Porn: like scooping fire into your lap!

Porn: like scooping fire into your lap!

Posted on 22. Jun, 2009 by Dave Sheath in Blog, Celebrate Recovery,Men, Recommended Reading

Can a man scoop fire into his lap

without his clothes being burned?

Can a man walk on hot coals

without his feet being scorched?

Proverbs 6:27-28

Neither can a man indulge in sexual immorality without expecting his life to be destroyed. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Paul addresses the problem of sexual immorality amongst Christians. Paul does not merely say don’t do it! He sets forward a radically Christian view of our bodies:

1. your body is not your own to do whatever you like with – it belongs to Jesus!
2. your body is eternal – it will be raised up just like Jesus was!
3. your body is profoundly united with Jesus Christ – one flesh!
4. your body is sacred – a temple where God’s Spirit now dwells!

In light of such a radical view of our bodies Paul commands us to flee sexual immorality and honour God with our bodies. Click here to listen to the sermon.

Probably the most prominent expression of sexual immorality in our society today is internet pornography. God’s command to flee sexual immorality! means that we must be proactive about guarding ourselves and each other against pornography. If you are already caught in pornography then you need to be decisive in dealing with it. Bring it before God, ask his help and then seek someone who can help you through these issues is the way to go. Our Recovery ministries are a good first port of call.

The internet is not only the source of problems, it also has some great resources to help move forward. Some are of these resources are fences which help prevent you and your children from straying to unsafe places. Some have good practical and Biblical advice on dealing with pornography:

www.x3watch.com – a way to let your chosen accountability mate know what sites you’ve viewed. It’s free and is used by the Lakes staff. Click here to get a brief guide on how to set it up. Why not get serious and install it now!

www.netalert.gov.au/filters.html – a free download from the Australian government to block any Internet porn.

www.covenanteyes.com – a way to let your mate know what Internet sites you’ve viewed.

www.settingcaptivesfree.com – Scripture-based and very thorough- every bloke should look at this site if they feel tempted by porn.

Mark Driscoll has made his book “Porn again Christian” available for free as an e-book.

Christians Called to be Spiritually Active during Ramadan

By Jennifer Riley

Christian Post Reporter

As Muslims around the world prepare for Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month, some Christians are planning to join them in prayer, but with a different purpose.

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  (Photo: AP Images / Mohammad abu Ghosh)
  A Jordanian family is seen walking near hanged lanterns and crescents (Hilal) on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009 in Amman, Jordan for the upcoming of the holy month of Ramadan. The holy month of fasting is expected to begin on Saturday Aug. 22, 2009.

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Beginning Saturday, Muslims will fast, pray, give to charity and try harder to live according to the teachings of Islam. For the next 30 days, Muslims will not eat, drink or engage in sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk with the hope that they can get closer to God.

“It’s kind of a time of seeking in a certain sense, when they’re fasting and they’re more geared toward spiritual things,” said Sammy Tippit, an evangelist who focuses on reaching Muslims, to Mission Network News (MNN). “And it’s out of a sense for God – a thirst for God and a hunger for God. And during these times of Ramadan, many will have dreams about Jesus.”

Because Muslims – especially young ones – are searching for truth and seeking God during this time period, organizations such as MNN are encouraging Christians to pray that Muslims will come to know Jesus Christ as their savior.

MNN noted that a growing number of young people in Iran, for example, are disillusioned with the Islamic faith. Many Iranian young people see corrupt political leaders that are closely tied to the country’s supreme spiritual Islamic leader.

In June, the world witnessed widespread protests in Iran over the contested reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose alleged victory was labeled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a "divine assessment." Ahmadinejad’s inauguration was held on Aug. 5 in Tehran amid protests held outside the Parliament.

To help Christians pray during Ramadan, MNN is offering a prayer guide, World Christian’s 30 Days Muslim Prayer Guide, that provides insight on the culture and practices of various Muslim countries. The prayer guide also includes information to help participants understand Christian and Muslim differences.

While Christianity today remains the world’s largest religion, with between 1.5 billion and 2.1 billion adherents (about a quarter to a third of the world’s population), Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion, according to some estimates. Muslims reportedly account for one-fifth of the world’s population.

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