Sex! What's Love Got To Do With It?
Power, Money and Sex, Part 3
February 20-23, 2006

But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.

Mark 10:6-9 (NIV)

Sex is a subject many find uncomfortable to discuss. Maybe it's because the world is obsessed with sex and you don't know how to respond as a Christian, or maybe you're afraid to talk about it because you associate it with being dirty, rotten, or sinful. The truth is that in God's eyes, sex is incredible and it just happens to be His design. You should feel completely comfortable talking about sex, but it must be discussed in healthy and positive ways that honor God's design: within the bonds of marriage between male and female. Unfortunately, you are tempted daily by a pervasive culture of sexual images and sexuality designed to normalize and glamorize sex outside of marriage with devastating consequences. When you as a Christian give in to this temptation, you feel uncomfortable discussing sex and worse, you miss out on God's blessing. The bottom line is God wants you to lead a holy life, but you must change your wants to reflect His wants for you. In this study, you will look at three areas that relate specifically to what God wants from you in relation to sex. Don't miss out on God's plan for great sex in your life!

MONDAY

THE WORLD'S WAY LEADS TO LUST. GOD'S WAY LEADS TO LOVE.
[Your Objective: Utilize God's Word in such a way that you not only understand His design for sex in life, but also are able to exhibit self-control in a world that bombards you with inappropriate attitudes towards this holy act.]

As you read Matthew 5:27-30, what kind of attitude does it say you should have towards your body parts that cause you to sin?

  • Lust is defined as a want. Why is it best dealt with when it's still in the mind?
  • What are some of the attitudes towards lust in our culture?
  • How do they compare to God's attitude?
  • Describe some effective ways to "cast" sexual sin from our lives.

What will we be filled with as we experience the love of Christ, according to Ephesians 3:17-19?

  • Describe the love of Christ and why God's love is hard to understand.
  • What does the desire to love God back lead you to do?
  • How does loving make you a better person?

Discipleship (Maturity) – The path of spiritual maturity leads you away from lust, which brings destruction to your life. It's better not to let it take hold. What God wants for your life is love. Experiencing God's love is a powerful force of change for the way you look at yourself and deal with others. What's keeping you from letting God's love take hold? Look up scriptures that talk about God's love and pray that God would use you to respond to others in loving ways.

TUESDAY

THE WORLD'S WAY LEADS TO IMPULSE. GOD'S WAY LEADS TO INSIGHT.
[Your Objective: Show that living a life of wisdom instead of a life driven by impulse allows you to live well.]

According to Proverbs 7:4-5, how does one benefit from wisdom and understanding?

  • Why does the Bible warn you so clearly about adultery?
  • What are some of the consequences of allowing yourself to be seduced by someone who is married?
  • What role does wisdom and understanding play in helping you avoid adulterous relationships?
  • What are some of the ways the world tries to seduce you into believing inappropriate sex is acceptable?

In Psalm 119:34, what does the Psalmist offer God in exchange for understanding?

  • In what ways can you gain greater godly understanding?
  • Why is it important to not just keep God's law, but to obey it?

Fellowship (Membership) – Being a member of God's family means gaining wisdom and understanding by seeking insight from God. You must lean not on your own understanding, but lean on understanding that comes from God through fellowship with other believers who can help you grow. In what ways would a greater commitment to fellowship with others lead to wisdom in sexual matters? Do you seek godly counsel when you are struggling with sexual sin, or do you tend to make decisions on impulse? Commit to seeking counsel from your spiritual partner whenever you feel impulsive and voluntarily hold yourself accountable to them.

WEDNESDAY

THE WORLD'S WAY LEADS TO INSECURITY. GOD'S WAY LEADS TO INTIMACY.
[Your Objective: Recognize that insecurity keeps you from the intimacy God wants you to experience with Him.]

According to John 15:10, what does Jesus promise you when you obey His commands?

  • When insecurity drives your life, what compromises are you likely to make in the face of temptation? What are you willing to do in order to find security?
  • Insecurity usually leads to what types of sexual mistakes?
  • Look again at Jesus' words in John 15:10. When you choose God's better way, how is insecurity exchanged for intimacy?
  • When you are filled with God's presence, what kind of life are you likely to lead?

Worship (Magnification) – You worship God with your body when you agree with and follow His guidelines for your sexual life. Your body cries out for physical intimacy because your soul cries out for spiritual intimacy. Insecure men fake intimacy for sex; insecure women fake sex for intimacy. God wants you to have it all. But in order for that to happen, you must choose to be holy—set apart and put on His path of purpose. What steps can you take away from insecurity and toward intimacy with God? Develop an action plan that incorporates a stronger connection with God and commit to following that plan. Expect to be challenged regularly.

THURSDAY

PERSONAL APPLICATION AND COMMITMENT:
[Your Objective: Admit that God is not down on sex, He is down on pain. Following God's guidelines is the only way out of the pain.]

Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NLT)

So how do you live in a world where sex is lurking - where it's always around and in every place? Sex permeates our culture. When sex is so available, saying no to it takes supernatural strength - and a plan from God. When you choose to ignore the guidelines God has established, sex becomes a predator waiting to take you down. While Christians have been rescued from eternal death, Satan still does what he can to render you spiritually impotent. The good news is that God is waiting to rescue you. He desires to take the lust in your life and transform it into real love - God's love that reaches out to a perishing world. He longs to take your impulses and put them under the Holy Spirit's control - to offer you insights that help you see potential consequences and make godly decisions. God is ready and waiting to trade your insecurities for an intimacy beyond anything you can imagine. Take time to re-read the story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15 and know that no matter what has happened in your past, God the Father waits with open arms to welcome you home. His forgiveness, restoration, and intimacy are fully and freely available, just for the asking.

God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honor - not in lustful passion as the pagans do, in their ignorance of God and his ways... God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7 (NLT)