Finding Freedom from Sexual Immorality in Christ

Church, our life isn't about just avoiding sin. It's about living in holiness. Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Right? Our our goal isn't to ask ourselves, man, is is this a sin? Is this crossing the line with my boyfriend or girlfriend? Is this lust? Is this too far in the relationship? Like, those aren't questions we have to ask. Rather, we can ask, is this decision giving glory to Jesus? [01:01:54] (32 seconds)  #LiveToGlorifyGod

See, Paul wants them to flee from the life that they once had, but to live a life worthy of the calling in which they've been called through holiness and honor. He calls them to have self control over the temptations that they might face. So, church, yes, we live in a world where we may have to inconvenience ourselves, but temptation is real. But God doesn't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. So we need self control. We need intimacy with God so we don't fall into sin. [00:53:41] (36 seconds)  #WorthTheCalling

There might be a Christian or a church or a pastor that has made you feel ashamed. He's made you feel lonely. He's made you feel dirty for your decisions or how you live your life. Churches aren't perfect. The damage is real, but Jesus is perfect. I don't wanna be like the tax collector in a temple coming to God saying, man, thank God I'm not like that guy over there. Like, that's not who I wanna be. Right? If if you're dealing with immorality, if you're dealing with lust or addiction, like, we won't shame you. [00:50:14] (43 seconds)  #GraceNotShame

And I think what that means is that Christian maturity is never finished on this side of eternity. There's growth to be done, not just to be a better Christian, right, but to actually walk closer to Jesus. He says in verse three that this is the will of God, your sanctification. Right? Sanctification is essentially taking next steps. It's growing closer and closer to Jesus. It doesn't save you, but it grows you closer to Christ, that God has a hope and a plan for you. And it isn't to sit in shame or in sin, but to grow in sanctification. [00:40:59] (41 seconds)  #SanctificationJourney

The holy spirit, the third godhead in the trinity who resides in you. Right? The Holy Spirit convicts us. It helps us. It guides us. The spirit of God actually lives in you if you're in Christ. The spirit of God will help you overcome sexual immorality. It'll help you overcome lust. It won't create a shameful purity culture. It helps you find freedom. It helps you kill that secret sin that you want nobody to know about. [01:03:18] (30 seconds)  #HolySpiritEmpowers

He says, I want you to grow in your sanctification, but he says that you abstain from sexual immorality. Like, Paul could have listed other sin. Could have said, man, you should abstain from lying. Right? Like, that's that's a pretty bad thing. Like, you shouldn't lie. He goes, oh, you should abstain from from pride. Like, thinking of yourself, like like, that's pretty bad. Right? Like, you should abstain from greed. Like, loving money isn't isn't isn't good. Right? He could've just said that you abstain from sin and honestly, like, close close the book. Good. Like, that's the sermon. [00:41:42] (36 seconds)  #AbstainWithPurpose

The reality is this, is that that's not what I'm trying to teach today. Right? Sex isn't bad, but it's a responsibility to steward. When God says to abstain, it's not because it's bad, but actually it's more freeing to choose a different option. Right? So based on our values as a church, I've titled this sermon, finding freedom from sexual immorality. Church, I want you to be able to experience real life in Christ and find freedom from something that you might be dealing with. [00:44:10] (32 seconds)  #FreedomThroughAbstinence

After I just shared the gospel with these dudes, they're like catcalling this lady. Right? So we went back. We we we told them not to do that. But church, Emirati, it hurts others. Yes. It damages your body, but it shames other people as well. Sometimes we don't understand that our decisions and the toxic purity culture regimens that happen, it affects other people too. [01:00:30] (23 seconds)  #ActionsAffectOthers