May 6, 2017 - The Seventh Commandment

The Seventh Commandment

We have been surrounded by the enemy, but we don’t even see it anymore.  Remember when we were shocked that Mike and Carol Brady were seen in the same bed on national TV?  A man and woman, not married in real life, in the same bed!  Today, nothing shocks us.

Sexual temptation surrounds us and has become accepted, because we have become numbed to it.  A TV show or movie must show some sex or it won’t be successful.  Maybe there is no nudity, but people are hopping into bed with someone they are not married to.  If they don’t show it, they talk about it.  Even TV shows for teens and preteens, show children totally free from adult supervision, and often getting romantic.

What is shocking to discover is that 80% of Christian youth, teens and young adults who attend church and Christian universities, have had sex.  That is compared to 88% of those professing no faith.  The numbers are basically the same.  Sex outside of marriage has become the norm for everyone.  No wonder nobody listens to our message any more.

The seventh commandment states, “you shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14).”  The Bible is clear that any sex outside the bonds of marriage is adultery.  All premarital sex.  All homosexual sex.  Having an affair.  All are considered adultery.

Jesus goes further and explains in Matthew 5:27 & 28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall not commit adultery,’ but I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  From what Jesus said, we know that looking at someone lustfully breaks this commandment.  That means the TV and movies we watch can cause us to break this commandment. 

For those who think Internet pornography is innocent, it is breaking Jesus’ teachings about just looking.  It is estimated that almost 40% of the Internet is porn related.  About 90% of boys and 60% of girls have looked at pornography by the age of 18, many before they reach 15.  If your teen has a phone, they have probably looked.

You can see how pervasive this sin has become in our society.  But what is God trying to teach us in this commandment?  Purity.

Paul states in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”  I am a believer.  That means the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in me.  The same goes for you, if you are a believer.  Would we have an orgy in our church sanctuary?  Yet when we break this commandment, we do the same thing, because we, not a church building, are his holy place.

God gave us the natural desire to have sex, but the only way He will bless it is when it is exclusively within a marriage.  Anything outside of that leads to immorality that can quickly get out of control and destroy our lives.  Proverbs 6:32 days, “it destroys his own soul.” 

I am not a married man.  I am tempted, being surrounded, just like you.  As I write this, in tears, I find myself falling on my knees asking forgiveness for all the times I have broken this commandment.

We need to be vigilant.  We need to repent.  We need a refilling of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:16, “Be holy, because I am holy.”