Here is a word you don't hear often: Chastity
What does it mean?
To be pure in conduct and intentionI. The Problem- 4 out of 10 girls get pregnant at least once by the age of 20
- 60% of high school seniors have reported having intercourse
- Pornography is a $12 Billion industry in the US
- Revenue from pornography exceeds the revenue of all professional football, basketball, and baseball teams - combined.
- 12% (4.2 million) of all internet sites contain pornography
- 47% of professing Christians have admitted that pornography is a problem
- 17% of all women admit to having an addiction to pornography
- 64% of all TV programing contains sexual content
*CDC and Kaiser Family Foundation
We expect the world to behave like this (II Tim. 3:2-4) but should immorality be characteristic of us as Christians? No - God has called us to be different from the world...
II. God's Purpose for Your Life
I Thessalonians 4:3-8 says: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
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.
For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you."
Sanctification is the process by which God makes us holy. God's will is that we would be holy, pure, and righteous. We are not to be characterized like the heathen - the world.
Remember:
- Your body was created to glorify God (I Cor. 6:13)
- We are members or joined to Christ (I Cor. 6:15)
- Our thoughts are to be pure (Matt. 5:28 / Phil. 4:8)
- We are to be content with what God has given us (Heb. 13:5)
- Sex is God's gift for marriage (Heb. 13:4 / I Thess. 4:3-5)
III. The Plan to Promote Chastity
Throughout the Scripture we are told to flee or run from temptation and sexual immorality. (I Cor. 6:18 / II Tim. 2:22 / Also remember Joseph's example with Potiphar's wife Gen. 39)
Our motivation should be first and foremost to obey and to bring glory to God. Why? Because we were bought with a price and are called to glorify God with our bodies (I Cor. 6:20).
Sexual sin is sin against your body. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God will avenge those who take advantage of or defraud another.
Consider chastity now and make preparations to maintain your purity.
1) Set your heart to do God's will - check your motivation
2) Draw lines - set boundaries to preserve your purity.
CS Lewis gives 3 reasons why it will be difficult to be chaste: Our nature is warped, we don't think this it is possible, and psychology (the world) teaches that it is wrong to repress our sexuality.
No temptation is greater than we can handle - God will always provide a way of escape (I Cor. 10:13). James 1:12 says that we are blessed if we endure temptation and that we will receive the "crown of life" when we are approved.
Things to Consider:
- Do you live a life that is chaste - pure?
- What can you do to develop chastity?
- What can you do to help others be pure?
*What if its too late and you have not kept yourself pure? Know that God forgives sin and it is never too late to repent and to develop chastity. Be sure to find someone who will keep you accountable and encourage you toward godliness.
For further reading check out CS Lewis' work "Mere Christianity" chapter 5 on sexual morality. Also "Passion and Purity" by Elizabeth Elliot and "Sex is Not the Problem (Lust Is)" formerly "Not Even a Hint" by Joshua Harris http://www.joshharris.com/
