Aligning Relationships with God's Divine Order

Devotional

Day 1: God's Order for Relationships

God's design for relationships is to unite us spiritually first, then romantically, and finally physically. This order protects us from heartache and aligns us with His divine plan. Ignoring this sequence can lead to guilt, broken relationships, and a distorted view of love and sex. When we follow God's order, we build a strong foundation that can withstand the challenges of life. This divine sequence is crucial for maintaining purity and avoiding the pitfalls of sexual immorality.

By prioritizing spiritual unity, we ensure that our relationships are rooted in a shared faith and commitment to God's principles. Romantic unity follows, allowing us to build emotional and relational bonds that are deep and meaningful. Finally, physical unity is the culmination of this process, a beautiful expression of the love and commitment that has been established. Adhering to this order not only honors God but also brings true fulfillment and joy in our relationships. [38:01]

Ephesians 5:31-32 (ESV): "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church."

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize spiritual and romantic unity in your current or future relationships to align with God's divine order?

Day 2: The Danger of Reversing God's Order

Satan tempts us to reverse God's natural order, prioritizing physical intimacy before spiritual and romantic unity. This perversion leads to a host of problems, including guilt, broken relationships, and a depraved mind. We must resist these temptations and adhere to God's wisdom. When physical intimacy is prioritized, it can cloud judgment and lead to decisions that are not in line with God's will. This reversal can create a cycle of sin and regret that is difficult to break.

By understanding the dangers of reversing God's order, we can be more vigilant in guarding our hearts and minds. It is essential to seek God's guidance and strength to resist the temptations that come our way. By doing so, we can protect ourselves from the negative consequences of sexual immorality and build relationships that are healthy and honoring to God. [40:18]

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (ESV): "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God."

Reflection: How can you actively resist the temptation to prioritize physical intimacy in your relationships, and what steps can you take to ensure you follow God's order?

Day 3: The Importance of Controlling Sexual Drives

Men and women must learn to control their sexual drives and protect their minds from corrupt influences. True love is patient and respectful, while lust is self-serving and impatient. Upholding standards of purity and honor in relationships is crucial for a God-honoring life. Controlling sexual drives requires discipline and a commitment to living according to God's principles. It involves setting boundaries and being mindful of the influences that can lead us astray.

By focusing on true love, which is patient and respectful, we can build relationships that are based on mutual respect and honor. Lust, on the other hand, is self-serving and impatient, leading to actions that can harm ourselves and others. By upholding standards of purity, we demonstrate our commitment to living a life that honors God and reflects His love to those around us. [01:01:02]

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV): "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take to control your sexual drives and protect your mind from corrupt influences in your daily life?

Day 4: Teaching Sexuality in the Home

Parents have a responsibility to teach their children about sexuality within the home, being proactive and open about the topic. Grounding these discussions in God's Word helps children understand that sexuality is a gift from God, meant to be stewarded properly. By addressing this topic openly and honestly, parents can provide a safe space for their children to ask questions and learn about God's design for sexuality.

Teaching children about sexuality from a biblical perspective helps them develop a healthy and respectful understanding of this important aspect of life. It equips them with the knowledge and values they need to navigate the challenges and temptations they may face. By grounding these discussions in God's Word, parents can instill a sense of purpose and responsibility in their children, helping them to honor God with their bodies and relationships. [01:17:55]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: How can you create an open and honest environment in your home to teach your children about sexuality from a biblical perspective?

Day 5: Embracing God's Redemptive Power

For those who may have strayed from God's path, His redemptive power offers a fresh start. Seeking forgiveness and committing to live a pure life allows us to align with God's plan and experience His blessings. God's grace is available to all who repent and turn back to Him, no matter how far they may have strayed. Embracing His redemptive power means acknowledging our mistakes, seeking His forgiveness, and making a conscious effort to live according to His will.

By embracing God's redemptive power, we can experience healing and restoration in our lives. It allows us to let go of guilt and shame and move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to living a life that honors God. This fresh start is a testament to God's love and mercy, reminding us that we are never beyond His reach and that His grace is sufficient for all our needs. [01:24:20]

Isaiah 1:18 (ESV): "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to seek God's forgiveness and embrace His redemptive power for a fresh start?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to explore the profound topic of sexualism within our ongoing series on "Isms." We began by acknowledging God's goodness and His enduring mercy, setting the tone for a message that seeks to align our lives with His divine order. We delved into the purpose of dating, engagement, and marriage, emphasizing that God's design is to unite us spiritually, romantically, and physically—in that order. This divine sequence is crucial for maintaining purity and avoiding the pitfalls of sexual immorality.

We discussed how Satan, the world's biggest pervert, seeks to reverse God's natural order, tempting us to prioritize physical intimacy before spiritual and romantic unity. This perversion leads to a host of problems, including guilt, broken relationships, and a distorted view of love and sex. We examined Romans 1 to understand the consequences of ignoring God's wisdom, highlighting that when we defy God's laws, we feed our sensual appetites, which can lead to a depraved mind and further sin.

The message also addressed the importance of controlling our sexual drives and protecting our minds from corrupt influences. We emphasized that true love is patient and respectful, contrasting it with lust, which is self-serving and impatient. We urged both men and women to uphold standards of purity, respect, and honor in their relationships.

For parents, we stressed the importance of teaching children about sexuality within the home, being proactive and open about the topic, and grounding these discussions in God's Word. We concluded with a call to embrace God's redemptive power, encouraging those who may have strayed from His path to seek forgiveness and start anew.

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Key Takeaways

1. serving and impatient. Upholding standards of purity and honor in relationships is crucial for a God-honoring life. [01:01:02]
4. Teaching Sexuality in the Home: Parents have a responsibility to teach their children about sexuality within the home, being proactive and open about the topic. Grounding these discussions in God's Word helps children understand that sexuality is a gift from God, meant to be stewarded properly.

5. Embracing God's Redemptive Power: For those who may have strayed from God's path, His redemptive power offers a fresh start. Seeking forgiveness and committing to live a pure life allows us to align with God's plan and experience His blessings.

### [61:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - Opening Prayer
[01:50] - Worship and Praise
[20:13] - Announcements and Tithes
[29:51] - Introduction to "Isms" Series
[30:51] - Dismissal of Children
[31:17] - The First Love Story
[33:26] - Love Notes and Childhood Crushes
[36:29] - The Pain of Unbalanced Love
[37:25] - The Deepest Communion with God
[38:01] - Purpose of Dating, Engagement, and Marriage
[40:18] - The Devil's Perversion of God's Order
[44:48] - God's Wisdom in Relationships
[47:27] - Consequences of Ignoring God's Wisdom
[50:28] - The Depraved Mind and Sexual Perversion
[53:15] - The Importance of Following God's Order
[61:02] - Controlling Sexual Drives
[77:55] - Teaching Sexuality in the Home
[84:20] - Embracing God's Redemptive Power
[87:22] - Closing Song and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Romans 1:21-28, what are the consequences of ignoring God's wisdom and defying His laws? [44:48]
In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, what does Paul instruct believers to do regarding their bodies and sexual behavior? [01:01:02]
How does Matthew 6:22-23 describe the importance of the eye in relation to the body? [01:01:53]
What order does the sermon suggest for uniting in relationships, and why is this order important? [38:01]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize the importance of glorifying God in all areas of life, including dating and marriage, in Romans 1:21-28? [45:41]
How does the concept of controlling one's body in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 relate to the sermon’s message about purity and respect in relationships? [01:01:02]
What does Matthew 6:22-23 imply about the impact of what we allow our eyes to see on our overall spiritual health? [01:01:53]
How does reversing God's order for relationships, as discussed in the sermon, lead to problems such as guilt and broken relationships? [40:18]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current or past relationships. Have you followed God's order of uniting spiritually, romantically, and then physically? If not, how can you realign your relationships with this order? [38:01]
How can you actively resist the temptations to reverse God's natural order in your relationships? What practical steps can you take to maintain purity? [40:18]
In what ways can you protect your mind from corrupt influences, as suggested in Matthew 6:22-23? Are there specific habits or media you need to avoid? [01:01:53]
For those who are parents, how can you start or improve conversations about sexuality with your children? What resources or scriptures can you use to ground these discussions in God's Word? [01:17:55]
If you have strayed from God's path in terms of sexual purity, what steps can you take to seek forgiveness and embrace God's redemptive power? How can you support others in your community who may be struggling with similar issues? [01:24:20]
How can you demonstrate true love, which is patient and respectful, in your current relationships? What actions can you take to show respect and honor to your partner? [01:05:18]
Think about a time when you felt tempted to justify actions that go against God's wisdom. How did you handle it, and what can you do differently in the future to stay aligned with God's plan? [49:33]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. And we never should ever look at heads and noses and ears first. First, what we should do is recognize the presence of God first when that happens, but it's good to have you here in the middle." [01:06] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God loves a joyful giver, doesn't he? But we'll also accept from a grouch if you are, okay? But no, I'm joking. So as we sing our next song together and worship together, the offering plates are here at the altars. And if you would like to bring God's tithes and your offerings at this time, that would be a great time to do it." [24:07] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Love has been the most deepest communion that I have ever had with any other human being. This relationship that I have with God. It's so genuine. You know, I want to tell you, don't be afraid to love. Come on. Don't be afraid to love. God wants us to love." [37:25] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God gave us the gift of sex. All of us. God has a sexual plan for all of our lives. And I don't ever want you to think anything else that Pastor Kevin ever said. If you remember this, if you forget everything else, then remember this. God is pro-sex. He's not a killjoy. God's pro-sex." [39:15] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God's not a killjoy. He's not a killjoy. But because now you've been developing this part of your life that God doesn't want you to develop until after you're married, because you're developing that prematurely, so now you're experiencing sex at a high level of emotion. And again, God's not a killjoy. It's just he's trying to protect you. He's trying to give you a hope and a future. He's trying to keep us from having heartache in the future." [59:54] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "When someone starts taking more than they're giving, you know, it kind of unbalances things in the relationship. And then what happens is you get hurt. And then you start to protect yourself. And you start building up walls of protection around yourself. And then every time you get hurt again, the walls just keep going up higher and higher and higher until you're walled off from everybody around you. And you're unable to love." [36:29] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The purpose of dating is to unite two people spiritually. That's the ultimate purpose of dating. Okay? To unite two people spiritually. Then what's the purpose of engagement? I didn't know. You can read it, okay? The purpose of engagement is, well, that's when you begin to unite romantically. You begin to dream together and hope together. And you begin to have romance. There's romance there in a relationship. So the purpose of engagement is to build a relationship romantically." [38:01] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When you defy God, you begin to build up sexual drives. And these drives then become stronger and stronger and stronger. And then what you'll discover is you discover that you can't really live righteously because you've built up these sexual drives and, and you have to live unrighteously to satisfy them now." [54:10] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Girls, let me tell you something. If you think it's fun to date and go steady and marry a guy who has not learned to control his sex drive, you're eventually going to find out what earth's version of hell is really like. It's coming around the corner. That's why it's wrong. God's looking out for our best interest. He wants husbands and wives to develop their sex drives together. And when that happens, it's like, oh, this is great. I love this." [59:21] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Be careful, little eyes, what you see. Be careful, little eyes, what you see. For there is a God above who looks down on us with love. So be careful, little eyes, what you see. Be careful, little hands, what you do. Be careful, little hands, what you do. For there is a God above who looks down on us with love. So be careful, little hands, what you do." [01:27:22] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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