Sermon archive

This blog contains sermons listed by date, Bible passage and title

Name:
Location: Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States

Sunday, July 26, 2009

sermon 6 of 10 on Ten Commandments 7/26/09

Sermon 6 of 10 on Ten Commandments
07/26/09
Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Title: The SIXTH Word OF GOD FOR A HAPPY CHRISTIAN LIFE
The Sixth Commandment stands out as unique from all the other commandments because it is the only one that speaks to a natural impulse or drive that is built into a normal human being. There is no compelling physical drive in us that pushes us to disobey authority or to be hurtful to our neighbor or to steal or to lie. Only our selfishness and disregard for our neighbor's welfare lead us to these. But there is a compelling drive in us that we call the sex drive. The body's hormonal forces make people inescapably aware of their presence and pressures. It is this drive that the Sixth Commandment tells us “You shall not commit adultery.” It is a tall order for sinners, we would all have to agree.
The Commandment stands out in our attention also because sex so easily becomes a preoccupation in a society and ours is not only preoccupied, but obsessed with sex. You know the joke about the man who was being given the psychological test that utilizes ink blotches of various shapes. Each time, when asked what the nondescript black blotch brought to mind, he said, "Sex." Finally the doctor giving the test said, "You are really preoccupied with sex, aren't you?" "I am?" replied the man. "You're the one who drew all the pictures."
In our society today the reminders of sex, the stimulators of sex, the encouragers of sex, are hardly nondescript. In books and magazines, in movies, on TV and radio, in shows and commercials and ads, the message is no longer subtly suggestive, but is bluntly descriptive and usually flagrantly promotion of open, easy, loose sexual attitudes and actions.
The Bible teaches us that God had two purposes in mind in his creating human beings to be sexual creatures. The Genesis account tells of God's creation of the man. Then we hear him saying, "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helper fit for him." So from one of the man's ribs God creates the woman and the man recognizes immediately that she is bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. He now has his true counterpart. This was God's primary intention in creating them male and female and still today God's gift of sex is intended to draw us into relationship with one who becomes our "other I," the one with whom we may find and enjoy full human personhood in the most significant and meaningful human interaction.
The second purpose for God creating male and female is found in the Genesis chapter one, a chapter that praises God for his progressive creation that ends in the creation of the man and the woman in his own image, that is relationship. In it God says to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." Reproduction, the blessing of children, is God's second purpose in making us sexual beings. It's a by-product of the first. It is the cause of the first. In the close, intimate, loving relationship between a man and a woman there grows the setting for a child to be born and to thrive in the care of its parents.
These are God's two original intentions, as set forth in Genesis. But Genesis also tells how sin became part of the human experience and how it disrupted and distorted God's purposes for humanity. The gift of sex as a bond of love and intimacy is now distorted by selfishness. Love of the other is so easily replaced by exploitation of the other. The ideal of relationship suffers from pursuit of sex just for its own sake.
St. Paul addressed the situation of sexual people who now live in a world distorted by sin, and pointed to a realistic third purpose. He explained that becoming one in marriage provides people with the setting in which sex may be properly expressed and enjoyed – and that this proper expression of the sex drive helps to safeguard their purity by diminishing the temptation to express it outside of marriage and adulterate it.
God's will and purposes for Christians come through loud and clear in 1 Thessalonians. It's a Biblical commentary on the Sixth Commandment. "This is the will of God," Paul wrote, "your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that you know how to control your body in holiness and honor.” And in verse 6, “that no one transgress and wrong others in this. God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness."
One of the hazards of preaching a sermon on this subject is that the pastor can be seen as someone holier than thou that is pointing his finger, as he sits in judgment of those he thinks are sexually immoral. But those who preach of the sin of adultery; those who agree with God’s command know that we cannot approach the subject in any haughty pride. We know that we ourselves have been guilty in our abuse of God's gift of sex; especially when we remember Jesus’ words, "everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." We, all of us, men and women stand guilty, but we also know that we stand forgiven before God only through the atoning work of Jesus our Savior and the forgiving love of our Father in heaven.
I am not here this morning to paint with a scarlet brush. But neither am I here to fall into line with our society in excusing sexual immorality as "normal human behavior." That's what has happened, you know. The world's attitude has glorified the purely physical and the temporary, and has missed God's spiritual purpose in this physical gift the purpose of drawing a man and a woman into a lasting, meaningful relationship.
The immorality of the world has produced the whirlwind of abortions, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection not to mention the emotional and spiritual damage done to those who do not properly use God's gift of sex.
I have talked to people who have told me that I just don’t understand that they need a woman or man even if it is in an adulterous relationship. They just cannot help themselves and “God will forgive” they say. The pressure is there, there is no doubt and in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness for adulterers and the sexually immoral. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "Such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." The problem is that when a person says they are a Christian and intentionally break God’s Law they are putting their soul in jeopardy.
Those that think that way are like a person that has become addicted to drugs. I never met a drug addict or alcoholic that set out to ruin their lives; it happened as the lure of the drugs grabbed hold of them and then it is too late. A person is fooling themselves to think that they can sin now and repent later. A price will be paid for such thinking.
Those struggling with their sexuality need to remember that in Jesus Christ there is not only forgiveness but also help for those who are his to have their "words and conduct in matters of sex be pure and honorable" as Luther puts it in his Small Catechism. It starts with seeing that God's command is not intended to spoil our fun but to protect us, and to lead us to the blessings that he intends for us in Christian marriage when we become one with our spouse in holiness and honor.
God's purpose in his gift of sex surely is not to have us end up sad, but happy. Like all of his gifts it is given to be a positive blessing. To a great extent, however, the enjoyment of this blessing depends on our seeing that while sex is an important part of life it is only a part of life. Young and old will honor their body, the temple of God if they will avoid becoming preoccupied with sex by devoting their energies to the wholesome, broader pursuits and activities that bring life its deeper sense of meaning and satisfaction.
Two brief thoughts, in closing, for our youth, their parents, grandparents, and the rest of us as we guide and help our young people deal with their sexuality. Our society uses the dating process to allow outreach and interaction and selection of a partner by our young people. You young men and young women need to remember that each boy or girl you date is a potential husband or wife. Someday you will marry, and it will be someone you dated. It seems to me this just ought to rule out some individuals as dates for you. It also suggests strongly that it is wise for Christian young men and women to date others who are Christians and share your values. In your dating you need to carry a healthy respect for yourself as a child of God – and for your dating partner.
The second thought is this. The dating process is intended to let two people get to know each other personally, as you converse and enjoy activities together. Only later, when your relationship has grown into a commitment to each other does the sexual activity properly increase and move toward its full expression in Christian marriage. You can see that when you jump into sexual intercourse long before you are ready for it you work against the process. What should be a time of personal growth is replaced by a preoccupation with sexual activity. Promiscuity may grow out of this along with the danger of disease or unwanted pregnancy. Many have been caught in this trap.
You are blessed indeed when you know not only the blessing of God's gift of sainthood in Jesus Christ, but are also led by the Spirit to know and to implement God's will and purpose in his gift of sex. Whether you are a teenager, a young adult, married or single, divorced or widowed, you need to know that God's will for you is to lead a happy life; that is a life of sexual purity as you not only honor your own body, but God. This Commandment “You will not commit adultery” really is one of God's Ten Words for a Happy Christian Life. Amen.