January 24th
Read: 1 Thessalonians 4
Big Idea: The direct principles in vv.3-8 are damning to our culture both inside the church and out. (1) It is God’s will that sexual activity only happen within the covenant of marriage. (2) Casual sex is a characteristic of unbelieving heathens, not born-again believers. (3) Sex outside marriage defrauds the other partner, their eventual spouse, all children involved, and the local church. It brings judgment from God. (4) Sexual immorality violates holiness. (5) If you disagree with these principles, you disagree with God Himself. This should be preached in every pulpit. The fact that it is not declared regularly helps to explain our culture’s loss of conscience.
Key Verse(s):
1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 4:4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
1 Thessalonians 4:5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
1 Thessalonians 4:6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. (more verses continued on next page…)
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.