Sunday, July 13, 2014

BREAKING FREE Week 3



Message by:
Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

Avoiding a Fatal Attraction



When dealing with fatal attractions or your thinking process that leads to actions there are Pre, In, and post things you can do.
The adult generation that left in the Exodus never got to see the promise land due to their sin. Only Joshua and Caleb made it in among adult men original to the Exodus.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.


1. MAKE A COMMITMENT to keep God’s Standards.



Psalm 119:9
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:13-20
You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”  But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.    Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Proverbs 5:1-7
My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight,   that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.   For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;   but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.   Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.   She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.   Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.

Ephesians 5:3-5
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


2. MAINTAIN your marriage.



Proverbs 5:18-19 (LB)
"... rejoice in your wife. Let her charms and tender embrace satisfy you. Let her love alone fill you with delight."

1 Corinthians 7:2-5
But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


3. MANAGE your mind.



James 1:13-15
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Matthew 5:28
"Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.


4. MONITOR your media intake.



Matthew 6:22-23
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good you whole being will be full of light. But if bad ... full of darkness!"

Psalm 101:3
"I will set before my eyes no vile things."

2 Timothy 2:22 (LB)
"Run from anything that gives you evil thoughts but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right."


5. MINIMIZE the opportunities for temptation.



Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

1 Corinthians 15:33
"Bad company corrupts good character."


6. MAGNIFY the consequences.



1 Thessalonians 4:1-5 (MSG)
One final word, friends. We ask you— urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance. You know the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus. God wants you to live a pure life. Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity. Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God.

James 1:12
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under temptation, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the victor's crown, the life God has promised to those who love Him."


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