Today’s reading: Num 23:1–30, 1 Cor 6:12–7:16, Ps 20:1–9

Today’s theme: Run from sexual sin

We should run for our lives from sexual sin. Despite its allure, it only brings death and destruction to every sphere of our lives and the lives of those connected to us. Instead pursue the honour and dignity God intended for humanity, created in His image and given the gift of sexual intimacy to be enjoyed in the covenant of marriage.

Numbers 23:1–30

God’s powerful words

How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced? Numbers 23:8 (ESV)

God is the sovereign king of the universe. His decrees stand and His will is accomplished. Man’s words are impotent and without any real power unless empowered by God. This is why we pray in line with God’s word and declare His word because our own words have no power. Gods words and thoughts are powerful and effective achieving God’s desired ends. See Isaiah 55:11.

Confidence in God’s decrees

For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What has God wrought!’ Numbers 23:23 (ESV)

Because, as it says in verse 19, God is not a liar and brings His word to pass, we can be confident just like Israel that no witchcraft can work on us. God has decreed that we will be blessed and not cursed in Christ. See Colossians 3:3

1 Corinthians 6:12–7:16

The destructive power of sexual sin

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV)

This should go without saying but must be said because of the deceptive allure of sexual sin.

Sexual sin is different to other sins. It causes those involved to be joined in a spiritual way and breaks union with Christ. It destroys relationships, warps God given sex into a tool of the enemy and warps the minds and spirits of those involved. Not least to mention the offence that this causes the Holy Spirit, the destruction it causes in families and society and the sexually transmitted diseases that can be contracted.

Paul makes it clear here and in the next chapter that God intends dignity and honour for us. Sex is a gift within the commitment and sanctification of marriage only. This flies in the face of everything our culture thinks about sex.

God hates divorce

(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 1 Corinthians 7:11 (ESV)

Our culture seems to treat marriage like a temporary item of clothing that is put on and then thrown off when another shirt becomes fashionable. This attitude is one of the reasons the divorce rates are so high. Strictly, married Christian couples should never get divorced.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on 1 Corinthians 6 and 7