HAND INTO THE FIRE

 

Prov 6:27-28

Sodom and Gomorrah are standing illustrations of this awful truth. “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”  Jude 6. These two cities serve as a lasting metaphor for extreme human depravity and the consequences of ignoring God’s moral laws and plan for the family. All our burning lusts need to dealt with, and consumed by God’s wrath in holy judgement. We know sin is abhorred by a holy God, those who are guilty of sin expose themselves to contempt and indignation. Flirting with temptation is dangerous. Sin has consequences that cannot be avoided. Its not about how close I can get to the edge before falling off the cliff; it’s about realizing that my flesh can easily fall, so I need to be on guard at all times. It often involves thinking one can handle temptation or get "just a little bit closer without falling” The nature of mans sin is that temptation is rarely satisfied with a small, contained action; it aims for complete entrapment, tripping up individuals and stealing focus.

 

We need to first understand that any and all temptation does not come from God. “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:13-15

 

It comes from our sinful… 

Lusts…. James 1:14

Covetousness…1 Tim 6:9-10

Evil associates….. Prov 1:10; Prov 16:29

 

Feeding into the temptation can lead to death, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” 1 Tim 6:9

Submitting to wickedness interrupts a productive life, and damages your spiritual walk with the Lord. What is before us this morning is a warning to all men; but the same could be said to all women. The woman who doesn’t pursue the track of a godly woman, will be the person that Solomon warns his sons to be on the look out for and never enter into.

 

We are living in a time of unashamed perversion,

Numbness, animal, savage sexual behaviour, and adultery

 

Do you realize that if you combined the industries of Nascar, NFL, NBA, MLB and their annual income, it comes no where close to the Porn industries net income. The global porn industry generates an estimated $100 billion to over $172 billion annually, with some estimates projecting it to exceed $118 billion by 2030.

OnlyFans is an exceptionally profitable, high-growth digital subscription business, generating $1.41 billion in net revenue and $520 million in profit on $7.22 billion in total transaction volume in 2024.

 

Adultery inside the church and outside the church are no different according to stats you see from Stats Canada. According to one website, “One out of every ten (9%) Canadians who is currently married, divorced, separated or living common-law admits to having an extramarital affair, and 6 percent of Canadians who have not had an affair say that they are likely to have an affair in the future.” This evil, animalistic behaviour, has been with humanity since sin entered in and its only seems to be picking up stream with each generation that comes.

 

I never knew this until I studied it this week and it just affirmed even more how wicked we truly have become. But Paul did warn us about the heart of sinful man and sinful woman, “haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Rom 1:30-32

 

And what I didn’t know is there is a place to meet other married people to have affairs with. According to Ashley Madison which is a Toronto-based online adultery website aimed at married people wanting to have an affair.  According to Ashley Madison, a self-described “world’s leading married dating site” recently released its annual list, which is based on sign-up data from June 20, 2023, to September 22, 2023. Its data claims that 58% of Canadians believe society could benefit from moving toward a more open style of monogamy or non-monogamy. While some may assume one of Canada’s biggest cities, like Vancouver or Toronto, would be the top place for a summer affair, it’s somewhere quite remote. Whitehorse, Yukon, topped the list after not even placing in the top 20 last year. St. John’s, Newfoundland, was in second place, having held the top spot for the last three years. Guelph, Ontario, took third spot and Kelowna, BC, and Edmonton, Alberta, rounded out the top five cities. Cities in Ontario dominated the list as Kitchener (seven), London (eight) and Barrie (10) were also mentioned in the top 10 spots.

 

Society as we know it, is surrounded by perversion, and the temptation to destroy your marriage vows., and ultimately your purity before a holy God. The attack on the family continues to destroy lives and removes any hope that there is a God according to culture. Jesus warned that this would happen, because He said he would have more pity for Sodom and Gomorrah than the age to come after His departure. Sodom and Gomorrah were judged correctly and swiftly for their absolute abandonment to want is right, holy, and pure. And for that God destroyed their cities and every single one of them, and they will for all eternity, face the wrath of God for their perverted ways. But what about this Generation, who had the apostles, the gospel message, the full canon of Scripture, the church. What will happen to them? Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” Matt 10:15

 

Sexually perversion, fornication, adultery, and sexual enticement destroy the man or woman. Our adversary, the Devil is the author of this wickedness. "the devil has been sinning from the beginning." 1 John 3:8. He is described as the "father of lies" and a murderer in John 8:44. He is the ultimate tempter and adversary who introduces evil into the world. He disguises himself as an angel of light to make sin look good and holy. 2 Cor 11:14. He will use physical infirmities, natural temperament, exhaustion, loneliness and even previous trauma to propel us to circum to temptation and the allurement of sexual indecency.

The Devil wants to steal your joy, by promising

us counterfeit pleasures.

 

For the believer, Satan wants us to doubt the truth that we affirm, and the God we know. In the book I am reading, “Consider The Lillies” Jonny Ardavanis and in his research, he wrote, “The age of anxious people gets younger and younger, and many secular psychologists have linked the rise in anxiety to the rise in porn consumption. The average age of exposure to pornography today is eleven years old. Ninety-four percent of children will view porn by the age fourteen.”

 

But, what did Jesus say we are to do? “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt 5:8 That’s the believer’s pursuit in this life through their gospel confession; I want to have a pure heart before Him, because I want to see Him in all His glory. But, when we take our eyes of that prize, or the course of life, this is where temptation and allurement of this sexual society become overwhelming. Although pornography promises an “escape” all it truly does is perpetuate the poison of the mind, and captures the heart to impurity. Sexual sin corrupts our souls and wreaks havoc on our minds. Things like pornography, adultery, fornication, presents a constant allure of experiencing forbidden fruit that grows on new trees every single day. But we know the immediate results of this kind of fruit brings about shame and fear. “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Gen 3:7-10. This is what happens when a person who has a conscience falls into grievous sin.

 

God’s law has been sown into our hearts

as a guide to keep us from evil

 

What we look at with our eyers becomes the focus of our minds, and the focus of our minds become the treasure within our hearts. Jony Ardavanis wrote in his book, “the average person spends seven hours a day looking at their smartphone, computer and television screen, and sadly much of the content consumed, if it is not overtly sinful. Does not contribute to “taking every thought captive” in order that might honor Christ. Our devices are indeed wonderful tools, but so are hammers….a great tools can be terrifying weapons when not stewarded appropriately. These wonderful tools that allow us to communicate, search, and stream can also hollow our souls and pulverize our minds.” If we want to be pure and stay the course, we must want to realign our treasure, our vison, and redirect our gaze upon Him through His work on the cross.

 

As the Hymn song goes,

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

look full in His wonderful face,

and the things of earth with go strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

 

Solomon for the three chapters warns his son to the temptation and sexualization of women who will try to bring you down into the pits of death and despair.

 

This verse is translated variously….. 

NASB: Can anyone take fire in his lap and his clothes not be burned?

ESV: Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?

NIV: Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?

NLT: Can a man scoop a flame into his lap and not have his clothes catch on fire?

KJV: Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

 

Solomon employs a rhetorical question here. The obvious answer is “NO!” If you scoop up burning coals and hold them close to you, you will burn your clothes and maybe far worse. In the same way, those who choose the path of adultery should expect damaging consequences. “Burned” represents the permanent painful, and life-threatening damage for such careless behaviour. It is impossible; and equally vain to think that a man can commit whoredom and it not be known, or he will not hurt by it in his name, or in his body, soul, and life. Adultery doesn’t just affect the two in the bedroom, it damages…. the spouse, the children, the work place, the school the children attend, the community and so on. The ripple effect is destructive and humiliating. We read in the second chapter of Proverbs, “for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.” Prov 2:18-19

(v28) For many this leads to death of no return, as Solomons uses the word “feet” which in this case touching a woman, or man, who is not your spouse, burns more than just your feet. This wicked, sinful decision, this terrible lacks of judgement, selfishness, lack of consideration to your spouse, who will be absolutely traumatized by this, for many this betrayal takes a long time to recover, or never. We know according to the Scriptures that sexual union in marriage is a gift and a blessing from God. To betray the marriage bed is to spit in the face of a holy God who gave this gift and blessing to us.

 

Solomon asks this burning question because the results will harm you if your heart is wondering, and unfocused.

 

What are you looking at?

What are feeding your mind with through the vehicle of your eyes?

Do you think you can handle the conversation around the water cooler at work, and think that this could never happen to you? Do you think you can keep your mind, and eyes, from looking at an attractive woman/man, who walk in the grocery store, or mall? Solomon says guard your heart because if you don’t it will hurt, not just you but those closest to you, meaning your wife or husband. Guard your heart with all diligence. Guard against lustful thoughts and actions, by keeping yourself in God’s word. Have strong Christians who will call you out when needed, because your soul is more important to them then your social life and friendship. We just talked about this Wednesday night with the men; a prime example of this is Nathan, when confronted David in his sin of adultery and many other sins. We need people like Nathan in our lives, to remind you of God’s greatness and our absolute need of God’s forgiveness when we put our hand into the fire.

 

Sexual immorality should be avoided at all costs. As Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6:15-20

 

The Bible consistently warns against it. The aftermath of adultery is never good, and only fools will ignore the biblical warnings. “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” Heb 13:4

 

We know this by what follows our text this morning. “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away” (32–33) Only a fool would scoop up hot coals and hug them close or dump them in his lap thinking there will be no negative consequences. Adultery is just as foolish, and negative consequences are guaranteed, and repercussions are unavoidable. Some of the penalties of adultery will take the form of “natural” consequences, meaning a broken marriage, lasting emotional wounds, trust issues, and vengeance from a jealous husband or wife. (34–36) A jealous and angry heart is something that is hard to tame in the heat of the moment, especially when the “I am sorry” is being repeated. This is the damage that occurs when we put our hands into the fire. The blessed union of marriage is a gift and a joy and adultery does violence to that. As Shai Linne wrote in his song “Jealous One” How quickly we are to break the vows we made as our unbelief leads our hearts astray?

 

Adultery is an assault

On God.

Any time any believer who commits adultery it should call into question their salvation. I’m not saying that adultery causes you to lose your salvation, I’m saying it calls into question the reality of your salvation. How can this happen, especially among the redeemed? Scripture indicates we all have a sin nature, born sinful, with sinful aspirations which reveals the fact that we are born sinners. “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child.” Prov 22:15. David says, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”  Psalm 51:5. According to Psalm 58:3 “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.” This is the natural state of mankind, so seeing people putting their hands into the fire shouldn’t shock us. What should shock us though…. is when it is happening among the family of God. How does this happen so flippantly in the church? Unfortunately, this is what happens when unbelief leads our hearts astray. It’s not that a person doesn’t believe in God, the problem is they don’t believe God. This happens when we don’t see, or treat, our sin as God, sees or treats our sin. Christians must take severe measures in killing this sin. Because to some degree we are all guilty of spiritual adultery. Filling our time, and our thoughts with things that are not kingdom worthy. This is the real danger as John Owen wrote, “Every unclean thought would be adultery if it could” This is why Paul wrote, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” Col 3:5-6

The big question is! 

Is their forgiveness?

Can I be forgiven for adultery?

 

The answer is yes! Christ died for all mankind’s treasonous betrayal from: disobeying your parents, gossip, lying, stealing, murder of the heart, fornication, and adultery.

David was forgiven for his wicked acts he did in the cover up of the death of Uriah; because he committed adultery with Bathsheba.

 

Hope begins when we are faced with the truth, and we

see that grace of God for such wickedness.

 

Yet while you were a sinner, who as rebelled against God. He came to die for your sins. ”But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” 

Rom 5:8-11

 

The cross isn’t a recovery program, the place to improve on what good is already there. It is a place to die to sin and to live in Christ It is not a question of giving up sexual sin, but of giving up one’s rights to pursue life that is holy and righteous before God. As Desiring God contributor wrote, “Christ bears the wrath that will come for all sexual sin. If you are a true believer and real change has occurred, you are called to put off the old and put on the new. Killing sexual sin starts with exposure; it ends with no longer being enslaved. Exposure is painful, but it is better to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” than to hear, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” This chapter or lesson extends beyond adultery to any sinful behavior, sinful actions always lead to negative results, often described as a form of self-destruction. The Gospel of Christ is the only way to escape that tragic end, regardless of the nature, or besetting sin.