(2 Sam 11:3,4 NLT) He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” To this point in the coverage of David’s life we have seen him as a Biblical giant. Sure, he made his share of mistakes along the way, but for the most part, David was living a life that was pleasing to God and he was enjoying the favor of God on everything he did. In this chapter, however, we see David fall. David committed the worst mistake of his life and we will learn later than he committed a series of horrible acts in an attempt to cover it up. In the end, David recovered, God forgave him by grace, and God still used him mightily after this episode. But lest we overlook the seriousness of what David did, let’s continue to look at what the Bible says to say about sexual sin.
In the New Testament Paul was very practical about sex, sin and marriage. Paul was single and he was anointed of God to remain single all his life. This gave Paul the opportunity to dedicate all his time to God and his calling. Paul did not have to commit any time to a wife or kids, so he was able to accomplish a great deal for God. However, Paul also knew that very (and I mean very) few people are anointed to live their lives without sex, so he wrote, “Because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.” This seems pretty simple and it is straightforward. If every man has a wife and every woman a husband, then each spouse should be able satisfy the sexual needs of each other. In this light, Paul continued, “Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1 Cor 7:2-5). Paul was practical. Not only should a man have a wife and a woman have a husband, but they should not withhold sex from each other without consent, so that each spouse is satisfied sexually.
In the previous chapter Paul wrote, “Some of you say, “We can do anything we want to.” But I tell you that not everything is good for us. So I refuse to let anything have power over me… We are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies. We are to use them for the Lord who is in charge of our bodies.” While we have liberty in Christ, the liberty Christ died to give us does not give us the right to do anything we want. The Bible lays out boundaries, and as believers we should live within those boundaries. Paul continued, “Don’t you know that your bodies are part of the body of Christ? Is it right for me to join part of the body of Christ to a prostitute? No, it isn’t! Don’t you know that a man who does that becomes part of her body? The Scriptures say, “The two of them will be like one person.” Make no mistake, when you have sex with someone you become “one” with them on many levels. It is more than just a physical connection. Your souls get connected in a way that if you wind up not marrying that person, that soul-tie must be broken for you to eventually give yourself fully to your future spouse. When the Bible teaches us to reserve sex for marriage, it is not to keep us from pleasure, but to protect us from entering into things that could harm us for the long run. Paul went on to say, “Don’t be immoral in matters of sex. Sex is a sin against your own body in a way that no other sin is. You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God” (1 Cor 6:12-20).
So what does this mean to you today? I will close out the week with a few quick nuggets:
1. Sexual sin connects you with someone in a way that no other sin does.
2. Sexual sin can have long-lasting implications.
3. Born-Again believers have God’s Spirit in them and when they commit sexual sin they are taking the Holy Spirit with them into the act; which is not only a sin against their own body, but it is an affront to God.
4. Unless you are one of the very few people who are called to be single for a lifetime, you should get married (in God’s timing) and enjoy sex in marriage.
5. Sex in marriage is not just designed for procreation. Sex in marriage is also for pleasure and to satisfy each spouse’ sexual desires.
6. A spouse should never withhold sex as a tool of manipulation.
7. Paul said, “You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God” (1 Cor 6:19,20).
Closing Confession for Married Believers: Father, I thank You for blessing me with my spouse. You knew I was not called to live my life without a mate and You blessed me with my spouse. I love them and honor them the way You have called me to. I am there for my spouse and he/she is there for me. I have sexual desires and so does my husband/wife. By faith I declare that I will always satisfy his/her sexual desires and he/she will always satisfy mine. I never withhold sex as a tool of manipulation. I love my spouse and I cover them by satisfying them in every way. Marriage is honorable in Your sight and the marriage bed is undefiled. Your Spirit lives in me and take Him everywhere I go. I honor His indwelling and I never seek to dishonor His presence by taking Him into unholy acts. I am committed to the sanctity of marriage. I fulfill my sexual desires with my spouse and no one else. I refrain from even lusting after other men/women. You bought me with a high price, with the Blood of Your Son Jesus, and I understand that I am not my own. I therefore seek to honor You every day, and in every way. I walk in purity, holiness, righteousness and love. I abstain from even the appearance of evil. Sexual desires have no power over me. I control my body, I take control of my thoughts, and I live a life that is pleasing in Your sight. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Closing Confession for Single Believers: Father, I thank You for blessing me with my spouse in Your timing. You have ordained a spouse for me and You have ordained me for him/her. You are preparing me now for them and You are also preparing them for me. I maximize this time of preparation so I can become the man/woman of God You have called me to be. I learn who I am in You and what You have called me to be. I settle in my purpose and I focus on my development, so that when I do get married, I will be able to BE a blessing to my spouse in every way. Not only will I satisfy my spouse (and he/she will satisfy me) spiritually, relationally and emotionally, but I will satisfy my spouse physically and he/she will do the same for me. Until then, I control my sexual desires and I walk in the purity wherewith I am called. Jesus died to make me free, but I am not free to sin. Your Spirit lives in me and take Him everywhere I go. I honor His indwelling and I never seek to dishonor His presence by taking Him into unholy acts. You bought me with a high price, with the Blood of Your Son Jesus, and I understand that I am not my own. I therefore seek to honor You every day, and in every way. I walk in purity, holiness, righteousness and love. I abstain from even the appearance of evil. Sexual desires have no power over me. I control my body, I take control of my thoughts, and I live a life that is pleasing in Your sight. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
