MARGIN: the amount available beyond what
it NECESSARY. We live in a day that is in desperate need of
margin. That is something we agree on
for sure, yet this is also a day where morals or the lack of morality has
become common place, the norm. This is
demonstrated by the crime rate, the abortion rate, the abuses and addiction we
see so often and more. Morality is not
only something that we talk about in the political world and at home. Morals has to do with our lives, our
thoughts, our words and actions. We can
be measured by our morals. One specific
area of morality seems to be the most critical.
This is an issue from my heart. Do you know someone whose life has been wrecked by sexual sin? Maybe someone who struggles with pornography. Or maybe someone who got pregnant out of
marriage and had an abortion or even had the baby. Or maybe someone got a sexually transmitted
disease. Or maybe it is someone who was
promiscuous before they got marriage and then got married, but this has caused
struggles and tension in their marriage.
Maybe someone who had an affair.
No one sets their goals to wreck their life in this
way. I have never met anyone who said my
one thing this year is to get an STD or fall into another habit. Always on the other side of sexual tragedy
you hear a person say, always you will hear “I thought this would never happen
to me”. The same thing that all these
people they have in common at one time they lacked moral.
MORAL MARGIN: putting DISTANCE between you and
TEMPTATION.
Flee from sexual
immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside his body, but whoever
sins sexually sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are
temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You
are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your
bodies.
The Bible says FLEE not FLIRT with sexual sin. Run away, don’t ask how close you can get. Wise people put significant distance between
themselves and temptation. Sexual sin is
the sin that is taking so many people out.
It is different, deeply emotional, and spiritual. The consequences of this sin can do serious
harm: loss of job, marriage, kids, life due to disease, reputation.
These verses say “you are not your own … you’ve been
bought by Jesus”, but our culture says just do this, everyone else is.
But among
you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality…
Do not even have a hint of sexual immorality. The problem is that normal is PAIN, REGRET,
GUILT, SHAME, INSECURITY, FEAR, LUST & DIVORCE, but God intends for normal
is be far different for His kids. He
intends to free us from pain and bondage.
Too many people including Christians chose pain rather than purity. This is not an easy subject.
God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all
sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own bodyt and live in
holiness and honor—
Too often the line is in the wrong the place. There are much better places to draw the line
for your life and mine so that we will find God’s best and His blessings for
our marriages and all of life.
The church and Christians have been silent on this
issue for too long. It is us who are to
guide our children to live great lives and to be pure. It is us who must be the example and be
honest about where we have been and where we are going. It is important that we be honest and
transparent about the struggles we’ve had in our lives and the victories that
God has given us. I have been honest
about my personal struggles, and that has helped others to step up and deal
with issues.
It is time for us to get honest. That is where healing starts and where
freedom is found. Understand who Jesus
is: Savior, Creator … He took our place.
So trust Him.
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Dealing with sin is not fun, but it is right. God will bless us when we make positive
choices to live a life without the hint of sin.
Yet our way with others must be one of grace and not
of judgment. God forgave us. We can and must forgive others. Healing starts at home. It starts with you and me getting honest with
ourselves and being honest with God.
Here is one of the truths that will change your life:
Whoever covers over his sins does not prosper. Whoever confesses
and abandons them receives compassion.
Without
Jesus we are in trouble. With Jesus we
are forgiven and set free. With Jesus
can create moral margin in our lives.
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I am grateful for Craig Groeschel and Lifechurch.tv. The current series I am preaching through is
one that Craig taught. These messages
have opened up many people to allowing God to work in their lives. I am praying for more margin.
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