We are Called to Live Lives of Holiness, Honor and Sexual Purity 30:10

God’s Call to Holiness, Honor and Sexual Purity
In this passage, Paul is calling the believers to live lives of Holiness, Honor and Sexual Purity in a world where everybody else is doing the opposite!
1 Thessalonians 4: 1-8

Listen to his words: 1Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit

This word is relevant today. Immorality and sexual promiscuity has become the acceptable norm by our larger society. The world will laugh at you if you talk about abstaining from sex. They will even tell you that it is unreasonable to expect a young person to abstain. Even in the Christian community, many Christians struggle with sexual purity.
Yet, Paul challenges the Thessalonians to live a life of sexual purity. In fact, he tells them that they are called to live holy lives, not sexually impure lives. (v7)

Explanation of Passage: God’s Call to Holiness, Honor and Sexual Purity
First Paul tells the Thessalonians that it is God’s will that they be set apart or sanctified. We are not to live or think like the world! (v2)In fact he tells them that they should avoid sexual immorality (v3). The Christian is called to go out of his way to avoid being caught up in this sin, even if it means losing friends or popularity. Paul exhorts these believers to learn to control their own bodies in a way that is holy and honorable.(v4) This implies that it is possible for the believers to take actions to avoid sexual sin. We do not have to be controlled by our own lusts, in fact we are called to a higher standard of holiness and honor. For us to be continually controlled by our own lusts is to live like the heathen who does not even know God(v5) Sexual impurity is not an isolated sin but it impacts the community. Paul challenges these believers not to wrong each other or abuse each other through sexual sin. This type of behavior is the exact opposite of what God has called us to. Paul reminds them that men will be punished for all such sins (v 6) and that those who reject such instructions reject God, not men. God is calling the believer to live lives of Holiness, Honor and Sexual Purity. The truth is that we need God's help and power to live this kind of life in a world where everything goes against these values and principles!

Closing Prayer: May the Lord give us strength, power and wisdom to obey God in every area of our lives. May we set Godly examples for other people to follow, so that they too can hope for a lifestyle of Holiness, Honor and Sexual Purity.
May we be communities of grace, receiving God’s forgiveness when we sin and offering forgiveness for those who fail. May we challenge each other and hold each other accountable to the fact that we are called to a lifestyle of Holiness, Honor and Sexual Purity.
Through the Power of Jesus Christ!. Amen