Chapter One
Casual Sex ~ Works of the Flesh

God's armor brings victory because it is far more than a protective covering. It is the very life of Jesus Christ Himself. "Put on the armor of light," wrote Paul in his letter to the Romans, "...clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 13:12-14) When you do, He becomes your hiding place, and shelter in the storm - just as He was to David. Hidden in Him, you can count on His victory, for He not only covers you as a shield, He also fills you with His life............... Author Unknown

STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT SEX

When you become born again, you have established a new relationship with the powers of darkness. Whatever you were before you became a Christian.... horoscope reader, a witch, a wizard, a warlock, A Satanist, sexual deviant, straight - you are now a sworn foe of the legions of hell!

You must have no delusions about the reality or the hostility of the legions of hell. Only if you let them, they cannot touch you, let alone hurt you. You have to walk in agreement with them for them to have power over your life.

They will try to oppose you as you obey Jesus. They will try to seduce you. If you play it cool and decide not to be a fanatic about Christianity, you will have no trouble from the Devil, but if you are serious about Christ being your Lord and God, you can expect opposition, "Resist the devil," writes James, "and he will flee from you," Jesus is truly more than enough to make you a conqueror.

THE HORRIBLE THING

In a recent book, Profiles of Church Youth, which is probably the most comprehensive study of church young people ever made in providing guidance on problems of sex and choosing the right partner for marriage, young people said they felt that their churches failed them badly.

I believe that sexual sin is one of the most devastating problems that the church is facing because it cripples the faith of the participants. It is so available everywhere and accepted in society. Young people are confused and in many instances our churches are silent! Christians have slipped into the worldly mode of, "don't ask, don't tell," that became popular during the Clinton Administration.

Counselors don't ask their younger teens about their sex lives and lots of cases (sexually transmitted diseases can be contracted through oral sex) are being missed. "We do not want to go there," says Sara Seims. Church counselors don't want to go there either.

Meantime, young people's lives are being shipwrecked because of the explosion of loose sex. The numbers of youngsters engaging in oral sex are indicative of a generation whose parents have not provided them with guidelines about creating relationship, say Patricia Hersch, author of A Tribe Apart: A Journey into the Heart of American Adolescence, "Kids today are growing up without any understanding of the incremental steps of getting to know each other. We assume they do, but they just don't. They have no way of knowing how to explore their first inklings of wanting to be with each other." ⁽¹⁾

TEENS AND SEXUAL FREEDOM

A young man came to our church. We began to do deliverance, but every week, he looked worse than before. "What are you doing?" I asked him. "Are you taking drugs?"

"No," he replied.

"You're doing something. Are you committing fornication?"

"Yes," he replied. "Twice a week, I pick up a prostitute."

"What? You can't do that!" I exclaimed!

"Why not? I'm not married," he replied.

Young people are graduating from schools that have taught that sex is just a function that should happen just like it does with animals. So, young people come into our churches and they feel no guilt concerning committing sexual sins. They have freedom from pregnancy and the belief that oral sex prevents disease. "There is a deception that it is "safe sex," says Victor Stratsburger, professor of pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine. "They are looking for instant gratification, 'If it feels good, do it'." ⁽²⁾

Teens talk freely about what happens among their friends, "Children from grades as early as sixth or seventh, who hang from the top run of the popularity ladder brag about activities such as these," says Marissa Robillard, 15, of Green Bay, Wis. "The consensus in my high school is that oral sex makes girls popular, whereas intercourse would make them outcasts."

"The mentality is that oral sex is as far as you can go without maintaining any level of emotional attachment," Robillard says. "It's something that happens at a party, is whispered about between friends and forgotten about the next week. Intercourse is, for some people, a huge leap from oral sex. Intercourse is something that is carefully thought through. ⁽³⁾

Every last one of us is answerable to God to make sure beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus Christ is dwelling in us. We must know that He is creating His life through us, and that we have the witness of the Holy Spirit living within us, (Romans 8:1). "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves," ( 2 Cor. 13:5). God made us spiritual beings and we must live out of our spirit and not our flesh. We are controlled by our spirit, though our soul (mind) in our body.

Sex rightly used is not sinful. God created it but the Satan has perverted it. God's ordained plan for partnership, includes pleasure and parenthood, (Genesis 1:28; 3:18-24; Hebrews 12:4).

Sex wrongly used is sinful. God's Word is plain that sexual relations before marriage (called fornication in the Bible), and adultery are sinful; and Jesus tells us, "flee fornication," And "abstain from fornication," (I Thessalonians 4:3). Adultery has risen to an alarming level. It is destroying ministries and families. Matthew 5:27, warns "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

Sexual sins have cords that totally bind body, mind and spirit. A person cannot be freed from demons, unless they are willing to turn from sexual transgressions. God will judge sexual sins, (Job 13:2-20; I Corinthians 5:9,10; I Thessalonians 4: 3; Hebrews 13:4).

Sexual transgressions can be forgiven by God. Jesus forgave the sinful woman at the well, who was living in adultery, ( John 4:17, 18, 29). He forgave the woman taken in adultery, (John 8:3-11). God wrote the Corinthians of their fornication and adultery, (I Corinthians 7:9).

Sexual wickedness can be conquered by God's help. The Bible says, ". . . keep thyself pure," (I Timothy 5:22) ". . . be thou an example . . . in purity," (Timothy 3:12) "Flee also youthful lusts," II Timothy 2:22).

In order to have victory over sexual iniquities, you must be saved, (John 3:27; Romans 10:9,13). It will take total dedication, (Romans 12:1,2; I Corinthians 7:19,10; Ephesians 5:1). You must be occupied and dedicated unto Jesus Christ constantly, then you can have victory over sins in your life according to Hebrews 12:1,2; Philippians 4:8,13. "With God all things are possible." We may expect that God will work with you in extraordinary fashion, if you will be faithful to Him.

WATCH YOUR LIFE AND DOCTRINE CLOSELY

The works of the flesh versus the fruit of the spirit are shown in Galatians 5:19-23. There are many things taught by showing a contrast between them in both the Old Treatment and New Testament such as rich and poor, Heaven and hell.

The Apostle Paul shows the contrast between the good life and the bad life by showing the fruit of each.

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

Paul teaches that covetousness is idolatry
Jesus said, "Ye cannot serve both God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24).

Simon was a sorcerer, (Acts 8).
It was practiced in the days of Paul (Acts 19:9).

Taking the life of another physically due to hatred.
Jesus taught hating a brother is to be counted as murder.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

LOVE...supernatural, unconditional force of agape love; toward God and ones' fellow humans (John 4:8).
JOY... the supernatural force that strengthens one; caught up in Jesus instead of the flesh and things of the world.
PEACE... the blessed assurance of one's salvation... walking with God brings peace that passes understanding.
LONGSUFFERING... patience we show toward all others; enables our faith to endure and grow strong.
GENTLENESS... Being kind to all.
GOODNESS. . . Abiding in Jesus' cloak of righteousness... Doing good even when evil is done to us.
FAITHFULNESS. . . staying true to the Lord.
MEEKNESS. . . being humble - to obey God and His Word.
TEMPERANCE. . . Self control, and always using moderation.

AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. . . Neither God, nor man makes laws against such principles or teachings. Even the wicked make laws against only that which is evil.⁽⁴⁾

CONCLUSION:

In which category do you find yourself?
Wouldn't it be better to bear the fruit of the Spirit than do the work that is of the flesh?

Foot Notes
1. USA Today, Karen S. Peterson, quoted Patricia Hersch, author of A tribe Apart: A Journey into the Heart of American Adolescence, Ballantine.
2. USA Today, Karen S. Peterson, quoted Victor Stratsburger, professor of pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Sokesman for the Society for Adolescent Medicine.
3. ibid, USA Today, Marissa Robillard, 15, Green Bay, Wis.
4. J. C. Choate, Sermon Outline Collection, Volume 1, J.C. Choate, Publications, Winoma/Singapore/New Dehi/Cape Town

Chapter One Casual Sex ~ Works of the Flesh

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Chapter One
Casual Sex ~ Works of the Flesh