1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: Hi, faith listeners, Welcome to the Bible Explained podcast. You'll 2 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: never guess, but I am drinking tea today. I am 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: back to tea just for today. I have a little 4 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: bit of a headache today, and sometimes when I drink 5 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,599 Speaker 1: coffee it just makes it so much worse. But then again, 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: maybe I have the headache because I'm not drinking coffee. 7 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: I don't know. Now, the tea is pretty good. I'm 8 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: drinking that blueberry tea that I like once again, and yeah, 9 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 1: it's definitely not as satisfying as coffee, but it'll do. 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: It'll suffice for today. So grab your cup of tea 11 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: or your cup of coffee, whatever you prefer this morning, 12 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: and we're gonna read first Thessalonians, chapter four one through twelve. 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 1: And this is the portion of the letter that Paul 14 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: has in every letter that he writes, pretty much where 15 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: he tells the Thessalonians how they need to be living 16 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,319 Speaker 1: the things they need to do in order to have 17 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: a God centered life, and most of it is regarding 18 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: sexual immorality. Actually, so we're going to get into that 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: topic today and I'll be reading this as I usually 20 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: do from the web, but grab the version of the 21 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: Bible that you prefer this morning. This is first Thessalonians 22 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: four one through twelve. Finally, then, brothers, we beg and 23 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received 24 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: from us, how you ought to walk and to please God, 25 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: that you abound more and more. For you know what 26 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this 27 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain 28 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how 29 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: to control his own body in sanctification and honor, not 30 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: in the passion of lust, even as the gentiles who 31 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: don't know God, that no one should take advantage of 32 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: and wrong a brother or sister in this matter, because 33 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: the Lord is an avenger in all these things. As 34 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: also we forewarned you and testified, for God called us 35 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore, he who rejects 36 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: this doesn't reject man, but God, who has also given 37 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: his Holy Spirit to you. But concerning brotherly love, you 38 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: have no need that one would write to you, for you, 39 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: yourselves are taught by God to love one another. For 40 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are 41 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: in Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound 42 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: more and more, and that you make it your ambition 43 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 1: to lead a quiet life, and to do your own 44 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: business and to work with your own hands, even as 45 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: we instructed you that you may walk properly toward those 46 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: who are outside and may have need of nothing. This 47 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: chapter starts off with Paul saying finally, then, brothers, which 48 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: means that Paul is getting to the end of his letter. 49 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,959 Speaker 1: But that doesn't always mean that he's going to be 50 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: done quickly. As we found out in Philippians. Just because 51 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: Paul puts it finally in there does not mean he 52 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 1: is finished, but it means that he is about to 53 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: wrap up his letter. And so now we are moving 54 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: towards the final portions of First Thessalonians. So it says finally, then, brothers, 55 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, meaning 56 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: we plead with you in the Lord Jesus, that you 57 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: received from us how you ought to walk and to 58 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: please God. That you abound more and more, meaning that 59 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: you abound more and more in Christ. You learn more 60 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: about Him and you start living more like Him. And 61 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: of course Paul goes into now how to live like 62 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: Jesus wants somebody to live. And this is something that 63 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: Paul does in every single one of his letters. He 64 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: has a portion where he tells people what they should 65 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: be doing and how to live better in Christ. And 66 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: I believe he was tailoring them also to the church 67 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: he was writing to. For example, when he talked to 68 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: the Colossians, you guys, remember the Colossian Church was having 69 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: some problems because they were incorporating angel worship into their 70 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: church services. When Paul talks to them about what they 71 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: should be doing, he specifically targets that. He says, don't 72 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: worship angels. Instead, understand who Jesus is and worship him only. 73 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: So in Colossians chapter three he talks about basically how 74 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: to do that. Then, if you go back to the 75 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: Philippian Church, you know, the Philippian Church was struggling with unity. 76 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: There's a lot of infighting going on in that church. 77 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: So when Paul talks to them about what they should 78 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: be doing to live more God honoring lives, he specifically 79 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,679 Speaker 1: targets their disunity problem and he says, have peace in God, 80 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 1: and have peace with each other and rejoice in the Lord. 81 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 1: So whenever Paul gives a list of how these churches 82 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: should be living, I do believe he is targeting specific 83 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: problems that he's hearing about. And that's probably the case 84 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: here for the Thessalonians, because in verses two through eight, 85 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: Paul targets sexual immorality and how Christians need to be 86 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: living pure lives sexually for God. So he says in 87 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: verse two, for you know what instructions we gave you 88 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: through the Lord Jesus. He's like, Okay, you already know 89 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: the instructions. You should be living them already, but I 90 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: will re explain them for those of you who are not. 91 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,919 Speaker 1: Verse three, For this is the will of God, your sanctification, 92 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: that you abstain from sexual immorality. Now, the Greek word 93 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: for sexual immorality would be pornea, and that word encompassed 94 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: all types of sexual sins. Any sexual activity outside of 95 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: marriage would be considered pornea. It's also, of course, where 96 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: we get our current word pornography from the word pornea 97 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: encompasses all types of sexual sin. This would include lust, adultery, 98 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: sex before marriage, sex outside of marriage, whatever that might 99 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 1: look like, prostitution. This would encompass any kind of sexual sin. 100 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: Paul says, in order to live the way God wants 101 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: you to live, you have to abstain from sexual immorality 102 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 1: verse four. That each one of you know how to 103 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 1: control his own body in sanctification and honor, not in 104 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: the past of lust as the gentiles who don't know God. 105 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: So right there, Paul targets the lust that might be 106 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: happening in the Thessalonian Church. Now, this would be something 107 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: very common that gentiles partook in in the days of Paul. 108 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: Gentile men, specifically Roman and Greek men, it was not 109 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: uncommon for them to have sexual encounters outside of marriage, 110 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: quite often, either through prostitution, whether it was just normal 111 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: prostitution or religious prostitution, or having mistresses or in a 112 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:40,559 Speaker 1: lot of cases young boys that they would use for 113 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: their sexual gratification. This was something so common in Paul's day. 114 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: In fact, Nero, who I believe wasn't the caesar yet 115 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 1: when First Thessalonians was written, but he was the Caesar 116 00:06:53,160 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: during the time of Paul's imprisonment. Nero married a young boy. 117 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 1: He had like a wedding party and a celebration for 118 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: this event. He married a young boy. This was not 119 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: something uncommon in Paul's day. Paul was dealing actually with 120 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: a lot of the same type of sexual immorality we 121 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: see going on right now in today's culture. Roman and 122 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: Greek men and women were very sexually promiscuous during the 123 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: days of Paul and throughout all of time actually. But 124 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: Paul addresses this in the Thessalonian Church because he might 125 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: have heard that there was something going on that some 126 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: of the people might be falling back into these sins 127 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: that they had once left. And that goes to show you, 128 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: you know, Paul is addressing a problem in the church, 129 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: a problem with sexual sin, and a lot of times, 130 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: I think specifically with sexual sin, people who engage in 131 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: sexual sin almost think of themselves as irredeemable, that Jesus 132 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: could never love them, that God just hates them and 133 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: wants nothing to do with them because they fell into 134 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: some type of sexual sin. Just because you are saved 135 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: does not mean you aren't going to fail and you 136 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: aren't going to sin, but Jesus still loves you. I've 137 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: been watching the Chosen series with my husband again, and 138 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: I do in my qualms about the Chosen series, but overall, 139 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: I think it's a pretty good story. There is an 140 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: episode where Mary Magdalene falls back into her previous sins 141 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: because before she met Jesus, she had many demons inside 142 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: of her, and you know, she was going to the 143 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: bars all the time and carousing and doing all sorts 144 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: of crazy stuff. Well, after she's following Jesus, she falls 145 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,439 Speaker 1: back into that sin, and she goes to a bar 146 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: and she gets drunk and she's gambling and doing things 147 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: she shouldn't be doing, and the next morning she gets 148 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: so discouraged she believes that Jesus could never love her again. 149 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: So she goes to Jesus in the show and she's 150 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: apologizing and crying and saying, Jesus, I am so sorry. 151 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how you could ever love me again, 152 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: And the guy who plays Jesus says something along the 153 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: lines of, you know, if my grace to you just 154 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:30,679 Speaker 1: disappeared after you sin one time, that wouldn't be true salvation. 155 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: And that's not a Bible verse or anything, but I 156 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: do think that that scene was a really good one 157 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: to have, that Jesus still loves you even after you sin, 158 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:44,479 Speaker 1: and that his grace is so great and his salvation 159 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: to you is not going away even after you sin. Now, 160 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: of course, all that being said, you can't abuse God's grace. 161 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: That's what Paul talks about. Yes, God's grace is amazing, 162 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: it is great, but you can abuse it. And I 163 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:03,959 Speaker 1: think that's what Paul is getting at here as well, 164 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:09,839 Speaker 1: that some of these Thessalonians are falling back into this temptation, 165 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 1: this lust, this sexual sin that they once used to 166 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: do that they shouldn't do anymore. They are beginning to 167 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: abuse God's grace and they're hurting other people in the 168 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: process of all of this as well. That's what Paul 169 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: says in verse six. No one should take advantage of 170 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: and wrong a brother or sister in this matter, because 171 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: the Lord is an avenger in all these things. As 172 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: also we forewarned you and testified. So Paul gives a 173 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: pretty strong warning to the Thessalonians here. He says God 174 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: is an avenger in all of these things, because not 175 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 1: only is your sexual sin hurting you, but it's actually 176 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: hurting other people as well. You are hurting brothers and 177 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: sisters in Christ when you do these things. And you 178 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,839 Speaker 1: might be like, well, Jen, how is sexual sin hurting 179 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: another person? So if it's consensual What about that is 180 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: hurting the other person? Well, think about it this way. 181 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: You know, I'm a youth leader and one of the 182 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: things that we tell the students is if you engage 183 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: in sexual sin, you are taking something very precious away 184 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: from the person that you are going to marry. You 185 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: are hurting your future spouse for a momentary, fleeting feeling, 186 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: and you are causing damage to somebody in the future. 187 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: And not only that, the person that you are sinning with, 188 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: you're doing that to them as well. You are taking 189 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: something that does not belong to you. You are taking 190 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: something away from the person they are going to marry. 191 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: You are hurting their future spouse. So that's one way 192 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: you are hurting a fellow brother or sister. You might 193 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: not be realizing you're hurting anybody at that moment, but 194 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: you are actually hurting somebody down the line. But not 195 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: to mention, if you are a Christian, you're hurting yourself too. 196 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: That's what Paul goes on to say here verse seven. 197 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore, 198 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: he who rejects this doesn't reject a man, but God, 199 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: who has also given us his Holy spirit. To you. 200 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: And this ties in perfectly with First Corinthians, Chapter six, 201 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: Verses seventeen through twenty. He who is joined to the 202 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: Lord is one spirit flee sexual immorality. Every sin that 203 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,679 Speaker 1: a man does is outside the body. But he who 204 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or don't 205 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: you know that your body is a temple of the 206 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God. 207 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: You are not your own, for you are bought with 208 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 1: a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in 209 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 1: your spirit, which are God's. So the one thing that 210 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: is different about sexual sin is compared to other sins, 211 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: is that other sins are outside the body. But when 212 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: you sin sexually, you are actually sinning against your own body. 213 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: And this is especially egregious if you have the Holy 214 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,319 Speaker 1: Spirit living inside of you. Because the Holy Spirit has 215 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: been joined with you, he now resides within you. You know, 216 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: the body is the temple. We've been talking a lot 217 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: about the temple on the Old Testament side of stuff. 218 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 1: The temple was where God's spirit was supposed to live. Now, 219 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: of course, after Jesus came and fulfilled everything and made 220 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: things different, the Holy Spirit no longer lives inside of 221 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: the Temple, and that was signified, of course, with the 222 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: tearing of the curtain in the Temple, the big thick 223 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: curtain that was supposed to hide the Holy Spirit tore 224 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: completely in half, and then after that the Temple was 225 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: destroyed not many years later. So the Holy Spirit no 226 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: longer lives in the Temple, but he resides in each 227 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: of his followers. So when you commit a sexual sin, 228 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: you are sinning against your own body, and you are 229 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: making the Holy Spirit's home very uncomfortable. Our bodies are 230 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: supposed to be temples, They are supposed to be kept 231 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: well for the Holy Spirit. If we claim to be 232 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: Jesus followers, if we claim to have the Holy Spirit 233 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: inside of us, we should not be committing these sexual sins. Now, 234 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 1: there is grace for somebody who commits those sins. But 235 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: if it's something habitual that a Christian keeps doing over 236 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: and over and over again with no care, then that's 237 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: when Paul says, going back to first Thessalonians four, that 238 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: God is an avenger of all these things, and that 239 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: anybody who rejects this message is not rejecting. Paul is 240 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: not rejecting. Man is not rejecting me for you know, 241 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: stating it on this podcast, But you're rejecting God and 242 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit who was given to you. So Christians 243 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 1: cannot keep sinning in sexual ways over and over and 244 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: over again if you expect to have a healthy relationship 245 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: with the Holy Spirit. Now, all that being said, it 246 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: does not say that the Holy Spirit leaves the person 247 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: who is sinning sexually. It just says that person is 248 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: rejecting the Holy Spirit, but does not say that the 249 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit leaves. Here's what it says. Therefore, he who 250 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: rejects this doesn't reject man, but God, who has also 251 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: given his Holy Spirit to you. Once the Holy Spirit 252 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: is given to you, the Holy Spirit is not going away. 253 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: In fact, it says in Hebrews that nobody can pluck 254 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: us out of God's hand like once He has saved us. 255 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: Once we have the Holy Spirit, we are saved by 256 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: God and nothing can change that, not our sins, not 257 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: anything else. However, if we keep sinning sexually, that is 258 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: not going to be good for us in the end. 259 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: Here's what Verse Corinthians three ten through seventeen says. According 260 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: to the grace of God which was given to me 261 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: as a wise master builder. I laid a foundation, and 262 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: another builds on it. This is Paul talking, of course. 263 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: But let each man be careful how he builds on it. 264 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: For no one can lay any other foundation than that 265 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: which has already been laid, which is Jesus Christ. But 266 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, 267 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: hay or straw, each man's work will be revealed for 268 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: the day he will declare it, meaning the judgment day 269 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: of Christ. The day will declare it because it is 270 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: revealed in fire, and the fire itself will test what 271 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: sort of work each man's work is. If any man's 272 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: work remains, which he built on it, he will receive 273 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: a reward. If any man's work is burned, he will 274 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: suffer loss, but he himself will be saved. But as 275 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: through fire, don't you know that you are God's temple, 276 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: and that God's Spirit lives in you. If anyone destroys 277 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 1: God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, 278 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 1: which you are, So there you go. In scripture, it 279 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: never says that once somebody has the Holy Spirit, the 280 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit leaves, even if you are sinning. It never 281 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: says that but there is serious consequences for the person 282 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 1: who rejects the Holy Spirit, for the person who mistreats, misuses, 283 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: or destroys the temple that God gave them, the temple 284 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: that the Holy Spirit is living in. So we have 285 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: to be very careful because on the Judgment Day of Christ, 286 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: we will stand before God. We are going to give 287 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:39,880 Speaker 1: an account for every single thing that we said and did. 288 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,239 Speaker 1: We are going to give an account to God. And 289 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: it does say that fire is going to be there, 290 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:46,199 Speaker 1: and I don't know what this fire is, but it 291 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,199 Speaker 1: does not sound fun. It sounds terrifying. So we have 292 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 1: to be very careful, you know. And yes, God's grace 293 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 1: is great. Just because you sin sexually or any other 294 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: way does not mean that you lose your salvation, does 295 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: not mean that the Holy Spirit is no longer in you. 296 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: But as Christians, we need to do our best to 297 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 1: turn away from those sins and not abuse God's grace. 298 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: And also we need to do our best to make 299 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:17,120 Speaker 1: sure that the Holy Spirit has a comfortable place to live, 300 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 1: not like the Old Testament times when the Holy Spirit's 301 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 1: temple was constantly being destroyed and desecrated, and all these 302 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:27,959 Speaker 1: people were going in there and sinning and doing all 303 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 1: sorts of crazy stuff. We need to do the opposite 304 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: of that. We have been given a fantastic gift and 305 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: a responsibility with that gift, and we should not shirk 306 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: that responsibility. So if you are sinning sexually right now, 307 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 1: whether it's through pornography or sex outside of marriage, or 308 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 1: anything along those lines, I would encourage you to confess 309 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: those sins to God, to pray, to ask God to 310 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:57,159 Speaker 1: help you overcome this addiction or this problem that you 311 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: might have. Get plugged into a low church, find a 312 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 1: pastor or an associate pastor who you can talk to 313 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: about these things. Get an accountability partner if you don't 314 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:14,640 Speaker 1: have one, and be prayerful, be mindful, say no when 315 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: the urge pops up. And I can tell you personally 316 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: from somebody who struggled with sexual sin. You guys know 317 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 1: my story. The more you practice saying no, the easier 318 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:28,400 Speaker 1: it gets. You know, I struggled for a really long 319 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: time with homosexuality, and I can tell you guys now 320 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 1: that things do get easier. It was a big struggle 321 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: for a very long time where even when I would 322 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: say no, I still had those same feelings. I've still 323 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 1: attracted to the same sex, and I thought there was 324 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: something seriously wrong with me. I'm like, you know, I'm 325 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: a Christian. I should not be having these feelings. But 326 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 1: the more you practice saying no, I can honestly tell 327 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: you things get so much easier. And I'm not going 328 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: to lie to myself and say that those feelings might 329 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: not pop back up, because they do on occasion, but 330 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:06,479 Speaker 1: when you do and you say no to them, it 331 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,719 Speaker 1: really does get easier. That's why Paul says right here 332 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,360 Speaker 1: in verse four, know how to control your own body 333 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 1: in sanctification and honor. And one of the ways Paul 334 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,919 Speaker 1: talks about controlling your own body is by getting married. 335 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 1: And I can tell you that has been very beneficial 336 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: for me personally. I have a fantastic husband who was 337 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 1: so kind to me. Even though he didn't know about 338 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 1: any of these struggles that I had for a really 339 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,399 Speaker 1: long time, he was so kind to me. When I 340 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: finally told him about it. He was hurt, as any 341 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 1: spouse would be when you reveal something like that. He 342 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: was hurt, but he stood by my side and he 343 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: helped me through all of it. And I couldn't be 344 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: more thankful for the husband that God gave me, so really, 345 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:56,680 Speaker 1: you know, my story is kind of proof that what 346 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:01,439 Speaker 1: Paul talks about works, that sexual immorality is not as 347 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: much of a struggle when you have a spouse who 348 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: is on your side, who is there willing to help you, 349 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 1: and you're helping them as well learn to control their bodies. 350 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: So you guys are doing this together and it makes 351 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 1: things much much easier. But moving forward, in verse nine, 352 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,680 Speaker 1: Paul drastically changes the subject. He goes from sexual immorality 353 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: to brotherly love. He says, concerning brotherly love, you have 354 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: no need that one write to you, for you, yourselves 355 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,959 Speaker 1: are taught by God to love one another. For indeed 356 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 1: you do toward all the brothers who are in Macedonia. 357 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more, 358 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 1: in other words, to make your love grow even more. 359 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 1: But Paul's like, I shouldn't even have to write to 360 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: you guys about this, because you already know, now that 361 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: you've become Christians, you already know that you should love 362 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: your brothers and sisters. And the reason you know this 363 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 1: is because the Holy Spirit is inside of you and 364 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 1: He is compelling you to do that you know, I 365 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 1: can say in my own story, I am not the 366 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:12,120 Speaker 1: most loving person. I have serious road rage, serious anger 367 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: towards people. A lot of times, I hold grudges. I'm 368 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: not very forgiving, and apparently this episode is just Jen 369 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: airing her dirty laundry episode. I'm not the most loving. 370 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:29,639 Speaker 1: But once I started living the Christian life back in 371 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, once I got serious about my faith, I 372 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 1: have become more loving towards people. I want to serve 373 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: more often. I just want to meet people more often. 374 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: I'm naturally somebody that wants to have nothing to do 375 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 1: with people, but I like to host people in my house. 376 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 1: Now this is not me, this is not my natural 377 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 1: reaction towards others. But this is what God has been 378 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: doing in my life. He has been showing me how 379 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: to love people more often. And that's why Paul says, 380 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,160 Speaker 1: you know, you do not have to hear about this 381 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: from me. You already know that the Holy Spirit is 382 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: compelling you to love other people. So I pray and 383 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: ask that you abound in that love more and more, 384 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 1: not even just to your brothers and sisters in Christ, 385 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: but also to those who are outside the faith, which 386 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: is what Paul said a couple chapters ago in First Thessalonians, 387 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:28,159 Speaker 1: he wants the Thessalonians to learn to love everybody in 388 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: the faith and outside the faith. For indeed you do 389 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 1: love the brothers who are in Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, 390 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 1: that you abound more and more, and that you make 391 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 1: it your ambition to lead a quiet life and to 392 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: do your own business and to work with your own hands, 393 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:47,959 Speaker 1: even as we instructed you. And he might be like, 394 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: what does that have to do with love, you know, 395 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: leading a quiet life, doing your own business, working with 396 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: your hands. Well, when Paul talks about leading a quiet life, 397 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:03,160 Speaker 1: he is saying that Chris need to be peaceful, quiet 398 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: individuals who are not gossiping, who are not getting up 399 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: into other people's businesses, but instead focusing on themselves, focusing 400 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:16,199 Speaker 1: on their own business and their own work. And he 401 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: also tells them to work with their own hands, even 402 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: as we instructed you that you may walk properly toward 403 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: those who are outside and may have need of nothing. 404 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 1: This letter was written in approximately eighty forty five, where 405 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:42,360 Speaker 1: slavery was half of the population of Rome. Slaves were 406 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 1: everywhere and it was a very common belief among the 407 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:49,640 Speaker 1: elite that if they did any physical labor whatsoever, that 408 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 1: that was something shameful and disgusting, and so they bought 409 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: slaves and forced the slaves to do labor for them. 410 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 1: And Paul's telling them, do your own work. Stop buying 411 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 1: human beings like commodity to do it for you. Do 412 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:12,199 Speaker 1: your own work. It is not a shameful thing. Do 413 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: it just like I did when I was living among you, 414 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: and I was providing for myself the entire time. And 415 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 1: by doing this, you are not going to buy slaves. 416 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: You're going to free slaves, and you are not going 417 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: to implicate other people to do your work, not acting entitled, 418 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,640 Speaker 1: not expecting from other people to give you free things, 419 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 1: but you will be providing for yourself. You are going 420 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:43,359 Speaker 1: to live peaceably among other people, among those on the 421 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 1: outside of the church, so that everybody can see your 422 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: behavior and how you are different, how the church is different. 423 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:55,239 Speaker 1: You're providing for yourselves. You're not purchasing slaves, you're not 424 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: being lazy, you're not expecting things from other people or 425 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: being entitled, but you're just living how God wants you 426 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: to live. And by doing that, you are loving the 427 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:14,120 Speaker 1: people who are around you. Well, faithful listeners, I hope 428 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 1: you enjoyed today's episode, And on Thursday, we're finally going 429 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: to get into Jesus's Second Coming. I know I've been 430 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 1: talking a lot about that, kind of getting you guys excited, 431 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: but on Thursday, it's going to be the day where 432 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,919 Speaker 1: we talk about the second Coming of Jesus and what 433 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: Paul has to say about It's in First Thessalonians four. 434 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 1: So make sure to tune back in for Thursday's episode 435 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: because I do think you're gonna like it. But faithful listeners, 436 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 1: I will see all of you guys hopefully tomorrow because 437 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:42,680 Speaker 1: we'll be in First Chronicles, finishing up that book actually, 438 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: and moving very soon into season ten next week actually, 439 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 1: so I'm excited for all of that. Anyway, Guys, if 440 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: you have any questions whatsoever, check out the links listed 441 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,400 Speaker 1: in the description of this episode. You're going to find 442 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 1: more information about the podcast. You're going to find my 443 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,359 Speaker 1: statement of faith. You'll also find other things that I 444 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: do for free other than the So I hope that 445 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:03,879 Speaker 1: you check all of those links out, Faithful listeners, have 446 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: a fantastic and wonderful rest of your day. Happy listening 447 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: and God bless