Using Sex to Get Over

I was reading my chapter the other morning when I came across 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6. As I read it, I had to re-read it to make sure I was understanding it correctly. It says, ‘For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,5 not in passion of lust…6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such…’ So, lets break it down and I’ll ask you if you see what I see.

Verse 3 says, ‘For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality…’ That means it is God’s will that we single folk keep our private parts private which we would include all sexual activities like: sex talk, visual sex (or watching sexually explicit content), kissing, touching, dancing, dry humping, self-sex (sorry), vaginal/penile massages (yikes), oral (oops) and traditional sex. Excuse my forwardness, but I had to make sure we were clear. With that being said, verse 4 says, ‘that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor…’ Sanctification here would mean that we be separated from all premarital sexual activities mentioned before. Now before you close the tab and move on because you ain't tryna hear this today, allow me to explain because this is where it gets interesting. Verse 6 says, ‘that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such’. If I’m understanding this correctly, this is saying that when someone uses and/or takes advantage of a person by using sex, God will avenge that person. This would also include "trickin'". Did you get that from that because if so, I don’t know about you, but I had never heard of such a thing.

With that being the case, that would mean that God will avenge those that are being trafficked. Those that were taken advantage of. Those that were defrauded and tricked into trafficking. But not only that, those who use sex to take advantage or get what they want from people. That would include those involved in; prostitution and sugaring (hence trickin'), stripping, pimpin', adultery, and let's not forget those faithful, church-attending, choir-singing single folk who let-it-do-what-it-do. Anytime, anyone uses sex to defraud, vengeance awaits. And if you think about it, this explains certain aspects of the MeToo Movement. Those who used their position, influence, and power to take advantage of those who were seeking to advance their careers or who simply needed a job, God is avenging byway of exposing their behavior.

The Protection of Repentance

But here’s the other thing. The only reason He is, is because those who did, failed to repent because believe you me, God gave them an opportunity to get it right. Had they repented for their sexual misconduct, transgressions, and sexual sins, God would have forgiven them. Unfortunately, they didn’t, which is why they are being exposed. And this my dear reader is why repentance is so important. If you’ve ever used your goodies to get over, REPENT! Ask God to forgive you for every time you did something strange for some change. Ask Him to forgive the times you just ‘had to get it in.’ I know that was a bit forward, but it needed to be said. There is a hidden protection in repentance that protects you from exposure. Partake of it today so as to ensure you’re protected from His vengeance in the future.

Pray this with me: Heavenly Father, please forgive me when I used to sex as a way to get what I needed. Please forgive me for the times I used my body to trick people into giving me what I wanted. Lord, I repent. I ask that You’d cleanse, and help me to come to You for what I need, instead of using my temple to get it. In Jesus’ name.

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