Date: Saturday July 07, 2012
Today's Chapters: Proverbs 4-7
Message Title: Fleeing Fornication

Hello My Friend,

As I read the Scripture for today a word came to mind, fornication, it's not something I enjoy talking about, if I could avoid it I would, but just like every other subject that God wants us know about, this one has to be addressed sometimes too. It's a very touchy subject because it brings about personal conviction like no other sins, especially when it comes to living God's way. While God hates all sin, fornication not only causes havoc on our relationship with God, but within ourselves as well. “Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” - 1 Corinthians 6:13-18.

The closer we get to God and study His Word the more we learn that the things we use to think are okay are not. Fornication is probably the most misunderstood and tolerated sin people commit, it's not that they do it on purpose, most really have no idea that they are living in sin, it's the lack of knowledge that causes them to do so. Our only hope to fleeing fornication is to understand what God sees it as, which can only be found by reading His Word. “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.” - Proverbs 4:5-9.

Wisdom through God's Word is the power to bring honor to God and ourselves, living in sin brings shame, but living in God's Word brings conviction, confession, peace, and repentance, which brings honor to and from God. I admit that there were some things that I use to do that caused me to commit fornication, and it brought shame to my life, but the closer I got to God the more I knew if I wanted to be respected by God and others I needed to remove the sin and once I did I not only found peace, I found God's mercy, grace, and honor too. Living in God's Word is the only way we can learn how to get out of trouble and stay out of it. “Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” - Proverbs 4:13-18.

The majority of the time Christians get caught up in sin because they are around people who live in sin, I thank God every day for taking me out of the world, I do not want to ever go through what I did again nor do I want to see anyone else have to go through what I did. There is a very good reason why God wants us out of the world, it's so we do not have to suffer so much. God hates sin, it causes His people to get caught up in horrible messes. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” - Proverbs 6:16-19.

Fornication is more than two unmarried people committing immoral acts together, it's any kind of immoral behavior with the body such as, smoking, drunkenness, gluttony, lasciviousness, adultery, prostitution, and homosexuality, but it is also something many may not realize and that is idolatry. Often when you read about fornication in the Bible it refers to adultery with God, when we get saved, we form a marriage with Him, and if other things take place over Him He gets jealous, that is where idolatry comes from. If we commit fornication with our bodies it affects our soul as well, it steals life from us, not eternal life, but the life of the soul and spirit. “Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.” - Proverbs 6:30-33.

Just like any marriage that becomes estranged when adultery is involved so does our relationship with God. No one intends to fall into sin, especially fornication, but all who do can overcome it by getting God's word in them. “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” - Proverbs 7:1-5, 24-27.

Unless we are reading, studying, and seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance in understanding it we will always be trying to handle things our way and not being very successful at it. When we study and follow God's Word people will not only flee fornication, but every other sin that holds a person captive. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15.

Today's Prayer: God, You never cease to amaze me of just how merciful and gracious You are, I will never forget the life I was living before You came into my life. I know I am forgiven and all my sins are gone forever, but I never want to forget what You have done for me. As far as I have come I know that all it takes for me to fall is take my eyes off You. Lord, keep me in looking to You and in Your Word so I learn Your truths and take the steps to follow them. Be with those who are struggling, comfort them and give them the hope they need to escape. Use me to be a testimony to others and of the amazing life that can be lived when we trust Your way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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