Sermon Central
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Beating Pornography
Contributed by Nate Herbst on Feb 4, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Pornography is an epidemic destroying men and women everywhere - marriages, families and churches are crumbling; this message will illustrate the magnitude of the problem, show how the battle can be won and equip you to help others in the fight.
BEATING PORNOGRAPHY
The bondage of defeat vs. the freedom of victory
Note: this is applicable to all men: young, old, married and single.
The contrast:
If you don’t beat the lust and porn addiction: You lose true manhood, the abundant life, freedom, fulfillment, your reputation, confidence, purity and satisfying sex that God intended for you, your wife looses the husband God intended for her. (Note: DO NOT DATE IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH PORN!), your kids loose the example and role model they so desperately need, your church, community and country loose the man God intended for them and ultimately God and eternity lose because your life calling, purpose and fruitfulness are limited and hindered. The Ripple effect of Porn You can’t control it! Who knows how far it will take you? Ted Bundy killed as many as 75 women.
If you do beat the lust and porn addiction: You win true manhood, the abundant life, freedom, fulfillment, your reputation, confidence, purity and satisfying sex that God intended for you, your wife wins the husband God intended for her, your kids win the example and role model they so desperately need, your church, community and country win the man God intended for them, and ultimately God and eternity win because your life calling, purpose and fruitfulness are not limited. The Ripple effect of victory – Intimacy with God and your wife, encouraging relationships, purity, fulfillment and sexual satisfaction!
Pr.5 describes the struggle every man faces – You are not alone!
God’s standards are there for our own good.
Yes – Great sex (amen!) - He does want you to have a great sex life.
Pr.5:3-5 - “the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.”
Pr.5:15, 18-19 – Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the fountain of your youth. A loving doe a graceful deer may her breasts satisfy you always and may you ever be captivated by her love.
Jn.10:10 – God promises an abundant life, sexual impurity hinders that.
God’s desire:
Matt. 22:37-39 - To love Him with all our heart, soul and mind, to love our neighbor like ourselves.
Col. 1:10 - To walk worthy of Him, pleasing Him fully, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in our knowledge of Him.
Gal. 5:22-26 - To be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled.
Eph. 5:25, Col.3:19 - To love (AGAPE) our wives.
Rom.6:12-14 – says not to offer your body for unrighteousness.
Acts.15:29, Rom.13:12-13, 1Cor.6:13, 1Cor.6:18, 2Cor.12:21, Gal.5:19, Col.3:5-6, 1Thes. 4:3-7, Heb.13:4, 1Pet.4:3, Jude v.7, Rev.21:8 and many others – Don’t give in to sexual immorality.
Men and the condition we’re in. - Porn kills and it won’t satisfy!
Masculinity naturally makes the fight tough.
We’re PROUD - Lust (esp. adultery) is more about pride than sex.
We’re rebellious by nature. We would rather do things our way.
We have a strong natural sex drive.
We receive sexual gratification though the eyes.
We can visualize mental sexual foreplay.
Jer.2:13 - Replaced the Spring of living water with empty cisterns that don’t satisfy .
Bondage and slavery are NOT O.K!
Gal.5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Porn is sin.
Mt.5:28 - “I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
And it is sin against God:
Ps.51:4 - Against you and you only have I sinned.
Job. 31:3 - “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman.”
The problem is HUGE.
The Big reason why men don’t serve anywhere.
Church, overseas, quote Afghan worker.
What happens when men get free?
Stats
The no. 1 search term used at search engine sites is "sex." Business Wire, 2001
Aug.2006 - 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography (Marketwire.com).
“On the ground” stats - 90 - 95% of Christian Men, ~100% of rest
From a Focus on the Family study:
51% of pastors admitted struggling with porn.
40% admit viewing porn recently.
18% of clergy said they visited sexually explicit Web sites between "a couple of times a month" and "more than once a week."
25% use internet filters.
Effects
Porn is an addictive habit.
Epinephrine released into your blood when you are sexually stimulated.
Chemically addictive.
Epinephrine increases memory ability.
