Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Sex...whose idea is it anyway?

What if God’s people started talking about sex?

"God has given us a grand gift in our sexual communion, and we sell it short.
Christians rarely discuss what sex really is or why God created and encourages it. Remember the last time you heard a sermon on sexuality? Neither do I. What a shame!"
(What Does God Know About Sex?: He has a lot to say about the subject. by Glenn T. Stanton)
 
What if His people helped bring into the light what the enemy wants to keep in the secret and in the dark?
 
"Google reports that its two most popular search terms are God and sex. Obviously a great many people around the globe have lots of questions about these two topics. How many of us, though, think these two words represent polar opposites, with the pure-of-heart searching one topic and the more "fleshly" looking for the other? I suggest that if we don't see these two terms as closely connected, we don't know very much about either of them. It's long been considered impolite to discuss sex in good company, which is understandable with something so intimate. But the media talk about sex all day long, spewing deception and heartache. Before we choose to stay silent, Christians must remember that sex is God's idea — and He has much to say about it." (What Does God Know About Sex?: He has a lot to say about the subject.
by Glenn T. Stanton )

Sex…whose idea was it anyway?

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:26-28

We learn from the above passage that God created one man and one woman and then encouraged them to ‘be fruitful’ and to multiply.

It is VERY clear…directly from the mouth of God…that He gave the gift of sex on purpose…the purpose of taking part in creating of life.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

God’s intended purpose with sex is to be between one man and woman, specifically inside the marriage relationship. God created sex for intimate oneness and a knowledge between a husband and wife that brings depth to the relationship.

A depth that cannot, will not and does not take place in one night stands, sex outside of marriage, pornography, or affairs.

So what in the world is going on down here?

How did we get so far off track?

"'Turn back, fickle Israel. I'm not just hanging back to punish you. I'm committed in love to you. My anger doesn't seethe nonstop. Just admit your guilt. Admit your God-defiance. Admit to your promiscuous life with casual partners, pulling strangers into the sex-and-religion groves While turning a deaf ear to me.'" God's Decree. "Come back, wandering children!" God's Decree. "I, yes I, am your true husband. I'll pick you out one by one— This one from the city, these two from the country— and bring you to Zion. I'll give you good shepherd-rulers who rule my way, who rule you with intelligence and wisdom. Jeremiah 3:12 (The Message)
 
Inside the marriage relationship God wants us to experience sex and the pleasure, joy, passion and comfort it can and will bring. He has gifted us with an entire book in the Bible, Song of Songs, in which He shares these very important aspects of sex.

I am my lover's and my lover is mine; he browses among the lilies. Song of Songs 6:3
 
Do we truly believe that sex can be good?
 
God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31
 
God the Creator of all, the very One who put His hand to everything and everyone we see here on earth, is very passionate about us! He wants to interact with us. He desires to be in relationship with us! He desires to bless us beyond our imagination.
 
The nature of God:
 
"If we hope to offer a redeemed view of sexuality to a hurting world, we must begin by understanding that God is inherently loving and relational — and created us to be this way, too." (What Does God Know About Sex?: He has a lot to say about the subject. by Glenn T. Stanton)

Can we dare to believe that God loves us so much?

Can we dare to step out in faith and believe there is beauty in His design?

God we come and sit before You. We ask You to open our minds and hearts, please help us allow You speak to us. To touch our hearts in a way only You can. May we surrender to You all of our past, present and future ideas and truly grab onto Your idea. May we allow You to love us through this process, knowing that You have great things for us! We love You Lord-Amen
 
There's more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one." Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never "become one." There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another. Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body. 1 Corinthians 6:16 (The Message)

8 comments:

Pinkshoelady said...

Well said!

I am praying for you and with you as you lead us through this discussion.

You are a true jewel my friend.
Pamela

Kelly said...

Something about this discussion makes me picture you husband saying "Honey, practice what you preach!" LOL! Great discussion and you are handling it with grace & dignity.

TAMI said...

Sex definitely has a mysterious side, and though the discussion will be a blessing, it is not something that can be fully understood or explained. I like the mystery - some people don't. Same with God, I suppose. The mystery of Him is comforting & thrilling for me ... but some people use those same things as excuses to ignore the truth of Him. Again, the same with sex.

achildoftheking said...

You see this is where the next part of my story begins...

There was so much sexual sin in my marriage.... we weren't "one" with the Lord. I was not meeting my husband's needs. He was dying spiritually. It wasn't all my fault, but I was contributing.

Before God gave us a miracle in our marriage we were completely broken and my husband was just a couple days from leaving me. We truly are soul mates. We just weren't communicating our needs in a way that they were being met. God flipped the switch in what seemed like, to me, an instant and made us whole again.

It's still a struggle daily because the adversary doesn't want to lose. I have news for him however, he has lost! God won the battle at the crucifixion/resurrection.

We MUST surrender wholly to our God and trust Him to meet our needs.

Lori said...

Well, I read this post early this morning and have been pondering over it throughout the day! I am reminded of this very past June. I am reading along with Wendy Pope in the Chronological Bible, and we happened to read Song of Songs just before celebrating my anniversary of over 20 years! I have the NIV on CD and when I can, I listen to it while I'm in the car. I had know idea what-so-ever, the treat I was in for! To listen to this poem being read a loud takes on a whole new meaning, and for me it was a God Moment! A special gift delivered to my ears from my Father. I listened to it many times, and each time, it took on a new meaning from Him. God blew me away that week with all He had to say about this beautiful chapter in the Bible. This beautiful love story shows God's love for Israel and is a picture of just how much Christ loves His Church. It a model for the quality of love God wishes to observe between a man and his wife, as well as our love for His Church. The book praises the mutual love between a husband and wife, and in doing so teaches us to honor married love.

As I read Song of Songs, I praised my father who made my husband and myself! When you experience this pure and holy earthly bond of love, you seek to have that close relationship with Him!!! It grows and deepens as we listen to Him speak to us. As we read His Word. As we pray to Him.

As I read and thought about this chapter last June, I was keenly aware that Christ loves His church, so, so much! That God provides us with a model for the quality of love he desires us to have. I am very thankful for my faithful husband. But, I realized that week, that after 20 plus years...I take my marriage for granted at times. I was led by God to step up my prayer re: marriage. To seek to put it at the top of my list, right under my time with God. To not put my kids first. But, to honor my husband. To respect him. To serve him by helping him daily. I decided that I would not settle for a great marriage. But, from that day forward I desired and prayed for a marriage made in heaven! That daily my husband and I would thrill each other; just as my Father thrills me!

God has much to teach us through His Word! Thanks Nichole for serving us through your Spirit filled writing! Love you! Lori-AZ

PS God is always actively pursuing us...just as we need to be actively pursuing our earthly husband!

Solomon's Porch said...

Great Post, gives you lots to ponder....
I love the fact that God thought of "everything" when He decided to create us....so much to love Him for.....the special-ness of one man and one woman coming together in their "own" un-duplicated time of love shows the very depth of His love and caring for us....

Karen Hossink said...

LOL with Kelly - Practice what you preach!
Surely, God is good and all He does is good. Every one of His ideas - including sex.
Thanks again for leading this discussion. The Truth needs to be spoken in love, and you are doing a great job.

Kimberly said...

I am so thankful for this beautiful gift from God...and for the fact that He has healed me from when it was NOT lived out beautifully in my life before Him.

Love to you!
K :)