ABSTINENCE
WHY SHOULD I ABSTAIN?
Romans 14:6 . . . Those who have a special day for worshiping the Lord are trying to honor him. Those who eat all kinds of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who won’t eat everything also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.
1 Corinthians 7:5 . . . Do not deprive each other of sexual relations. The only exception to this rule would be the agreement of both husband and wife to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time, so they can give themselves more completely to prayer. Afterward they should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt them because of their lack of self-control.
Abstinence can be pleasing to the Lord as a way to show him our thankfulness and our devotion to him. Abstinence may be less what we stay away from and more who we stay close to.
Leviticus 19:4 . . . Do not put your trust in idols or make gods of metal for yourselves. I, the Lord, am your God.
1 Corinthians 6:19 . . . Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself.
Abstinence is a way to recognize God’s supremacy and personal authority over our lives. Since our bodies are the temple of the Spirit of God, we must be careful what we invite in, so that we do not profane the temple.
Romans 14:21 . . . Don’t eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another Christian to stumble.
1 Corinthians 8:13 . . . If what I eat is going to make another Christian sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live-for I don’t want to make another Christian stumble.
Abstinence may be necessary for the sake of another’s relationship with God. It is essential to stay away from things that cause us to sin. It is essential also to stay away from things that cause others to sin, those who are watching us as their role models.
FROM WHAT SHOULD I ABSTAIN?
1 John 5:21 . . . Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
God desires a heart totally devoted to Him. We are to love Him with an all-consuming love which cannot by definition be divided or misplaced. Love is always a problem of priorities-who or what is first in our lives. If we are tempted to displace God in our lives, we had better replace him with someone bigger-but who would that be?
1 Thessalonians 5:22 . . . Keep away from every kind of evil.
Psalm 119:101 . . . I have refused to walk on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to your word.
1 Peter 2:11 . . . Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So, I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls.
Colossians 3:5, 8 . . . Put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
Psalm 101:4 . . . I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.
We are to abstain from every evil action and thought. A heart filled with righteousness and goodness has no more room for evil.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 . . . God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin.
One evil that God clearly gives us a command to avoid is every kind of sexual related sin. This is particularly important in a marriage relationship where faithfulness and trust are critical to the bond of unity God intended between a husband and wife.
Proverbs 14:7 . . . Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge there.
2 Timothy 3:5 . . . They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.
Proverbs 22:24-25 . . . Keep away from angry, short-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.
1 Corinthians 5:11 . . . What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with such people.
Psalm 26:4-5 . . . I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked.
1 Timothy 5:22 . . . Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
We are admonished to abstain from keeping “bad company” for our own soul’s protection. Bad company often leads to bad conduct. So, to abstain from bad conduct, abstain first from bad company.
HOW IS ABSTINENCE MADE POSSIBLE? HOW DO WE ABSTAIN FROM THE THINGS THAT HARM US?
Colossians 3:7, 9, 11 . . . You used to do them when your life was still part of this world . . . you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds . . .In this new life . . .Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Ephesians 5:18 . . . Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.
1 John 3:9 . . . Those who have been born into God’s family do not sin, because God’s life is in them. So, they can’t keep on sinning, because they have been born of God.
Romans 13:14 . . . Let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires.
Abstinence is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s gift to every Christian. The more we find a place for the Holy Spirit, the less we have a place for evil influences.
2 Peter 1:6 . . . Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.
Titus 2:12 . . . We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God.
1 Peter 1:13 . . . Think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ.
Self-control is a key to abstinence, and it is a result of getting to know God! Devotion to God enables me to think more clearly with an eternal perspective and exercise greater self-control.
Psalm 36:1 . . . Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them.
Proverbs 16:6 . . . Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin; evil is avoided by fear of the Lord.
Developing a respect for God helps me to abstain from evil. Godliness is not by itself just staying away from evil; it is staying close to God.
Proverbs 4:15 . . . Avoid their haunts. Turn away and go somewhere else.
Proverbs 4:24 . . . Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech.
There are times when the best way to practice abstinence is to physically remove yourself from a tempting situation.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF NOT ABSTAINING?
Proverbs 5:23 . . . He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his incredible folly.
Proverbs 25:28 . . . A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.
I become vulnerable when I act without self-control. I control my hands and feet best when I control my mind and heart.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 . . . Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers-none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God. There was a time when some of you were just like that, but now your sins have been washed away, and you have been set apart for God. You have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you.
A life-style of indulging in evil has eternal consequences. I should abstain from all evil out of gratefulness for what God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have done for me. God and evil cannot live side by side in the inner places of your heart.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ABSTINENCE?
Romans 6:13 . . . Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.
1 Thessalonians 4:4 . . . Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honor.
Abstaining from all evil is a way I can give God glory. It is impossible to cling to a sinful lifestyle and a holy God at the same time.
Song of Songs 8:9-10 . . . “If she is chaste, we will strengthen and encourage her. But if she is promiscuous, we will shut her off from men.” Young Woman: “I am chaste, and I am now full breasted. And my lover is content with me.”
Abstaining from sexual sin before marriage provides great blessings to you and your spouse after marriage.
PROMISE FROM GOD:
Galatians 5:22-23 . . . When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.