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 1 Thessalonians 4 - Self Control & Goals

        If you are like me you start each day - the second you roll out of bed - with the Lord’s Prayer.  Good.  Great.  But as we say, “Your will be done” what do we know for sure what that means for the Christian man?  The Bible gives us clear insight into this passage and what that means.  “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin” (4:3).  As our Southern Baptist preacher from Clearwater Florida, Willy Rice, constantly says with his folksy southern accent, “All means all and that’s all all means.”  Stay away.  Keep away.  Run away.  Stay away from what tempts us, from anything that leads us to sexual sin.  That’s God’s will for Christian men.

        It is really encouraging to know for sure that as Christian men God can and does give us self-control through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We can control our bodies.  Just as He gives us the power to control our tongues.  Seems simple.  But as you and I know very well this is a daily battle and one that our enemy seeks to win.  

        We also hear in this passage that God actively avenges sin.  In particular, God is talking about how He avenges the sin of one Christian brother sinning against another through sexual sin.  Never ever harm or cheat a Christian brother in this manner.  Treat your wives right.  Respect and honor your Christian sisters in Christ in a way that gives God honor.  Do we believe the Bible is God’s word?  If so let’s live like it.  This passage tells us that it is a matter of life or death.  Let’s get this right and be pure.  No unwholesome talk.  No porn.  No sexual sin.  

        These rules are for Christian men.  Don’t worry about those outside the Church.  This message is for us.  God graciously gives us His Holy Spirit.  If we break God’s rules and don’t stay away from sexual sin we reject God.  We reject the Holy Spirit.

        Dear God, may that never be the case.  Help us to do your will today.  Help us to love one another as you command here.  And help us to set goals that align with the will of the Savior.  Help us live quiet lives today, minding our business, and working hard using our hands for God’s work and His Kingdom.  Amen.


My Dad in his workshop in Sylvan Lake, AB.  He turns 80 today.  Happy Birthday, Dad.  I love you.  We are so blessed to have you as our Dad.  You are a man of God and a great example of a loving, kind, humble, determined, and hard-working Christian man.  May God continue to bless you.

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