Sexual Intimacy

Sun 27th February

Sexual Intimacy

John Sweetman

*Today's topic is focused on the perspective that God has on sex

*Sex is a "bottly" desire that we have just like food. (haha!)

*Sex is a physical need that we all need

*And the impression we get now when we don't have sex is that were not normal

*A couple of restrictions :-

1. Pedophilia is wrong because its a form of abuse

2. Sexual abuse is wrong

3. Same form of love is desired

4. If your married, we have to stay true to our partner

*A place called Corinth was a place liberal of sex

*A couple of books written to the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 6:12 & 13: "Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"- but I will not be mastered by anything. "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food" - but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 7:1: Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry

(talking about sex)

Whats God's idea on sex?

1 Corinthians 6:18: Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

(porneia)- any sex outside of marriage

3 Things Paul argues in this passage

1. Your body is very important to God

1 Corinthians 6:13: "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"- but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body

God is really interested in our body

*Our mind and soul is different from our body

1 Corinthians 6:14: By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.

*When body disintegrates, our spirit lives

*God gave us another resurrected NEW body

*He cares so much for our body that He gave us a NEW body

1 Corinthians 6:15: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!

1 Corinthians 6:19: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 

*The body links intricately with your mind and soul

*He wants your body as well as your heart. God is living in your body

2. Sex is more important that you think

*Having good sex is important but its more important that you think

1 Corinthians 6:15-16: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."

The book of Genesis also says this that "The two will become one flesh"

*Joining of two people in one which can't be ripped apart

*When you have sex with a prostitute, its just not about physical sex alone but an having an intimate commitment that you will spend the rest of your life with

*God created sex so that it would be at their deepest level, giving and trusting themselves completely to him/her

*There is pleasure in sex but self-donation is given as well

*If we don't use sex the way God wants it to be, we are slowly burning and destroying it in ourselves

1 Corinthians 6:18: Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commites are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

*If you treat sex carelessly, it will cut deep and slowly destroy you

*We may have mess it up sometime in our live someway but God can forgive and bring change in our lives

*But we must not take this wrong because God designed this wonderful thing called sex for us

3. Sex is less important that you think

1 Corinthians 6:16: Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."

*There is a spiritual relationship that we can have with God even though we can have amazing relationships because no one loves us unconditionally like God

*This kind of relationship will be enriching because God will never let you down

*We are broken people and we can hurt each other but God can't

*The way we mess things up can be forgiven because God is forgiving

*The God of the universe is loving, accepting and keeping us in his relationship forever and ever

1 Corinthians 6:19: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 

*God is definitely above sex

The relationship with God is even better

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Finally but Always

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power....... 


Thoughts on This Verse... Some of our strength to fight evil comes from our experiences in the past, from the encouragement of others, and from our knowledge of the truth in the Scriptures. Ultimately, however, our strength comes from God's mighty power. Paul uses his letter to the Ephesians to remind Christians that this power is what raised Jesus from the dead (1:19-20). Through that power in us, God can do much more than we can ask or imagine (3:20-21). Most important of all, as we put on our spiritual armor and dedicate ourselves to spiritual discipline, God blesses us with his power and might. We can be strong in God's mighty power. 


-Ephesians 6:10-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

L.O.V.E

We love because he first loved us....... Thoughts on This Verse... We love others because God has first loved us. Our Heavenly Father taught us how to love in Jesus. Our Abba Father has given us security and confidence so we can love more fully. Our Holy and Almighty God loved us boldly and sacrificially so we could properly understand and define love. We are not the source of love; God is. We are not the great example of love; God is. We tend to be careful and share our love with only those with whom we want to share it: God's love is expansive and open to all. We love because he first loved us. 



-1 John 4:19-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say''No'' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age......... Thoughts on This Verse... Grace is not about excuses for our sins, but about a deep-seated thanksgiving for pardon and a life-changing commitment to say''No!'' to all that is evil, corrupt, and wicked no matter how alluring or how pervasive they may be in our culture. 


-Titus 2:11-12-


**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

"Three Kingdoms: Wits and Wisdom"

Rev Ricky Ho

James 3:13-18: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth

Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.


*There is a difference between earthly and spiritual wisdom
*True wisdom is not philosophical. It has to be acted upon, just like faith without deeds is nothing

1. True Wisdom is active (v13)
*Respect is not due to age
*Respect needs to be earned

2. False wisdom is self-serving (v14-16)
*The difference between false and true wisdom is that false wisdom self seeking
*Earthly, Unspiritual, Relative to the Devil was how James describe false wisdom
*Wrote the book of Proverbs to give God's wisdom
*The story of Ester-save her people by addressing the problem to the king
*Saul's envy and selfishness destroyed him as a king
*Temptation of being successful is dangerous

*Revelation 21:8: But cowards, traitors, perverts, murderers, the immoral, those who practise magic, those who worship idols, and all liars- the place for them is the lake burning with fire and sulphur, which is the second death."

*2 Kings 20: (King Hezekiah's illness and recovery)


*Earthly wisdom cannot equate with God's wisdom because there is a God factor in it.
*Winning is true love and sacrifice

3. True wisdom is pure (v17)
*God's wisdom is a wisdom of peace
-Considerate and submissive
-Full of good fruit
-Impartiality- no matter what were wearing, we are cloth with Christ
-Sincerity- what God says, he will do. Thus, we must do the same

The only thing we have to care is the Kingdom of God

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Redeemer!

The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him....... Thoughts on This Verse... God not only buys us out of our bondage and debt to sin, but he also assures us that he will provide refuge for those who trust in him. Our future is tied to him and not to our ability to provide and protect what we need. 


-Psalm 34:22-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

1st John

If anyone declares that Jesus is the Son of God, he lives in union with God and God lives in union with him.


-1 John 4:15-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Growing is NOT an option

Uncle Cho Hui

13/2/2011

2 Peter 3:18: But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and for ever! Amen.
2 Peter 1:5-8: For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add godliness; to your godliness add brotherly affection; and to your brotherly affection add love. These are the qualities you need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and effective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


*Spiritual growth
*Imperative gives an idea of command
*Growing is an on-going process which is not an option
*We have to keep on growing even in heaven because God is infinite
*We are imperfect and have hindrances preventing us from growing
1. The idea that we think were too old or young to learn
*But in reality, we neither too young or old.

2. We think were smart enough, and do not need to grow anymore


3. We think we are too busy, hence no time to grow
*1 Corinthians 15:10: But by God's grace I am what I am, and the grace that he gave me was not without effect. On the contrary, I have worked harder than any of the other apostleas, although it was not really my own doing, but God's grace working with me.

*Grace is what God gives to a person
*The best way to show is through spiritual gifts
*Grace is also what God does to a person
*What are the things we should do so that God can do something for us?
*Humble and contrite heart = spiritual discipline and transform you to be a little bit more caring, loving and so on.
*We should think spiritual discipline as efforts of making space for grace

Conclusion
*We as Christians cannot say we don't want to grow in knowledge and in spirit
*We must hear and obey, mold and apply
*We need to do something and follow up such as attending some good beneficial workshops or courses:)

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

"The Power Of Persistent Prayer"

Rev Ricky Ho

Daniel 10:12-14: Then he said, "Daniel, don't be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer. The angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Micheal, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia. I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the future. This is a vision about the future.


Luke 18:1-7: Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged. "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, 'Help me against my opponent!' For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or respect man, yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don't, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!'"


And the Lord continued, "Listen to what that corrupt judge said. Now, will God not judge in favour of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them?

Jesus taught us we should always pray and not give up

*Hardly any of us pray for the same thing for 21 days
*Whats the point of praying the same thing when God already knows
*God asks us to be consistent with our prayer
*David prayed for the sins of the Israelites, wisdom, prayer in his room and lions den 3 times a day
*Jesus point was on the persistent widow, we ought to pray and never give up

1. Why should we always pray and not give up
*No, in fact, as soon as you begin to pray, an answer is given
*Daniel 9:23: When you began to plead with God, he answered you. He loves you, and so I have come to tell you the answer. Now pay attention while I explain the vision.

*Our theology sometimes deny spiritual warfare because when we pray, an angel is at the back.

2. When you pray, angels are at your beck and call
*The story of Daniel's prayer says it all
*When Daniel prayed demonic forces rose up (the prince of Persia) and angelic warfare broke out which means:
- we turn loose the very power of heaven
-we have the power to battle the very forces of darkness
-angels are willing to answer your prayers
*Do you pray for your loved ones to come to the Lord
*Prayer is an active, powerful ministry

3. What might have happened when we give up
*Every time we pray, we unleash more and more power from the throne of God

Conclusion
*Pray. Until. Something. Happens. PUSH your prayers!
*If you believe in prayer, pray and persist in prayer in times of troubles!



**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Perishable vs Mortality

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."


-1 Corinthians 15:54-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**

Don't trust men alone!

"Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?"


-Isaiah 2:22-

**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**