MAINTAINING GOD’s INTENT For MARRIAGE(& Singleness)-II—1Corinthians 7:1-9
(Making Marriage Worthy of its Creator)
Attention:
Slow It Down A Bit
A young man, was a very slow worker & so found it difficult to hold down a job.
After a visit to the employment office, he was offered work at the local zoo.
When he arrived for his first day, the keeper, aware of his reputation, told him to take care of the tortoise section.
Later, the keeper dropped by to see how the young man was doing & found him standing by an empty enclosure with the gate open.
"Where are the tortoises?" he asked.
The new employee responded in his characteristically slow manner, “I...can’t...believe...it,” “I...just...opened...the...door...&...
Wh-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-sh,...they...were...gone!”
Likewise, if we are slow to nurture God’s Intent in our marriages then, Whoosh!, they’ll be gone!
Paul answered the inquiries & clarified the concerns of the Corinthian Christians regarding marriage.
Christians maintain God’s intent/design for marriage.
How do/can Christian couples maintain God’s intent for marriage?
6 focal points for Christians regarding marriage.
We have found that Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
1. His DIRECTIVES(:1)
Today we’ll also discover that,
2—Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
His LIMITATION(:2)
Explanation:(:2)Restraint
:2—“Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, & let each woman have her own husband.
“Paul’s argument in 7:2-5”...“reveals that his concern about the danger of immorality is paramount.”...“each man & woman is each to have their own corresponding spouse. “The danger” Paul wants to preempt is immorality”—BECNT
“Paul does not imply that every Corinthian church member was immoral”...“Paul is speaking of the danger of fornication for those who are single.”—MNTC or considering being single thru ‘illegitimate’ divorce.
“His purpose here is to stress the reality of the sexual temptations” that may accompany “singleness & to acknowledge that they have a legitimate outlet in marriage.”—MNTC
John MacArthur offers at least 5 biblical “reasons for marriage” as follow:
1. Procreation(Gen. 1:28)
2. Pleasure(Prov. 5:18-19; Song of Solomon; Gen. 26:8-9)
3. Partnership(Gen. 2:18)
4. Pictures the Church(Eph. 5:23-32)
5. Purity(1Cor. 7:2)
Paul “points out how the Corinthian maxim[:1] is untenable for those who are married.” “He is not offering reasons why people should marry but arguments why sexual relations in marriage are binding”...“& why sexual abstinence in marriage is both impractical & inappropriate.”—BECNT
This may seem contradictory due to what Paul has stated in :1. However there he states what is “good” rather than what is allowable for concession’s sake. It is only allowable but not mandatory.
It is only allowable in order to prevent “immoralities.”
“God’s design is for sexual relations to flourish privately & pleasurably between a husband & wife alone.”—Micah Carter in ‘Explore The Bible’ quarterly—1,2 Corinthians; Spring 2018 In God’s Kingdom there is no such thing as a ‘platonic or non-sexual’ relationship’ between a husband & wife. Such a false belief injects “sexual immorality” into an otherwise upstanding moral equation.
In God’s perfect design there is no room for homosexual marital relationships. Some would want you to believe homosexuality is natural & unavoidable. Whereas God(in His Word, the Bible) considers it to be sin.
In God’s design there is also no room for polygamous marital relationships. The Bible records the occurrence of these relationships but never condones them.
Depriving oneself of godly sexual fulfillment is sinful.. Self-deprivation(your way) does not vanquish sexual desire, but rather puts the flesh in control of sexual desire.
“when a couple who is married is not having sex on a regular basis they are missing out on a special kind of intimacy that God has created them to enjoy. And usually at least one of the two is really desiring that they would be having sex a lot more often than they are. And that[it’s absence] can lead to bitterness, frustration, hurt, & a further emotional withdrawing from the relationship.”—Tim Diack in ‘When You Say, "I Do”’ @SermonCentral.com
“Nevertheless/But”(See :10, 11; :3, 4—“And”)—de—Conjunction—1) But, moreover, &, etc.. Strong—a primary particle(adversative or continuative); But, and, etc..
“Because of/On Account Of”—dia—Prep.—1) Through—1a) of place—1a1) With, 1a2) In, 1b) of time—1b1) Throughout, 1b2) During, 1c) of means—1c1) By, 1c2) By the means of; 2) Through—2a) The ground or reason by which something is or is not done—2a1) By reason of, 2a2) On account of, 2a3) Because of for this reason, 2a4) Therefore, 2a5) On this account. Strong—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional).
“Sexual Immorality/Fornication/Immoralities”—porneia—Noun Fem.—1) Illicit sexual intercourse—1a) Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc., 1b) Sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18, 1c) Sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mr 10:11,12; 2) metaph.--The worship of idols—2a) Of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols. Strong—Harlotry (including adultery & incest); figuratively--Idolatry.?From—porneuw—To act the harlot, i.e. literally--Indulge unlawful lust(of either sex), or figuratively--Practice idolatry.
“Let...Have”2X(See :7, 12—“Has”)—ecw OR-- scew—Verb—1) To have, i.e. To hold—1a) To have(hold) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have(hold) possession of the mind (refers to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as; 2) To have i.e. Own, possess—2a) External things such as pertain to property or riches or furniture or utensils or goods or food etc., 2b) Used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc, of attendance or companionship; 3) To hold one's self or find one's self so & so, to be in such or such a condition; 4) To hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to—4a) To be closely joined to a person or a thing. Strong—including an alternate form scew; (used in certain tenses only); a primary verb; To hold(used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possessions; ability, continuity, relation, or condition).
“Each”2X(See :7)—ekastov—Adj.—1) Each, every. Strong—as if a superlative of ekav(afar); Each or every.
“His own”—eautou—Pronoun—1) Himself, herself, itself, themselves. Strong—from a reflexive pronoun otherwise obsolete & the genitive case(dative case or accusative case) of autov; Him-(her-, it-, them-, also [in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons] my-, thy-, our-, your-)self(selves), etc..
“Her Own”(See :7)—ton idiov——idiov—Adj.—1) Pertaining to one's self, one's own, belonging to one's self. Strong—Pertaining to self, i.e. One's own; by implication--Private or separate.
“Wife”(See :3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 27, 29, 33, 39)—gunh—Noun Fem.—1) A woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow; 2) a wife—2a) Of a betrothed woman. Strong—A woman; specially--A wife.
“Woman”[“Her”—ton]—Added for English clarity.
“Husband”(See :3, 4, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 34, 39)—anhr—Noun Masc.—1) with reference to sex—1a) Of a male, 1b) Of a husband, 1c) Of a betrothed or future husband; 2) With reference to age, & to distinguish an adult man from a boy; 3) Any male; 4) Used generically of a group of both men & women. Strong—A man(properly as an individual male).
Argumentation:
*1Cor. 7:35—“And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, & that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”
Eph. 5:1-10—“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us & given Himself for us, an offering & a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication & all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ & God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, & truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”
Php. 4:4-9—“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer & supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; & the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts & minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue & if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned & received & heard & saw in me, these do, & the God of peace will be with you.”
*Such things are nothing if not Holy Spirit-driven limitations to our fleshly compulsions!
Lk. 21:32-36—“Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven & earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, & cares of this life, & that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, & pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, & to stand before the Son of Man.”
Rom. 13:8-14—“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” & if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, & let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry & drunkenness, not in lewdness & lust, not in strife & envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, & make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
1Thes. 5:5-11—“You are all sons of light & sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch & be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, & those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith & love, & as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other & edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
2Pet. 3:11-14—“Therefore, since all these things[the heavens & the earth] will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct & godliness, looking for & hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, & the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens & a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot & blameless;”
1Cor. 1:20-31—“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, & Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block & to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews & Greeks, Christ the power of God & the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, & the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, & God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; & the base things of the world & the things which are despised God has chosen, & the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--& righteousness & sanctification & redemption-- that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.””
Illustration:
What do ‘you’ do when God says “No.”
There was an excellent & edifying single daily devotion which I discovered recently/I only had a photocopy of the devotion in my possession/So I scanned it into my OCR software so I could manipulate it with my word processing software/I had great intentions of putting it in the Carrabelle Light for next month(September 2018)/I got the article where I wanted it & was in the process of sending it to Mary to include in our newsletter/When I thought I had better do a little bit of research on this author just in case/I come to find out that he is a self-proclaimed prophet who believes in continuing revelation!/I sat there reasoning with myself that if no one knew the author, then the article/devotion would be great for our church/I went to the effort to make the credit really super small/I typed a message to Mary that if she was uncomfortable with the devotional, then she wouldn’t have to include it—And then I also thought, “It would be wrong of me to put that kind of pressure on Mary in the first place.”/I fooled with it a little more, trying to devise ways of including the article in the newsletter without divulging the author/All along I knew that I didn’t want to have others in the church & those outside the church seek out the author thinking that it was legitimately Christian/I finally deleted it/God put those limitations on my intended actions in order to protect others/God’s LIMITATION
We have an indoor dog named Hershey/I take him for his daily walk(30-45 min.) in the morning & sometimes once at night/But I’m also trying to teach him what it means to ‘Stay in the yard.’/Sometimes I like to let him go into the yard without a leash—A very risky endeavor indeed/I want to get to the place where I can trust him outside by himself & he is getting more trustworthy/If there is not interference—if no one is walking towards us or driving a golf cart or there are no other dogs within his sight or smell he generally obeys!/But Hershey is very ‘nose-driven’—His nose gets him into trouble—if anything smells interesting to him, he generally will not listen to any command I offer/It’s hard enough to restrain him on the leash & virtually impossible without it!/I’m always trying to train him by repeating over & over, ‘Hershey, Stay in the yard’ or ‘Hershey, We’re stayin’ in the yard.’ or just ‘Hershey, In the yard.’/My wife & I are Hershey’s owners/If we are truly to have ownership of him, we must have his heart/He will abide by what are to him, limitations/But it would be magnificent & so freeing for all of us, if Hershey were to limit his urges to his master’s word!/God’s LIMITATION
Application:
?Is the focal point of your Marriage(or Singleness) upon God’s LIMITATION?
?Is your Marriage(or Singleness) endued with or immersed in God’s LIMITATION?
?Does your Marriage(or Singleness) Maintain God’s Intent??
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The new employee’s response to his failed tortoise responsibilities, “I...can’t...believe...it.” “I...just...opened...the...door...&...Wh-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-sh,...they...were...gone!”
Action:
Maintaining God’s intent for marriage(& singleness) demands a concentration upon...
2. His LIMITATION(:2)
1. His DIRECTIVES(:1)
Pt#2 only! presented 08/26/2018pm to:
FBC C’belle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
