12/13/2013 - The Adultery

Currently, the means of communication, especially television, have created the concept that adultery is something normal, and because of that, amongst people that do not serve God, such thing is accepted as part of life. However, not long ago, such foolish act was considered a crime even in Brazilian law. The family institution is in danger. Because of this sin, many people don’t even recall the number of times that they have married or went to “live” with someone else.

There are parents who on weekends, have to go to two, three or more houses to pick up their children – and these children have different behavior, according to the education they receive – in order to take them for a walk. That is not the life the Lord God intended for His children. Dear reader, I am absolutely sure that behind adultery lies an action of a power/potestade.  Read this message carefully and learn not to let be carried away by this spirit which has ruled over many lives.

FEAR OF THE LORD – The Bible is very clear concerning adultery, separation and divorce, which are abomination to our Creator. Such deviations, however, have become “ordinary” even amongst the people of God. Actually many people have lacked fear of the Lord. What makes a person commit adultery? Curiosity? The need to find a person who is the love of their life? The inability of the spouse to fulfill the other? Weak mind? I reiterate my opinion: the cause of adultery is in the lack of fear for the Lord. Take a look at some blessings that are available to those who fear God (the list could be far greater, but due to lack of space, I will quote only a few): Share the secret of the Lord: The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant (Psalm 25:14). Receive the goodness of the Lord: Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men! (Psalm 31:19). The Lord contemplates them: Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy…(Psalm 33:18). The angel protects them: The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:7). Does not lack anything: Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him (Psalm 34:9). Do not fight by yourself: You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth (Psalm 60:4). They have a heritage: For You, O God, have heard my vows;
You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name (Psalm 61:5). They have salvation: Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land (Psalm 85:9). Have their days increased: The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened (Proverbs 10:27). Escape the snares of death: The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death (Proverbs 14:27).

THE ADULTERER IS PROFANE – Profane is the person which despises the institutions established by the Lord.  Esau was the first-born son of Isaac and Rebecca, and he was also twin brother of Jacob, who was born right after him, tied to the heel of his older brother. The primogeniture law was held in those days, which meant the dedication of a special blessing from the father to the oldest son, the leadership over the family after the father´s death and the receiving of a heritage two times bigger than the other children.

Since his early years, Esau was fascinated with the wild life. Hunting was his passion as he used to spend many hours in the wilderness. When he would come back, Esau prepared his quarry and invited his father to relish them, while also having his brother Jacob´s admiration. Jacob was a man who lived in shacks, a contemplative man and even more spiritual. One day, when Esau came back from the fields, he was very tired and noticed that his brother had prepared a juicy dish of lentils. So Esau asked his brother to give him some of that food. His brother Jacob asked him if he would sell him his primogeniture rights for that dish of lentils. Without thinking about the consequences, Esau answered “yes”. Here is the narrative: Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom. Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34).  Such careless act by Esau was considered profane by the Lord, as we read in the Epistles to the Hebrews: See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done (Hebrews 12:16,17).  Esau considered worthless the primogeniture law; he only wanted to satisfy his hunger. But when he came to senses, with tears he sought repentance, for he wanted to inherit his blessing, but he was rejected. So you must be thinking: “What has this story to do with adultery”? I will explain it to you: just as Esau profaned the primogeniture law, those who give in to adultery are profaning the matrimony institution, which origin is in the Lord. There can be all sorts of excuses for a person who gives in to adultery, however, none of them resists the following confrontation: those who fear the Lord delight in His law and despise sin.

DIVORCE IS NOT AN ESCAPE – People who are married see a “breach” in mans law in order to get involved with another person. This “gap” is called divorce. However, the Lord disgust such institute because that is not His will, and therefore, it should not be accepted by those who truly love the Word of God: “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,”[e] says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful (Malachi 2:16). It is not a good thing to like that which annoys the Lord…Divorce is abhorred by the Lord and there was only one exception to it, in case of adultery – and that´s due to the hardiness of the heart of those who don’t know what forgiveness means: Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”  “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:3-9).

We will be judged by the Word of the Lord. That startled the disciples, who were aware of the problems that take place in a marriage – because some spouses give in to the enemy – and manifested their perplexity: “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” (v.10). The Lord Jesus does not support someone’s decision to remain single just because of the fear of having some future problem in the marriage, but only if a person receives this gift: Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it” (Matthew 19:11-12).

The truth is that it of no avail to argue, quote cases, talk about needs, because the Lord is a God of miracles and He can do whatever is necessary to sustain a marriage and make it a happy one. Going back to Esau´s example, what mattered to him was to satisfy his immediate appetite and the rest…..Well, the rest was of no value. Isn’t this what happens to people who give in to temptation? Those who don’t respect that which was instituted by the Lord, later on will hear from His lips: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46). Some people say that God understands them, that He knows what they have been through, and because of that, He is allowing them to be used in His work, having them convey the Word, casting out demons and working miracles. That can serve as a justification to society, but it will not be an argument on Judgment Day. Many people will be surprised when they realize that the Word of God does not change! The Lord Jesus has told us in advance which will be His answer to those who violate the divine institutes: Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:22-23).

WHAT ABOUT THE NEWLY CONVERTED? – It´s one thing when the person has already been enlightened with the Word; has been “converted” to the Lord, but takes attitudes contrary to God´s will. And it´s another thing, when someone lives in darkness, with his or her life entangled by the devil, but one day he or she hears the Word of the Lord, comply with His calling and convert to Him. These two attitudes are completely opposite to one another. There are people, who although they say they are Christians, they search for an opportunity to live a new marital experience, abandoning his or her companion and marrying another person. During his days, the Apostle Paul faced a problem that still takes place in our days: To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him (1 Corinthians 7:12,13). Paul was referring to the situation of brothers who were already married once they were converted: what to do in case the spouse doesn’t receive the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior? Clearly the apostle teaches that if the unbeliever does not reject the Christian spouse, then he or she must remain married, for this way the family is sanctified: For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy (v. 14). Some time before, Paul said that the divorced Christian should not marry again, but actually fight for the wedding to succeed: But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife (v.11). Thus, this advice is for every Christian, whether they are newly converted or not. Paul concluded the this topic in a brilliant manner, saying that each one should remain in the position that they were called by the Lord: Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches (v. 17).

THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE ADULTERERS  – The Scriptures warn us that we must be wise and vigilant because our adversary wants to devour us: Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5.8). I was a young boy, around eight or nine years old, and not exactly sure what adultery was, since my understanding was very small regarding such a despicable thing. But what I read in the Word of God cause such a great impact in my life, that I soon prayed, and said: “Lord, I never want to commit this adultery “thing”. Deliver me from such ting, Lord”! The Word warns us: But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.  Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away. For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is. (Proverbs 6.32-35). What good is it for a person to be unfaithful to his or her spouse? The pleasure that comes with the illicit relationship is followed by the guilty conscious ( for those who still don’t have it cauterized), physical sufferings ( once the devil now has access to the person’s life, causing several evils), and above all things, the separation from God – and this will be for all eternity, in case the person doesn’t repent and surrender his or her life to Jesus before he or she dies. One day, when we stand before God´s Court, all things will come to light: although such act might have been in secret, it will be exposed to everyone ( this doesn’t count for those who are redeemed, once the Bible says that when God forgives us, He erases, completely forgets our sins – Isaiah 43:25; Malachi 7:19)! Such foolishness! Eternal shame will follow those who are unfaithful!  In his book entitled, The Greatest Reunion of all times, W.V. Grant, warns unfaithful women – but such warning goes for unfaithful husbands: Thy women who have betrayed your husbands, the demons of sensuality will have you embrace and kiss the flames of hell for all eternity.

IT´S TIME FOR REPENTANCE – If you have already commited this sin, but until today you thought it was “normal”, confess it now to the Lord and ask Him for forgiveness. If you are practicing adultery, stop with it today and pray to God that He may forgive you and deliver you of this evil spirit. If you are tempted to commit adultery, rebuke this demon that wants you to fall and ask the Lord for strength to resist all evil. Observe that which is right, and practice God´s justice at all times (Psalm  106.3); pray like the psalmist and God will forgive you and give you new robes as white as snow. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. (Psalm 51:1-17).