CENTRAL THOUGHT
Sexual immorality robs the believer of peace and attracts God’s Judgement.
HYMN: “I gave my life for thee.”
TEXT: EX.20:14; NUM.25:1-13; 1 COR.10:1-11
INTRODUCTION:
This third lesson in the series “Wilderness Experiences” focuses on sexual immorality. In their journey toward the promised land, the children of Israel encountered many enemies. A major aim of these enemies was to destroy them and prevent them from actualizing God’s plan for them. The Moabites were one of such enemies. Moabites were counseled by Balaam that the only way they could get Israel to offend God was to make them commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. The Moabites then invited Israel to their ungodly feasts (sacrifices) and the men of Israel committed whoredom with the daughters of the land. This brought God’s judgement upon Israel and twenty four thousand (24,000) of them died in one day.
Sexual immorality still remains a major way the enemy tempts believers today. Sexual immorality robs the believer of his spiritual strength and removes the lid of God’s protection over him thus making him a prey to the enemy. The believer must therefore be careful so that he doesn’t become a victim of the enemy’s plans/strategies.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1.) WHAT IS THE MEANING OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY?
Sexual immorality in biblical/ Christian counter refers to a deviation from God’s standard of sexual behavior. God as the creator of man has a perfect knowledge of man’s make-up and natural appetites or urges. God’s standard of behavior can only be satisfied in a marriage, between husband and wife. Any sexual relationship or intercourse outside of marriage amounts to sexual immorality. The Bible refers to this variously as fornication, adultery etc.
Fornication and adultery as used in the scripture refers to all forms of sexual immorality and includes sexual intercourse outside marriage between single persons who are not husband and wife, or a married person(s) with another married or single person(s) who are not their spouses. Sexual immorality perversion also includes such acts as incest, sodomy, (homosexuality), lesbianism, bestiality, harlotry (female and male prostitution). Also, lasciviousness in all its ramifications, licentiousness, lustfulness, unchastity, lewdness are all aspects of sexual immorality. “Lasciviousness” is the promoting or partaking of that which tends to promote lewd emotions -anything tending to foster sex, sin and lust. That is why many worldly pleasures have to be avoided by the Christian” (Dake’s annotated Bible. P.207 New Testament).
QUESTION 2.) DISCUSS THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO ISRAEL’S IMMORAL ENCOUNTER WITH MOAB AND THE LESSONS THE BELIEVER CAN LEARN FROM THEM?
As Israel marched towards the promised land, the power of the Lord was mightily manifested, God gave them power to conquer the nations they came in contact with. As their fame spread abroad, nations became afraid of them, Moab was one of the nations that feared Israel. The Bible says “And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.” (Num. 22:3). Moab therefore embarked on a plan to thwart the advance of Israel. Their leader decided to hire a prophet to curse Israel (Num.22:1-3). Balaam a greedy prophet, loved the rewards promised by Moab but got stopped by God from cursing Israel (Num.22:12). Finally, Balaam counselled Moab that the only way they could get Israel offend God was to make them (Israel) commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. Thus, the children of Israel were invited to the ungodly feasts (sacrifices) of Moab and the men of Israel committed whoredom with the daughters of the land. This displeased God who brought His judgement upon Israel. The strength of Israel was wavered and the lid of God’s protection over them was removed. They paid dearly for the act of sexual immorality.
The devil uses similar strategies today. The devil may do several things to cause reverses in the life of a believer who is prospering in every area of his life spiritually, physically, materially etc. A major thing he does is to introduce sexual immorality into the life of such a believer by sending people to entice the believer to commit sexual immorality. Such satan’s strategies have brought wreckage of ministries, businesses, homes etc. to some believers who yielded to the prompting of satan. Christians ought to beware of satan’s strategies and not yield to sexual immorality. Rather, they should flee from it. 1 Cor.6:18.
QUESTION 3.) WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT PROMOTE SEXUAL IMMORALITY?
Some factors that promote sexual immorality include:
a. Reading romantic/pornographic literature and watching immoral films Prov.6:27; 28.
There are so many literature (books, magazines, newspapers etc) and movies that promote sexual immorality. The reading of such books and the watching of such movies fill the heart with immoral thoughts and suggestions. The devil manipulates such thoughts and suggestions to his own advantage so as to make the believer or the individual have the experience of what he has just read or watched on the screen. The way out for the believer is to avoid completely such literature and movies. It behoves Christian parents to censor the books and movies read and watched by their children.
b. Keeping late hours or being in “odd” places with the opposite sex that is neither your wife or husband. Gal.5:13; 1 Thess.5:22.
The believer is warned strictly in scripture not to give place to the devil (Eph.4:27). When a Christian begins to keep late hours or is found in odd places with someone who is not his husband or wife, he is courting trouble. Our adversary the devil easily uses such situations to make the believer commit sexual immorality. Therefore, such situations should be avoided by all especially Christians who are engaged to be married no matter how soon such marriage is to occur.
c. Kissing, petting and hugging an opposite sex that is not your wife/husband.
These practices arouse feelings that have serious potentials of leading to fornication and adultery. It is better for the believer to avoid such practices.
d. Bad company. 1 Cor.15:33. It is a statement of fact that the company an individual keeps influences him/her. A believer keeps company with people whose discussions/life-style center on immoral acts/practices is exposing himself to danger. He stands a good chance of being influenced by them. It is better for the believer to keep company with those whose desire is to please God in holy living.
e. Hiding one’s identity as a Christian. Some believers, due to change of jobs or transfers or schooling find themselves in new locations. At such moments, some are tempted to hide their Christian identity. A believer who hides his identity is prone to committing sin because it becomes easy for him to keep company with anyone or group of persons be they fornicators, adulterers, drunkards, smokers etc. It is advisable, therefore, that whenever a believer finds himself in any new location, the first thing to do is to seek out a group of believers (a place of fellowship) and identify (i.e. keep company) with them. This was Paul’s practice (Acts 9:26) and usually it saves or prevents a lot of trouble.
f. Immodest dressing. The way some persons dress promote sexual immorality. Attempts are made by them to expose deliberately some parts of the body so as to entice people of the opposite sex. Some dress in such a way that when they sit down, parts of the body that are ordinarily considered “private” are exposed to the glare of the public. These acts promote sexual immorality. Some believers because of improper dressing, have had the woeful experience of being led into sexual immorality by people of opposite sex who were attracted initially by such modes of dressing. The counsel/admonition to the Christian in scriptures is to show modesty in dressing.
QUESTION 4.) IS SEXUAL INTERCOURSE PERMISSIBLE OUTSIDE MARRIAGE?
It must be emphasized that God’s standard as far as sexual intercourse is concerned is in marriage i.e. between a husband and his wife. The world may have its own ideas and philosophies. Some persons argue that it is foolhardy to marry without having an assurance that one’s spouse is fertile. Others postulate that once you have given an intention to marry an individual you can begin to relate sexually. These are all the ideas and philosophies of men and a believer must not be swayed by them. “Premarital” and extra-marital” sex are forbidden in scriptures. It is clear from the holy scripture that God will judge adulterers and fornicators. (Heb.13:4).
QUESTION 5.) WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY?
The consequences of sexual immorality are great. Many have had their virginity broken. There are many who are who made a prey on them. Sexual immorality in some cases has resulted in broken homes or marriages. The Christian ministry has not also been spared by the scourge of sexual immorality. There are some ministers whose ministries have been “successfully” ruined or made inactive or ineffective by satan because they yielded to sexual immorality. Apart from these early consequences, there is the eternal consequence of separation from God. Rev. 21:8 declares. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”. Those who are involved in the works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21). One of the known sources of HIV/AIDS today is sexual immorality.
QUESTION 6) HOW CAN A BELIEVER KEEP HIMSELF PURE?
The believer should have a determination and a resolve to live for God. He should obey the biblical injunctions to “flee fornication” (1 Cor.6:18) and “abstain from all appearances of evil” (1 Thess.5:22). He should be prayerful and meditate on God’s word day and night (Joshua 1:8). In so doing, the believer draws strength and receives grace from God to do His will. Christian fellowship must not be neglected (Heb.10:25) and the believer must never hide his identity. He should vigorously, actively and effectively witness for the Lord wherever he is, by the words of his mouth and by his life-style. The single believer will also be doing himself/herself a lot of good by resolving within him/her to keep or preserve his/her body until he/she is married.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
The believer must realize that “it is not by power nor by might bust by my spirit saith the Lord” (Zech.4:6). There must be a dependence on the Holy Spirit if we are to keep away from sexual immorality. He is our teacher and our guide. He brings into our remembrance all that the Lord has taught us. Therefore, we must be ready to follow His prompting and be very sensitive to Him with a resolve to obey Him as He leads us.
If any believer falls into sexual immorality or is presently involved in such acts, he must make up his mind to repent today and turn to God. Such believers should not be despised by other believers, but they should assist them find their way back to God. “Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also ye be tempted. (Gal.6:1). For those who have not known Christ, the way out of sexual immorality is to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
MEMORY VERSE:
HEB 13:4
“Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Mon: Flee fornication. Gen.39:1-13; 1 Cor.6:18
Tue: Meditate on His word and be prayerful. Joshua 1:8; 1 Thess.5:17
Wed: Beware of the adversary. Jn.10:10a; 1 Pt.5:8
Thu: Beware of bad company. 1 Cor.15:33; Rev. 21:8.
Fri: Abstain from all appearance of evil. Prov. 6:27-28; 1 Thess.5:22.
Sat: Depend on the Holy Spirit. Zech. 4:6.