In 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, Paul speaks about purity in the sexual area. 1 Thess. 4:4 could be translated in two possible ways. The word "vessel" here (skeuos in Greek) could refer either to our body or to our wife.
So it could mean:"Each of you must know how to possess his own body in sanctification and honour." We must learn to keep our body holy and pure, because the will of God is that we must be sanctified (1 Thess. 4:3). There are many areas where we don't know what God's will is. But this is one area where we definitely know what it is. To be sanctified means to be separated from everything that is sinful, worldly and un-Christlike. We must learn how to keep our bodies free from all such evil.
1 Thessalonians 4:4 could also mean:"Each of you must know how to acquire his own wife in sanctification and honour." That means, the way you get your wife must be in a holy and pure way. There are many unholy ways in which people try to get wives. Looking for a dowry is one of those unholy ways. Are you looking for a wife in a holy way, or do you look for worldly qualifications when looking for a wife? To look for a wife "in lustful passion", is to look for a wife like the heathen do. But if you want to serve God, you must look for a wife who has the same godly desire that you have.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:6, Paul goes on to say that "no one should ever cheat his brother in this matter." That means, "Don't get too friendly with someone else's wife", for "God is the avenger of those who do that." We have to be very careful in our relationships with the opposite sex, because we live in a society today that is very similar to the one that the Thessalonians lived in, where sexual immorality is not considered sinful. There is, unfortunately, a lot of immorality among young people in churches and even among Christian workers in these days. It is important that, as Christians, we are different from the world, and that we have a clear testimony in this area. You must know how to preserve your body in purity in this area. Otherwise you will fail the Lord. Samson and David are tragic examples of people who knew God, who failed. There are many like them in our day as well.
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Zac Poonen ( - Present)
God called brother Zac Poonen to a new work early on in his Christian experience. The movement is now called Christian Fellowship Churches where the New Covenant of New Testament Christianity is clearly preached.Brother Zac Poonen has written 25 books most of them being on the deeper Christian life. Many of these have been translated into a number of languages and have been circulated widely around the world. He clearly and passionately shares the narrow way of Christian discipleship that is neglected by so many modern preachers.
Recommends these books by Zac Poonen:
Through The Bible by Zac Poonen
The Final Triumph-A verse by verse study of the book of Revelation by Zac Poonen
Beauty for Ashes by Zac Poonen
Zac Poonen is a former Indian Naval Officer who has been in full time ministry in India for nearly 50 years as a Bible teacher and preacher. He holds responsibility for a number of churches in India and abroad. He currently pastors the Christian Fellowship Church in Bangalore, Karnataka.
He has written more than 25 books and numerous articles in English - which have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages. His messages are available on audio and video format.
Like the other elders in his church, Zac Poonen also supports himself and his family through what he describes as "tent-making" and does not receive any salary for his services. He does not receive any royalties for any of his books, CDs or DVDs, that are published by Christian Fellowship Centre, Bangalore.