Pornography And The Christian

1. Pornography And The Christian

2. Pornography And The Christian Introduction • I don’t think that there is any one of us that would doubt or question that pornography has harmed our world • Unfortunately, many Christians find themselves struggling on a daily basis to keep themselves from looking at such wicked and worthless things (Psalm 101:3) • All of us, but especially men, have encounters and temptations to give in to these lusts and become involved with these types of sins • Many home relationships are harmed if not destroyed by individuals who involve themselves in these things

3. Pornography And The Christian DEFINING PORNOGRAPHY • Pornography From Two Defining Standpoints - Legally - U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Potter Steward admitted his difficulty with arriving at a legal definition when he said... “I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it...”

4. Pornography And The Christian DEFINING PORNOGRAPHY • Pornography From Two Defining Standpoints - Practically - Pornography is sexually explicit material intended for the purpose of sexual arousal

5. Pornography And The Christian THE GROWTH OF PORNOGRAPHY • Pornography From The Past To Our Day - Pornography is nothing new, and has been an issue since sin entered the world - 30 years ago a Federal study revealed that the total amount of money spent on pornography per year, was 5 to 10 million - Today, Americans spend over 10 billion dollars every year on porn related items - There are more outlets for purchasing pornography than there are McDonalds in the United States

6. Pornography And The Christian THE GROWTH OF PORNOGRAPHY • How Pornography Is Accessed - Magazines (More sold than Time & Newsweek) - Videos (25,000 stores selling these / avg. 6 stores in every county in the US ) - Telephone (Dial-a-porn is a $1 billion industry) - Television (Cable / Movie Channels / Pay-per- view) - Computer (Internet) - Night Clubs (ex. Fantasy Land)

7. Pornography And The Christian THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY • It Is Addicting And Desensitizing - Most people do not jump into full fledge porn - Usually, a commercial, magazine, or movie introduces the subject to an individual - Later, one may pursue small ways of viewing this material in private - Some go to the level of phone calls, purchases, and signing up for a magazine - Others, publicly approach a physical fulfillment

8. Pornography And The Christian THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY • It Assaults The Dignity And Worth Of Mankind - Those who are porn “stars”, have no self worth already in life - Those who willingly support these types of fulfillments degrade themselves and the worth of the individuals involved - We need to help these people out of their low self-esteem and teach them the truth - Remember how much you and the individuals involved are really worth (John 3:16-17)

9. Pornography And The Christian THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY • It Harms Sexual Fulfillment In Marriage - Movies portray an image of “perfection” in sexual fulfillment that many make their false standard (romance, beauty, luxury) - When a man or a woman finds their spouse involved in these types of extra-marital sex related materials, they feel worthless and cheated - We need to appreciate marriage and its design for sexual fulfillment, and control our lusts whether married or single.

10. Pornography And The Christian WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY • The Lusts Of The Flesh And Eyes - All must be careful to control the lusts of the flesh (Matt. 5:28; 6:22-23; Jam. 1:14-16) - Consider the example of David and Bathsheba in the OT (II Sam. 11:2-5) - Looks can be deceiving and must be viewed as fleshly desires (Proverbs 6:23-29) - We cannot love the world more than God (I John 2:15-17; Titus 2:11-12; I Peter 2:11-12; 4:1-3; Eph. 4:22)

11. Pornography And The Christian WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY • The Purity Of Thoughts And Actions - We must be pure in heart (Matt. 5:8) - We must meditate on things that will benefit us (Phil 4:8; II Timothy 2:22) - We must cleanse our lives from sin and draw near to God (James 4:7-8) - Make a covenant with your eyes, not to commit such sins (Job 31:1-12)

12. Pornography And The Christian APPLICATION • If you have not looked at pornography…DON’T START! -Keep yourself pure • If you are presently involved with pornography …STOP! -It will keep you from heaven • If you look at porn every once in a while…BEWARE! -You will be ensnared by sin • REMEMBER- “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

13. Pornography And The Christian APPLICATION • If you have not looked at pornography…DON’T START! -Keep yourself pure • If you are presently involved with pornography …STOP! -It will keep you from heaven • If you look at porn every once in a while…BEWARE! -You will be ensnared by sin • REMEMBER- “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

14. Pornography And The Christian APPLICATION • If you have not looked at pornography…DON’T START! -Keep yourself pure • If you are presently involved with pornography …STOP! -It will keep you from heaven • If you look at porn every once in a while…BEWARE! -You will be ensnared by sin • REMEMBER- “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

15. Pornography And The Christian APPLICATION • If you have not looked at pornography…DON’T START! -Keep yourself pure • If you are presently involved with pornography …STOP! -It will keep you from heaven • If you look at porn every once in a while…BEWARE! -You will be ensnared by sin • REMEMBER- “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

16. Pornography And The Christian APPLICATION • If you have not looked at pornography…DON’T START! -Keep yourself pure • If you are presently involved with pornography …STOP! -It will keep you from heaven • If you look at porn every once in a while…BEWARE! -You will be ensnared by sin • REMEMBER- “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

17. Pornography And The Christian APPLICATION • If you have not looked at pornography…DON’T START! -Keep yourself pure • If you are presently involved with pornography …STOP! -It will keep you from heaven • If you look at porn every once in a while…BEWARE! -You will be ensnared by sin • REMEMBER- “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (I Cor. 10:13)

18. Pornography And The Christian WILL YOU LEAVE SIN AND FOLLOW THE LORD TODAY? • HEAR THE GOSPEL (Rom. 10:17) • BELIEVE IN JESUS (John 8:24) • REPENT OF PAST SINS (Luke 13:3, 5) • CONFESS FAITH IN CHRIST (Matt. 10:32-33) • BAPTISM INTO CHRIST (Mark 16:16; Gal. 3:26-27) FORGIVENESS OF SINS • FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH (Rev. 2:10)