MAY 4, 2020 MEMBERS BIBLE STUDY & UNITED STATES CAPITAL

BIBLE STUDY SPONSORS

CABINET MEMBERS Sexual Sin and the Mike Pence, VP: DC Mike Pompeo, SOS: DC Mark Meadows, COS: DC Aphrodisiac of Jim Bridenstine, NASA: DC Ben Carson, HUD: DC Betsy DeVos, DOE: DC Power Sonny Perdue, USDA: DC Alex Acosta, Fmr Sec DOL: DC Rick Perry, Fmr Sec DOE: DC Tom Price, Fmr Sec HHS: DC Jeff Sessions, Fmr AOG:DC

INSIDE SENATORS Marsha Blackburn: TN Bill Cassidy: LA PUBLIC SERVANT ENDORSEMENT Kevin Cramer: ND Steven Daines: MT Kevin Hern...... 2 Joni Ernst: IA Cindy Hyde-Smith: MS James Lankford: OK VERSE OF THE WEEK David Perdue: GA Mike Rounds: SD Galatians 5:16...... 3 Tim Scott: SC John Thune:SD

REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT Robert Aderholt: AL ...... 4 Rick Allen: GA Capitol Ministries® Don Bacon: NE Michael Bost: IL Ted Budd: NC John Carter: TX Michael Conaway: TX Rick Crawford: AR Ron Estes: KA Bill Flores: TX Greg Gianforte: MT Louie Gohmert: TX Tom Graves: GA Glenn Grothman: WI Kevin Hern: OK George Holding: NC Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife (etching), 1634, Rembrandt, Rijksmuseum Bill Huizenga: MI Bill Johnson: OH Dusty Johnson: SD IVEN THE NATURE OF THE CAPITAL Jim Jordan: OH community, many people live away from their Doug Lamborn: CO Kevin McCarthy: CA home environments for regular, extended periods Gary Palmer: AL G Bill Posey: FL of time. The temptation for sexual sin is ever present — Cathy McMorris Rodgers: WA and I have seen too many legislators, staff, and lobbyists David Rouzer: NC fall prey to it. Accordingly, here are some key biblical John Rutherford: FL Glenn Thompson:PA insights related to staying sexually pure in a surreal Scott Tipton: CO environment like the U.S. capital. Tim Walberg: MI Mark Walker: NC Jackie Walorski: IN Randy Weber: TX Daniel Webster: FL Bruce Westerman: AR Ralph Drollinger Roger Williams: TX Joe Wilson: SC Rob Wittman: VA Steve Womack: AR Rob Woodall: GA Ted Yoho: FL PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Weekly Bible Studies CABINET: 7:00am Wednesdays, location undisclosed, refreshments served. The views expressed in each Bible study are those of the author, and do not SENATE: 8:00am Tuesdays, rotating offices, hot breakfast served. necessarily reflect the position of any KNOW YOUR BIBLE. HOUSE: 7:45am Thursdays, The Capitol Hill Club, hot breakfast served. individual Bible Study Sponsor. Sexual Sin and the Aphrodisiac of Power

★ PUBLIC SERVANT ENDORSEMENT I. INTRODUCTION then he should be seeking to get married. That is God’s delightful design for most peo- Kevin Hern Power is an aphrodisiac that makes those ple. Genesis 2:24 states in this regard: U.S. Representative, Oklahoma elected to high office much more suscepti- ble to sexual sin than someone who is not For this reason a man shall leave his father 1st Congressional District in power. This is an important Bible study and his mother, and be joined to his wife; therefore, for someone in the public eye. and they shall become one flesh. The following are some biblical insights that relate to avoiding sexual temptation and sin It is a natural, wonderful propensity that in this area. God has placed in His creation. He creat- ed sex to be practiced within the confines II. OBEY GOD REGARDING and commitment of a husband and a wife SEXUAL PURITY (a male and a female) in the bonds of mat- rimony. States Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:9 in No pragmatic means of avoiding sexual regards to this desire and its fulfillment: sin will ever supplant this first and prima- ry necessity. One must first come to faith But if they do not have self-control, let in Christ and experience the power of the them marry; for it is better to marry than indwelling Holy Spirit to bring his sexual to burn with passion. passions under control. Even then it is diffi- “Capitol Ministries has been cult in a sex-laden culture like America. Ga- It’s not as if the One who created men and a blessing to me throughout latians 5:16 however does provide a promise women with a passionate desire for sex my first year in Congress. that the believer can have victory and con- doesn’t realize it, or comment about it! But Ralph and Danielle are trol over sinful sexual desire: until marriage, God’s revealed will is com- strong messengers of God’s plete abstinence. The fulfillment of sexual Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry desires then should be an impetus to prepare Word. I look forward to our out the desire of the flesh. in every way for attracting and marrying time together each week to the right, godly person. God does not want share breakfast and deepen Salvation is the first necessity for walking in those to whom he gave a sexual drive to con- my understanding of God’s sexual purity. Without the indwelling Holy tinually be frustrated by a lack of fulfillment. all-powerful love and perfect Spirit, God’s power cannot be enabled in us Get married and then nurture the sexual as- leadership. The Biblical truths and implemented by us to give us victory pect of marriage! Surveys indicate that mar- over our fallen, fleshly nature. ried people have much more regular sexual revealed in our meetings fulfillment than people who are unmarried. help to keep us grounded Secondly, we must memorize and meditate Within the confines of a marriage commit- in our passion for God and on Proverbs chapters 5, 6, and 7 giving spe- ment a husband and wife can nurture trust His desire for us to become cial attention to the passages that relate to and fulfillment over many years of commu- more like Him as a husband, the end results of fornication and adultery. nication and practice. Such is simply not the We must possess a sober understanding case outside of a marriage commitment. father, friend, and leader. I of the real results of sexual sins in order to am so appreciative for their help quell the irresponsible, selfish urge to IV. VIEW SEX WITHIN commitment to the Word be sexual outside of wedlock. The results are MARRIAGE AS GOOD and the impact it can have on manifold and deadly. the world.” It follows that, for the aforementioned to be III. PROTECT AND NURTURE true, a couple must view sex within marriage — KEVIN HERN THE SEXUAL ASPECT OF as a good thing that God desires for each MARRIAGE of them as a couple. God intends for their sexual desires to be creative, enjoyable, and Since most everyone possesses sexual desire, fulfilling with their spouse as is evidenced in get married! Marriage is God’s intended Hebrews 13:4: means to satisfy and fulfill the God-given desire for sexual relations. If one does not Marriage is to be held in honor among all, have the gift of celibacy (and very few do!) and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for [ 2 ] MEMBERS BIBLE STUDY & UNITED STATES CAPITAL

fornicators and adulterers God will judge. What follows are some other preventative ♥ VERSE OF THE WEEK insights aimed at the prohibition of sexual God says the marriage bed (a polite euphe- passion resulting in sin. Galatians 5:16 mism for sexual intercourse) is not sinful in contrast to sex outside of marriage; for- VI. DO NOT ALLOW THE nication is the sin of sex while unmarried PLANETS OF PRIVACY, “Walk by the Spirit, and adultery is the sin of sex with another PROMOTION, AND PASSION and you will not carry out person while married. God wants sex to be TO BECOME ALIGNED the desire of the flesh.” a huge blessing in your life within the con- fines of marriage. When the privacy of a hotel room is com- bined with the promotion of the internet or The preceding two points, viewing sex as a pay-per-view television and the passions of good thing within marriage, are huge pillars unfulfilled desire yearn (stemming from not in the quest to avoid sexual sin. putting into place the previous three points), the temptation to sin is greatly increased V. BE SEXUALLY UNSELFISH with even the most mature, Spirit-filled fol- WITH YOUR SPOUSE lowers of Christ. Therefore one must adhere to the sage advice and wisdom of the writer Once married, one’s body becomes the of Hebrews (12:13) who said: property of his or her spouse. 1 Corinthians 7:1–5 says: Make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out Choose to be led by the Spirit. Now concerning the things about which of joint, but rather be healed. you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. But because of immoralities, In other words, if one is really serious about avoiding sexual temptation, he should plan each man is to have his own wife, and each out his life so as to avoid it! Travel with your woman is to have her own husband. The spouse; stay with friends or business associ- husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, ates while on the road. and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her Do whatever it takes to own body, but the husband does; and avoid rehearsing situations likewise also the husband does not have that have proven to be authority over his own body, but the wife destructive in the past. does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may de- Since the advent of the Internet, the porn vote yourselves to prayer, and come togeth- business is now four times larger than the er again so that Satan will not tempt you combined total of the Hollywood movie in- because of your lack of self-control. dustry largely due to the various new forms of private delivery and promotion of their God intends for spouses to be unselfish product. Therefore we must be wise and when it comes to meeting the physical needs think ahead, creating habitual disciplines in of their mates. And due to the general lack our lives so that these planets do not align of sexual self-control, explicit in this passage, themselves—and the curses of the afore- one’s mate is to be sensitive to the other’s mentioned Proverbs come to bear. Meditate needs—so as to remove the temptation of on Proverbs 9:13–18 the next time you are sexual fulfillment outside of wedlock. tempted by pornography or adultery:

These three previous points can be summa- The woman of folly is boisterous, rized by the cliché, “an ounce of prevention She is naive and knows nothing. is worth a pound of cure.” Championing She sits at the doorway of her house, these biblical means for sexual fulfillment On a seat by the high places of the city, will lead to blessing and much less tempta- Calling to those who pass by, tion resulting from a lack of fulfillment. Who are making their paths straight: [ 3 ] For past studies or additional copies go to capmin.org Sexual Sin and the Aphrodisiac of Power

“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” MINISTRIES ESTABLISHED And to him who lacks understanding she says, & BUILDING Download our “Stolen water is sweet; free app UNITED STATES And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” Albany, New York at the App Store But he does not know that the dead are there, Annapolis, Maryland Atlanta, Georgia That her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Austin, Texas Boise, Idaho Boston, Massachusetts Lest there be any doubt about sex outside of marriage being sinful in Denver, Colorado the New Testament (NT), Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica Dover, Delaware Carson City, Nevada (1 Thessalonians 4:3–7) addresses sexual purity. He states, Charleston, West Virginia Cheyenne, Wyoming Columbia, South Carolina For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you ab- Columbus, Ohio stain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess Concord, New Hampshire Hartford, Connecticut his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Bible studies the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and Honolulu, Hawaii and updates Jefferson City,Missouri at your fingertips defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in Lansing, Michigan Lincoln, Nebraska all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned Little Rock, Arkansas you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in Madison, Wisconsin Montpelier, Vermont sanctification. Nashville, Tennessee Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Olympia, Washington Beloved, in the capital community sexual sin can destroy your life, and Phoenix, Arizona it will destroy your life if you let it get hold of you. Providence, Rhode Island Raleigh, North Carolina Richmond, Virginia Do not pander to your fallen sin nature, Sacramento, California Salem, Oregon rather mortify the flesh. Santa Fe, New Mexico Springfield,Illinois Topeka, Kansas The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way; sex is not bad! Trenton, New Jersey God intends for you to enjoy sex within marriage. Notice what Solo- INTERNATIONAL Making Disciples of Jesus Christ mon tells Rehoboam in this regard (Proverbs 5:15–20): Abuja, Nigeria Accra, Ghana in the Political Arena Antananarivo, Madagascar Throughout the World Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own Asunción, Paraguay well. Should your springs be dispersed abroad, streams of water in Bangui, Central African Republic the streets? Let them be yours alone and not for strangers with you. Brasilia, Brazil Bucharest, Romania Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. Bujumbura, Burundi As a loving hind and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all Dodoma, Tanzania times; be exhilarated always with her love. For why should you, my Freetown, Sierra Leone ® Georgetown, Guyana Capitol Ministries provides son, be exhilarated with an adulteress and embrace the bosom of a Kiev, Ukraine Bible studies, evangelism and Kigali, Rwanda foreigner? Kinshasa, Democratic discipleship to political leaders. Republic of the Congo Founded in 1996, we have started Libreville, Gabon Commit to the aforementioned disciplines so as to enjoy a fruitful and Lomé, Togo ongoing ministries in over 40 sexually fulfilling marriage! Lusaka, Zambia Malabo, Equatorial Guinea U.S. State Capitols and dozens Maputo, Mozambique of foreign federal Capitols. If you want an excellent career you have to discipline yourself to learn- Mexico City, Mexico Monrovia, Liberia ing. If you want excellent financial stability you have to discipline your Montevideo, Uruguay Capitol Ministries® spending. If you want a strong spiritual walk with Christ you have to Nairobi, Kenya N’Djamena, Tchad Mail Processing Center discipline yourself to memorizing His Word. If you want great kids Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Post Office 30994 you have to discipline yourself to discipline them. If you want a car that Port Moresby, Papua New Phoenix, AZ 85046 Guinea 661.288.2622 lasts a long time you have to discipline yourself to maintaining it. If you Porto-Novo, Benin Quito, Ecuador capmin.org want a healthy body you have to discipline yourself in what you eat and Riga, Latvia how you exercise. San Jose, Costa Rica Suva, Fiji Tegucigalpa, Honduras The same is true with sex; you have to discipline yourself to achieve a Vilnius, Lithuania Warsaw, Poland /capitolministries sexually fulfilling life. As in all things, you have to discipline yourself to Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire do it God’s way. That is my prayer for you.c m Yaoundé, Cameroun [ 4 ] For past studies or additional copies go to capmin.org