Redeemed from promiscuity & Radically Transformed according to God's promise and for His glory!
The Word of God is filled with examples of women and men who were bound by the chains of sin and yet freed by the power of God. This past weekend, I was humbled to present a workshop to our InnerCity Ministry teens and adults regarding the Gospel and Sexuality. The following is a portion of that workshop that I hope will be an encouragement to you no matter what situation you are in. I believe we can each relate to one (or more) of the following examples from Scripture.
As you read, know that, no matter what situation you find yourself in, God is willing and delighted to redeem you and radically transform your life by the grace of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, who completely paid the penalty of your sin and granted you His righteousness out of love.
Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (2 Samuel, chapters 11 & 12): due to some impropriety, though very likely unintentional, you now feel pressured or trapped into having sex with a guy; you think you are not able to resist b/c of who this guy is (maybe he's not King David, but maybe he's the captain of a football team or an important person at work...
Dinah, sister of Judah (Genesis, chapter 34): just curious about what everybody else is doing, you want to be a part of the crowd and wind up getting taken advantage of, the victim of rape...
Tamar, forsaken youth (Genesis, chapter 38): felt it was her right to have a child, encouraged by others to gain her right of passage by giving birth, and so played the harlot to fulfill her right...
Harlot, on the street corner (Proverbs, chapter 7): planted yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, wanting to look sexy and attract the simple guys' attention, just wanted to have some "fun," convinced yourself there wouldn't be any consequences (wrongly)....
The Samaritan woman at the well (John, chapter 4): went from one man to the next seeking for satisfaction; after five failed marriages, she was living with a man who was not her husband. (Jesus knew this; nothing is secret from Him)....
Gomer, promiscuous wife of the prophet Hosea (the book of Hosea): promiscuity is all you've ever known; you're addicted to sex; even when shown true love, you find yourself back in the clutches of lust...
Rahab, prostitute of Jericho; Ruth, daughter of Moab (Joshua, chapters 2 & 6; the book of Ruth): you've grown up in a sensual culture, but you know there's got to be something better and you're willing to give up what you know for what you have now come to believe (the truth about God and salvation)...
Mary, the mother of Jesus (the Gospels, esp. Luke, chapters 1 & 2): you are still a virgin, your heart is to serve the Lord no matter what. you know there's a cost, but you're convinced God's way is the best and only way to be content and truly happy....
Remember, no matter what situation you find yourself in, God is willing and delighted to redeem you and radically transform your life by the grace of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, who completely paid the penalty of your sin and granted you His righteousness out of love.
The rest of their stories?
They were dead in their sins, but Christ woke them up and shined His love and grace into their hearts (Ephesians 2 & 4).
Gomer (prostitute wife of prophet Hosea) was restored to her husband. God used their story to illustrate the spiritual adultery of God’s people when they leave Him and pursue after false gods and vain pleasures.
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba & Mary all ended up in the family line of the Messiah Jesus our Lord! (See Matthew, chapter 1.) Tamar conceived twins by her father-in-law, yet God used one of those sons to fulfill His promise; Rahab married a faithful man named Salmon and together they raised a faithful man named Boaz, who then redeemed Ruth. Ruth was the mother of Obed and eventually the great-grandmother of King David. David lusted after Bathsheba. The child born through their affair died, but God granted their marriage another son, the wise king Solomon. Mary, that humble young lady, held the ultimate promise within her virgin womb: the greatest miracle and fulfillment of God's great plan, our hope to this day and forever, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many people in the forsaken town of Samaria believed on Jesus because of the testimony of the woman at the well, a woman who was known for promiscuity. In fact she had had five husbands and was now living with a man that was not her husband. But Jesus intentionally directed His path through her forsaken hometown and patiently led this woman to redeeming faith (See John, chapter 4.)
Jeremiah prophesied to a culture not so dissimilar to our own:“Return, faithless [daughter],” declares the LORD. “I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful,” declares the LORD; “I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed My voice,” declares the LORD; “for I am your Master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion” (Jeremiah 3:12-14).
Your city and your family may be trapped in the habits of sexual sins, but you don't have to stay in the grasp of immorality. God offers you freedom and restoration if you will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Redeemer, your Savior and King. He longs to give you grace and peace.
I would recommend reading Ephesians, especially chapters 2 & 4. If I can be of any help to you, please email me at ps48.14fam@gmail.com.
I am praying for you even as I write this. No matter what your sin, God's grace is greater!May you be overwhelmed by His mercy and love and the unchanging truth of our faithful God.
With love,
michelle grover
As you read, know that, no matter what situation you find yourself in, God is willing and delighted to redeem you and radically transform your life by the grace of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, who completely paid the penalty of your sin and granted you His righteousness out of love.
Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (2 Samuel, chapters 11 & 12): due to some impropriety, though very likely unintentional, you now feel pressured or trapped into having sex with a guy; you think you are not able to resist b/c of who this guy is (maybe he's not King David, but maybe he's the captain of a football team or an important person at work...
Dinah, sister of Judah (Genesis, chapter 34): just curious about what everybody else is doing, you want to be a part of the crowd and wind up getting taken advantage of, the victim of rape...
Tamar, forsaken youth (Genesis, chapter 38): felt it was her right to have a child, encouraged by others to gain her right of passage by giving birth, and so played the harlot to fulfill her right...
Harlot, on the street corner (Proverbs, chapter 7): planted yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, wanting to look sexy and attract the simple guys' attention, just wanted to have some "fun," convinced yourself there wouldn't be any consequences (wrongly)....
The Samaritan woman at the well (John, chapter 4): went from one man to the next seeking for satisfaction; after five failed marriages, she was living with a man who was not her husband. (Jesus knew this; nothing is secret from Him)....
Gomer, promiscuous wife of the prophet Hosea (the book of Hosea): promiscuity is all you've ever known; you're addicted to sex; even when shown true love, you find yourself back in the clutches of lust...
Rahab, prostitute of Jericho; Ruth, daughter of Moab (Joshua, chapters 2 & 6; the book of Ruth): you've grown up in a sensual culture, but you know there's got to be something better and you're willing to give up what you know for what you have now come to believe (the truth about God and salvation)...
Mary, the mother of Jesus (the Gospels, esp. Luke, chapters 1 & 2): you are still a virgin, your heart is to serve the Lord no matter what. you know there's a cost, but you're convinced God's way is the best and only way to be content and truly happy....
Remember, no matter what situation you find yourself in, God is willing and delighted to redeem you and radically transform your life by the grace of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, who completely paid the penalty of your sin and granted you His righteousness out of love.
The rest of their stories?
They were dead in their sins, but Christ woke them up and shined His love and grace into their hearts (Ephesians 2 & 4).
Gomer (prostitute wife of prophet Hosea) was restored to her husband. God used their story to illustrate the spiritual adultery of God’s people when they leave Him and pursue after false gods and vain pleasures.
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba & Mary all ended up in the family line of the Messiah Jesus our Lord! (See Matthew, chapter 1.) Tamar conceived twins by her father-in-law, yet God used one of those sons to fulfill His promise; Rahab married a faithful man named Salmon and together they raised a faithful man named Boaz, who then redeemed Ruth. Ruth was the mother of Obed and eventually the great-grandmother of King David. David lusted after Bathsheba. The child born through their affair died, but God granted their marriage another son, the wise king Solomon. Mary, that humble young lady, held the ultimate promise within her virgin womb: the greatest miracle and fulfillment of God's great plan, our hope to this day and forever, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many people in the forsaken town of Samaria believed on Jesus because of the testimony of the woman at the well, a woman who was known for promiscuity. In fact she had had five husbands and was now living with a man that was not her husband. But Jesus intentionally directed His path through her forsaken hometown and patiently led this woman to redeeming faith (See John, chapter 4.)
Jeremiah prophesied to a culture not so dissimilar to our own:“Return, faithless [daughter],” declares the LORD. “I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful,” declares the LORD; “I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed My voice,” declares the LORD; “for I am your Master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion” (Jeremiah 3:12-14).
Your city and your family may be trapped in the habits of sexual sins, but you don't have to stay in the grasp of immorality. God offers you freedom and restoration if you will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Redeemer, your Savior and King. He longs to give you grace and peace.
I would recommend reading Ephesians, especially chapters 2 & 4. If I can be of any help to you, please email me at ps48.14fam@gmail.com.
I am praying for you even as I write this. No matter what your sin, God's grace is greater!May you be overwhelmed by His mercy and love and the unchanging truth of our faithful God.
With love,
michelle grover
