God's Design for Sex: Intimacy, Commitment, and Vigilance
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the topic of sex within the context of Christian teachings, emphasizing that God designed sex for the purpose of intimacy and procreation within the confines of marriage. I highlighted that sex is a beautiful, holy act that should be selfless and focused on honoring the other person. However, I also pointed out that the world has diluted and misconstrued the true purpose of sex, making it about the action rather than the person involved, and promoting it as something to be enjoyed with anyone, anytime, without any commitment or responsibility.
In the second part of the sermon, I delved into the negative consequences of this distorted view of sex, such as broken relationships, children born out of wedlock, and generations of young people growing up without parents. I stressed that the devil is a thief who comes to rob us of our intimacy, kill our marriages, and destroy our futures. I urged the congregation to be vigilant and not be ignorant of his devices, and to safeguard their hearts so they can continue running the race that God has set before them.
Key Takeaways:
- God designed sex for intimacy and procreation within the confines of marriage, and it should be a selfless act focused on honoring the other person. #!!06:33!!#
- The world has distorted the true purpose of sex, making it about the action rather than the person involved, and promoting it as something to be enjoyed with anyone, anytime, without any commitment or responsibility. #!!06:58!!#
- The distorted view of sex has led to negative consequences such as broken relationships, children born out of wedlock, and generations of young people growing up without parents. #!!09:13!!#
- The devil is a thief who comes to rob us of our intimacy, kill our marriages, and destroy our futures. We need to be vigilant and not be ignorant of his devices. #!!54:10!!#
- We need to safeguard our hearts so we can continue running the race that God has set before us. #!!57:05!!#
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 2:24 - "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." #!!10:25!!#
2. Matthew 19:4-6 - "Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." #!!09:48!!#
3. Song of Solomon 8:4 - "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." #!!12:50!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What does Genesis 2:24 tell us about the purpose of marriage and sex within it?
2. How does Matthew 19:4-6 emphasize the permanence and unity in marriage?
3. What warning does Song of Solomon 8:4 give about love and sexual desire?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "one flesh" in Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:4-6 relate to the physical and emotional aspects of sex within marriage?
2. What implications does Song of Solomon 8:4 have for sexual activity outside of marriage?
Application Questions:
1. How can you uphold the sanctity of marriage and sex as described in Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19:4-6 in your own life?
2. In what ways can you apply the warning in Song of Solomon 8:4 to avoid prematurely awakening love?
3. How can you encourage and support others in your community to respect and uphold God's design for sex and marriage?
4. What steps can you take to ensure that your understanding of sex aligns with God's design and purpose for it?
5. How can you respond if you find yourself or someone you know struggling with sexual sin or temptation?
Devotional
Day 1: The Devil's Deception
The devil is a master of deception, seeking to rob us of our intimacy, kill our marriages, and destroy our futures. He uses our moments of victory to attack us, making us believe we've won when in reality, the battle is ongoing. We must remain vigilant and aware of his tactics, standing firm in our faith and keeping our eyes on Jesus ([54:58]).
1 Peter 5:8 - "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent victory in your life. How can you remain vigilant and focused on Jesus in the aftermath of this victory?
Day 2: The Cycle of Sin
Sin, particularly in the form of pornography, remaps our brains, creating a cycle of craving, guilt, and shame. We must break this cycle, not by indulging in more sin, but by turning to Jesus for healing and deliverance ([44:11]).
Romans 6:12 - "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to break the cycle of sin in your life?
Day 3: The Power of Repentance
Repentance is the first step towards healing and deliverance from sin. By confessing our sins to God and to others, we bring light to our hidden struggles, allowing God to bring freedom to our lives ([45:29]).
James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Reflection: Who can you confess your struggles to today in order to bring light to your hidden sins?
Day 4: The Design of Sex
God designed sex for the binding of two people within the covenant of marriage. The world has distorted this design, making it about the action rather than the person. We must reclaim God's design for sex, recognizing it as a beautiful and holy act of intimacy ([05:06]).
Hebrews 13:4 - "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."
Reflection: How can you honor God's design for sex in your own life, whether you are single or married?
Day 5: The Goal of Intimacy
The ultimate goal of sex is not the act itself, but the intimacy it creates between two people. This intimacy is broken when we allow sin into our lives. By repenting and seeking healing, we can restore this intimacy and experience the fullness of God's design for our relationships ([58:12]).
Ephesians 5:31 - "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
Reflection: How can you pursue true intimacy in your relationships, according to God's design?
Quotes
1. "Pornography from the pit of Hell is just porn tailored to women. It's breaking intimacy, bringing someone else who is not your partner into your mind, into your heart. All of a sudden you're thinking about it, wondering about it, fantasizing about it, and it's destroying you." - 29:49
2. "Love is when two people are fully seen, fully heard, and fully loved. That is love. If you can't share your life with your partner, that is not freedom, that is a prison. Marriage is designed to be intimate with freedom and in love one to another." - 48:05
3. "God uses sex for the binding of two people. This is the design of sex. That's why when God says sex is designed to be in marriage because it's actually two people becoming one flesh. Sex is beautiful, it's amazing, but what has happened is that the world has diluted and misconstrued what sex is truly all about." - 05:06
4. "We aren't called into a fight but we're called to flee. Know your triggers. Cut off the hand, cut off the thing that is causing you to sin. If it's with your eyes, then cut it off. If it's with your feelings, in your touch, cut it off. Do things drastically." - 51:44
5. "Your greatest battle comes after your greatest victory. David's greatest battle wasn't in the moments on the battlefield. His issue with lust didn't come when he's on the front line fighting the Philistine doing what God has called him to do. His greatest battle came when he was meant to do something, he had a great victory, won all this money, conquered this kingdom, and he was at home and he got bored." - 54:09
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