By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

MEMORISE: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” – Genesis 1:27 (KJV)

READ: Genesis 7:1-3 (KJV)

1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

MESSAGE

We live in a world today where many are confused about their sexuality and gender. Some Christians are also confused about what to believe concerning the topic. Over the next few days, I will be digging deep into the Scriptures to explain the truth about sexuality and gender.

First of all, I will like to emphasise that God created man in His own image, and He created them male and female (Genesis 1:27); anything outside this is not God’s design, neither is it His will. When an artist creates a masterpiece, the artist puts his or her signature on it. Every human being is God’s masterpiece and is uniquely made, such that no two people in this world have the same fingerprints. If someone takes a masterpiece and decides to change something about it, it immediately ceases to be a masterpiece. People who decide to change their gender are destroying the essence of their creation. They are telling God – their creator – that they can do a better job at creating.

One thing I know is that my God does not make mistakes. Therefore, when someone says that she feels like she is a male trapped inside a female body for instance, I immediately know that the devil is at work and is trying to manipulate her to destroy her body which is God’s masterpiece. Changing God’s original design concerning our bodies can be disastrous because the Bible warns that our bodies are God’s temple and that God will destroy whoever defiles His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). There are records of many people who have altered their genders admitting that they are suffering serious health and emotional trauma as a result of their decisions. A person cannot tamper with God’s masterpiece and not suffer the consequences if he or she does not repent.

One of our pastors was arrested because he addressed a group of people as, “Ladies and gentlemen.” They told him that not all of them were ladies or gentlemen. When I heard this, I wondered, “How many genders did God create?” Your body is the temple of God, and any advice to disfigure it is from the devil. If you feel confused about your identity, draw closer to God, study your Bible, and pray more than ever before. Also, speak to a Christian counsellor who holds firmly to God’s position about gender and sexuality. God will show you who you really are in Him and His purpose for your life. He had a plan for you, even before you were formed in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5).

KEY POINT

You are fear fully and wonderfully made by God; anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

HYMN 7 – I Am Thine O Lord.

1 I am Thine, O Lord
I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Chorus:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

3 Oh the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!

4 There are depths of love
that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy
that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 10-11