The Will of God Prayer Principle 3A. -Introduction 4-Sexual

Three times in scripture we find the direct statement, "This is the will of God"

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; and 1 Peter 2:15.

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 This passage, especially the focus of verses 3 & 4, tells us that God’s will is to avoid sexual immorality.

1. The word for sexual immorality, fornication [kjv] is a general term referring to all the various forms of sexual misconduct, including adultery, incest, promiscuity, masturbation, bestiality, fetishes, and, of course, pornography in any form.
2. In giving the command to abstain by God implies His giving the ability to do so.
3. Verse 4 indicates that an ongoing practice is necessary, and as above just mentioned, is possible.
4. The beginning of sexual immorality is passion of lust, or unbridled exercise of the strong desire of sexual gratification which resides in every human being.
5. The result of sexual immorality is referred to as uncleanness, or disapproval by God which in turn brings: guilt, dissatisfaction, desire for greater fulfillment the next act, discouragement and depression.
6. The practice of sexual immorality causes us to defraud one another, or to gain or take advantage of another and results in God defending the defrauded one.
7. The act of sex is not improper except outside the monogamous marriage state. It was set up in the Garden of Eden by God Himself, and it is "honorable among all, and the bed undefiled" as the writer of Hebrews [13.4] reminds us.
8. To reject this doctrine is to reject God, Himself.
9. Abstaining from sexual immorality is our responsibility and means of sanctification. God will help us, but only if we are actively trying to possess our body that way.
10. Possessing a sanctified body implies a process that does require time to finish, but hesitation to obey the command can reap a deadly crop of incorrectly sown sexual practices. (See James 1, and Galatians 6)
11. Abstaining requires us to remember biblical truths so as to practice them, thus the command to pray submission prayer to God.
12. The flesh is an adversarial and strong enemy within and can quickly bring enslavement as it is yielded to (See Romans 6:16)
13. The strongest deterrent to sexual misconduct is the truth that it is not satisfying in the long term and demands increasingly stronger forms for the same pleasure once received initially. "The world passes away and the lusts of it, but he who does the will of God lives forever." (1 John 2:17)
14. Sexual immorality is likened to drugs inside the body that bring enslavement– starting in a weak form it soon escalates to practices harmful to self and others and can end in life-long diseases or even suicide.
15. Sexual immorality is really a home-wrecker, and the single ingredient, when out of place, that can permanently render inoperative or ineffective any person’s life and home affected by it. Thus the importance to make it a serious matter of prayer to submit to daily and even hourly.
16. Marriage does not cure the sexual drive’s ability to destroy.
17. Sexual acts are not essential for normal life since young adults are expected to refrain from it until marriage. Thus even the widow/widowers are similarly expected to show self-control.

• See the Biblical attitudes expressed by Paul in 1 Timothy:
  • 1Ti 5:11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
  • 1Ti 5:14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
  • 1Ti 5:16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

It is no surprise to see this doctrine specifically pinned to "the will of God" in such a straightforward manner. Here are some good applications we can make after realizing truths on this subject:

1. I will quote 1 Thessalonians 4:3,4 whenever I am tempted to commit sexual immorality, and I will call someone I trust with this besetting sin whenever I am tempted.
2. When I see immoral pictures I will a.)turn off the source, b.)walk away from persons creating the temptation, and then replace the activity with a spiritually edifying activity like praying for my wife/mother/daughter or husband/father/son/brother to be strong in their temptations – (such things do happen in the spiritual world to related people in separate places because of the adversarial nature of Satanic oppression)
3. I will learn songs promoting godliness in the sexual relationships I am in that I can sing to help overcome.