Well, in our sermon series right now, we're talking about prayer and how we should be
praying all kinds of prayers for all kinds of people.
Last Sunday, we heard from the Apostle John about how we should be, we can have confidence
in prayer.
Or we were reminded that we can have confidence that we will receive what we ask for when
we ask according to God's will, according to what God desires.
And I encouraged us last Sunday to be asking that question as we pray for people, for ourselves.
Lord, what is it that you want in this situation?
What do you desire?
What do you will?
What is your will?
That's a question that we often find ourselves asking.
God, what is your will for my life?
Especially when it comes time to make big decisions, whether that's career-related or family-related
or related to the business, the family farm.
God, what is your will?
We know that God knows the future.
We know that he knows which of the choices in front of us is best, that he desires what's
best for us.
Wouldn't it be nice if God just simply told us what his will is, what he wants us to do?
Well, there is a place in the scriptures where he does, very pointedly, very clearly.
And we're going to be looking at that this morning in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.
So if you have your Bible with you, please open it up to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.
1 Thessalonians chapter 4.
We'll start in verse 1.
Paul writes this to the Thessalonians.
It is God's will that you should be sanctified, that you should avoid sexual immorality.
That each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
not in passionate lust like the pagans who do not know God.
And that in this matter, no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.
The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins as we told you and warned you before.
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being, but God,
the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
So there it is stated for us so clearly.
Verse 3.
It is God's will that you should be sanctified.
Are you disappointed?
How are you hoping that that thought was going to go?
It is God's will that...
As important as career and family and whether to move and what to do with the family business are,
those things matter to God.
But far more important than those things is our sanctification, says Paul.
It is God's will that you should be sanctified.
Sanctification is not a word that we use very much outside of the church, outside of the Bible even.
Sanctification would be okay if our modern translations picked a different word that we use more frequently,
so that we understand that.
What does sanctification mean?
So, since it's used by all the translations, we better figure that out.
We better understand it.
The word sanctification comes from the Latin word sanctus, which means holy.
And that's actually the word that Paul uses here in the original language.
It's the word for holy or the word holiness.
In all the other places Paul uses, not all of them, but most of them,
it's simply translated as holy or holiness.
But here, it's translated sanctify.
Because in English, we can't just turn the word holy into a verb.
You know, if I'm going to talk about making something holy,
I would never say, I holified that thing.
But in the original language, the same word does double duty.
It works as a verb and a noun.
And so, in English, we have another word.
We say, I sanctified that.
Another way that we could say it in English is maybe I consecrated that.
I made it holy.
But however we translate it or paraphrase it, the meaning is essentially the same.
It is God's will that you should be sanctified, that you should be set apart,
that you should be made holy.
It's helpful to think of the word sanctuary.
It kind of has the same idea.
Whether we're talking about our church sanctuary or a wildlife sanctuary,
a sanctuary is a place that is set apart for a special purpose or in a special way.
This room in our church building is set apart for a special purpose,
for us to gather and to worship God.
A wildlife sanctuary is a place that is set apart so that in that area,
wildlife can flourish, not like in other areas where hunters and ATVs and everything
can rip it to shreds.
So we can kind of ask that question here.
What does Paul really mean by sanctify?
It is God's will that you should be sanctified.
What's he talking about here?
And we do have to be careful here.
If we're not careful, we can kind of get ourselves tied up in theological knots
because this word holy or holiness, sanctified, sanctification,
it's used in other places.
In some of those places, it's used to refer to how we are in the process of being set apart by God.
In some places, it's used to describe how we are at the end of the process,
set apart by God.
And in some places, it's used to refer to the whole thing without discrimination.
God has set us apart.
And so how do we wade through this?
Well, there's one question that we can just really simply ask here.
Paul has said it is God's will that you should be sanctified.
In what way does God want us to be set apart,
to be different from others, from the rest?
There's more than one true possible answer here,
but this morning we're only looking at Paul's answer in this specific case.
He actually tells us the kind of holiness that he's referring to.
He says this,
It is God's will that you should be sanctified,
that you should avoid sexual immorality,
that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
not in passionate lust like the pagans who do not know God.
And so we can see from the way Paul is using it,
what he is talking about.
What does it mean for us to be sanctified?
Paul's saying it's God's will that you live differently
from the rest, from others who don't know God.
God desires for there to be a difference between his people and the rest who don't know him.
He desires that there be a distinction in your life and how you live it
from the rest of our world who doesn't know him and doesn't believe in him.
Well, what is that distinction supposed to be?
Paul is writing very specifically to the Thessalonian church.
He's thinking through what are they going through in that city
from what he's heard about the news of them,
from what he knows about their church in that city.
And so top of his mind in this situation is sexuality.
He's thinking about their sexual conduct.
As a church, what should your sexual conduct look like
as you're surrounded there in Thessalonica by people who don't know God?
Paul says it is God's will that you should be sanctified,
that you should avoid or be far from sexual immorality.
The word that he uses to describe sexual immorality is porneia.
We get the word pornography from it.
It's used to refer to all kinds of sexual immorality, adultery,
cheating on your spouse, fornication,
sex with someone that you're not married to.
It's used to refer to homosexuality.
It's used to refer to taking advantage of another person sexually.
It's actually just kind of a cover-all reference
to any kind of sexual conduct or behavior
that is outside of God's good design
and intention for human sexuality.
Right from the beginning of the Bible
all the way through to the end,
we see that God's design and intention for human sexuality
is that it is something that is to be enjoyed
between a man and a woman
who are covenanted, committed to one another in marriage.
Everything outside of that is porneia,
is sexual immorality
against his design,
against his intention.
Paul actually gives us a bit of a glimpse
into our world's attitude
when it comes to sexuality.
In verses 4 and 5,
he describes how the Thessalonians should behave.
He says that you should learn to control your own body
in a way that is holy and honorable,
not in passionate lust like the pagans
who do not know God.
As a general principle,
those who do not know God
have a different sexual ethic
than we do.
They are characterized
by a lack of self-control
and by passionate lust,
says Paul.
Selfish sexual desire.
I have what I want.
I have my sexual needs.
And I want you to meet my needs,
to bring pleasure to me.
That's the mindset generally,
Paul points to,
of people in our world.
You even see a hint of that
down in verse 6,
where he says,
and that in this matter,
sexuality,
no one should wrong
or take advantage
of a brother or sister.
Here we are as the family of God,
but don't even think about
using the closeness
that we enjoy with one another
as the family of God,
the church,
to cozy up to someone else's wife
or someone else's husband.
Our world's attitude
is indulge
sexually
as far as you can,
as much as you can,
without running into the big problems,
the big consequences.
But of course,
there's always consequences
when we live contrary
and outside of God's design.
We could talk about
the damage
that sexual immorality
does
to a person's marriage.
We could talk about
the feelings of guilt,
of having betrayed
a trust
between you
and
your spouse.
We could talk about
families
that are ripped apart,
children that grow up
without
a mother or father
because their family
was destroyed
as a trust
was broken.
We could talk about
sexual addiction
and pornography
use.
there are always consequences
when we live outside
of God's
intended design
for sexuality.
Sexuality,
sexual intimacy
was made
to be enjoyed
between a man
and a woman
who are married
to one another.
And everything
outside of that
God has said
is off limits.
That's the specific way
that Paul
encourages them
to be
sanctified,
to be set apart,
to live
differently
than the people
around them
who don't know God.
But what I want us
to see here
this morning
is that this is about
more than sexuality.
That's Paul's
specific point,
his specific
application.
But actually,
God wants us
to be
different,
to be
set apart,
sanctified,
not just
when it comes
to our sexuality,
but when it comes
to every area
of our life.
He wants
to touch
and affect
every area
of our life.
Being a follower
of Jesus
should affect
every area
of our life,
not just
this area.
Whether it's
eating,
or drinking,
or work,
how we talk
to one another,
how we engage
in relationships,
God's desire
is that we would
be set apart,
that we would
be distinct
in every way.
And the rest
of the New Testament
letters are full
and Jesus'
teaching,
full of how
that affects
other areas
of our life.
Paul's just
focusing on
sexual immorality
here.
But the principle
is much bigger
than that.
God wants
there to be
a difference
between how
we live
and how
other people
who don't
know him
live.
when we hear
that,
when we hear
the word
holiness,
it can be
easy for a
little bit
of a grumbling
to rise in
our hearts.
Oh,
Pastor Josh,
stop telling
me about
all the
things that
I can't
do.
Why does
religion have
to be so
restrictive?
My answer
is that
it's not.
And as soon
as we start
thinking that
it is,
it's because
we're not
seeing clearly.
We're not
thinking straight.
We've bought
into the lie
that it really
is all about
me
and what
I desire.
Holiness
is not just
a list of
do's and
don'ts.
It's not just
a bunch of
rules,
rules to
keep.
It's so
much more
than that.
Look at how
Paul uses
that word
holiness
just a couple
verses prior
to this one.
Go back up
to chapter
3,
verse 13.
Here we
kind of
catch Paul
in the middle
of a prayer
for the
Thessalonians.
In my
Bible it
starts as a
new sentence
but it's
not.
It's actually
a continuation.
So that
he may
establish
your hearts
in
blamelessness
and holiness.
That's what
Paul wants
to see.
He wants
to see the
Thessalonians
hearts
established
in holiness.
There it is
again.
God desires
a holy
people.
A people
that are
different.
That are
set apart.
And so
what does
Paul ask
God to do
so that
they will
be
holy.
Look in
verse 12.
He says,
May the
Lord make
your love
increase
and overflow
for each
other and
for everyone
else so
that he
may establish
your heart
in holiness.
holiness.
The defining
feature of
a holy
life is
overflowing
love for
each other
and for
everyone.
It's not
just a list
of do's
and don'ts,
right and
wrong.
The defining
characteristic
of a holy
person is
someone who
truly loves
others
and everyone
who is
overflowing
with love.
Now we
look back
at what
Paul has
said about
sexual
immorality
and it
all kind
of makes
sense.
Sexual
immorality
is not
about love.
It's about
lust.
That's what
Paul has
said.
Passionate
lust.
He said,
don't take
advantage of
a brother
or sister.
that selfish
sexual
desire.
We were
not made
for
relationships
that are
characterized
by lust
and selfishness.
I'll scratch
your back
if you scratch
mine.
We were
made for
relationships
characterized
by love,
self-sacrifice,
service of
the other,
bringing joy
and pleasure
to the other,
not mainly
to ourselves.
God
desires
that his
people
be different
and the
defining
feature
of that
difference
is
overflowing
with love.
That's
what holiness
looks like
and this
is how
it plays
out
specifically
in
sexuality.
It means
sexual
intimacy
happens
in the
context
of
marriage.
loyalty
and
commitment
to one
another.
I'm going
to be
there
for you
in
sickness
and in
health
for richer
or for poorer
for better
or for worse.
Passionate
lust
doesn't give a
rip about
the other.
It's all
about what
can I get
out of
this.
spouse.
And if
you're not
going to
give it
to me
spouse
then I'm
going to
go find
it
somewhere
else.
And if
I'm not
married I'm
going to
go online.
I'm going
to find it
wherever I
can get
it and
I'll take
as much
of it
as I
can get
without
running
into those
consequences
that I
mentioned
earlier.
STIs,
unwanted
pregnancies,
emotional
weight of
guilt,
broken
family.
God's
saying I
want to
see a
difference
between
you,
my
people.
That's
what I
desire.
That you
should be
set apart,
different
from those
who don't
know me.
Not just
in sexuality
but as a
whole,
in general.
A people
overflowing
with love.
And that
translating out
into every
area of
our lives.
How we
work,
how we
play,
how we
relate to
people,
how we
talk to
people,
what we
say about
others when
they're not
listening.
All of
this leads
us to a
question.
How do
we achieve
this?
How do
we become
sanctified?
How do
we be
separated
and set
apart and
made
holy?
Is that
something that
we do?
Or is that
something that
God does?
Well,
first we have
to admit
there's no
way that
we can live
this kind
of holiness,
this kind
of overflowing
with love
for everyone
without God's
help.
love.
We need
God's
power
inside of
us,
working,
enabling us
to live
like this
because we're
hardwired,
we're bent
towards selfishness
and sin,
towards just
feeling like
we want
this and
then taking
it.
We can't
do this on
our own.
We need
God to do
this in us
and for us.
He is the
one who
sets us
apart,
who makes
us holy.
But notice
that it
doesn't say
it is God's
will that you
should be
sanctified,
so just
sit there
and relax
and wait
for Him
to set you
apart to
do it.
He doesn't
say that.
Immediately
following that,
He says
it's God's
will that you
should be
sanctified and
so avoid
sexual immorality.
learn to
control your
own body.
We have
responsibility
in it too.
It's not
just something
that we
just sit
back and
God does
it to us.
It's something
that He
works in
us and
we
participate
with Him
and live
it out
with His
enabling.
I like
the way
that He
says it
to the
church in
Philippi.
Work out
your salvation
with fear
and trembling
for it
is God
who works
in you
to will
and to do
according to
His good
pleasure.
It's both.
It's not
just God.
It's not
just me.
And it's
not 50-50.
Not God
does His
half and
we do
our half.
God gets
the credit
for all
of it
and our
part we
can only
do with
His help.
But it's
both.
Us being
set apart
is both
God's
work
and ours.
we actually
have to
make those
choices
to live
a holy
life.
To say
no to
temptation.
We're
talking about
prayer.
So what
does all
this have
to do
with
prayer?
We're
to pray
according
to God's
will.
prayer.
And here
in this
passage we
see at
least one
thing that
God desires
for us,
that He
wills for
us.
If you're
honest,
what is it
that you
want for
your life?
As you
think of
your life,
the days
ahead,
the years
ahead,
what is it
that you
want for
your life?
how does
that compare
to what
God has
said here
that He
wants and
that He
wills for
your life?
God desires
that we
live
differently,
that we
live lives
of overflowing
love towards
one another,
that there's
a distinction
between us
and those
who don't
know Him.
is that
what you
have been
asking God
to do
as you
pray?
Is that
what you've
been asking
God to
do for
other people
as you
think of
them and
the situations
they're going
through?
God cares
about what
I'm going
to call
the smaller
things,
which career
I have,
what job
I'm doing,
what to do
with the
family farm,
family
relationships
and decisions.
God cares
about those
things.
But even
more than
that,
He desires
that you
live
differently,
that you
be holy
compared to
those who
don't know
God.
Are you
asking God
to do that
for yourself?
are you
desiring
that for
yourself?
Are you
asking God
to do
that for
others?
It's great
to pray that
somebody who
lost their
job gets
a job,
but are you
praying that
God would
use that
situation to
set them
apart for
His purpose,
for what He
wants to do
in their life?
God is in
the business
of taking
for Himself
a people,
setting them
apart for a
special purpose
in a special
way.
Let's not
forget to
make that
part of what
we ask God
to do as we
pray all kinds
of prayers for
all kinds of
people.
Let's pray.
Father in
Heaven, we
thank You
for Your
Word.
It doesn't
always say
what we
expect or
want it to
say,
but we
trust that
You have
told us
exactly what
we need
to hear.
Lord,
even as we've
thought about
this this
morning a
little bit,
together we
invite You
to be doing
that work
in us,
setting us
apart.
We don't
want to be
the same as
everybody in
this community
who doesn't
know You.
We want to
be seen as
different because
of Your work
in us.
And so we
ask that You
would come,
that You
would change
our hearts,
that You
would fill us
with a love
for people,
that You
would give us
the courage to
say no,
to things
that are
wrong.
We desire
to please
You more
than ourselves.
You are our
God, You
are our
Savior, and
so come and
work in us
as a church.
Enable us
and empower
us to live
the different
life that You
have called us
to.
We ask this
in Christ's
name,
Amen.