The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by Harvest Partners, helping people everywhere know God. To find out how to know God personally, go to knowgod.org. K-N-O-W, knowgod.org. Hey, would you do me a favor?
Share this message with someone who needs to hear it. I think sometimes people think that God disapproves of sex. How ridiculous. God created sex. Our culture has hijacked this gift God created.
Pastor Greg Laurie says we need to get back to God's original plan. It doesn't have to be a dirty word. It doesn't have to be a taboo subject.
It's something that can be enjoyable, pleasurable, and listen to this, even blessed, but only in the boundaries and safety of a marriage relationship. This is the day when the lost are found. This is the day for a new beginning. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. Oh, can you hear all the angels are singing? This is the day, the day when life begins. Some people may think taking God's advice on sex is like taking the principal's advice on how to have a fun day at school.
Just a lot of don't you dares. But today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie reminds us God created us and sex was His idea. And we'll see that as we follow His guidelines, we'll find the fulfillment we long for. It's one in our series of top ten most requested messages of the past year.
And for a copy, go to harvest.org. This is the day, the day when life begins. The title of my message today is God's plan for sex in marriage. How many of you are glad you came to church today?
Okay, so, yes, I used the word sex, and I'm going to talk about that. God has a lot to say about this subject, and I want you to grab your Bible and turn to Ephesians chapter 5. God takes us back to the very beginning. Verse 31. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife as himself and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
We'll stop there. You know, it's interesting, after Adam and Eve were married, the Bible says God called their name Adam. He saw them as one flesh. Two become one.
And so when you're married, you're technically one flesh, but it's a lifetime now of discovering what that means. So first you leave, and then you cleave. Now what does the word cleave mean? Well, it doesn't mean to divide as in a meat cleaver. It actually means to bring together. It suggests a determined action.
There's nothing passive about the act of cleaving. It's like climbing a mountain. You're hanging on. I see these people who go and scale the sides of mountains and they have their little tools and their little hammers and nails and lines that they hang on. I can't believe what these people do. You know, they get up there and they reach up and they ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
And then they put in a little whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, put the rope through and they'll swing. That's insane to me. But that's what marriage should look like. You're holding on. You're clinging to each other. It doesn't mean you're stuck together.
It means you're sticking together. Have you ever worked with super glue? I've had some bad experiences with it actually. I was always a bad model builder when I was a kid, but I loved models. I think it was because I was impatient. You know, because I wouldn't wait for the glue to dry.
And then I would want to paint it before it was ready and all that. But then super glue came along and, you know, the first time I pulled it on I thought, wow, it's like there's nothing really even there. It's almost like it's invisible. And so I did something they told me not to do. Don't put it on both your fingers. And I glued my thumb to my finger like this.
And so people thought I was saying okay for about a month. So it's not being stuck. It's holding on to each other. And one of the ways that we express that love. One of the ways that we demonstrate that love is through the sexual union. You know, I think sometimes people think that God disapproves of sex.
How ridiculous. God created sex. And clearly in the Bible we can see that He gave it to us to be fruitful and multiply. So yes it's for procreation.
Yes it's for bringing children into the world. But God didn't say you couldn't have some fun while you're doing it. And you can have fun in sex. It doesn't have to be a dirty word. It doesn't have to be a taboo subject. It's something that can be enjoyable, pleasurable, and listen to this, even blessed. But only in the boundaries and safety of a marriage relationship. That's the only place God will bless us. Outside of marriage actually sex can be an extremely destructive thing. It's sort of like dark rich soil. It's beautiful in the garden.
Not so nice if you bring it in on your white carpet in the house. So we need to keep sex in its proper place. But casual sexual encounters are made to look harmless and fun and sitcoms and music today. It's celebrated about all these things that people are going to do to each other. And you know you think of the impact that's had on our culture. Think of how different our world would be if we just obeyed one of the Ten Commandments.
Just one. Thou shall not commit adultery. That means that families would be together. So many families are broken up because of adultery. And then there are people that have premarital sex that never get married so the child is conceived out of wedlock. I was conceived out of wedlock by the way. So I know a little bit about this. I know what it is like to never have a stable father figure in my life.
I know what it is like to make a lot of bad choices and face the consequences for them. That was my trajectory until Jesus Christ came and turned my life around. But so many kids today haven't heard about Jesus Christ. There is no dad. There has never been a dad. Mom just got pregnant.
And maybe it even happened two or three times. Or maybe it is even different dads if you want to call them dads. Though they are really not much of a father in my book. So you have a bunch of kids that are step-brothers to each other. Step-sisters and so forth.
And then you have this kind of lifestyle that is being lived. And you can take almost every social ill in America today and specifically break it down to the breakdown of the family and to the absence of fathers. There are a lot of stats to back that up by the way. 63 percent of teenagers who attempt suicide live in fatherless homes. 71 percent of high school dropouts are from fatherless homes. 90 percent of all runaways and homeless children are from fatherless homes. 85 percent of all youth sitting in prison grew up in a fatherless home.
Fatherless sons are 300 percent more likely to be incarcerated in state juvenile institutions. Oh my. If we would just do what God said. If we would just get back to what He tells us about a husband and a wife and a father and a mother.
It would change our country. But we say oh well no. God doesn't know what He is talking about.
You know I want to go out there and I want to have fun and I want to have sex with whoever I want to have sex with. Besides what is the problem as long as they are consenting adults? Why has God even laid down a law like this?
Doesn't He know we have raging hormones? God laid those laws down for your own good. Sort of like traffic laws. You know when you are backed up for two miles in traffic and then you see the ongoing lane and the other direction is empty it can be tempting sometimes to leave your lane.
Sort of like the way they drive in Italy. Last time I was there I had an afternoon off and I rented a Vespa scooter. And so I said, come on Kathy let's just ride around and roam. And she wasn't real excited about this idea but I was.
I rent a motorcycle too so I felt pretty confident in commandeering a little scooter. And so we got on it but I realized people in Rome, Italy drive differently than we do here in the United States. They see lights as I guess a suggestion.
I am not even sure. They go around. They go into oncoming traffic. It is crazy.
So there are so many scooters there that they are like little swarms of bees that just kind of go through those lanes and they go into the oncoming lane and come around the front. At first I thought, this is crazy. This is insane. This is fun. I like this.
Kathy is terrified but she was holding on very tightly so it was good. You know. But see that is a crazy way to have a road system. We need order. We need structure. People get killed when you live that way. And the same is true of marriage.
If we would just obey what God says in His Word. Because you see when you engage in a sexual relationship with a person you enter into a state of oneness. Sex is meant to show oneness.
A bond. So if you say, well it meant nothing. You know it was a one night stand.
No it wasn't. Actually the apostle Paul said if you are even involved with a prostitute you enter into a oneness with her. 1 Corinthians 6 16. Don't you know that when a man joins himself to a prostitute he becomes one body with her for the Scripture says the two are united into one.
But the spirit who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. So run away from all sexual sin and be joined to the Lord because sexual sin affects the body and it is a sin against your own body. So there is no such thing as a one night fling.
There is no such thing as some little hookup you had that you think is meaningless. It means a lot to God and it means a lot to you. So you need to do it God's way.
Well come on now Craig. Does it really hurt anyone? Yeah it hurts a lot of people. What about innocent babies killed through abortion? What about that?
That alone is mind blowing. How many millions of children have been eliminated? Who knows out of all those millions of children that have been aborted if we would have not had the next doctor who would have found the cure for cancer. If we would not have had the next who knows great preacher to reach our country whatever. But all those lives needlessly thrown away.
And then it doesn't hurt anybody. What about the mother that contends with the abortion years later? Sometimes the pain of the abortion doesn't fully sink in until that young girl who may have got it in her teens now realizes what she did.
And as the years pass by and she sees other little children who would have been the age of her child if she had brought the little one to term she realizes the significance of what she has done. What about that? What about venereal disease? What about the AIDS virus?
Yeah it does hurt people. God has laid these laws down for our own good. So we want to pay careful attention to them. Because God will bless us as you come together in His perfect plan. Pastor Greg Laurie will have something special as today's program continues in just a moment. We hear from so many people who find Christ through Harvest Ministries. And it's a blessing to know that God is using His word to touch hearts. Pastor Greg, thank you for leading me to Christ three years ago at the Harvest Crusade. Although I'm not perfect, I realize that Christ in all His glory has made me want to become a better man because of everything you taught me. Through the word of God, I am now at peace. I've struggled my whole life with addiction and I've only overcome that battle because of everything that's been revealed to me.
And I want you to know that you had a major influence on my life and I can't thank you enough. God bless you and harvest eternally. An encouraging story of how God's word is changing lives through the ministry of harvest. Do you have a story to tell of how Pastor Greg's teaching has touched you? Call us and let us know at 866-871-1144.
That's 866-871-1144. Well, we're talking about the sexual aspect of marriage relationships today. And recently, Pastor Greg was part of a panel discussing the subject alongside a couple of his associate pastors at his home church. It's a frank discussion, and parents, if there are younger ears listening, you might want to consider another activity for them for a few minutes. Sex outside of marriage is destructive. So there's somebody listening right now and they're saying, actually I think sex outside of marriage is a lot of fun.
And they're enjoying themselves. And you know the Bible even says that there can be pleasure in sin for a time. We're not denying that fact, but there's repercussions. People don't think about the long term. Why don't we talk just for a moment how can sex or why is sex outside of marriage destructive?
What do you think, Jason? Well, I think obviously it's a direct disobedience to God. I mean God designed it and so He said you shouldn't. And so you're separating yourself from God. It's a sin before God, and this is what God says about it. It's a sin and it's wrong. Now, on top of all of that, you're reaping what you sow here. You are going to get, as I mentioned, thoughts and you might even reap repercussions as, let's just say a pregnancy or an STD. But even more than that, I think, is just your relationship with God.
It really becomes, I'd say, in jeopardy because of your decisions here in sex outside of marriage. Yeah. That's right. You know sin can almost be compared to being drunk. Drunk people don't always know they're drunk. They think they're funny. They think they're cool.
They think they're in control and they're out of control. When you come under the power of sin, it's amazing how stupid you can be. So, you know, sin makes you stupid. And so if someone is listening right now and they're like having sex and they've somehow rationalized—this is outside of marriage, of course— and they've somehow rationalized it and said, No, I think in my case it's all right. The Lord spoke to my heart and said, It's cool, my child. Have fun.
Or something like that. Okay. First of all, that wasn't God because God will never contradict His Word. But if you've gotten into a state where you have managed to rationalize it and you feel okay about it, that's actually an indication you are under the power of sin and you're not thinking clearly. That's why when we come back to Scripture it sort of realigns us. Like, Oh, right. This is what is true.
Because our emotions and culture and so many things are, well, they're at war with the Word of God is the reality. What do you think, Jonathan? Absolutely. It is so easy to feel like, Oh, well, I'm a special case. God made a special exception for me. I can have sex with my girlfriend. Or, Hey, I'm viewing pornography. And so it's not the same as going out and sleeping with different girls. This is okay with God.
This is special. Listen, 1 Thessalonians 4-3, For this is the will of God, your sanctification that you abstain from sexual immorality. This is the Word of God. This is what the Bible says.
And that's what it comes down to. Yeah, you know, a lot of times people will say, I need to know the will of God. What's His will?
And let's start with the no brainers. The Bible actually has some things very clear. It's very clear in certain topics like this is the will of God and this is one of them there. And Thessalonians, this is the will of God to abstain from these things. You know, David fell into adultery with Bathsheba. And after he was confronted, he lived in sin for quite a long time. He was confronted by the prophet Nathan and he finally repented. And after that he wrote Psalm 51. And among other things he said, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and then sinners will be converted to You.
So really what David is saying is, Lord, I blew it. Give me a new heart. Change me.
Help me. And so it's an acknowledgment of that. And I do think that once there has been a breakdown in one of these areas, it's easier to fall in that area again. So you have to be very careful. You can almost liken it maybe to you broke your arm once and maybe there is a vulnerability there.
Maybe a little more vulnerability than if you had never broken your arm before. Having said that, that doesn't mean that now you are going to fall into whatever because God will never give you more than you can handle. And sometimes when we say, well there is no way I could resist it, well it is because you put yourself in a situation that was insane. You know like, oh yeah I booked this hotel room with this girl that I am not married to and we were laying down on the bed and talking.
And then we kind of got tempted. Yeah you are an idiot. Okay.
What are you talking about? So of course you fell into sin doing something like that. So sometimes the best way to get out of a sinful situation is literally walk out the door. Not pray for the strength to resist it but literally say, I am walking out. I am hitting the off button. I am terminating the phone conversation. I am going to block you.
We are not going to talk anymore via text or whatever it is. But put a stop to it. So you have to take a practical step and then you need to pray and fill your mind and heart with the Word of God so you don't get into that situation again. Yeah I think of Joseph as you are talking about a way of escape. Look at literally what Joseph did when Potiphar's wife tried to pull him down and have sex with her. Listen there was nobody around. This could have been maybe, oh this is maybe my way up to climb the corporate ladder Joseph might have thought.
But you know what? He honored God and Joseph ran out of that room. And she ripped his cloak off of him. He is thinking ran out of there naked. And it is like hey he was doing what was right and he did what was embarrassing.
And maybe what the culture would have said you are an idiot for doing that. But God had provided a way of escape. And sometimes that way of escape is literally an off button.
A doorknob or literally a window that you need to climb out of and get out of that situation. Studies have been done that show that people who live together before marriage actually have far higher divorce rates than people that don't. So you think oh yeah we are practicing. We are checking it out. No. Actually what you are doing you are sabotaging. That is what you are doing. It is like I am going to move into this house.
But before I do I am going to take a backhoe and tear the foundation apart as I am living in it. Yeah that is a way to ruin your marriage in the future. Not to set the stage for a successful marriage. And you know sex is a wonderful part of marriage. But that is not what marriage is all about.
And there is a lot more to it. It is really for you know as time passes and we have been married well over 40 years. Kathy and I you know we have come to value each other so much as not you know husband and wife yes. But as just friends. The closest friends too.
And partners in every way. And it is so wonderful I must say as we look back in our life and we have memories going back decades. Remember this time.
Remember that. And watching our children grow. Watching our grandchildren grow. All of this blessedness that comes from honoring the word of God. Pastor Greg Laurie speaking with his associate pastors Jason Powell and Jonathan Laurie about God's plan for sex within marriage. An important edition of A New Beginning. One of our top ten most requested messages of the year. The title of the study is God's Plan for Sex and Marriage. You can get a replay of what you may have missed by going to harvest.org.
You can stream the study while you are online or download an MP3 for later. Or for a permanent CD copy just call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 hours a day.
Again at 1-800-821-3300. People are talking about Pastor Greg's new film A Rush of Hope. A Cinematic Crusade.
After viewing the film more than 17,000 people have made decisions for Christ. Just watched A Rush of Hope. The scenes from the movie brought tears to my eyes.
Oh wow. I cried it was so good. I had tears streaming down my face for most of the show.
The way he explains it, it's so simple but yet it holds so much weight. It is very well done and our family watched it and shared about it on all of our social media platforms as well. Thank you for all that you do Pastor Greg. Because of listening to your sermons and watching a trailer for A Rush of Hope, I decided to rededicate my life to Christ. A Rush of Hope. A Cinematic Crusade. Viewed by more than 1.8 million people. And now it's available on DVD exclusively from a new beginning. And Pastor Greg people have been asking about this haven't they? In fact people have asked me, hey when's A Rush of Hope coming out on DVD?
Yes Dave I've heard the same thing. People would comment on my social media. I loved it. I watched it five, six, seven, eight times. Because as you know over a given week in Labor Day weekend we showed it multiple times and people just kept watching it and watching it. And then wanting to share it with friends but of course we never archived it. You couldn't watch it on demand.
You could only watch it for one of the showings. But now you can watch it whenever you want, wherever you want, with whomever you want to watch it with because A Rush of Hope is on DVD. And not only that but we've added some special resources to this offer. Including a special little book called A Rush of Hope, a little booklet where we answer life's most difficult questions that you could give out to somebody who is not yet a Christian. There's also a little piece that we wrote on how to host a watch party. We saw thousands of people make a profession of faith after we showed this on Labor Day weekend.
Well over 17,000 people and now we believe thousands and thousands more will come to Christ as well. And so we're going to put this resource in your hands and all you've got to do is order it. You say well what do I need to do? We'll send it to you for your gift of any size. Yeah that's right and your investment couldn't come at a more strategic time. So contact us today for the DVD of A Rush of Hope along with the booklet on life's most important questions and the resources to help you host a watch party. Plus we'll send you a digital download code so you can watch online right from your computer or tablet or smart phone.
That way you can take it with you and share it with a friend, a cinematic crusade in your pocket or purse. So write us today at A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300.
And we can take your call 24-7. Or just go online to Harvest.org. Hey everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study. It's a worship service. It's church in your home. Maybe you're not able to get out to your church right now. If so join us for Harvest at Home.
People are listening in from around the world and listen to this. We have seen thousands of people make a commitment to follow Christ. So join us this weekend for Harvest at Home at Harvest.org. Well next time Pastor Greg has more counsel from his message called God's Plan for Sex and Marriage. Good insights on helping our marriages go the distance. Next time on A New Beginning with Pastor Greg Laurie. The preceding message from Greg Laurie was made possible by Harvest Partners. Helping people everywhere know God. Sign up for Pastor Greg's free daily email devotions at harvest.org.
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