Category Archives: Men

When Good Sex Goes Bad!

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-When It Happens Outside Marriage!

According to God—who, by the way, CREATED sex—healthy sex only happens in a marriage between a man & a woman! The Word of God warns us against the ramifications of sexual conduct outside the safety of marriage between a man and a woman! All other sexual activities are spiritually unhealthy because it’s disobedience to God and His Word. But, it can also prove to be physically and emotionally unhealthy! And, the effects tend to have a trickle down effect. It can negatively impact your family & your children downline.

-Messing Up People’s Lives!

When your sex life doesn’t comply with Scripture, you can mess up a lot of people’s lives! One more consideration for those of you who think you’ve already messed up too badly! That you’re hopeless! Maybe you grew up in a worldly environment & were never even taught these Biblical truths. Or, maybe you grew up hearing them; but, you thought you were smart enough to beat “the system”; so, you played around with sex & you’re paying the price for it now! Well, thanks to Jesus’ work on the cross, you’re not beyond repair!

-Good News For Those Who Messed Up!

The Gospel is good news to every sinner, regardless the sin! We have a God who makes beauty from ashes! There is forgiveness & restoration through the cross! So, don’t hide behind your sin any longer! Confess it so you can be healed (James 5:16). And, from this day forward, plant your feet on the firm foundation of God’s Word, when it comes to your sex life! God’s Word alone provides us the only flawless counsel for building healthy marriages. In the book of 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul shares several points, about sexuality, as God directs us:  “It is good for a man not to have relations with a woman. But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband….I say the following as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift from God, one person in this way and another in that way. I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am” 1 Corinthians 7:1, 6-8.

-Is Celibacy A Gift?

What Paul is encouraging here is “celibacy.” He seems to indicate that “celibacy” is God’s gift for some individuals! So, if you can’t imagine being celibate, that probably means that you don’t have that gift! I purposely used the word celibacy, instead of “singleness”—because celibacy more accurately defines what Paul is describing here—celibacy is abstaining from ALL sexual relations! Whereas, in our culture, “singleness” is often preferred because there are no sexual attachments or boundaries—it’s “Sex In The City!” It’s friends with “benefits.” So, being “single” doesn’t necessarily express what Paul is thinking! When he says, “It is good for a man not to have relations with a woman” (v.1) he’s using it as a euphemism for “sexual intercourse”; and, the context of v.2 bears that out. So, celibacy can be a good & honorable gift from God!

 

What Sexual Health Looks Like!

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-It’s Not What You Think!

Unfortunately, marriage & parenting are the butt of a lot of jokes in our society. We sing a lot of sad songs about lost love; and, it seems that’s one way we manage the pain.  Like the story of a woman whose husband lay in bed dying, going in and out of a coma. One day he briefly awoke & reached out to his wife to draw her close.  As she sat next to him, he began to whisper some of his remembrances to her:  “Honey, you’ve been right there beside me through all the rough times.  You were there when I got fired. You were there when my business failed.  You were there when we lost the house.  And, you’ve been right here—the whole time—by my side even as my health failed & I lay dying.” He paused briefly & asked, “You know what?” “What, dearest?” She asked as she wiped a tear from her eye.  “I think you’re bad luck” he said; and, then slipped back into a coma!

-Flawless Marriage Counseling!

I’m pretty confident that everyone enters into marriage longing for a partnership that remains strong & healthy! I hope that it doesn’t surprise you when I say that God’s Word provides us with the ONLY flawless counsel for building those healthy marriages; and, for training up godly children! If you’re a relatively new follower of Jesus, you may be surprised to find out how much the Bible has to say about marriage & sex & family! But, think about it! It was God who created marriage! And, it was God who created sex! He created the family, too! So, it really only makes sense that we would go to the SOURCE for wisdom & counsel in these areas!

-A Foundational Bible Text!

A foundational text on the subject of marriage, sex, and the family is 1 Corinthians 7:1-9. It’s incredibly practical; and, if you’ll commit to obeying the words of Scripture—rather, than listening to the foolish, so-called “wisdom” of the world—you’ll have that strong & happy marriage that everyone longs for.  It’s an intriguing passage! What the Apostle Paul says to the Church of Corinth—and, these are words inspired by God’s Holy Spirit—are completely out-of-step with the world’s wisdom and the societal norms for family & for human sexuality! So, choose who you’re going to listen to!

-Where Healthy Sex Happens!

If you just google “A Healthy Sex Life” you’ll get results like “10 Signs You Have A Healthy Sex Life”—but, not one sign is attached to marriage between a man & a woman! Your google search results will also include articles on sexual dysfunction & how to maintain an active sex life; but, again, with no reference to marriage! But, according to God, “Healthy Sex” ONLY happens in a marriage relationship between a man and a woman! Over & over, the Word of God warns us against the ramifications of sexual conduct outside of a marriage between a man and a woman! All other sexual activities are spiritually unhealthy because it is disobedience to God’s word! But, it can also prove to be physically & emotionally unhealthy! It has a trickle down effect, negatively impacting others downline! Next Week: We’ll get into 1 Cor. 7.

 

Dismissing God’s Glory!

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-Pride Is Like False Advertising!

Have you ever checked the label on a bottle of juice? I mean, really checked it?  Recently, I picked up a bottle of juice that said it was “Blueberry Pomegranate, 100% Juice, All Natural” on the front label with a picture of a ripe pomegranate & lots of plump, perfect blueberries! But, then I read the list of ingredients—“Filtered water; Pear juice concentrate; Apple juice concentrate & Grape juice concentrate.” So, where are the BLUEBERRIES? And, where is the POMEGRANATE, I thought? Finally, I found them listed #5 and #7 on a list of 9 ingredients! Now, the nice lady in the health food aisle informed me that, by law, food ingredients are listed in descending order of weight! Did you know that? That means a product contains the greatest proportion of the 1st ingredient on the list & successively less the further down you go! So, according to the list, on the bottle in my hand, it contained mostly water & other juices with just enough blueberry & pomegranate for flavor and color! I put it back on the shelf! The pictures & the clever labeling were enticing; but, I would call that a form of false advertising!

-An Illustration Of Human Pride!

It was disguised to look like something that it wasn’t! That seems like it illustrates human pride to me! What if we use that bottle of juice to illustrate what it’s like when we’re proud of our work; or, our intellect; or, our earning power; or, our standing in the community; or, we’re proud of our house, our car, our neighborhood; or, our kids accomplishments! The clever label says we’re a “self-made man”; or, a “self-made woman”! We’re a rising star! We’re prosperous! We’re going places! We’re a mover & a shaker! But, the ingredients listed on the side don’t lie—God says: “Bring MY sons from far away & MY daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone called by MY name and created for MY Glory. I have formed him; indeed, I have made him” Isaiah 43:6-7.  We were created for HIS Glory, not our own! HE formed us! He made us! As for the gifts, talents, and abilities we take credit for? The things we’re tempted to take pride in? The rest of the ingredients, on the list, don’t lie!

-It All Comes From Him!

According to the Apostle Paul, the “ingredient list” on the side panel of our lives says, “For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it?” 1 Cor. 4:7. Everything we have comes from Him! And, we face deadly consequences when we deny God the Glory! It is not an insignificant matter when we dismiss or deny God the Glory due His Name! Human pride is deadly! I’ve said before that human pride is our attempt to steal God’s glory & that is why God’s Word says, in Proverbs, “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him...”; and, what’s #1 on the LIST? “A PROUD LOOK” Prov. 6:16-19. All glory was God’s Glory from the beginning of Creation! All glory, in the world, is ultimately a reflection of the Glory God gave it!