RUTH 9: A generation of sexual gluttons

“Flee sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body” 1 Corinthians 6: 18

Following Naomi’s directives on how to get a kinsman-redeemer, Ruth went to Boaz’s house in chapter 3. And when Boaz discovered in the middle of the night that it who her that had come, he made a statement which brings out another important character of this wonderful lady, Ruth.

He said “you have not run after younger men, whether rich or poor’ (Ruth 3:10). This lady was a chaste woman. Despite her idolatrous (and possible immoral) heathen background, she had become through the help of Jehovah a pure woman. Many young persons in her desperate and needy situation would have excused themselves for indulging in fleshy lust, but not Ruth.

It was Billy Graham that said that ours is a generation of sexual gluttons. Modern civilisation has adopted the morality of Sodom of Gomorrah. And the Church, weaken by her own compromise in this area, is no longer able to call this sin by its name. Instead denominations are debating today how much lower it will be acceptable to reduce the standard of what is acceptable. How can we denounce the evil of homosexuality when we are living in adultery? Today the Church is alarmingly full of immorality both among the clergy and laity. No wonder we do not preach too much about it!

I encourage you to meditate on 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-8 and 1Timothy 2: 22. These passages are so important for all of us – single or married because our society has become a cesspool surging out a flood of sexual temptations especially through the media, TV, and internet to pollute us. There is an all out war from hell to make us impure and hence useless for God’s high purposes (2 Timothy 2:20-21). I can tell you from my own personal life that this attack is real. Can you imagine the amount of pornography that available today via the internet!

Yet God, according to these passages above, looks for people who will walk in sanctification like Ruth. Not people who are not tempted but people who do not yield to temptation. The will of God is that we be holy. That we “should learn to control our body in a way that is holy and honourable”. God says in 1 Thessalonians 4: 5 that it is not his will that we live as the heathen. You know that the unregenerated man behaves like a dog. If he feels it, he does it. He lives by his passions. But we by God’s Spirit in us can control our passions.

Paul in 2 Timothy 2: 22 tells us how to escape sexual immorality, he says "flee". This is the most practical counsel on how to overcome sexual temptations. It is not necessary to try to stay to show how strong you are in front of anything that infatuates you. It is better to run away. The problem comes often when we do not flee right away at the appearance of evil. When we don’t we will find out we will compromise. Many try to tell themselves they can enjoy for example the flirting or the apparently immoral film up to an extent and no harm would be done. How foolish!

In conclusion, I want to say two things. The first is that no matter how bad our past has been in this area we can begin anew. The blood of Jesus is so powerful that it can wash away completely whatever mess you have made. Just ask him right now to forgive you and cleanse you (1 John 1:9). And ask him to give you power to walk away from lust. Secondly, if you need more help and would like us to discuss further on this issue, I’d be very happy to hear from you.
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Comments? Questions? etc. If these messages have been helpful or unclear it would encourage us to hear from you, please write to chim_ibidun@hotmail.com
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PLEASE are you born again? It is not enough to believe in the existence of God, to go to church, or be interested in spiritual things. Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus died to deliver you from sin so that you can come to God. (John 3:16) If you ask him to forgive you and give you a new heart he will. (Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-11).Try it. I'd love to hear from you @ chim_ibidun@hotmail.com
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Chim'sWRITE are regular articles on Christian living and cross-cultural missions from Chimezie Onyebilanma a cross-cultural missionary with Calvary Ministries (CAPRO) in Togo. CAPRO is an indigenous African non-denominational cross-cultural mission agency involved in reaching the remaining unreached peoples in 15 countries of Africa as of present. CAPRO is involved in missions mobilization, training, and research as well as church-planting and mercy ministries (literacy, rural development, primary health-care, relief and rehabilitation). CAPRO is a faith mission, both the ministry and its missionaries depend on God's provision through the giving of his people. None of its missionaries are salaried. All gifts are used as designated.
Surface Address: Calvary Ministries (CAPRO),Togo. B.P. 14223, Lome. Tel: (228) 221 33 78 or (228) 900 94 97To learn more about the cross-cultural missionary work of CAPRO send email to chim_ibidun@hotmail.comwith "information on CAPRO" in the subject column or visit www.capromissions.org Do you know that your monthly gifts to support a missionary can make a big difference? To learn more about supporting missionaries please visit www.adopt-a-missionary.org or enquire at chim_ibidun@hotmail.com
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May all the nations praise HIM!