Moving Forward in God’s Purpose

We have been studying the book of 1 Thessalonians and have come to chapter 4 today. Paul is addressing a very sensitive but serious area of God’s design for man and women in the area of sex, it is meant to be a blessing but when we step outside of its design can cause amazing damage.

1 Thess. 4:1-8

1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 
2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 
5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you (ESV).

Paul is urging them to make forward progress in growing in their love for God and one another which would be more and more evident by the way they are living and the decisions they are making.

In this passage in 1 Thess 4, we can see 3 takeaways:

1. Prioritizing Our Walk with God (4:1-2)

2. God’s Will As Our Guide (4:3-6)

3. God’s Purpose As Our Goal (4:7-8)

Prioritizing Our Walk with God

Paul is saying that as Christians, we should always be progressing in our walk with Christ in all areas of our lives. If we really want to please God (which should be our motivation) then our actions, the way we live is not a matter of personal choice, but an imperative necessity in order for that to happen. If we really want to be changed, if we really want to have fulfilling relationships and want to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives where God has us, it won’t happen by accident or by working harder but by going deeper with the Lord.

Paul was speaking to those who were young in their faith and some had moral principles, but most of them were immoral and somewhat cruel as the hearts that created the gods gave license to act according to their own desires.
Just like today, society reflected what they worshipped and so they became pretty lax in their moral standards, especially in matters of sex. In fact, prostitution was a very prominent part of their religious practices since the worship of those so-called gods involved the use of temple prostitutes.
The Apostle Paul knew that for these Thessalonians, living in this type of environment would cause them to constantly face and potentially fall into temptation.
As we read through this passage we will discover some keys to overcoming sensual sins.

Having God’s Will as our Guide

When we speak of God’s will we mean that this is God’s plan for each one of us that should be known and put into practice. Christ’s act on the cross on our behalf made us holy and righteous before God and this positional sanctification is what took us from the kingdom of darkness into His Son’s Kingdom.
This positional righteousness and sanctification, which happens at the point of salvation, is only the beginning of a lifelong process of progressive sanctification. As we respond in obedience to God’s plan for our lives in every area of life, we become healthy and whole.
In the Scriptures, God’s plan for why we are here and how we should use our body is clear: we should avoid sexual immorality. It is God’s will that as His people, we would practice purity - learn how to control our natural desires in a way that is right and honorable and for the purpose He designed it.

Sex is one of the natural desires God has given us for the purpose of enjoyment and procreation.
God designed sex to be best enjoyed when it is based on an exclusive long-term commitment to one person. Sex was made exclusively for marriage where a husband and wife deeply enjoy intimacy with each other, where they meet the needs of the other. It is a good gift from a good God who delights in our joy. He designed it for profound spiritual, physical, and emotional connection and pleasure.

Paul goes on to speak against adultery. When a person commits a sexual sin with another person they cross a boundary that God never intended to be crossed. However,  God’s people can be set free and have a lasting victory over sensual lust and sexual failure. God created us for fruitful and beautiful relationships, and he wants your relationships, your marriage and family to be healthy and to thrive in a godly environment and has given you the tools to do this.

God’s Purpose As Our Goal

God has called us and has created us for a higher purpose. It is His desire for all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4), that we would mature spiritually and be progressively changed into His image (Rom 12:2).

Moreover, God’s purpose for our lives is to know Him, to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever. Therefore as Christians, as His children, God calls us to be holy, to use our bodies in a way that honors the One who created us and dwells in us.

When we received Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit not only gave us the right, the authority and privilege to become sons and daughters of God (John 1:12), but He also gave us the power to overcome temptation and to be truly changed.

All of us have sinned and sin has done its damage. But the good news is that in coming to Jesus for salvation, we have a new purpose in life. When we acknowledge that we have done wrong, and accept God's forgiveness through Christ, we can experience His amazing cleansing power.

As your pastor, I want you to live life to the fullest, to experience the joy that comes from walking with God, make His will your guide, and live according to His divine purpose. That we would live as God designed us to live. Therefore, we will be presented fully mature in Christ.