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Exploding Myths that make us miserable Myth # 1 THE MYTH OF LUST: YOU ONLY GO AROUND ONCE SO GO FOR THE GUSTO!

I THESSALONIANS 4:1-8

Researchers have found that even in the world of nature the myth persists that bigger is better. One group of scientists made a cardboard version of a female butterfly during mating season and placed it among the other females. The males were released and all hovered around the larger, unreal, false, and fake female – while all the genuine females waited in the distance.

Until that cardboard lifeless model was removed, the males never would pay attention to the real world even for a moment. So is lust in our world today. It teaches us to look at the outward instead of the inward; it says bigger is better. It leaves us unsatisfied, unfulfilled, and empty as long as we allow lust to live unhindered in our lives.

Illustration: Cardboard butterflies Hughes, James, p. 169.

I. DECIDE TO PLEASE GOD BY YOUR CONDUCT. V. 1 A. First – holy living is not an option. It’s an imperitive. “ought” B. Second – holy living is not momentary. It’s continuous “to walk” C. Third – holy living is not private. It is [and shall be] public. “to please god” D. Because of these three, look at the end of the road, look at second corinthians 5:10. The day of reckoning. 1. “must” – no option = compulsory 2. “all/each one” = personal 3. “appear” made manifest = public 4. “recompensed” individually paid = specific

II. PLAN TO LIVE ACCORDING TO GOD’S COMMANDMENTS V.2 A. Don’t miss this – that word “C” is a military term for passing on orders. B. Look at John 14:15-21. Because we love we obey!

III. FOLLOW GOD’S WILL. v. 3 OUR CALLING IS TO DO GOD’S WILL. This is anarthrous = no article. Indefinite. This is something “God wills”. There are others… It is our calling. Holiness is God’s will – The first step to holy living is doing God’s will – God’s will starts with holy living A. God’s will is that we be sanctified, holy and pure (I Th. 4:3)
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B. God’s will is that we be (I Th. 5:18) Thankful C. God’s will is that we be (Eph 5:18) Be being filled with H.S. D. God’s will is that we be (I Pet. 2:13-15) Submissive E. God’s will is that we be (I Pet. 4:19 / 5:10) Suffering F. God’s will is that we be (2 Pet. 3:9) Saved

IV. PURSUE PERSONAL HOLINESS V. 4 COMMITMENTS to personal holiness – to pure living. Vessel = body 2 Tim. 2:20-22 God says FORNICATION is wrong = any sex contact prior to wedding, mentally or physically. That’s videos, magazines, movies, TV, beachwatching:girl watching… living together, parking, petting… God says ADULTERY is wrong = any mental/physical contact other than with wife. If started – stop, repent, restore. If not started, – DON’T! You say HARD! Yes, always been that way. How? Mk 7:21-23 Because starts with mind Victory – We have a priority to be holy * Our bodies are God’s temple A. REMEMBER YOU ARE JUST A RENTER! WATCH YOUR DEPOSIT! I Cor. 6:19-20 – bought B. REGULARLY RENEW YOUR LEASE! Rom. 12:1,2 – So give back to owner 1. That means – What we put in our body must be holy to God – not alcohol, drugs, cigarettes. 2. What we do with our bodies must be holy to God – no immoral, fornications, adulterous, impure things. No dissipation, overeating/gluttony, No lack of discipline 3. What we put on our body must be holy to God – modesty, propriety, sanctity, purity a) II Cor. 10:5 TAKE thots captive b) Col. 3:1 LOCK affections upward c) Eph. 6:17 WEAR helmet / use sword d) II Tim. 2:22 FLEE lust e) I Pet 5:9 RESIST devil 4. WOMEN… I Tim. 2:9 = be modest I Pet. 3:3