WEEK 3 PART B HOW WE GOT HERE

Scripture

Exodus 20:14 Do not commit adultery.

Proverbs 6:27-28 Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can a man walk on burning coals without scorching his feet?

Galatians 6:7-9 7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up …

Mocked = disrespected, taunted

Job 31:1-9 I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman?

2 For what portion would I have from God above, or what inheritance from the * Almighty on high?

3 Doesn’t disaster come to the unjust and misfortune to evildoers?

4 Does He not see my ways and number all my steps?

5 If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

6 let God weigh me in accurate scales, and He will recognize my integrity.

7 If my step has turned from the way, my heart has followed my eyes, or impurity has stained my hands,

8 let someone else eat what I have sown, and let my crops be uprooted.

9 If my heart has been seduced by my neighbor’s wife or I have lurked at his door,

From the text: You stand before an important battle. You have decided that the slavery of sexual sin isn’t worth the love of sexual sin. You’re committed to removing every hint of it. But how? Your maleness looms as your own worst enemy. You got into this mess by being male; you’ll get out of it by being a man. –from chapter 7 in the book.

Suggestion: As the study begins ask the Holy Spirit for help in hearing and obeying God’s words. As you pray, and consider this week’s Scripture, realize that God is not calling you to do anything that is contrary to His nature or to what is always in (our) best interest. Because He is Holy we are holy. (Leviticus 19:2)

This is not an issue of heaven and hell but an issue regarding the quality of life. If you are obsessed and overwhelmed, worshipping false idols, and grappling with a convicted heart, hell can feel like it is at your doorstep.

I will tell you for sure that we did not get to this place by accident. If I look back on my childhood with honesty and reflection I can say that this has been a problem since I can remember. I am not blaming anyone or anything. But when I look at my interests, it should have been a warning sign … but it was fascinating, I was curious, and it felt good. But even then I remember feeling guilty and somewhat ashamed of what I did. I even got caught once, but weaseled my way out of it. There is no need to reveal all of our past in detail, but admitting it to God can be both awareness, and freedom. Now, of course, what to do about it?

There must be practical ways we can begin to meet the goals for a life of greater purity. If the practical results of our preoccupation with sex have been real then we can also be hopeful that our countermeasures will also have real practical results … positive results.

For men, impurity of the eyes is sexual foreplay. It naturally prepares us for the sex act. The eyes are the gateway drug to sexual addiction. Visual gratification is a form of sex for men. It ignites passion, creates gratification and releases chemical highs. – From the workbook pg 34

Questions:

Have your eyes ever gotten you into trouble? How?

Has your interests in pornography driven a wedge between you and the one you are married to or with another individual at any time in your life?

How dangerous is an overly active fantasy life? Is it ever a problem?

Have you promised yourself or your partner, over and over, that you will never do “those things again?” How long before it all comes back? How long before you got caught? Porn magazines and porn websites are no different than alcohol or drugs to an addict. If it causes your life to be unmanageable then you have a problem. We all have a problem or we would not be here.

How many times have you failed? The author, Fred, says he failed 30 million times. What does he mean?

What does God want you to change? How will you respond? This should be practical and be something you can do and have some success at. There is no need to make promises you either cannot or will not keep.