Look with me at 1 Thessalonians 4 - starting at verse 1: “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”

The word “ought” literally means to “owe it.” What we owe God for saving our sinful souls is to live pleasing Him. And Paul writes, “you’re doing it - but, you need to excel still more.” You can’t become complacent. Keep moving forward. Strive for continuous improvement.

Verse 2: “For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus - not just our teaching - but God’s commandments - for this is the will of God - what pleases Him - your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality”

Let’s pause here and think about what Paul is saying.

Early in His ministry, Jesus and His disciples were on a journey from Judea up to Galilee. On the way they passed through Samaria and came to the city of Sychar - specifically to a rather famous piece of property that had once belonged to Jacob and was the burial place of Joseph. On that property there was a well. And, in the heat of the noon day sun, Jesus sat down by the well to rest.

About that time a Samaritan woman came to the well to get water. This woman is the town whore. She’s been known intimately by so many men to the point that she - and others - have become accustomed to thinking of her in that role. Its what she does to live in Sychar and the culture of her town permits it.

Jesus, being thirsty as well as tired, said to the woman, “Give Me a drink.” Which was strange - because as we know - no self respecting Jew would ever lower himself to have any association with a Samaritan - and let alone this sinful woman.

But we know from this story that Jesus was interested in more than just water. Jesus was interested in the eternal soul of this woman. What He offered to her was His water - living water - which quenches the dryness of our soul and gives to us eternal life.

Jesus - in asking for water - draws this woman into conversation with Him - shares with her about the deepest needs of her soul - and as she comes to believe in Jesus as her Savior - realizing His forgiveness and the new life He has given to her - she is set free from her bondage - her life is transformed. (John 4:3-42)

Paul writes that God’s will for us is “sanctification.” The literal meaning of “sanctification” is to be “set apart for God.” In this passage here it has the idea of holiness.

In the Old Testament - in the Tabernacle - there were vessels - instruments - objects used only in performing the sacrifices. God called these vessels “sanctified” - “holy” - because they were set apart only for God’s use. The same is true of us. When we come to salvation we belong to Jesus. We’re set apart by God for His holy purposes - for God’s use.

Sometimes people have the idea that “sanctified” or “holy” people look like they’re filled with embalming fluid. They’re grim and dull. They’re against anything fun or enjoyable. But that’s not holiness. Holiness really has to do with “wholeness” as a person. It has to do with God transforming us - creating within us Godly beauty - Godly character - Godly purity - so that we become completely - wholly - who God has created us to be - vessels serving God as God intended for us to serve Him.

This is what Jesus was leading the Samaritan woman to - wholeness - sanctification. This is what He desires to do in our lives as well. So, that, we - as vessels - will live lives that please Him.

Practically speaking - Paul writes about two specific areas where we need to be sanctified - made whole - pleasing to God. The first begins here at the end of verse 3: “that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.”

MORAL PURITY IS A PART OF WHOLENESS

In Greek culture the idea of confining marital relations to within marriage was very foreign. Demosthenes, the great Greek orator put it this way, “We keep mistresses for pleasure, concubines for our day-to-day bodily needs, but we have wives to produce legitimate children and serve as trustworthy guardians of our homes.”

Sexual activity in whatever form - as long as done in moderation - was considered civilized and proper. Prostitution - hetero or homosexual was a part of worship. That was the acceptable culture of Thessalonica. And the culture that many of these new Christians - and the Samaritan woman - the culture they were being sanctified from.

Its not really that different today. Our culture is permeated with sex. Last week a survey came out showing that in the last 2 years the number of TV programs containing sexual content rose from 56 to 68%. With sitcoms it went from 56 to 84% of all programs. 89% of all movies on TV have sexual content. Understand, we’re not talking about hand holding here. And, we are not even talking about Howard Stern or “The Man Show.” This is what our culture tells us is entertainment.

Then there’s the WWF. Great role models - a bunch of men who’s greatest achievement in life is to bash each other over the head with metal chairs and to treat women as objects of lust. And, now we have the XFL and its X-rated cheerleaders. Our culture tells us this what sports is all about.

We’re no better than Thessalonica. And its tragic that so many Christians do not see the problem.

Let’s put it plainly. What does Paul mean by sexual immorality?

No sexual immorality means no sexual wrongdoing. No pre-marital sex - no making out in the back seat of the car or in a hotel with somebody you hope to marry someday - or maybe not. Which by the way increases your chances of divorce dramatically. No living together before marriage - trying things out. Which also increases your chances of divorce. No extra-marital sex - no messing around with someone else’s wife or being faithless to your own husband or wife. No homosexual sex. No pornography - printed or digital.

Paul gives two steps towards moral purity. First, verse 4: “that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor - learn how to control your own body in wholeness and honor - not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God.”

Our culture says that our appetites should be satisfied - fulfill your lustful passions. Paul says - learn to control your bodies.

We learn to eat - not just anytime we feel like eating - but so that we benefit from eating. We eat healthy. We restrict our eating so we don’t put on too much weight. We’re careful about eating fatty foods. We don’t go to sleep whenever we feel like it. Many of you have learned to keep your eyes open and your head looking at me and it looks like you’re not asleep.

Learn to control yourselves sexually.

The second step towards moral purity is in verse 6: “and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.”

No adultery. No affairs. No fornication. Our society is littered with the remains of homes - families - children - devastated by adulterous affairs. Generations that will suffer heartache. How many problems in our society - crimes - disease - poverty - illiteracy - broken homes - and more - how many could be eliminated or severely restricted if we would learn to control ourselves and to keep marital relations within our own marriage.

We rationalize that we’re not hurting anyone with our sexual sin. We’re adults. But, that’s just not true. At some point it comes to light. God will deal with us about it.

Verse 7: “For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”

God has called us to wholeness - to purity - to please Him. And, God has not called us to live struggling alone to overcome the immorality of this world. God has the power to change our lives. There comes a point where we need to admit our weakness in this area and throw ourselves on the mercy of God and allow His Spirit to work within us.

Paul writes that when we live in moral purity - sexual wholeness - it pleases God.

Second - writing about where we need to be sanctified - to please God - Paul writes - starting in verse 9: “Now as to the love of the brethren.”

That’s the second practical area: THE LOVE OF THE BRETHREN.

“Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more.”

Someone has written:

To dwell above with saints in love
Oh, that will be glory.
But to stay below with the saints I know…
Well, that’s another story.

That was the Thessalonian church. Yet, Paul says, “We urge you to excel still more.” Keep going. Don’t relax. Deepen your love.

Verse 11 - Paul gives three specific warnings - dangers to love in the church. First: “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life”

Some in the Thessalonian church had become so captivated by the truth of Jesus’ return that they’d quit their jobs and were sitting around singing and praying and not doing much else. Sometimes there are believers today who get caught up in one doctrine or another and they become fanatical - arrogant - creating division in the church. Paul is telling them to calm down. Don’t focus on doctrinal tangents.

Second warning: “attend to your own business.” Some had become busybodies sticking their noses in everyone else’s business. Mind your own business.

Third warning: “work with your hands, just as we commanded you.” Some in the church were living off the generosity of others. Don’t be a drain on the church.

The result - verse 12: “so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” So that you’ll gain the respect of those you are trying to reach with the Gospel.

What a tremendous contrast to the selfish - self focused - abusive thing that our sex focused society calls love. That God can take people who should have nothing in common except mutual hatred or apathy and bond then together into the Body of Jesus Christ. People who are so committed to each other that they’ll share all that they have - give everything of themselves - even die for each other.

When we live this way - seeking to excel - in sexual wholeness - in love of the brethren - it pleases God.

Early one morning a woman is caught committing adultery. Its nothing unusual. On this morning she is doing what she has always done before. But, on this morning - for some strange reason - the religious leaders - who usually ignored such a thing - the religious leaders have her caught in the very act of adultery.

This woman - worthless in the eyes of the community - worthless even her own eyes - is dragged naked - in shame - through the streets of Jerusalem to the Temple Mount - and in front of everyone gathered there - she is thrown in front of a rabbi.

“Teacher,” the religious leaders say to the rabbi. “This woman has been caught in the very act of adultery. The law of Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. What do you say?”

The woman’s eyes move from man to man - person to person - and then to the rabbi. Perhaps this was the end of her worthless life. The rabbi stoops down and beings to write in the dust of the ground. Again the religious leaders persist, “What do you say?”

Jesus - for that is who the rabbi is - stands and says to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” And again Jesus stoops down and begins to write in the dust of the ground. Slowly - in shame - one by one the crowd begins to leave - until there in that courtyard - alone are Jesus and the woman.

Jesus stands and says to the woman, “Where are they? Did no one condemn you?”

“No one Lord.”

“Then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (John 8:1-11)

I realize that as we’re sharing this morning there are some here who may be thinking that its too late. You’ve already messed up. Wholeness and purity are not possible. Please understand what Paul is telling us here - all of us. Because all of us at one time or another - in one way or another - all of us have messed up. God has called us to something better - purity - wholeness - victorious life in Christ. The Gospel is that in coming to Jesus - who offers us new life - His living water - we can begin again.