1 Thessalonians 4:1

Furthermore, we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that, as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and in honor, not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any manner, because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

Let's pray. Lord, as we sang just a minute ago, we exalt You. You are high and lifted up. When we realize how awesome You are, how great You are, just as Isaiah did in chapter 6 of that great book, he was undone. He saw himself in light of who You are, Your power, Your glory. As we consider You, the exalted God, and as we draw near to You to get to know You more, I pray that we too would humbly bow before You and ask You to transform and cleanse us.

Lord, we do pray that by Your Spirit today, You would continue to teach us Your word, that You would continue to sanctify and cleanse us by the washing of the water of Your word. Lord, that You transform and renew our minds. We ask this in Jesus' name, and all God's people agreed, saying, "Amen." You can be seated.

On August 17th, 1955, President Eisenhower published and signed Executive Order 10631, establishing the U.S. military code of conduct. Executive Order 10631 outlined the basic responsibilities and obligations of U.S. service members.

Every member of the armed forces of the United States is expected to measure up to the standards embodied in the code of conduct, especially when he or she is in combat or even taken captive. Christians also have what we might call the King's code of conduct. We are expected to live in a manner that honors and glorifies our King and His kingdom. It is clear that, as we have been studying through the Book of Acts and as you study through the apostolic letters of the New Testament, the early Christian leaders taught and equipped the believers to do just that: to live in a manner that was honoring and glorifying to the King.

The preamble of Eisenhower's order went on to say that each member of the armed forces shall be provided with specific training and instruction designed to better equip him to encounter and withstand all enemy efforts against him. He shall be fully instructed as to the behavior and obligations expected of him during combat or captivity. One of the primary complaints that is often hurled against the church today is that the church is full of hypocrites. You've all heard it before, and I wonder if such a criticism is not flung for the very fact that Christians today have not been provided with the specific training and instruction to fully equip them to stand and behave in a right and honorable way in this world we live in.

When considering the Christian code of conduct, such passages as the one before us here in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 come to mind. Paul there says, "Furthermore, we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that, as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, so that you would abound more and more." The first word there in the King James Version is "furthermore." In other translations, it's often rendered "finally." When reading "finally," we realize that there are still two chapters left here, and so we wonder: is this really a conclusion, or is Paul just a good Calvary Chapel pastor? In reality, we ought not to read this as a conclusion but as a transition, as Paul is now transitioning into his practical exhortations.

His applications for the church at Thessalonica are significant. The first chapter of 1 Thessalonians was really an encouragement to the church, speaking of all the great things that were happening there. Chapter 2 served as a defense of Paul's ministry because of the accusers that had come against him. Chapter 3 was an encouragement to the body of Christ there, which was facing tribulation.

Now, he speaks to a church facing the flesh, and he challenges them to live in a different way. He exhorts them, saying, "Furthermore, we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you." He begs, pleads, and calls them to live as they ought to live. Paul emphasizes that they should live in such a way that pleases, honors, and delights our Lord. They should live in a manner that brings glory to His name and causes the people of this world to glorify our Father in heaven. Just as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

From this verse, we learn that we ought to walk in a way that pleases God. As I was meditating on this this week and considering it, I began to question, "Why should we please God? Why should we please Him?" In looking at this, I came up with a few reasons. If you're taking notes, you might want to write this down: we ought to please the Lord because we've been chosen by God to serve and please Him.

You're in 1 Thessalonians, so just turn a few books to the right to 2 Timothy. In 2 Timothy 2, Paul says to Timothy in verse 3, "You therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier." God has chosen you and me. As those chosen by God, we are called to please Him and honor Him.

Why should we please the Lord? First, we have been chosen to please Him. Secondly, we've been redeemed by Him. We've been redeemed by Him, which means we've been bought with a price. In Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth, in 1 Corinthians 6, we see this truth emphasized.

He says in verses 19 and 20, "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, and which you have of God? And you are not your own, for you are bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

We have been redeemed; we have been bought with a price. We have been chosen by God to be pleasing to Him. Thirdly, we are created to do so. Why should we please God? Because we are created to do so.

How many ladies here this morning are going through the women's Bible study right now in the book "Pleasing God"? Quite a number of you. The foundation of that book, the verse that it is really built upon, is found in Revelation chapter 4, verse 11, where we read, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Why should we please the Lord? We have been chosen by God to please Him. We have been redeemed by the Lord, bought with a price; we are not our own, and we have been created to please Him. The very reason that God made us is that we would bring Him pleasure.

After considering these things, and as the scripture reveals that to be the case, we begin to wonder: How should we please the Lord? In Hebrews chapter 11, verse 5, it speaks about Enoch and says that before he was taken up by the Lord, he had this testimony that he pleased God. The author of the book of Hebrews goes on to say in the next verse, Hebrews 11, verse 6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him."

Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The first thing that we need to consider in answering the question of how we shall please God is that the only way to please God is to trust and believe in Him.

From there, we know, both from the Old Testament and the New Testament, that God has given us certain sacrifices and good works that bring Him praise, glory, and pleasure. Again, the author of the book of Hebrews talks about this in Hebrews chapter 13, verse 15, where we read, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice."

Of praise to God continually is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to share, or communicate, forget not; for with such sacrifices, God is well pleased. You see, for the believer in Christ, there are sacrifices that are well pleasing to God.

Now, for a lot of us, when we think of sacrifices, our minds immediately go to the book of Leviticus. We think of animal sacrifices, the sin offering, the burnt offering, and all these different offerings that are given to God. Yet, on several occasions in the Old Testament, God says, "I do not delight in those sacrifices." The sacrifices of God are listed, but here in this passage in Hebrews chapter 13, we are told that there are sacrifices that are well pleasing to God. The author of Hebrews mentions two of them in verses 15 and 16.

The first one is that we give the sacrifice of praise to God continually, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Every service that we have here at Calvary Chapel begins with a time of worship, a time of singing. Sometimes people question, "Why do we do that?" Let me tell you, it's not just a time filler; it truly is an opportunity for you and me to be pleasing to God. By using our lips to sing praises to His name, we offer sacrifices that God is well pleased with.

Well, why does the Scripture call that a sacrifice? Because every single one of us recognizes that there are some days when we don't want to sing. There are times when we don't like that song, and yet we're called to give a sacrifice of praise continually. As amazing as it is, that time of worship, that time of praising God with our lips, is pleasing to Him.

You might say, "Well, you don't know my voice." That's why the Psalms say, "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord; serve the Lord with gladness." For some of us, it is a joyful noise. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Worshiping Him with our lips is a sacrifice that is well pleasing.

Hebrews chapter 13, verse 16, also says, "And to do good and to share or communicate, do not forget." The idea, the context, is there to give to those who are in need. God is well pleased with that kind of sacrifice. Giving to the Lord and His work is a well pleasing sacrifice to the Lord. During this time of financial hardship for many, you recognize that it is a sacrifice.

Maybe today it is more of a sacrifice to give to the Lord and His work than it was two or three years ago. However, know that it is a sacrifice that is well-pleasing to God. How shall we please the Lord? Well, Micah chapter 6 in the Old Testament, God speaking through the prophet Micah, says in verse 8, "He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord does require of thee: but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Doing those things is pleasing to the Lord.

Psalm 147 verse 11 says, "The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear Him." He takes pleasure in those that fear Him. Philippians chapter 2 verse 13, one of my favorite verses in the Bible, states, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure." God is working in you and me right now to desire and to do His good pleasure.

You see, when you have a desire to serve the Lord by serving others—maybe going down to Tecate and serving at the orphanage, or helping in the men's ministry, the women's ministry, the children's ministry, the youth ministry, or going on a mission trip—you have a desire to spend your own time, your own assets, and your own energy to serve God and His people. I guarantee you that is a desire that God has placed within you. Why? Because in our flesh, we don't desire to serve other people; we are self-serving and self-seeking. When we accomplish the desire to serve another, the very power to do that, as we read in Philippians chapter 2 verse 13, is from God who did that in us to please Him.

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. Paul says to the church in Thessalonica, "Finally, brethren, we beseech you, we beg and plead with you, and exhort you that as you have received of us, you would walk in a way that would be pleasing to God and that you would abound more and more." Would you, in verse 1, underline those words "abound more and more"? Maybe even just reach over to your neighbor's Bible and circle it for them: "abound more and more." The Thessalonian Christians were already seeking to walk in a manner that would please God.

They were already doing it because there was a testimony about the church in Thessalonica that was going throughout the region of Macedonia. However, Paul's exhortation was that they would abound more and more. The idea, essentially, is that they would continue to grow and to flourish. Paul's desire was that the church there would continue to grow and to flourish.

One of the other things we learn from this is that no Christian has attained perfection. Paul says he wants them to grow and abound more and more, and we recognize that none of us are perfected yet. Even the great Apostle Paul, as I mentioned last week in Philippians chapter 3, says, "Not as though I have attained or have been perfected; I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me." None of us have been perfected.

A lot of times, when we speak in the context of perfection, people immediately go to sinless perfection. We recognize that here on earth, none of us will ever attain sinless perfection. However, the idea behind perfection in the New Testament is more along the lines of maturity and completeness. So, Paul's exhortation to these Christians was that they would continue to press on and grow towards maturity. There is always room for improvement. Amen? In fact, every single one of us could have a shirt that says, "Under construction, expect delays."

We ought to press on to abound more and more, and yet even in the state that we're in right now, as Paul reveals here, we are pleasing to God. Isn't it great to know that the Lord is pleased with our success through faith and is patient with our failures, desiring that we would press on to maturity? I am so thankful that God is patient with me and that He has given me a patient wife.

Continuing on in verse 2 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, Paul writes, "For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus, for this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication." Paul's exhortation, he says, was by the Lord. In verse 1, he exhorts them by the Lord, and here again in verse 2, he says, "For you know what commandments we gave you."

By the Lord Jesus, His exhortation and His commandments came from God. Paul wanted very much for the Thessalonians to receive the instruction he was about to give them, not as mere words of men, but as the words of God. In chapter 2, verse 13, Paul commended this church because, while he was with them preaching the gospel, they received the gospel as from God and not from man. Once again, in that very same vein, he expresses his desire that they recognize that what he is about to share is not from him, but from God. The words Paul is now going to share are a heavy message, a great exhortation, a charge to a church living in a Gentile and heathen world. He says, "This is God's word to you, for this is the will of God, even your sanctification." His exhortation and teaching are based upon Jesus' word; the commandments he is now going to lay down for this church were not Paul's invention but were given directly from God.

Now, I would say that perhaps one of the most discussed topics, especially among young believers, surrounds the will of God for their lives. You can ask any youth pastor; in fact, when I was in youth ministry, one of the most common questions I would receive was, "What's God's will for my life?" There is not a semester that goes by at the Bible college that I don't hear those sorts of questions two or three times from students wondering, "What is God's will for me?" The will of God is an extremely important topic, as we have been created to please God. We want to be pleasing to God; we want to live within His will.

It is interesting to me how many people spend a lot of their time trying to figure out what God's will is. I do not believe that it is an entirely difficult thing to figure out. God wants me, and He wants you, to walk in His will. He wants us to live in a way that is pleasing to Him; therefore, He is not going to hide it from us. A lot of times, people seem to think that His will is some sort of obscure and ambiguous concept.

The thing that I've got to climb to this high mountain before I figure it out is that I have to read through the whole Bible before He speaks to me His will. I just have to fast for 40 days, and I probably never will until He reveals to me His will. But you know, God clearly reveals in His Word just what it is that He generally wants all believers to do and what He has given to us as His will.

I recognize that as I've given that answer to some people who've asked me about the will of God, that answer doesn't seem to suffice. They have a hard time with that answer; they want to know all the details of the day-to-day things of God's will and plan for their lives. The fact is that as we seek to do what God has revealed in His Word, He will reveal the details of what He wants to do through our lives.

Some will say, "Well, does God want me to be a missionary?" To that, I'd say yes; He has called all of us to go and to make disciples. Is it God's will that I serve Him in His kingdom in the ministry? Yes, He wants every single one of us to serve Him in the ministry.

Paul reveals here in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 3, and we'll see more of this in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. There are many places scattered throughout the Old and New Testament where God clearly says, "This is what I want you to do." You know what? I have a hard enough time fulfilling what He's revealed to me without trying to spend time figuring out all the other details.

God's general will, revealed here in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 3, states, "This is the will of God, your sanctification," or you could even read this as "This is the will of God, your holiness." God's will is that we would live a sanctified and holy life. The word that is translated as sanctification in verse 3 could also be translated as holiness, and it has two very direct meanings. If you're taking notes, you'll want to put these down: sanctification and holiness have two very direct meanings.

Number one is purification. God desires to sanctify us in the sense that He wants to cleanse and purify our lives so that we are pure and blameless. How does God do this, though? How does He purify us?

First, we don't typically like this one: the testing of our faith. In Romans chapter 5, Paul says in verse 3, "And not only so, but we glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces patience, and patience produces experience, and experience produces hope."

Not just Paul in the book of Romans, but James in James chapter 1 also emphasizes this. He states, "Knowing this, that the testing of your faith produces patience." Furthermore, Peter in 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 7, says, "The trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

You see, the Bible reveals that one of the ways God purifies us to make us sanctified and holy is through the testing of our faith, the trial by fire. Another way that the Bible reveals God purifies us is by the washing of the water by the Word. In Ephesians chapter 5, verses 25 and 26, it says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of the water by the Word."

In Romans chapter 12, the Apostle Paul says in verses 1 and 2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you would present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

The washing of the water of the Word and the transformation of our minds by His Word are essential. Jesus prayed in John 17, verse 17, "Sanctify them by Your truth; Your Word is truth." This is not just a New Testament doctrine. In Ezekiel chapter 36, verses 25 and 26, God says, "Then will I sprinkle you with clean water, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness; from all your idols will I cleanse you. And a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take away the stony heart of flesh and will give you a new heart of flesh."

So, God desires that you and I would be purified, sanctified, and made holy.

Purification comes by the testing of our faith; it comes by the washing of the water of the Word. Thirdly, purification comes by our determined effort. Would you turn in your Bibles to Second Corinthians, chapter seven? If you're in the book of First Thessalonians, turn to the left.

In Second Corinthians, chapter seven, verse one, Paul says, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Paul emphasizes that, as recipients of these great and precious promises from God, we ought to cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and practice holiness in our lives.

The prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah chapter one, verse 16, writes, "Wash, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment; relieve the oppressed; judge the fatherless; and plead for the widow." God clearly tells us through the prophet Isaiah, and also through the apostle Paul, that there is an aspect of our purification that has to do with our determined effort in this life. This includes casting off the old man, as mentioned in Ephesians chapter four, and putting on the new man that is created in righteousness.

The apostle Peter, in First Peter chapter one, verse 22, states, "Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently." Here, he instructs us to purify our souls by obeying the truth. In the very next chapter, in Second Peter 2:11, he says, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against your soul."

The apostle John, in First John chapter three, says, "Every man that has this hope," the hope of heaven, the hope of being with the Lord eternally, the hope of one day seeing Him face to face, "everyone..."

That has this hope purifies himself, even as God Himself is pure. Sanctification and holiness are first revealed in purification. Purification comes by the fiery trial, where God is transforming and cleansing us. It comes by the washing of the water of the Word, but it also comes by a determined effort on our part. Thankfully, God, by His Spirit, is working in us to be able to accomplish these things.

I already mentioned Philippians chapter 2, verse 13. Verse 12 says, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." If it stopped there, we'd all go away in fear and trembling. But it goes on to say, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure." So, sanctification and holiness are revealed in the purifying work of God.

Secondly, sanctification and holiness are revealed in consecration. As we are being purified, it is God's desire that we would be set apart for His use, His purpose, and His pleasure only. I have used this example in speaking about consecration before because I think it's a good illustration. In each of our houses, as Paul said to Timothy, there are vessels unto honor and vessels unto dishonor. In my house, a vessel unto dishonor is the dog's bowl, and I would never use the dog's bowl for my morning Cheerios because it is consecrated; it is set apart for that use only.

We recognize that God has called us to be consecrated as well, that we are set apart for His use, His purpose, and His pleasure only. Paul, quoting the prophet Isaiah in Second Corinthians chapter 6, verse 17, said to the church there, "Wherefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch not an unclean thing, and I will receive you." God's call to His people is to come out from among the Gentiles, to come out from among those who are living contrary to the will and work of God, and to be separate.

Many here this morning have read and maybe even memorized Psalm 1, where David says, "Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he does meditate day and night."

Shall be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of water, which brings forth its fruit in its season. Its leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper. This is speaking about an individual who is consecrated unto God, who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, does not stand in the way of sinners, and does not sit among the scornful. Instead, he delights in God's word, being wholly and completely committed to God. That is what God has called us to; this is the will of God—our holiness worked out in our purification, worked out in the fact that we are consecrated unto Him, given to Him only.

But what does this look like? What does it look like to practically be purified and consecrated, to be sanctified and holy, dedicated to the purpose of the Lord? As Paul describes it here in First Thessalonians chapter 4, he says those who are going to be sanctified or made holy are to abstain from fornication. Holiness and sanctification are big words with even bigger meanings. Practically, it is worked out in our lives in that we refrain, we abstain, and we hold ourselves from sexual immorality.

The King James Version renders it as fornication, while the New King James Version uses the term sexual immorality. The first-century Roman culture that Paul was ministering in was marked by sexual immorality. At the time that Paul was writing this, the ideas of chastity and sexual purity were almost unknown virtues among the Romans. Nevertheless, Paul says Christians are to take their standards of sexual morality from God and not from the culture. We are to take our cues from God and not the culture around us.

Now, we know that in our day, many within the church are actually being swayed more by the culture than by the word of God. How do we know this? Well, just last year, the Lutheran Church gathered together in the Midwest here in America, and they determined that they were going to ordain openly homosexual pastors. That was a move that is in line with our culture but not in line with God's word. So, Paul says we, as Christians, are to take our cues from God.

The words fornication and sexual immorality come from a Greek word that has a very broad definition. It is a word that includes every kind of unlawful sexual behavior.

Behavior, experience, and expression encompass every kind of thought and fantasy. You might ask, "What exactly is lawful and unlawful sexual behavior?" First, we must recognize that God is the one who created sex. In creating sex, He has given us the bounds, or we might say the rules, regarding its proper use—the right way to engage, experience, and express these sexual desires. God tells us how this is to be worked out in our lives. Therefore, anything that is outside of those bounds that God established is what we would call sexual immorality or fornication.

Consider how many of you have gone to Costco or another store to buy a digital camera. When you purchase that digital camera, it comes with a book that discusses its proper use. You could take that camera and say, "I don't need this book," and decide to take it into the pool with you. That probably wouldn't work. You might look at that camera and think it looks sturdy enough to use as a hammer, but that likely wouldn't work either. We have no problem being governed by the proper use outlined in that book as it relates to the camera or other equipment we buy. Yet, God created us and has given us the equipment, and so many in this world say, "Oh, that's archaic. You're going to follow God's standard? Give me a break." Imagine what society would be like if we actually did.

So, what is the lawful use of sex? The author of the Book of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 13:4, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." When God created sex, He intended it for pleasure, and He designed it to take place only within the context of marriage. The only right place for sexual relations is between one man and one woman. As the Book of Hebrews reveals, anything consensually done within marriage is right in the sight of God.

Anything consensually done within the context of marriage between one man and one woman is right before God as it relates to sex. Sex is a good and wonderful thing; God created it, and in its proper place, it's beautiful. However, just like fire, fire in the fireplace is great, but fire in the living room is not so much. If you play with fire, you're going to get burned. Those who engage in sex outside of marriage, as God intended, get burned. I guarantee that although many of you may not want to raise your hands, you've been burned, and you know this to be the case.

Of course, Satan has a very subtle strategy. He does all that he can to encourage sex outside of marriage and discourage sex within marriage. Many have succumbed to that strategy. Perhaps as you're sitting here this morning, you say, "Well, I didn't know this to be the case. I didn't know that this is what the Bible had to say. I haven't been following this in my life." Well, you know what? Neither did the Thessalonians until Paul wrote to them and preached to them. But now you know, and as part of the sanctifying process in our lives, we obey what we now know, committing ourselves to purification and consecration.

Paul goes on to say in verse 4 that everyone should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles who do not know God. Notice that Paul says at the beginning of verse 4 that this commandment is not just for the young. It is not just for the purity conference for the youth, nor is it only applicable to those who are unmarried. Every Christian, Paul says, ought to know how to possess his or her vessel, their body, in a sanctified and honorable way.

This teaching would be completely contrary to the Greco-Roman mindset that Paul was preaching to, just as it is in our day. The idea that sex is only for marriage and that abstinence is to be practiced until marriage, as God ordained, is considered absolute foolishness in the secular world we live in. We all know this to be the case, especially when there was a big push under President Bush's administration to see...

Abstinence training in schools has faced criticism from many within our culture, who argue that it is foolish to believe that young people will refrain from having sex. However, if we set forth God's standard and declare that this is the will of God, we might be surprised by the outcomes. The reality is that if individuals go outside of this standard, they will face consequences.

How drastically different would our world be if society obeyed God's intended purpose and plan? Of course, not every believer immediately knows how to possess their life and body in a sanctified and honorable way. The implication of this passage is that we ought to learn to do so. We should strive to live in a sanctified and honorable manner before our God. Paul instructs us to avoid living in lust or concupiscence.

In case someone misunderstands Paul's teaching and thinks he is only addressing physical sexual acts, he emphasizes that we should not live in lust or concupiscence. The term "concupiscence" comes from an old Latin word that means to long for or be intensely desirous of something. The idea is that this struggle is rooted in the mind and the heart.

I recognize that life can be challenging; trials and tests abound. The church at Thessalonica was experiencing tribulation and difficulty. The enemy constantly bombards us, tempting us to fall, especially in the areas of our minds and hearts, particularly regarding lust and intense desire.

Sometimes, people within the church begin to think, "I might as well just give in. This is the way I was created. God knew this would be hard; why did He make me like this?" They may convince themselves that it is acceptable to check out for a while, to indulge in fantasies, believing that it is just their lust life and that nobody knows about it. They think it only affects them and hampers nobody else's walk.

However, if that line of thinking begins to creep into your mind, you must immediately recognize that it is a snare of the enemy and is dangerous on many levels. It is dangerous because God sees and knows what you are thinking and doing. The Bible reveals that one day, you and I will stand before God and give an account for every thought, deed, word, and action.

A lot of people think, "Well, nobody knows." But God knows, and God sees. Not only that, the lust that is in the heart leads to a secret fantasy life that is just as sinful as the actual physical act of adultery. Remember what Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount: "You have heard that it has been said of old time, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say unto you, that if you look upon a woman to lust after her, you have committed adultery with her already in your heart."

So, God sees and knows that fantasy life is sin before Him. Your hidden life of sin affects the rest of the body, just like Achan's sin in Joshua chapter 7 affected the nation of Israel. As Paul says in First Corinthians and also in Galatians, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump." He instructs us not to live in lust or concupiscence, not like the Gentiles who do not know God. To live a life of lustful passion is the mark of an individual that does not know God.

Furthermore, this verse implies that knowing God transforms our behavior. Knowing God transforms the way we think, the way we act, and the way we talk. In light of the great salvation that God has given to us, we must change our behavior. The holiness of God moves us to at least be willing to make a concerted effort to no longer walk as the rest of this world walks.

Paul continues in verse 6 of First Thessalonians chapter 4, saying that no man should go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. Therefore, he who despises does not despise man, but God, who has also given unto us His Holy Spirit.

Notice that Paul says we forewarned you about this. This is phenomenal because we've already considered that Paul was in the city of Thessalonica for probably only about three to four weeks. In that very short period of time, among the new believers in Thessalonica, he had already begun to tell them to live in a sanctified and holy way because the judgment of God will come upon them.

Many pastors today refuse to speak about the judgment, justice, and wrath of God. They don't want to talk about these tough topics because nobody wants to hear about sin, death, repentance, and judgment. However, by doing so, these pastors fail to reveal the whole counsel of God and the full character of God. Scripture reveals God as one who will by no means clear the guilty. Such preachers will answer to God one day. This is why the Apostle James, in James chapter 3, says, "Let not many of you become teachers, because you shall receive a stricter judgment."

You may wonder why I am being so harsh today. The word says so, and I will stand before God one day. You may not like the message, but I want Him to be pleased. This kind of deficient teaching shared in many churches from many pulpits across our nation produces deficient disciples who begin to serve a God that is not the God of the Bible.

What do I mean by that? They worship a God they say is loving, and indeed, the God of the Bible is a loving God. He is also a forgiving God. However, they say, "My God doesn't care; it's okay that I sleep with my girlfriend." No, that's not true. They think, "It's okay that I look at these things on the internet; nobody knows." No, that's not true. It breaks the heart of God and hinders the movement of the church. Why is the church lacking power today? I would say that this is one of the biggest issues.

Paul also says in this passage that he who despises despises not man. If you reject these exhortations, Paul says you are rejecting God; therefore, you are making yourself an enemy of God. We are told in verse 7, or at the end of verse 6, that He will avenge Himself of His enemies.

As for brotherly love, in verse 9, Paul states, "You need not that I write unto you, for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another." Paul says concerning brotherly love, or the Greek word "Philadelphia," that you have no need for him to write to you because God Himself has taught you to agape one another.

So here's the idea: there are a lot of people today who say, "What's wrong with this relationship? I love her." They may be referring to Philadelphia, brotherly love.

Most likely, it's just arrows lust, but agape love—the love that God has instructed us to love one another with—is not self-seeking but self-sacrificing. He says you have no need that I talk to you about brotherly love because God has taught you to love on a higher level, and indeed you do it toward all brethren, which are in Macedonia.

But we beseech you, brethren, that you would increase more and more, and that you would study to be quiet, to do your own business, and to work with your own hands as we commanded you. This way, you may walk honestly toward those who are outside and that you may lack nothing. Paul says God has taught you to agape one another, to love one another, to not defraud another, and to not rob somebody.

Sexual immorality robs; it robs God of the glory that He deserves from our lives. An unmarried couple sleeping together is robbing each other and the future spouse of that individual. A man or a woman going outside their marriage covenant and relationship and having an adulterous affair is robbing their spouse and their children. It defrauds them, and God, we are told, will avenge; He will judge.

In this passage, as it is a very challenging passage of exhortation, we see the call to the church living in the midst of a very wicked and perverse generation and among a group of people that totally disregard God's law and plan. Paul says we are to live in sexual purity.

Why? Well, again, if you're taking notes:

1. We are to live in sexual purity because this is pleasing to God (verse one). 2. This is the will of God (verse three). 3. This is honoring to God (verse four). 4. This is the call of God (verse seven). 5. This is the way of love (verse nine).

Sexual purity is pleasing to God, the will of God, honoring to God, the call of God, and the way of love. If all of those positive things are not enough for us to say yes, then what is?

God has called us, and God has willed that we would live in self-control and sexual purity. If all those positive things are not enough, verse six says God will judge. It is pleasing to God, honoring to God, and part of the call of God and the way of love. Paul told the Corinthians and the Galatians that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

You might wonder, are you saying that I can lose my salvation? No, what I'm saying is that if a person is living a life of practicing sexual immorality and living in fornication without repentance, I question whether or not they are actually saved. I know that sounds heavy, and we will end on that thought in just a moment. It may leave a bad taste in your mouth, but let God be true, and let His word be exalted, for He has exalted His word above His name. He has called us to live a life that is different from the rest of this world, one that glorifies Him.

Those are the kinds of questions I have in my mind: Would this action, this word, or this thought glorify the Lord if He were sitting right here? Because He is. Or let me put it in a totally different context: If your wife were watching you, would you do it?

Let's stand and pray. Father, I do thank You that it is Your word and not mine. Lord, I thank You that this is not the opinion of men but the word of the Creator, the one who created us, created our bodies, and created sex. You have given us such an intense desire for these things that we could offer them back to You as an acceptable sacrifice until the day You give it back to us in marriage.

Lord, You didn't tell us to abstain from food until we're married; You didn't tell us to abstain from water until we're married. We couldn't live like that. But You've called us to abstain from sexual interaction until we're married, and Lord, we certainly can offer that to You.

You would strengthen each of us, Lord, not just in our actions but in our minds and in our hearts. Would you shine brightly through Your church as You desire to sanctify and purify us? That we would be a bright, shining light and representation of You here in this world.

We pray this in Jesus' name, and all God's people agreed, saying, "Amen." We are going with You here in this world. We pray this in Jesus' name, and let us feel free. Amen, Lord.

We thank You for the peace that is ever still. We pray with You, listening to Jesus. We pray that You are going to receive it.