but to either dedicate our lives solely to God as eunuchs or marry and devote our family and lives to God. Husbands and wives have obligations unto themselves not to neglect, ignore, and abuse the body of his/her spouse. (1 Corinthians 7:4,9) Husband and wife must have consent with each other on abstaining from marital relations in order not to bring temptation, unfaithfulness, or unfairness in the marriage between husband and wife.
Moral purity also involves being on guard against things that we think that are okay, but keep us from pleasing the Lord and walking forward in Him. Examine our walk with the Lord. Let us work on the immoral purities in our lives–for the coming of Jesus Christ is soon. God has let us know in His word that “only the pure in heart shall see God.” Let us continue to sanctify ourselves and crucify our flesh. When Jesus returns if any are outside of His will, or caught up in promiscuity–he/she will be left behind.
Lastly, when we are morally pure then God can come and fellowship with us in our secret closets–much as my pastor pointed out–like Adam in the garden of Eden–don’t allow any form of sin seperate you from the Lord and His plan for your life.
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