Internet - Part 2

Ephesians 5;1-12

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

For this you know, that no fornicator, [That is any sexually immoral person, anyone committing any sexual act out side marriage, if you’re here tonight and you look at porn this is you, if you masturbate this is you, if you’r sleeping with your partner tonight you fall into this category!]
No unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Here we come, back to the thought of light and darkness;
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

You see for us Christians this calling of God to a life of holiness is a part of who we now are. It’s not a set of rules and regulations it’s the Spirit of God causing desires in us to live pure Christ ward lives. If you are saved tonight the quest to be holy and pure, to be light is yours;

And it’s for every area of your life;
tonight we’re going to focus specifically on the internet.

I think there’s something played out in each of our lives that shows none of us are perfect,

would anyone agree with me that temptation works?

I mean it’s a very real thing, it does us no good to stand up here and sing & shout about satans defeat when we bear the mark in our life that temptation is a very real danger and that many of us fall to it time and time again.

Perhaps the biggest temptation on the internet; for us guys anyway; is porn, there’s a reason that 40% of internet traffic is pornography! Men the world over are tempted and do look at this stuff! It is a multi billion pound industry.

Guys isn’t it true that girls are beautiful?
Many of the guys came here tonight because there are lovely Christian girls here that their after!

Eve was the pinnacle of creation, women are perhaps the most beautiful aspect of God’s creation! And that’s why men long to see their beauty!

And Satan preys on your desires, He comes and tempts you to type that web address or click that mouse and to lead you as Romans 1 teaches to value the created above the creator and to value sex above the infinite God! This temptation works; you ever see some guys walking in town? They’re heads are turning as the girls walk past, couldn’t tell you what her face looks like but what an ass, what a set she’s got, wow what a body, didn’t see her face…….! The temptation of sexual desire is working in Satan’s strategy against us.

I hear things like this;

“Its so difficult, I just switch on to check my email but before I know it I’ve sinned against God”.

“I feel as if I won’t sleep unto I get release but afterwards I can’t sleep with guilt, its uncontrollable!”

I know and I sympathize with you! I am up here not to judge you or give off to you, not to get stuck into you but to try to encourage you to living a victorious Christian life over porn and masturbation and to be shining forth as lights into a dark world!

Here’s an astounding figure for you;
In a recent survey 50% of pastors asked admitted looking at porn in the 3 weeks before the survey.

PASTORS!!!
I’m not going to judge you, there’s a great book out about this called Everyman’s battle, the title is so right; it is everyman’s battle,
I’d be shocked if there were 5 guys in here tonight who never struggle or look at porn on the internet!

You and I have this incredible opportunity to worship the living God and to live in the fullness of a relationship with Him and my goal tonight is to plead with you all to take this life you’ve been given and live it wholly for Him who made you and for the purposes He has for you!

If you struggle in the area of sexual temptation on the internet there are some practical steps,
and to encourage you I know a lot of young men; 18-35’s who where once addicted to pornography and now by God’s grace and commitment are free and living for Christ.

1 confess your sin to God 1 John 1;9

2 confess and become accountable to a trusted friend James 5;16 that is a difficult thing to do, but speaking from experience this is a major step!

3 you can set your computer in a public area in your house.

And there is software like x3watch, accountability software that I have on my computer so if I was to look at an inappropriate site a friend of mine would get an email telling him so!

As well there are many great books on the topic; “sex is not the problem, lust is” “Everyman’s Battle” being but two!

Friends we’ve got to shine for Jesus and it’s pretty hard to shine Christ when you’re downloading porn and masturbating over naked pictures on your computer screen!

Let’s get off the porn and move on