Your Self-Control. 1st Thessalonians 4:4-5 Most people expect self-control, but they often think it only means controlling their bodies' physical actions. What we do with our bodies starts with what we allow into our minds. We are to “bring every thought into captivity.” Our sight, hearing, and, to a lesser extent, our touch, taste, and smell are gateways into our minds and souls.
To truly control our own bodies, we need to start with our thoughts. Sinful desires that are left unchecked are the root of sinful actions. These actions pose greater danger to our physical and spiritual health, so we must keep both our minds and bodies in check so they obey God's will.
God ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman for life to fulfill and uphold the sexual relationship in holiness and sanctification. It is only within the bonds of marriage that God permits sexual relationships. Those outside that bond adulterate the seed and defile the personal relationships that bring satisfaction to two individuals and the family that results from that union. Marriage allows for the dedication of spirit and body so that it is full and honorable, ultimately bringing respect and dignity both personally and socially.
Engaging in sinful desires outside of marriage is harmful because it prompts people to justify sin as normal, destroys marriages and family units, contradicts God’s revealed will in His word, and often harms others besides the sinner. Living in lust is living solely for self-gratification, which leaves one forever unsatisfied. There is no freedom from lust's power when it takes control of a person.
God’s people are called to be holy in their sexual lives. Marriage has been ordained by God for this purpose. It is honorable, and believers should maintain their sexual purity within the bonds of marriage. Fornication is illegal access into another person's body, and it is forbidden for a child of God. Every believer needs to take responsibility for controlling his or her own body. Highlighting the importance of marriage is essential because we constantly live in the sight of God and are expected to do His will. Dignity and respect are expected from God's family, which are not required of those who follow the ways of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Uncontrolled passion shows fleshly lust, which "wars against the soul." Those who don't know God often fail to govern their emotions and are willing to act out of control to satisfy selfish desires.
Lustful desire causes people to excuse sin; rather than stop sinning, they covet a neighbor's wife, leading to the destruction of a marriage. It is also a deliberate rebellion against God and His word. Sexual immorality always harms more than one person and results in a reputation that cannot be restored. Remember that the Lord sees all we do and think. Immorality starts in the mind and quickly leads to action. Today, pornography is easily accessible, and those fantasies that begin in the mind can quickly turn into dark realities if we do not commit ourselves to holiness.