Walk, Talk and Live as to Please God
From The HeartPublish date: 10/29/2006
Furthermore, brethren, we beg and admonish you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that [you follow the instructions which] you learned from us about how you ought to walk so as to please and gratify God, as indeed you are doing, [and] that you do so even more and more abundantly [attaining yet greater perfection in living this life]. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 AMP
When your mother gave birth to you, you had everything you needed to live on this earth as a member of your family. You were "you" only a smaller version, with no knowledge of the world you were born into. You had your body, but you didn't know what to do with it or how to control it. All you knew how to do was to drink milk and to cry when you were hungry, tired, or uncomfortable, or when you needed to be held. You had to grow up and learn how to control your body and your impulses. You had to learn how to walk, talk, feed yourself, communicate, obey, be courteous, share, work, give, be kind, be a decent person, etc. You had to learn to obey and respect your parents. If your family did not care for you and teach you, you would not have the skills you needed to be successful in your relationships and your life.
When you receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior your heart, your spirit, is instantly changed. You are like a brand new baby in the spirit. The only problem is that you have this body that wants to do its own thing and you have to learn how to control it and bring it under subjection to your spirit. The way you do that is through the Word of God. Many people claim to be "born-again," but their conduct tells another story. Some of them have never been taught that they must obey the Word of God and that they ought to walk and conduct themselves in such a way so as to please and gratify God. They are still pleasing themselves.
For you know what charges and precepts we gave you [on the authority and by the inspiration of] the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice, 4 That each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor, 5 Not [to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will 1 Thessalonians 4:2-5 AMP
The best way to avoid sexual sin is to stay away from the source and cause of it. Protect your eyes and ears. Don't even think that you can look at it and be okay. The battle between good and evil, sin and righteousness in your life begins in your mind. Guard yourself in this area. Don't allow ungodly TV channels in your home. Put a blocker on your computer. In order to avoid sinning, you have to be able to control your body, but if you feed your mind pornography and perversion, you can be sure that you are going to have a very hard time preventing your mind and your body from leading you straight into sexual sin! You control your body by keeping your mind on things that are pure. The heathen don't know God. They don't feel that there is anything wrong with what they do with their bodies. You are not an ungodly heathen. You know the difference between right and wrong. Don't follow ungodly people down the path of destruction. You are not ignorant of God's will for you!
That no man transgress and overreach his brother and defraud him in this matter or defraud his brother in business. For the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we have already warned you solemnly and told you plainly. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 AMP
Don't defraud your fellow Christians with your sexual impurity. Don't go after someone who is not your wife – she belongs to someone else. If you go after her, you will wreak havoc in many people's lives through your lack of self-control. Keep your eyes and your hands to yourself. Keep you mind pure in this area.
Don't defraud your brother or sister in a business transaction! There seems to be so many people, who call themselves Christians, who are liars and thieves when it comes to money and business. God is very serious when He tells us to be honest and faithful with money. He tells the thief to steal no more and to work honestly with his hands and to give to those who are needy (Ephesians 4:28). Don't be a thief; don't be a liar; don't defraud people by deception; don't make promises you don't intend to keep; don't take what is not yours. Do you have any fear of God? Remember that God is the avenger in all these things!
For God has not called us to impurity but to consecration [to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough purity]. 8 Therefore whoever disregards (sets aside and rejects this) disregards not man but God, Whose [very] Spirit [Whom] He gives to you is holy (chaste, pure). 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 AMP
God has called us to purity – to consecrate ourselves to Him – to be dedicated to Him. If we disregard God's word about sexual purity, we are not rejecting man, but we are rejecting God. Every person who chooses sexual immorality is also making a choice against God. It is a fact that Atheists and Agnostics are way far more likely to see nothing wrong with sexual impurity and sin, than a person who loves and obeys God. Always stay in close relationship and fellowship with God – this fellowship is your protection!