Tuesday, February 4, 2014

2/9/ SELF – DENIAL: THE KEY TO SINGLE LIVING


THE KEY TO SINGLE LIVING

 

Matthew 16:24-25

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

 

WAYS SINGLES MUST PRACTICE SELF - DENIAL:

 

I.            FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY

 

Many single people presume that they can only serve God effectively when they are married. Jeremiah, Jesus, Paul, (John the revelator), Barnabas, Daniel all served God effectively as single people.

 

Col. 2:9-10

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gen. 2:18

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

 

1.  _________________   Issues

 

2.  Low Self Esteem Issues

 

 

 

II.          PRE-MARITAL FLESHLY EXPRESSION

 

1. Little Or ______   ____________ - _____________

 

2. Sex Before Marriage

 

a.  Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and Physical Bond.

1 Cor. 6:15-17

 

b.  5 times directly and 15 times indirectly - Bible says “Don’t do it.”

 

c.  Col. 3:5 – Inordinate Affection (or do all but the act) – Standard is “Brother and Sister”

 

3.  ____________________ Self-  Gratification

 

4.  Visual Self-Gratification

 

 

 

 

III.        SQUANDERING TIME

 

1.  Singles Must Use Their ___________   _____________.

 

1 Cor. 7:32

32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife

 

a.  Serve Instead Of ____________  ________________

 

b.  Live Responsibly

 

c.  Prepare For The Future

 

d.  Serve God Fully

 

 

 

IV.       ENTERING INTO WRONG RELATIONSHIPS DUE TO PRESSURE

 

1.  Singles Must ________   Lower ______________   For

 

______________.

 

1 Cor. 6:14-16

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

As God has said. “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”

 

 

Gen. 2:21-23

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

 

 

 

2.  Singles Must Not Get Too Deep In __________ - ______________ Relationships (i.e. Dating). Def. Exclusive Non-Committal Relationship

       

a.  Dating Causes People To Skip The Friendship Stage Of A Relationship – Dating has romantic expectation – In a true friendship no pressure that you like someone and they like you.  Dating automatically means romance. – Premise of dating “I’m attracted to you so let’s get to know each other.”

 

b.  Dating Often Confuses A Physical Relationship For Love -  Physical intimacy makes them feel close – bond is lust

 

 

 

c.  Dating Isolates Couples From Other Vital Relationships

 

Prov. 15:22

Unless a man is prepared to ask a woman to be his wife what right does he have to claim her exclusive attention.

 

d.  Dating Can __________________ From Preparation For The Future

College dating

 

e.  Dating Can Cause Discontentment With Singleness – “You get just enough intimacy to keep wanting more.”

 

 

f.    Dating Can Create An Artificial Environment To Evaluate Each Others Character (artificial image; charm; fun;)  We need to watch each other (work, solve problems, serve, interact with people, handle conflict)

 

g.  Puts You In ________________  _________________ That

 

Can Quickly Become Frisky

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