Embracing Purity: God's Design for Love and Relationships
Summary
In today's world, where sexual content is pervasive, maintaining sexual purity can feel like swimming upstream. The challenge is not just about resisting temptation but about aligning our lives with God's design for sexuality. Historically, Valentine's Day has evolved from pagan rituals to a celebration of love, but the commercialization of love has often overshadowed its true essence. In our culture, sex is omnipresent, from media to music, often distorting the purpose and sanctity of sexual relationships.
Statistics show that those who abstain from premarital sex report higher satisfaction in marriage, while cohabitation before marriage correlates with higher divorce rates. This suggests that God's design for sex within marriage is not only spiritually sound but also beneficial for relational health. The Hollywood formula of finding the "right person" and falling in love often leads to disillusionment because it places unrealistic expectations on human relationships. Instead, we should focus on becoming the person God wants us to be, allowing Him to transform us into His image.
Ephesians 5 calls us to be imitators of God, walking in love and purity. This requires a personal conviction to live according to God's standards, not conforming to the world's ways. Purity is not just about abstaining from physical acts but involves a transformation of the mind and heart. Romans 12:2 reminds us that we must renew our minds to align with God's will, which is good, acceptable, and perfect.
To walk in purity, we must develop personal convictions, count the cost of impurity, make pre-decisions to avoid temptation, seek accountability, and focus on the promises of Christ. Accountability is crucial; it brings hidden struggles into the light and provides support in overcoming them. Ultimately, the fight for purity is a fight of faith, believing in the superior satisfaction found in Christ over the fleeting pleasures of sin.
God's way is the best way, offering health, healing, and blessing. In a world that often mocks biblical convictions, we must stand firm in the truth, knowing that God's design for sexuality is not only right but also life-giving. As we strive to live in purity, we rely on God's grace and strength, acknowledging our need for His help in this journey.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Importance of Personal Conviction: Purity requires a personal commitment to God's truth. It's not enough to rely on external pressures or others' beliefs; we must internalize God's standards and live by them. This involves aligning our convictions with God's Word and making active decisions to honor Him. [50:50]
2. Counting the Cost of Impurity: Living outside of God's will has consequences, including emotional damage and loss of reputation. The world often promises fulfillment through sin, but these promises are empty. Understanding the cost of impurity helps us make wise choices that align with God's design. [53:02]
3. The Power of Pre-Decisions: Making decisions in advance helps us avoid temptation. By determining our actions before facing challenging situations, we can maintain purity. This proactive approach involves setting boundaries and being intentional about our choices. [55:51]
4. The Role of Accountability: Bringing struggles into the light through accountability is essential for overcoming sin. Voluntary accountability with trusted individuals provides support and helps us stay committed to our convictions. It's a vital part of walking in purity. [01:02:43]
5. Focusing on the Promises of Christ: Overcoming sin involves shifting our focus from the temptation to the promises of Christ. By delighting in God's truth and treasuring Christ above all, we find the strength to resist sin and live in the fullness of His love. [01:09:06]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [34:26] - Valentine's Day History
- [39:51] - The Challenge of Sexual Purity
- [45:12] - The Hollywood Formula
- [50:50] - Developing Personal Convictions
- [53:02] - Counting the Cost of Impurity
- [55:51] - The Power of Pre-Decisions
- [58:25] - God's Redemption of Mistakes
- [01:02:43] - The Role of Accountability
- [01:05:56] - The Dangers of Deception
- [01:09:06] - Focusing on Christ's Promises
- [01:12:04] - Prayer for Purity
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 5:1-10 - This passage calls believers to be imitators of God, walking in love and purity.
2. Romans 12:2 - This verse emphasizes the need to renew our minds to align with God's will.
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 - This passage speaks about sanctification and abstaining from sexual immorality.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 5:1-10 say about how we should live as imitators of God? How does this relate to the concept of walking in purity? [45:12]
2. According to Romans 12:2, what is the process of transformation that believers are called to undergo? How does this relate to resisting the world's influence? [50:50]
3. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, what is God's will for us concerning sanctification and sexual purity? How is this different from the world's view? [53:02]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon suggest that personal conviction plays a role in maintaining sexual purity? Why is it important for these convictions to be personal rather than imposed by others? [50:50]
2. The sermon mentions the "Hollywood formula" of finding the right person. How does this contrast with the biblical approach to relationships and personal growth? [45:12]
3. What are the potential consequences of living outside of God's design for sexuality, as discussed in the sermon? How do these consequences affect both individuals and relationships? [53:02]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal convictions regarding sexual purity. How can you strengthen these convictions to align more closely with God's Word? [50:50]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of pre-decisions in avoiding temptation. What specific boundaries can you set in your life to help maintain purity? [55:51]
3. Accountability is highlighted as a key factor in overcoming struggles. Who can you trust to hold you accountable in your journey toward purity, and how can you initiate that relationship? [01:02:43]
4. Consider the promises of Christ that the sermon encourages us to focus on. How can these promises provide strength and motivation to resist temptation? [01:09:06]
5. The sermon discusses the cost of impurity. Reflect on any past experiences where you faced consequences for stepping outside of God's will. How can these experiences guide your future decisions? [53:02]
6. How can you actively renew your mind, as instructed in Romans 12:2, to better resist the pervasive sexual content in today's culture? [50:50]
7. In what ways can you delight in God's truth and treasure Christ above all, as a means to find satisfaction beyond the fleeting pleasures of sin? [01:09:06]
Devotional
Day 1: Personal Conviction as a Foundation for Purity
Purity begins with a personal commitment to God's truth, requiring an internalization of His standards rather than relying on external pressures. This involves aligning one's convictions with God's Word and making active decisions to honor Him. In a world where sexual content is pervasive, maintaining purity can feel like swimming upstream. However, by developing personal convictions, individuals can resist the temptation to conform to the world's ways and instead live according to God's design for sexuality. This commitment is not just about abstaining from physical acts but involves a transformation of the mind and heart, as emphasized in Ephesians 5, which calls believers to be imitators of God, walking in love and purity. [50:50]
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance." (1 Peter 1:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: What specific personal conviction can you develop today to align more closely with God's standards for purity?
Day 2: Understanding the Cost of Impurity
Living outside of God's will has tangible consequences, including emotional damage and loss of reputation. The world often promises fulfillment through sin, but these promises are empty and lead to disillusionment. By understanding the cost of impurity, individuals can make wise choices that align with God's design for sexuality, which is not only spiritually sound but also beneficial for relational health. Statistics show that those who abstain from premarital sex report higher satisfaction in marriage, while cohabitation before marriage correlates with higher divorce rates. Recognizing these truths helps believers count the cost of impurity and choose a path that honors God. [53:02]
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to count the cost of impurity and make a change to align with God's will?
Day 3: The Power of Pre-Decisions in Maintaining Purity
Making decisions in advance helps individuals avoid temptation by determining their actions before facing challenging situations. This proactive approach involves setting boundaries and being intentional about choices, allowing believers to maintain purity. By making pre-decisions, individuals can resist the pervasive sexual content in media and culture, choosing instead to focus on becoming the person God wants them to be. This involves a commitment to renewing the mind and aligning one's life with God's will, as emphasized in Romans 12:2. [55:51]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you." (Proverbs 4:23-25, ESV)
Reflection: What pre-decision can you make today to help you avoid a specific temptation you face regularly?
Day 4: The Role of Accountability in Overcoming Sin
Bringing struggles into the light through accountability is essential for overcoming sin. Voluntary accountability with trusted individuals provides support and helps believers stay committed to their convictions. This practice is a vital part of walking in purity, as it brings hidden struggles into the light and provides the support needed to overcome them. By seeking accountability, individuals can resist the temptation to conform to the world's ways and instead live according to God's design for sexuality. [01:02:43]
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: Who is one person you can reach out to for accountability in your journey toward purity, and how can you initiate that conversation today?
Day 5: Focusing on the Promises of Christ to Overcome Sin
Overcoming sin involves shifting focus from temptation to the promises of Christ. By delighting in God's truth and treasuring Christ above all, believers find the strength to resist sin and live in the fullness of His love. This requires a personal conviction to live according to God's standards, not conforming to the world's ways. By focusing on the promises of Christ, individuals can experience the superior satisfaction found in Him over the fleeting pleasures of sin, ultimately relying on God's grace and strength in the journey toward purity. [01:09:06]
"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: What is one promise of Christ that you can focus on today to help you resist a specific temptation you are facing?
Quotes
The reality is, in relationships, there's going to continue to be changes and challenges that are going to go on. But if you had the expectation, one of the things that... When people come to me for premarital counseling, one of the things that I try to tell them, it's really hard to be married. Stay married. It's hard. It's not easy. I try to convince them of that, how difficult it is. [00:40:24] (23 seconds)
You always marry the wrong person. You have to become the person that God wants you to be with. We're in the process of God is changing us and we are conforming to the image of Christ. And I don't have anybody made it. Anybody here conformed to the image of Christ other than positionally because of what Christ did on the cross. But I mean, practically in a practical sense, you, when people look at you, they think you're just like Jesus. [00:45:17] (24 seconds)
Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love. Just as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for us and offering in the sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality, the words pornea. In the Greek, it means all, all kinds of sexual sins outside of marriage, outside of that relationship or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you as is proper among states. [00:46:43] (28 seconds)
Romans 12 2 says don't be conformed to this world and let the world push you into its mold but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what the will of god is that which is good and acceptable and perfect which is to say you can't and you won't change your actions until you change your beliefs you can't change your actions until you change your beliefs we're always acting out our beliefs what we truly truly believe. [00:47:50] (26 seconds)
Number two, you need to count the cost. There's a cost. The Bible says, don't be deceived. God's not mocked. Whatever man sows, he'll also reap. For this, you will know, certainly, that no immoral, impure person or covetous man who's idolater has an inheritance to the kingdom of Christ. And God let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. [00:52:43] (19 seconds)
Advanced decision -making is necessary for sexual purity. In other words, you need to make up your mind before you have to make up your mind. Therefore, don't be partakers with them, for you were formerly darkness, but now you're light, and the Lord walk as children of light, for the fruit of light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth. Trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord, do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them. [00:55:14] (25 seconds)
So how do you get help? So you go to the men's group. There's other men. I can tell you, we've got men that'll help. We see it every week, every month. There's men, other men that'll help you walk in accountability. There's women in the nurture group. There's women in the ladies group. There are mature ladies in the church, mature men in the church. You find, find someone, you know, not of the opposite sex or the same sex, unless you have same sex attraction. [01:03:14] (26 seconds)
We have to attack the promises of sin with the promises of Christ. How do we overcome sin? We don't overcome sin by saying, oh, I'm never going to do that again. I'm never going to do that again. Hence the song, oops, I did it again. Right? Because we do. Doing better, trying harder, doesn't work. What works is that you have to change your focus from the thing, the event, the sin, you have to find and fight. [01:06:43] (31 seconds)
When we're trying to fill the emptiness in our souls with sex, it never works. It never works. It never works. There's only one thing that is sufficient to fill the emptiness and the longing in our souls. It's Jesus. Only he can fill us with his fullness. And we need it. And we have to continually drink at the well of Christ. Rivers of living water that can come into us and not just have enough for us, but flow out from us. [01:09:59] (46 seconds)
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