Embracing Divine Power in Sexuality and Worship
Summary
In my sermon, I embarked on a journey through the Scriptures to address the power we hold in our lives, particularly focusing on the topic of sex and its profound implications on our worship and relationship with God. I began by introducing our new series, "I've Got the Power," emphasizing the responsibility that comes with the power we wield, akin to the famous line from Spider-Man. I highlighted the importance of recognizing and using our power constructively, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, for our benefit and the benefit of others.
I then delved into the complexities of human sexuality, describing it as a special creation of God, one of the best natural gifts given to humanity. I spoke about the potential for life and destruction that sexuality holds, depending on whether it is engaged correctly or misused. I stressed that sexuality is more than just propagation; it's a mingling of souls, a reflection of the divine mystery of the Trinity.
I addressed the mastery problem we face, where even good things can become bad when they become ruling things. I explained that our sex lives are shaped by the master of our hearts, and to stay within God's boundaries, He must be the functional ruler. I also tackled the cultural misconceptions that suggest what we do with our bodies doesn't matter because they will be destroyed anyway, countering this with the truth that our bodies have a master in the Lord Jesus.
I shared the four worship pillars concerning sex: mastery, eternity, unity, and ownership. I explained that our struggle with sexual purity is not about perfect behavior but about Christ's perfect submission to the Father on our behalf. I emphasized that Jesus is with us in our struggle, fighting on our behalf.
I spoke about the pillar of eternity, warning against "eternity amnesia," which makes us live as if this moment is all there is, leading to a mess in our sexual lives. I contrasted this with living in restful hope, knowing the best is yet to come.
The pillar of unity was discussed, reminding us that as believers, we are united with Christ, and this union includes our sexuality. I explained that this union guarantees us the grace we need to live within the reality of being one with Christ.
Lastly, I addressed the pillar of ownership, stating that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and are not our own. I emphasized that we were bought at a price and must glorify God in our bodies, living for a higher purpose than personal pleasure.
I concluded with practical applications, urging us to flee sexual immorality and to glorify God with our bodies, living in the freedom of God's grace.
Key Takeaways:
1. Human sexuality is a divine gift, meant for more than just procreation; it's a mingling of souls that reflects the unity of the Trinity. This understanding elevates our view of sexual intimacy beyond the physical to the spiritual, mirroring the oneness of God Himself. ([36:04])
2. The mastery problem in our lives reveals that anything, including sex, can become an idol if it takes the place of Christ as the ruler of our hearts. Our daily battle is to ensure that Jesus remains our true master, guiding our desires and actions. ([49:17])
3. Living with "eternity amnesia" distorts our sexual ethics, making us focus on immediate pleasure rather than eternal joy. Recognizing our hardwiring for eternity helps us to prioritize lasting joy over fleeting pleasures. ([55:01])
4. Our unity with Christ means that our bodies, including our sexuality, are united with Him. This profound truth should shape our sexual decisions, as they involve not just us but Christ within us. ([58:24])
5. We must embrace the pillar of ownership, acknowledging that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we are not our own. This perspective calls us to live for God's glory in every aspect of our lives, including our sexuality. ([01:03:28])
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (ESV)
> "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 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."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he says, "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful? How does this relate to the concept of mastery? ([46:52])
2. According to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, what is the significance of our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit? ([45:26])
3. How does Paul describe the relationship between sexual immorality and the body in 1 Corinthians 6:18? ([45:26])
4. What are the four worship pillars concerning sex mentioned in the sermon? ([46:11])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of mastery affect our daily decisions, especially in the context of sexual purity? ([49:17])
2. What does it mean to live with "eternity amnesia," and how does this impact our sexual ethics? ([55:01])
3. How does our unity with Christ influence our sexual decisions, according to the sermon? ([58:24])
4. What does the pillar of ownership imply about how we should view and treat our bodies? ([01:03:28])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have allowed something other than Christ to become the master of your heart? How can you re-establish Jesus as the true master? ([49:17])
2. Have you ever experienced "eternity amnesia"? How can you remind yourself daily that this life is not all there is and that eternal joy awaits? ([55:01])
3. Considering that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, what practical steps can you take to honor God with your body this week? ([45:26])
4. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of unity with Christ in your daily life, especially in your thoughts and actions related to sexuality? ([58:24])
5. In what ways can you flee from sexual immorality in your current environment? Are there specific situations or relationships you need to avoid to protect your purity? ([01:06:08])
6. How can you glorify God with your body in your everyday activities? Identify one specific area where you can make a change this week. ([01:07:26])
7. Reflect on the idea that you were "bought with a price." How does this truth affect your view of personal pleasure versus living for God's glory? ([01:03:28])
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Design of Intimacy
Sexuality is a divine gift, intricately designed by God to be more than a means for procreation; it is an intimate mingling of souls that mirrors the unity found within the Trinity itself. This gift is meant to be cherished and respected, reflecting the depth of connection that God desires for His creation. It is a powerful expression of love that, when experienced within the boundaries set by God, can lead to a profound understanding of divine intimacy and the sacredness of the union between two people. This understanding elevates the act of sexual intimacy to a spiritual level, where it becomes a living symbol of the oneness and relational nature of God. By recognizing the spiritual significance of sexuality, individuals can approach their relationships with a sense of reverence and purpose, ensuring that this gift is honored in a way that aligns with their faith and worship.
"May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love." (Proverbs 5:18-19 ESV)
Reflection: How does viewing sexuality as a reflection of the Trinity change your perspective on sexual intimacy within your own life? [36:04]
Day 2: Mastery Over Idolatry
The mastery problem highlights the human tendency to allow even good things to become ultimate things, usurping the place of Christ in our hearts. Sexuality, while a divine gift, can become an idol when it dictates one's life and decisions, rather than being guided by the love and lordship of Jesus. The challenge lies in recognizing when something good is beginning to take control, and actively choosing to submit to Christ's authority instead. This submission is not about achieving perfection through our own efforts but about relying on Christ's perfect obedience to the Father. By allowing Jesus to master our hearts, we can navigate our desires and actions in a way that honors God and aligns with His design for our lives.
"For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV)
Reflection: In what ways might you be allowing sexuality or other desires to become idols in your life, and how can you reorient your heart to recognize Jesus as your true master? [49:17]
Day 3: Eternity-Informed Ethics
Living with "eternity amnesia" can lead to a distorted view of sexual ethics, where the pursuit of immediate pleasure overshadows the desire for eternal joy. It is essential to remember that humans are hardwired for eternity, and this perspective should inform our decisions, especially regarding sexuality. By focusing on the promise of eternal life with Christ, individuals can find the strength to resist short-term temptations and instead seek out relationships and actions that bring lasting joy and honor God. This eternal viewpoint provides a framework for understanding the true purpose of our lives and the decisions we make, including those related to our sexuality.
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2 ESV)
Reflection: How can keeping an eternal perspective help you make wise choices in your sexual conduct, and what steps can you take to combat "eternity amnesia" in your daily life? [55:01]
Day 4: United with Christ in Body and Spirit
Our unity with Christ is a profound truth that encompasses every aspect of our being, including our sexuality. As believers, we are called to recognize that our bodies are not just our own but are united with Christ. This union with Him means that our sexual decisions are not made in isolation but involve the presence of Christ within us. Understanding this deep connection with Jesus can empower us to live in a way that reflects our oneness with Him, making choices that are pure, holy, and in line with His will. This unity guarantees the grace needed to navigate the complexities of human sexuality with wisdom and integrity.
"Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!" (1 Corinthians 6:15 ESV)
Reflection: How does the reality of being united with Christ influence your approach to sexual purity, and what changes might you need to make to honor this union in your daily life? [58:24]
Day 5: Ownership and the Temple of the Holy Spirit
Acknowledging the pillar of ownership involves recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we have been bought at a price. This understanding calls us to live not for our own pleasure but for the glory of God in every aspect of our lives, including our sexuality. By embracing this truth, we can approach our bodies with a sense of stewardship, knowing that we are to honor God with our physical selves. This perspective challenges us to live in a way that reflects our status as God's beloved creation, using our bodies in a manner that is pleasing to Him and aligned with His purposes.
"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." (1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV)
Reflection: In what practical ways can you glorify God with your body, and how does recognizing your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit change your approach to sexuality? [01:03:28]
Quotes
"Our culture undervalues sex. Our society wants us to believe that sex is just physical. Kind of like food. Man, if you're hungry, just eat, right? That's what our culture says. Or like a sport. Find something you enjoy, figure out what position you're good at, and then play, right? Like tennis or wrestling or tackle football where you tackle each other and just stay on the ground a little longer, right?" [42:13]
"If sex is just physical, why is rape so much more harmful to a woman than simply being beat up? Why is it that when a child is sexually abused, it's so difficult to move past that? Why is it that adultery is so devastating to a relationship? Why is it that men with the deepest sexual issues often have uninvolved or missing fathers?" [42:55]
"Sex is an act of worship. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. So when you offer your body to God as a living sacrifice, you are worshiping him." [43:36]
"My hope in the struggle for sexual purity or victory over any sin is not found in my perfect submission and my perfect behavior to Jesus Christ as my master, but in his perfect submission to the will of his father on my behalf. That's the gospel right there." [52:52]
"Jesus is with me. Jesus is in me. Jesus is for me. He fights on my behalf, the Bible says, even when I fail to have the sense or the understanding to fight for myself. Now, that's real hope." [53:40]
"Eternity amnesia makes a mess out of sex. It puts the focus on our present pleasure rather than on eternal joy. It causes us to be driven and impatient and not restful. It diminishes the eternal significance of little decisions, making life more about what we're able to experience right now than about how we've lived our life." [55:58]
"If you are God's child, listen, you have been united with Christ. And this is not just some amorphous spiritual reality. Oh, yeah, it's a mystery. No, it's actually a physical one as well. All that makes you you, if you're a Christian, has been united to Christ." [58:24]
"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. You were bought at a price. Friends, you ought to memorize those verses. Paul wants every believer to know that grace has claimed your body for a higher purpose than personal physical pleasure." [01:03:28]
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