Chariot April 2005 - Norm Wakefield

Caution: This article is not intended for a younger audience, as it is dealing with the important issue of sexual purity. Please use wisdom accordingly in regard to whether or not your children or young adults read the article. Thank you!

Rising to the Call to Purity - Part 3  

    In this third part of a series of articles on rising to the call to purity, I want us to continue looking at the passage from 1 Thessalonians 4. Paul's words are directed toward the men in the congregation and therefore I'm also addressing the men. However, certainly women may find wisdom for their lives as well. We've seen so far we are to:

·         Be holy to our wives.

·         Treat our wives as holy.

·         Abstain from sexual immorality and impurity.

Why is this so important?

    In the 1 Thessalonians 4:6-8, Paul told why it was important for a man to be governed by purity in relationship with his wife before and after marriage: our relationships with others and with God are affected.

Purity expresses love for your brother and his "vessel"

    . . . and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter . . . (1 Thessalonians 4:6a).

    How does a man transgress or defraud a brother? This warning suggests Paul wasn't talking about a man caring for his own body, but rather the obtaining of a wife–his own vessel (v. 4). The question might be asked another way: How does one man's impurity and lustful passion transgress or defraud a brother in Christ?

    If we could put ourselves into the mindset of the culture to which this was written we would understand a man's wife was considered his possession. Apparently, the Lord considers a man's wife to be his even before he's married! When we transgress against a brother, we overstep the limits separating purity from licentiousness and violate the principle of holiness. The apostle taught the men that holiness was the principle to be applied in the process of seeking a wife. He was to treat all women as someone else's vessel until he was sure he had found the one woman God had determined was to be his. If a man treats all women in the church [or outside the church] as objects of self-satisfaction, he approaches the process without regard for his brother or the Lord's command. How can this be?

    Let's think through this logically. Since Christian marriage is between one man and one woman for life, a man can only marry one of his sisters in Christ. The rest of the sisters will more than likely marry a brother in Christ because they are also in Christ. Therefore, when a man lusts after a woman who is not his wife, he is lusting after the future wife of a brother in Christ. If a man is impure with a sister in the Lord, when she marries the man's brother in Christ, she will bring into the relationship the effect (guilt and shame) of the previous impure relationship with another man. A brother in Christ stepped past the limits of sanctity and sought to have more than was his; thus taking away the purity of a marriage relationship between the woman and his brother in Christ. The first man defrauded his brother in the matter because he wronged him by seeking to get something which didn't belong to him–the use of the body of a woman who God views as holy to his brother.

    Perhaps if we envision a more contemporary situation and simply change the time frame, we can more easily understand the importance of rising to the call to purity. What would you say about a man who lusts after the wife of a brother in Christ today? Have you ever witnessed a flirtatious man in church, one who wants to get the attention of women who are married? Have you ever noticed a man checking out the shape of another man's wife in church? What is the man doing? He's stepping past (transgressing) the limits of holiness and using another man's wife to gratify his vanity or lust for significance and attention.

    When did that behavior begin? More than likely it began as a teen when he began looking for a girlfriend. He wasn't concerned about others, only about his own selfish desires. The practice of using women for selfish pleasure became a habit which continued into marriage.

    We're all familiar with the Golden Rule. If you are a single man, how would you want your future wife to be treated by other men? Do you want her body to be lusted after and perhaps even violated, her attention and emotions to be used and abused, a distrusting and disrespectful attitude toward men instilled through repeated heartbreaks, and her heart/mind/ guilt-ridden before she gets to you? Treat other women as you would want your future wife to be treated.

    One man put it this way: he doesn't like the idea of the car he wants to buy being test-driven time and time again before he buys it. It will surely get scratched and dented because people don't treat things which aren't their own with as much care as if the item were their own. Good point!

    If a church teaches its young people to rise to the call of holiness in their relationships, it would transform the social dynamics in the church for generations to come! We need to teach our sons that their relationships with young women should be governed by their love for their brothers and sisters in Christ. It's a habit which will prepare them for pure relationships in their older years. Their purity is an expression of love for their brothers and their future wives.

Purity is about relationship with God

    The second reason rising to the call of purity is important is it impacts one's relationship with God.

    . . . because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8).

    How a man exercises holiness in his relationships with members of the opposite sex reflects his relationship with God. Notice the following points from verses 6-8:

·         The Lord is the avenger in all these things.

·         God called us for the purpose of purity.

·         To reject purity is to reject God and the Holy Spirit.

    An avenger is one who exacts a penalty from a person. In the case mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4, God exacts a penalty from one who wrongs a brother in this matter of misusing his wife. This should be a very solemn warning. There's a price to be paid for not rising to the call to purity. How does God avenge the brother whose wife one lusts after or uses for selfish ends? We're not told in this passage, but we can confidently say it affects one's relationship with God!

    God has called us to purity, holiness, and honor in our relationships with women. Our response to the call is revealed in how we treat them. If we reject this call, we are not rejecting a man's teaching, but God, Himself. He has given us His Spirit, a Spirit of holiness, and therefore to ignore this application of holiness is tantamount to a rejection of God. God will not allow a man to sin in this area with impunity.

    In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, the great apostle motivated his readers to holiness in relationships by reminding them "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). We can all be sure we will answer to Jesus Christ for how we care for our brothers and their wives (presently or in the future). Therefore, it is important for us to rise to the call to purity–for our future happiness and for the glory of the Lord.

Rise to the call!

    As we finish this series on purity, I urge you, brothers, to rise to the call to purity. Be holy to your wives and set them apart to yourself by restraining yourself from lustful passion so prominent in our culture. I encourage you to look to God to fulfill your needs through your relationship with the Holy Spirit and through your wife as He provides through her. Beware the wolf within whose ravenous appetite for using women can be awakened with a careless look at a woman, picture, or imagination. Starve it by rising to the call of purity through controlling your eyes (Ps. 101:2-3;6) and by worshipping Jesus Christ when you feel empty. It might also be good for us to realize we should protect what rightfully belongs to our wives–our bodies and purity!

    If you don't have a clear conscience with your wife, please don't allow much time to pass without making things right with her. If we are to rise to the call to purity, we need to do so in union with our wives. God has given your wife to you as a helper. Allow her to join the battle for your purity in prayer, encouragement, screening what comes into the home, and discerning needy women who are looking for attention from men about whom you need to be cautious.

    Brothers, we need one another. I invite you to link with other men in your church and family to encourage one another to rise to the call to purity. It is our calling from God and our responsibility to our brothers and sisters. To God be the glory as His Spirit works holiness in our lives through His Word.

Romania Report!

I want to express my appreciation for your prayer support during our recent ministry time in Sibiu, Romania. We saw God's hand of mercy and grace on a daily basis! Time and again, as Alma and I prayed for God's direction, protection, anointing, and assistance, we were encouraged by God's faithfulness. I hope some of the following testimonies will be an encouragement to you.

First, I'll give a general overview of the ministry which occurred in Romania. 

Sat. April 1 - I spoke on "Run to Win" to approximately 100 youth and parents at a church in Sibiu.
Sun. April 2 – "Unshakeable Faith" at The Brethren Church in Cisnadie where 3 churches assembled in the morning (400+ standing room only) and that evening "Run to Win" at First Baptist Church of Sibiu (660 out of 700 capacity in a new facility).
Mon. April 3 – In the morning, I spoke to a class of seniors at a Christian school on "Rethink the Way You Live". That evening "It's a Matter of Identity" was the topic shared at the youth Bible study at First Baptist Church of Sibiu (150 attended).
Tues. April 4 – The Baptist Assoc. of pastors met in the morning, and I shared regarding the calling out of sons. In the afternoon, Alma and I shared our testimony and the gospel to the parents of the kindergarten class from Cisnadie. None of the parents are believers. That evening I shared on God’s providing a place for us in troubled times at a cell group meeting from the church in Cisnadie.
Wed. April 5 – Alma and I were interviewed on the radio program "Sola Scriptura". 

I was very excited about the translators who assisted me on this trip. They were not only good at translating, but also expressed with heart what I was saying. This is so helpful to me as I felt God had given them a heart and ability to communicate the messages clearly and effectively.

Here are some encouraging testimonies from individuals.

Alex - a young man in his early 20’s
God revealed to him that he was looking for his identity by seeking attention from his peers. As he told me of the affect of his parent’s divorce and alcoholism, he realized his great need for the ministry of the heavenly Father revealed through Jesus Christ. 

Naomi - my interpreter to the youth group on Mon. evening.
She came running to catch me as I was leaving to tell me that God had really spoken to her. She realized as she was translating for me that she had thought she needed a boyfriend to be fulfilled. She was excited to realize the fulness she was looking for was to be found in her relationship with Jesus Christ.

Felicia Simon - Pastor’s wife who hosted us
With tears she said good-bye to us, remarking that God had spoken to her deeply about trusting in Him and living in His Word on a daily basis. With tears she expressed of God’s grace to her throughout the week as she listened to His Word. Alma and Felicia mutually encouraged each other all week.

Mark Nelson - a missionary teaching at a seminary in Sibiu
He told me that he remembered the message I spoke four years ago at their church. He had taught it to his children a couple of weeks earlier. He is discipling men to disciple new converts among the gypsies in surrounding villages.

Pastors Conference
Most of the pastors spoke English and wanted Equipping Men sets so they can learn and teach the men in their churches. Their response was very encouraging.

Parents of kindergarten class
They had been complaining to the teacher about the lack of heat in the classroom (they had cancelled classes for two months due to the cold). As we heard of this need, God had provided (before we left for Romania) for us to purchase a heater for the classroom as a testimony to these parents of the love of Christ.

These are just a few of the highlights. We’ve no idea what seeds were planted in hearts, but are trusting God to cause them to grow and glorify His name. We are grateful for your support (whether financial, emotional, or prayer) which makes this ministry possible and effective. The presence of the Lord was evident every time we met and ministered in His name. What a blessing it is to know of your love and prayerful under girding of this ministry.

To God be the Glory!

Norm and Alma Wakefield

New Resources for Your Family 

    This month we are continuing a special for those interested in the Equipping Men and Unshakable Faith video series. Also, we now have study guides for leaders and group participants available to download for all of Norm's series as well as the Equipped to Love book. Also, there is a new CD series for parents and teens, Teenagers 101, with a study guide available as well. All the messages in this series are available individually on CD and include the titles below. Next month, look for the new series On Fire for the Gospel, available on CD. 

*   Run to Win

*   Rethink the Way You Live

*   Preparing Your Teens for Life

*   I'm Old Enough to Make My Own Decisions, Part 1 and 2  

*   Preparing for Christ-Centered Relationships  

*   What About College?  

*   What's a Mom to Do With Teenage Sons?  

*   Passing on the Blessings  

Would you like to be on the Elijah Ministries Prayer Team?

    The backbone of Elijah Ministries is the prayer team who pray diligently for God to turn the hearts of men to Himself, their wives, and their children. Before I leave to speak, I send out a prayer team invitation to those who will intercede for God to work for His glory in us as a team for the Kingdom. Not only is it a blessing to those whom I speak and myself; but it is also a reminder to the team about the direction of their own hearts. If you would like to enter into the labor together with me, you may go to my website and click on "Prayer Team".

    If you haven't visited our website, www.spiritofelijah.com, please stop by sometime. You'll find:

*   Resources to equip you and your family

*   Previous Chariot articles

*   Norm's speaking schedule

*   Free MP3 downloads  

*   Various pages translated and available in Spanish  

*   An online store to purchase resources and make tax-free contributions by credit card