INITIATION:
The rapid growth of problems that result as some Christians use pornography is morally alarming for two reasons:
- Number One, Those who are using pornography defile themselves, and disobeys God's desire for sexual purity (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).
- Number Two, its use among believers in Christ hinders the growth of the Church.
In this post, we are going to learn why pornography is bad and destructive, how it affects users, and what steps we can take to avoid and overcome it.
BIBLE TEXT:
GENESIS 49:28-33; 50:1-26
SUBJECT:
PORNO VIDEOS AND PICTURES ARE DESTRUCTIVE
MEMORY VERSE
Keep thy heart with all diligence; >for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23 KJV).
CONTROLLING THOUGHT
It is God's demand that we be sexually pure.
FOCUS
Students will be able to:
- Recognize the danger of pornography.
- Find out some other ways Satan introduces porno and take actions to avoid being caught in the trap.
- Evaluate their lives and actively remove anything that could lead them into pornography.
1. SEXUAL LUST IS A SERIOUS BUSINESS (Matthew 5:27-30; 1 John 2:15-16).
A. Don't Take It Lightly (Matthew 5:27-30).
Our culture makes the problem of pornography larger. While are some other sins such as: greed, violence, and racism are often condemned, lust is an advert and entertainment tool. Nude imagery sells products fast and entices the eye in every public place. The temptation to lust is always present, and society's approval makes it easier to justify.
Scripture points us in the opposite direction, emphasizing God's knowledge of both outward and inward sins. God pointed out to
Ezekiel the foolishness of thinking certain vices Could remain unseen. "Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying. The Lord doesn't see us; he has deserted our land!" (Ezekiel 8:12, NLT).
Our choices are never hidden from Him. Then in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made it clear that God abhors lust specifically (Matthew 5:27-30). The measures Jesus mentions to avoid sin--cutting off offensive hands and gouging out offensive eyes -may seem drastic, even shocking, but they clearly illustrate the gravity of His teaching. Lust is as serious as other sins, and believers should do whatever is necessary to avoid and overcome it.
B. Not of This World (1 John 2:15-16).
As we discussed in last week's lesson, God designed people with an inherent need for companionship. "It is not good that the man should be alone" (Genesis 2:18, KJV). In response to that human need, God created a heterosexual covenant partnership that included permanence (verse 24) and faithfulness (Hebrews 13:4).
Husbands and wives are instructed to meet each other's sexual needs (1 Corinthians 7:3-5), which were created and celebrated by God. God has always called His people to be holy, or set apart from the ways of the world (Deuteronomy 14:2; 1 Peter 2:9-10). He is a God of covenant faithfulness, and He requires the same of us.
People use pornography in an attempt to meet their desire for physical intimacy without committing themselves to a marriage covenant.
Pornography caters to the mindset that says, "It's all about me." This kind of self-centredness limits a person's ability to create a deep bond with someone else and sustain it in a marriage relationship.
2. COST AND CONSEQUENCES (James 1:13-15; 2 Samuel 11:2-5; 12:1-13):
A. A Heart Issue (James 1:13-15)
James asserted that temptation never comes from God, but it "comes from our own desires, which ...give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death" (James 1:14-75, NLT).
The tempting path to pornography follows a pattern as well: arousal, consideration, and indulgence. The immediate result of giving in to the temptation is mental and spiritual defilement (see Ephesians 4:17-19).
The craving to repeat that experience is what it means to be "drawn away of his [or her own lust, and enticed" (James 1:14, KJV). That's when a decision is made: I will yield, or I will not yield.
B. Broken Hearts
(2 Samuel 11:2-5; 12:1-13)
David may have thought the risks were low when he leered at Bathsheba from his palace rooftop. Nobody will know. Nobody will get hurt.
But sin never plays out that way. Lust in any form damages the perpetrator - clouding judgement, creating dependence, distorting reality, and hardening the heart and can cause irreparable harm to the person being objectified.
Pornography in particular destroys marriages, depriving spouses of intimacy, betraying their trust, insulting their dignity, and causing them to doubt their value. It breaks families apart and confuses children (1 Corinthians 12:26).
3. STAYING ON GUARD (Job 31:1-8; Numbers 15:37-40; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
A. Guard Your Eyes - Job 31:1-8
Job's covenant with his eyes "not to look with lust at a young woman" (Job 31:1, NLT}- is crucial for each of us to make.
The lethal repercussions of lust all begin with a simple look. David looked at Bathsheba, and because he kept looking, a child died and an innocent man was murdered. As Jesus taught, "Your eye is like a lamp that brings light to your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body will be light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be in darkness (Matthew 6:22-23, NLT)".
So what should a person do to break the habit of viewing pornography?
Confession of the sin to God, praying like David for both forgiveness and cleansing (see Psalm 51). But since pornography is highly addictive, rarely can anyone overcome it alone. The seriousness of the issue calls for confession to another person (see James 5:16, NLT), separation through blocking software or other means (Matthew 5:29), ongoing personal accountability (Hebrews 3:13; Galatians 6:1-2), commitment to regular fellowship and spiritual disciplines (Acts 2:4246), and godly counsel from a pastor or Christian mentor (Proverbs 11:14; 24:6).
B. Guard Your Heart (Numbers 15:37-40; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
In His kindness, God gave His people methods to help them remember not to follow their own desires or defile themselves "as you are prone to do" (Numbers 15:39, NLT).
We tend to think we own ourselves. We're largely in charge of Our bodies, so We mistakenly assume they're our property. But the truth is, we belong to God. He is the Owner; we are the managers. This makes our commitment to purity even more necessary. Owners commission managers to oversee their property, entrusting them with authority to make decisions, correct problems, and generally "keep the place up."
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians regarding sexual purity, he appealed to the theme of God's Ownership. "You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NLT).
According to the Parable of the Three Servants (Matthew 25:14-30), God has entrusted each of His followers with Certain assets and responsibilities, including our physical bodies. As in the parable, the Owner will one day demand an account from the manager for the way the property was cared including the good or evil we have done in this earthly body" (2 Corinthians 5:10, NLT).
Considering all this, it's clear pornography is a weight we cannot afford to carry if the goal is to finish the race well (Hebrews 12:1). If pornography has never ensnared you, be sure to avoid the trap. If you are currently struggling with pornography,
(1) Confess your sin to God,
(2) Distance yourself from it,
(3) Immediately reach out for help in order to
(4) "Make sure that you stay free (Galatians 5:1, NLT).
DISCLAIMER:
The original production and publication of this extract belong to Sunday School Department of Assemblies of God Nigeria, as shown on the front page. We teach in the church and social media available.
