WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.740 Good morning. It's good to be with you all together as one community and we have a lot to cover this morning so I'm just going to jump right in. 00:00:12.820 --> 00:00:22.859 We are continuing our series in the book of Proverbs. You'll remember that Proverbs is a book about wisdom and wisdom is skill in the art of living. 00:00:22.859 --> 00:00:36.039 Wisdom begins its foundation is the fear of the Lord and it continues. It grows with humility. We can't expect to grow in wisdom, to have wisdom, unless we're willing to admit we don't know everything. 00:00:36.519 --> 00:00:49.799 And so this morning we're going to be in Proverbs chapter 6 starting at verse 20. I invite you to turn there now and as we come to this portion, section of Proverbs, we're going to again be talking about the topic of sex. 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:58.819 And so I'm going to repeat virtually the same things I said at the beginning of my sermon last time when we talked about Proverbs chapter 5 at the beginning of July. 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:06.599 First of all, when we come to topics that are hard and sensitive, it's important to note that we're going to say something, but not everything. 00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:19.060 There's too much to be said in one sermon and so we trust that as we come to God's word over and over again, we'll receive the full orbed view of what he has to say about a variety of topics. 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:25.259 Second, we're going to come again across this issue of the woman playing the role of the temptress. 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:31.500 That's what we're going to see in chapter 7 and so it's important again to ask the question, why is it the woman and not the man? 00:01:32.179 --> 00:01:39.739 And I believe it's because it's a genre issue. So this is a book that's written to a young man and so it makes sense that he's being warned about a young woman. 00:01:39.739 --> 00:01:50.379 And if instead this were a book written by a mother to her daughter, we would expect the mother to warn her daughter about the man who is a tempter or a seducer. 00:01:51.019 --> 00:02:01.000 So it's important to say that because we need to speak clearly in this issue because often women's sexuality is spoken of in the church that in a way that's harmful, sometimes very toxic. 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:17.780 And so we just want to say up front, both men and women tempt people sexually. Both men and women are tempted. Both men and women desire and enjoy sex. Both men and women struggle with sexual integrity. 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:27.020 So we don't paint these things as a man's issue or a woman's issue. This is a human issue because God's made all of us as sexual beings. 00:02:28.020 --> 00:02:35.879 It's also important to note as we come to topics like this, it can be something that bring up memories for some of us, either of sinning or being sinned against. 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:43.860 And so it's important to remember as those things happen that God's with us and that his forgiveness is real. 00:02:43.860 --> 00:02:50.840 But those things don't prevent us from looking at the entire counsel of his word, everything that God has to say to us. 00:02:50.920 --> 00:02:57.000 God speaks about these things, and so we are unashamed to speak about them as well. 00:02:58.620 --> 00:03:05.920 Now, last time when we talked about this, we were in Proverbs chapter 5, and there's some overlap between Proverbs chapter 5 and Proverbs chapter 7. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:15.099 But the main emphasis of Proverbs chapter 5 was this, flee sexual sin and do it by running towards your spouse, right? 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:18.959 Have a lot of sex with your spouse. 00:03:19.739 --> 00:03:24.859 That is one strategy the Proverbs present to us against sexual temptation. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:30.039 We're going to see a different strategy this morning from chapters 6 and 7. 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:34.679 It's not run towards your spouse, but run away from sin. 00:03:35.579 --> 00:03:42.939 Not run towards your spouse, not have a lot of really good sex with your spouse, but run away from sexual sin. 00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:45.959 Now, there's going to be a lot in this passage, right? 00:03:45.979 --> 00:03:49.099 We're covering all of chapter 7, part of chapter 6. 00:03:49.180 --> 00:03:53.319 There's going to be portions of it that reteach what was taught in chapter 5. 00:03:53.379 --> 00:03:57.340 And so we're not going to cover everything equally this morning. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:04:02.759 We're going to have a focus, and that focus will be from chapter 7, verse 25. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:06.500 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways. 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:09.699 Do not stray into her paths. 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:17.720 So we won't treat everything equally this morning, but we'll have a special focus on that because that's the primary focus of this passage. 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:25.680 With that, I invite you again to turn either in your worship guide or in your Bible or in your phone to this portion of God's Word. 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:28.980 We are in Proverbs chapter 6, starting at verse 20. 00:04:29.080 --> 00:04:31.560 And as we turn to this, remember that this is God's Word. 00:04:32.520 --> 00:04:38.340 And God tells us in Proverbs chapter 30, verse 5, that every word of God proves true. 00:04:39.200 --> 00:04:42.540 He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:47.060 And so that's why we start now reading at verse 20. 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:34.420 Verse 27. 00:05:34.420 --> 00:06:04.420 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:31.259 Chapter 7. 00:06:31.259 --> 00:07:01.240 Verse 6. 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:31.240 Verse 10. 00:07:31.240 --> 00:08:01.220 Verse 27. 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:31.200 Verse 21. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:33.200 Verse 21. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:38.200 Verse 21. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:43.200 Verse 21. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:45.200 Verse 21. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:46.200 Verse 21. 00:08:46.200 --> 00:09:01.200 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:31.200 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:46.980 And ะตัั‚ัŒ luigi comment we ask of trueordo affine the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:48.000 and you would challenge us. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:52.740 We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:53.820 Amen. 00:09:58.220 --> 00:10:02.680 You may remember when we were back in Proverbs chapter 5, 00:10:03.420 --> 00:10:07.399 there was one small comment that the father made to the son 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:10.700 as he was telling him to pursue his wife, 00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:13.399 and it came in verse 8, and it was this, 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:17.419 keep your way far from her, 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:21.620 and do not go near the door of her house. 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:25.519 So there's this woman out there right from chapter 5 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:26.480 that's trying to tempt you. 00:10:26.959 --> 00:10:29.600 Stay as far away as you can. 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:32.620 Now that was a side comment in chapter 5. 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:36.059 It is now the main focus of chapters 6 and 7. 00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:39.519 The father is not satisfied that he's just given that warning. 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:42.840 He's now going to tell a long story 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:47.519 so his son can understand why that is so necessary, 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:50.200 why it's imperative that he stays away. 00:10:50.300 --> 00:10:53.480 And that's the story that we're told in chapter 7. 00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:57.220 Starting at verse 6, this father's looking out on the streets, 00:10:57.660 --> 00:10:59.860 and he sees this simple person, this young man, 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:03.180 who has not heeded the father's command to stay far away. 00:11:03.660 --> 00:11:05.879 It seems it should be implied right by the fact 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:09.519 that he's told to stay away that people know where this house is. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:11.879 They know the places of temptation. 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:14.840 They know where this woman is lying in wait. 00:11:15.659 --> 00:11:17.079 And yet this person is foolish. 00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:22.279 I don't know if they're doing this intentionally or unintentionally, 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:25.579 but either way, this foolish person is not being careful 00:11:25.579 --> 00:11:27.179 about the way he's walking. 00:11:27.699 --> 00:11:29.399 And so he is very close. 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:33.199 He puts himself, just by his very position, in danger. 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:36.360 And then we get to see that there's a process here. 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:38.860 There's a pattern to sin, so it doesn't happen all at once. 00:11:39.060 --> 00:11:41.560 It starts with him being in the wrong place, 00:11:41.560 --> 00:11:45.779 and then it continues by this woman coming out to seduce him. 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:48.539 First of all, he's there at the wrong time, right? 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:50.460 Verse 9, he's there in the evening. 00:11:50.560 --> 00:11:52.800 We might wonder why he's wandering around at night. 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:55.820 And then in verse 10, this woman comes out, 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:58.240 and she has a variety of strategies. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:00.620 Verse 13, she kisses him. 00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:05.840 Verse 14, she helps him understand that what's going on here 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.500 because of her religious activities 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:10.060 is at a time where she has a wonderful meal 00:12:10.060 --> 00:12:12.120 that she's prepared for him. 00:12:12.940 --> 00:12:14.799 That's part of what we're supposed to take away 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:17.659 from the fact that she's performed her sacrifices. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:22.340 In addition to that, she has created a space 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:23.840 that's welcoming and inviting. 00:12:24.060 --> 00:12:27.000 Verse 16, her couch has coverings on it. 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:29.120 She's perfumed her bed. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:34.519 Verse 17, and not only is there this wonderful experience 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:36.460 that she's offering out to this man, 00:12:36.539 --> 00:12:38.840 she's appealing to a variety of senses. 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:42.340 She's also appealing to his desire for secrecy. 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:44.919 Look, you can enjoy this, 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:49.200 and no one will find out. 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:51.200 No one will know. 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:53.879 Verse 19, my husband is not at home. 00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:56.039 He has gone on a long journey. 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:59.199 He won't be back for a long time. 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:03.139 And so she uses her dress to attract him. 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.779 She's physically attractive. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:07.439 And of course, she uses her words to attract him. 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:08.819 It's interesting that the Proverbs 00:13:08.819 --> 00:13:13.039 put such a highlight on the words of this woman, 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:14.379 both in five and in seven. 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:17.360 She is saying things that this man wants to hear. 00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:19.379 It's not just a physical relationship. 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:23.240 There are needs, perhaps, that he feels and has that are unmet, 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:26.259 and she is willing to meet them. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:29.919 And so we see several principles here 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:31.360 that we have seen before, 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:32.960 that when it comes to the foolish person 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:33.820 and the simple person. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:35.600 First, the simple person, 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:37.320 as I've told you over and over again, 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:40.659 does not understand the relationship 00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:43.620 between present actions and future consequences. 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:47.840 The simple person cannot connect the dots on those things. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:51.019 And so that's part of what makes him simple. 00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:52.420 He can't connect the dots 00:13:52.420 --> 00:13:55.360 that being at the wrong place at the wrong time 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:58.500 is going to make him vulnerable to this sin. 00:13:58.780 --> 00:14:00.180 He doesn't have any strategy. 00:14:00.660 --> 00:14:03.139 Now, maybe he didn't have any bad intentions in this. 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:04.720 Maybe he's just failing to guard himself. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.259 Maybe he knows where he's going. 00:14:06.920 --> 00:14:09.460 Either way, that's part of what makes him simple. 00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:11.580 He has no strategy in life. 00:14:11.940 --> 00:14:15.759 He can't connect how all his actions come together. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:19.899 Remember, this is what we saw in chapter one, verse 22. 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:22.299 Wisdom cries out and says to the simple person, 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.939 how long, oh simple one, 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:25.799 will you love your simple ways? 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:28.039 There's something that the simple person 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:29.779 gets out of their simpleness. 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:32.840 They don't have to do the hard work 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:34.439 of being careful. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.220 But then there's another principle here 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:39.259 that comes to us again from chapter one, 00:14:39.319 --> 00:14:40.679 and that's about the fear of the Lord. 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:42.659 It's not just that this simple person 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:44.259 doesn't understand the danger 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.459 that he's putting himself in. 00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:46.799 It's that this simple person 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:48.259 doesn't have the fear of the Lord. 00:14:48.719 --> 00:14:50.480 You'll remember at the beginning of chapter one, 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.980 our very first sermon on Proverbs, 00:14:52.079 --> 00:14:54.839 I gave you a list of the kinds of things 00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:56.480 that characterize someone 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.679 who has the fear of the Lord. 00:14:57.939 --> 00:14:59.059 One of them is, 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:04.079 this person's goal is to stay far away from sin. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:08.139 The goal of the person who fears the Lord 00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:10.860 is to stay far away from sin. 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:12.500 That's something they're working for. 00:15:13.179 --> 00:15:14.699 And so someone who fears the Lord 00:15:14.699 --> 00:15:16.179 does not play the game 00:15:16.179 --> 00:15:18.879 where they try to get as close to sin as they can 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:20.259 without crossing the line. 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:22.879 Because remember, 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:25.840 the person who fears the Lord loves wisdom. 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.840 And so they love what's right. 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:32.059 They want to stay as close to it as possible 00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:34.379 because of their love for God 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:37.299 and their knowledge of God's discipline. 00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:39.279 That's part of what it means to fear the Lord. 00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:41.500 And so this man, 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.959 this foolish young man, 00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:43.759 this simple man, 00:15:43.839 --> 00:15:45.539 he's simple, 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.979 so he can't connect the dots. 00:15:47.479 --> 00:15:48.240 He's simple, 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:50.059 so he doesn't fear the Lord. 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.639 He's not trying and working 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:53.379 to stay away from sin. 00:15:53.479 --> 00:15:56.979 If we are trying to get as close as possible to sin 00:15:56.979 --> 00:15:58.439 without getting burned, 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:01.179 we don't actually love wisdom. 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:04.740 We're only perhaps afraid 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:06.659 of the consequences of sin. 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.459 We don't hate sin for its own sake. 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:12.000 We don't love sin for its own sake. 00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:14.579 Wisdom is at most an inconvenience, right? 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:17.519 Maybe the simple person's afraid of consequences, 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:21.099 but the simple person doesn't love wisdom enough 00:16:21.099 --> 00:16:23.679 to pursue it and hold firmly to it. 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:26.139 You might think about it like this way. 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:27.000 The foolish person 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:29.379 is the kind of person who knows 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.359 there's something, right, 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.139 they shouldn't buy. 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:33.479 Maybe it's something that's wrong for them to purchase. 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.800 Maybe it's something that's not wrong. 00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:36.180 They just can't afford it. 00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:37.720 They know it's outside of their budget. 00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:38.980 It would be foolish to do it. 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:41.820 And this is the person who goes to the store 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:42.800 where that thing is sold 00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:44.620 and they press their nose up against the glass. 00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:48.100 They don't stay far away. 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:50.180 They hover around sin. 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:53.300 They know they're not supposed to do it, 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:55.220 yet they dance around it. 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:56.139 They're looking at it. 00:16:56.180 --> 00:16:57.240 They're thinking about it. 00:16:57.240 --> 00:17:00.860 That's what the simple person is doing here. 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.899 As the wise person, right, would stay away. 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:05.519 They would not be in parts of town where that store is. 00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:07.279 They wouldn't walk by and look in. 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:08.259 If they had to walk by it, 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:09.120 they'd stay far away 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:11.420 because they know that's a temptation for them. 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:14.339 And that's what the wise person does. 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:16.579 So we've got the principle of the simple person, 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:18.480 the principle of the fear of the Lord. 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.839 And then we also see again 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:22.200 the principle that we saw in 1 Peter, 00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:24.920 which is that our sexuality, 00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:27.820 sexual sin has this gravitational pull to it. 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:30.400 Remember I told you that story 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:33.360 about the man who was a terrorist 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:34.960 who went to bomb an adult theater 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:38.820 and he was so drawn in by the images on the screen 00:17:38.820 --> 00:17:40.940 that he forgot there was a bomb underneath him. 00:17:41.320 --> 00:17:42.420 He blew his legs off. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:43.420 Why? 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:46.519 Because there's this gravitational pull to sexual sin. 00:17:46.600 --> 00:17:49.560 It has a special power and a temptation to it. 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:52.500 And so this young man underestimates, right, 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.460 the power that this is going to have over him. 00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:57.180 He has both put himself in the wrong place 00:17:57.180 --> 00:18:00.019 and he's put himself in a specially vulnerable place. 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:03.840 And so those are a few of the things 00:18:03.840 --> 00:18:05.000 that this highlights for us. 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:06.300 The principle of being simple, 00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:09.519 the principle of fearing the Lord, 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:13.080 and the principle of the serious attraction 00:18:13.080 --> 00:18:14.960 of sexual sin. 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:18.060 There's a few minor notes here 00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:19.240 that I'll highlight as well 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.940 that we covered in chapter five, 00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:22.420 so I won't go over them in detail. 00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:25.080 But this chapter again outlines for us 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:27.440 the serious consequences of sexual sin. 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:30.019 It talks again about the fact 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.180 that it can lead to death. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:33.920 Remember we covered that in chapter five. 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:37.100 It also highlights another principle for us 00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:38.259 under the consequences. 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:41.600 If you look at chapter six, verse 26, 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:44.779 we are told that adultery 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:48.060 is an especially damaging form of sexual sin. 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:53.059 So Solomon's not saying here adultery is wrong, 00:18:53.139 --> 00:18:54.799 but other kinds of sexual sin are okay. 00:18:55.339 --> 00:18:58.319 He's saying adultery is especially damaging. 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:01.379 We might have put it this way. 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:05.079 It is wrong to look at pornography. 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.379 It is damaging. 00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:09.039 It is even more damaging 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:11.359 to have a sexual relationship 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:12.359 with someone who's married. 00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:16.099 And so that's again part of what's being put out here. 00:19:16.179 --> 00:19:17.339 There are repercussions 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:20.019 that can carry across generations. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:22.939 It's not like cheating on your taxes. 00:19:23.639 --> 00:19:24.939 You can repent, right? 00:19:24.979 --> 00:19:26.219 And you just go back and refile. 00:19:27.439 --> 00:19:28.819 Sexual sin's not like that. 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:30.679 You can't go back and undo it. 00:19:31.659 --> 00:19:35.500 There are things that you cannot walk back. 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:38.839 That's part of what we see in verse 33 of chapter six. 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:41.099 He will get wounds and dishonor 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:44.279 and his disgrace will not be wiped away. 00:19:44.679 --> 00:19:47.619 That's not to say that Jesus doesn't offer real grace 00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:49.439 and real forgiveness for sexual sin, 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.480 but it is to highlight 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:52.579 that even in the midst of our repentance, 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.839 there are consequences 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:55.579 that we may have to walk with 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.639 for the rest of our lives. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:01.059 And so that's why Solomon cares so much 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:03.619 about warning his son here. 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:08.919 As we think about this passage for us, 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:11.119 there are still houses 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:13.599 that we need to stay away from. 00:20:15.719 --> 00:20:17.579 It may not be a physical house. 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:19.559 You may not have someone in your neighborhood 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.679 who's standing on the corner 00:20:20.679 --> 00:20:22.019 trying to tempt you, 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:23.299 but there are places 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:26.519 where sexual experiences are offered. 00:20:26.679 --> 00:20:27.799 There are relationships 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:30.339 and people who offer these things. 00:20:30.419 --> 00:20:31.779 Some of you have had that experience. 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:34.399 You know when someone's giving you the eyes, right? 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:36.200 And those eyes say this, 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:37.759 I wonder what it would be like 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.680 if you were my husband 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.859 instead of my current husband. 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.980 I wonder what it would be like 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.579 if you were my wife 00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:46.259 rather than my current wife. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:48.139 You can see that sometimes, right? 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:49.680 In the way that someone interacts with you, 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.980 in the way that they look at you. 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.680 Stay away from that person. 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:56.500 It could be flattering, right? 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.160 That someone's thinking of you in that way. 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.160 Don't be like the simple person. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:01.720 Don't be flattered by that. 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.700 Be scared by that. 00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:03.480 Move away. 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.600 Have boundaries, right? 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.480 You may be someone 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.779 who needs to be relocated in your job. 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.340 You may need someone 00:21:10.340 --> 00:21:11.279 who needs to change 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.640 some of the things about your life 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:15.400 so your contact with that person is less. 00:21:17.080 --> 00:21:18.600 Of course, it's not just people 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:20.340 and relationships. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.460 I will highlight this. 00:21:22.540 --> 00:21:23.540 So there's relationships, right? 00:21:23.540 --> 00:21:24.720 We have to know our temptations. 00:21:25.600 --> 00:21:27.059 There was a lot of talk 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.259 a couple years ago 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:30.620 about the Billy Graham rule 00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:32.120 where Billy Graham would resolve 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:33.620 never to be alone 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:34.920 with someone of the opposite sex 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:36.339 and then Vice President Mike Pence 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.720 took that rule upon himself 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:39.079 and our culture did what? 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:40.339 They mocked him for it. 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:42.240 They mocked him 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:44.160 for seeking sexual integrity. 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.660 Now, I'm not telling you 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:47.079 that you need to adopt 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.900 the Billy Graham rule 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.880 or the Mike Pence rule. 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.720 They were not just staying away 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.539 from the foreign woman, 00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:52.259 they were staying away 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.019 from every woman. 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:53.879 So I'm not binding 00:21:53.879 --> 00:21:54.859 your conscience with that. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.879 I'm just saying 00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:56.920 that's one application 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.900 that those men took. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.099 Now, they're in a different position 00:21:59.099 --> 00:21:59.879 than many of us are. 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.879 They're public figures. 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:03.319 So they're at especially great risk 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:05.160 for being sabotaged 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.859 in some way for scandal. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.400 But this is someone 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:10.200 who in their particular situation 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.019 is finding a way 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.819 to apply that 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.660 in their relationship. 00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.660 So whether we agree 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.319 with that rule, 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.299 whether we apply it 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.379 to ourselves or not, 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.779 we can look at that 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:19.299 and say there's someone 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.779 who's trying to stay 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:22.500 far away from her house. 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.519 There's someone 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.339 who is making 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:26.240 sexual integrity a priority. 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.099 There's someone 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:28.599 who, unlike the simple person, 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:30.759 is actively staying away 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.319 from sexual temptation. 00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:33.980 Of course, 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.619 it's not just relationships, right? 00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:36.399 We live in a culture 00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:37.639 where there are movies 00:22:37.639 --> 00:22:39.059 and TV shows 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:41.460 that present us 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.139 with things 00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:43.180 that are not helpful 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.759 for our hearts 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.299 and our minds. 00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.599 Now, I'm not here 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.399 to tell you 00:22:47.399 --> 00:22:48.799 which shows you should 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.819 and should not watch. 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.700 And each of us 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.139 has to know 00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:53.279 our own temptations, right? 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.299 For some of us, 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:55.079 there's things 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:55.599 that we watch 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.579 that are going to take us 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.579 in places in our minds 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.339 we should not be. 00:22:59.059 --> 00:23:00.059 There's others of us, 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.460 those things won't take us 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.099 to that place. 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.180 So for different people, 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.079 that line's going to be 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:04.920 in a different place. 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:06.440 But what we don't do 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.480 is we don't take 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.000 the assumption 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.700 of our culture 00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.139 and say, 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:09.799 well, you know, 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.539 it's a drama, 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.480 it's a documentary, 00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:12.960 it's not pornography 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.740 so I can watch 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.759 whatever I want, right? 00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:17.460 We know 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:19.279 that that's another house 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.099 sometimes we need 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:20.980 to stay away from. 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.599 And so we don't just 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:24.119 consume the content 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:25.299 that our culture gives us 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.680 without thinking about it, 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.639 without discernment. 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.319 We are careful 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:32.920 where we park 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:34.259 our sexuality. 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.740 I read to you 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:38.059 an excerpt last time 00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:38.660 from this book, 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.639 Why Does God Care 00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.460 Who I Sleep With? 00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.940 And he compares 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:42.700 our sexuality 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.680 to a car, 00:23:44.399 --> 00:23:45.519 that they're beater cars, 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:45.740 right? 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.279 We don't care 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.039 what we do with them. 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.039 And then he tells 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.740 the story of someone 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.180 loaned him a convertible 00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:50.779 that didn't have 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.059 a single scratch on it. 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.839 You better believe 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.500 he was careful 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.139 with that car 00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.779 because the car 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.539 was valuable. 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.960 He makes the same point 00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:58.899 about our sexuality. 00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:00.519 We are careful 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.720 about where we park it 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.220 because God 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.519 values it so much. 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.879 It has so much worth. 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.740 And so we value it 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.720 as well. 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.279 And so when it comes 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.339 to the people we're with 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:12.500 and the things we watch, 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.399 we are careful 00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:15.639 where we park ourselves. 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.299 We're careful 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.500 where we place ourselves. 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:22.319 Now it's not just people. 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.460 It's not just entertainment. 00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:25.859 Of course, 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.220 one of the greatest corners, 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:28.379 one of the greatest houses 00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.359 that we need to be careful 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.319 about in our culture 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.579 is what's happening 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.180 on the internet. 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:33.240 What we're doing 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:34.799 when we're on our phones 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.940 or our computers. 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:37.680 Maybe staying far away 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.259 for you 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:40.119 means that you need 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:40.819 a filter 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.799 on your phone 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.440 and your computer. 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.500 Maybe it means you need 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.740 an accountability software. 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.839 I know many people 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:48.180 and I do this myself 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.920 who use a software 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:50.000 called Covenant Eyes 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.559 which they put on their phones 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.160 and their computers 00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:52.859 and it monitors 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:54.000 every single website 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.920 that they go to. 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.660 And then it filters through them 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.400 and it emails 00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.339 a variety of people 00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:59.000 that you've chosen 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.180 as accountability partners 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.319 any website 00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.019 that you've visited 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.700 that's questionable. 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:04.980 And so it's a way 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.059 to stay away 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:07.319 from that house, right? 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.539 You know 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:10.319 that you are not 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.279 anonymous. 00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:12.940 You're not able 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:14.180 to believe the lie 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:15.539 that this woman 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.819 offers to this man, right? 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.980 This is going to be secret. 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:18.880 Chapter 7 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.059 verses 19 and 20. 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:22.500 And so for many of us 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.900 maybe for most of us 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:25.200 we don't want to 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.299 accidentally stumble 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.660 into the wrong part of town. 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:29.860 That means being proactive 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:31.799 about what's happening to us 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.559 when we're on the internet. 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.700 There are all sorts of things 00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.079 on the internet 00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:35.899 that are wonderful 00:25:35.899 --> 00:25:37.940 and all sorts of things 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.819 that are terrible 00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:40.259 and damaging. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.720 So we want to present 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.619 prevent ourselves 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.879 from accidentally stumbling 00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.759 into those areas. 00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:45.899 Remember the fool here. 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.899 We don't know 00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:48.039 if this was intentional, right? 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.899 He's just on a walk. 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.740 He may not have been 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.740 seeking this woman out. 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:55.339 The problem is that 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.639 he wasn't proactive 00:25:56.639 --> 00:25:58.039 in staying away from her. 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.839 Regardless of his intention 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:02.299 he was not on guard. 00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:05.159 He did not realize 00:26:05.159 --> 00:26:07.039 the fact that he was in a war. 00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:08.399 That when we're against 00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:09.259 sexual sin 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.559 we have to have strategies. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.119 We have to go in 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.000 with a plan. 00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:14.740 That's what the wise person does. 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:16.079 We are in a war 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.740 against sexual sin. 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.679 That's what the fool 00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:19.799 is unwilling to admit. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:22.179 That's why he finds himself 00:26:22.179 --> 00:26:23.199 at the wrong place 00:26:23.199 --> 00:26:24.759 at the wrong time. 00:26:26.919 --> 00:26:28.039 I want you to think about 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:29.079 when we think about the internet 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:30.519 think about it like this. 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.019 About 00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:34.579 over a decade ago 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.799 I was in New Orleans. 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.379 And if you've ever visited 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:38.960 New Orleans 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.939 you know that it's 00:26:39.939 --> 00:26:41.399 it's a mixed bag, right? 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:43.439 There are wonderful things there. 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.799 There's wonderful music 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.619 and musicians. 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:48.079 There is wonderful food. 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:50.339 There are wonderful 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:51.480 cultural events. 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.460 And also 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:55.419 you could turn the corner 00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:56.740 and suddenly 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.399 without warning 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.000 find yourself 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.019 in the red light district. 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.500 No warning, right? 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:03.300 You could be walking around 00:27:03.300 --> 00:27:04.680 walking into a jazz club 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.460 or a jazz bar 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.000 and you look 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.560 and you realize 00:27:06.560 --> 00:27:06.900 oh 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:08.860 that's a prostitute. 00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:11.980 That's the same way 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.840 the internet works. 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.700 There are many 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:15.080 wonderful things about it. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.200 And 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.740 if we are not on guard 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.840 we're wandering around 00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:20.140 right 00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:22.240 without even trying to 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.380 we stumble into things 00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:23.620 and think 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.060 oh wait 00:27:24.060 --> 00:27:25.460 I'm in the red district now. 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:27.440 oh that's something 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.519 I shouldn't be looking at 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.960 even without 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:30.980 in our culture 00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:31.799 seeking it out. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:35.500 And so we make sure 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.960 we stay away 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.640 from her house. 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:41.180 We make sure 00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.860 we stay far away 00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:43.480 from the places 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.140 of temptation. 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:45.160 We have a strategy. 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:46.360 We have a game plan. 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.480 We know where 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.600 the enemy is, right? 00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:50.180 We are in a war 00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:51.180 against sexual sin 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.680 and so we don't 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:52.740 just wander around. 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.400 We want to make sure 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.440 we have the high ground. 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.599 If you're in a battle 00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:57.079 you're not just going 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:57.779 to wander down 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.420 into a valley 00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.420 without thinking about it. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.019 You want to know 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:01.079 who's on either side 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.319 and what they're going 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.680 to do. 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.960 The same is true 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:05.200 of our battle 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.960 against sexual sin. 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.579 We know 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.900 where we are 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:12.359 and we're on guard 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:13.000 against it. 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.420 That's what the wise 00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.240 person does. 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:17.140 He knows the territory. 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.259 He knows where 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.059 the dangers are. 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.900 He stays far away 00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.299 from it. 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:24.299 The other thing 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:24.819 that's interesting 00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:25.899 about this foolish 00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.579 young man 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:28.779 not just is he 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.500 in the wrong place 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.419 at the wrong time 00:28:30.419 --> 00:28:33.919 why is he wandering 00:28:33.919 --> 00:28:35.079 around late at night? 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:38.079 Now there could be 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:38.940 a variety of reasons 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:39.799 he's wandering around 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.399 late at night. 00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:42.000 I'll suggest one to you. 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:44.559 Since he's a simple person 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:46.700 he's probably not an ant. 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:50.420 It's one thing 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.680 to stay away 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.700 from sexual sin 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.980 but why is he wandering around? 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:55.140 This man probably 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:55.860 has too much time 00:28:55.860 --> 00:28:56.440 on his hands. 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.720 He's not pursuing 00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.740 the things he needs 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.220 to pursue. 00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.580 He's not working hard 00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:02.420 for the things 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.519 he needs to work hard for. 00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:04.420 So of course 00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.779 he's open up 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.660 to these temptations. 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.759 Of course 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.299 there are these 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:09.559 opportunities for him. 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:12.879 My last semester 00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:14.619 in seminary 00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.579 I took this class 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:16.859 with a professor 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:18.119 on preparing 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:19.359 for pastoral ministry 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:21.059 and he never gave 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.200 our final papers back. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.579 I shouldn't say 00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:23.899 he never. 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.919 He did not return them. 00:29:25.659 --> 00:29:26.539 And then we all graduated 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.720 and went to various places. 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:30.019 And he finally decided 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.440 I don't remember 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.319 how long it was 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:31.679 after 00:29:31.679 --> 00:29:33.740 it wasn't quite a year 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.819 but the next winter 00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.859 he finally sent 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.779 our papers to us. 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.359 And because he was 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.160 sending them through the mail 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:39.500 he wrote us all this letter. 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.240 And I still have it. 00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:43.099 He wrote us this long letter 00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:43.879 and a lot of it 00:29:43.879 --> 00:29:45.019 was a discussion 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:48.480 about sexual sin. 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.460 Writing it to 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.539 a majority of men, 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.299 young men 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.279 coming out of seminary. 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.440 And he says this. 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.920 It is not possible 00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:59.379 simply to deal with sin 00:29:59.379 --> 00:30:00.619 in your own heart and life 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:02.119 and by this alone 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:03.399 to become a changed person. 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:05.399 More than anything else 00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:06.359 sinful patterns 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:07.439 have to be replaced 00:30:07.439 --> 00:30:09.259 with patterns of obedience, 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.740 habits of love 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.779 and acts of serving 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.819 and caring for others. 00:30:13.679 --> 00:30:14.500 This is true 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.399 with all sins 00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:17.019 including the sins 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.599 of the many of you 00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:19.139 who struggle 00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:20.079 with your sexuality. 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:21.659 You have 00:30:21.659 --> 00:30:22.740 too much time alone, 00:30:23.399 --> 00:30:24.519 too much time 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:25.519 thinking about yourself, 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.899 too much time 00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:27.479 on the computer 00:30:27.479 --> 00:30:28.539 exploring the internet, 00:30:28.979 --> 00:30:29.740 too much time 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.299 thinking about 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.219 your own sexuality 00:30:31.219 --> 00:30:32.839 and too much time 00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:33.619 finding ways 00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:34.179 to serve 00:30:34.179 --> 00:30:35.479 your own sexual fulfillment. 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:37.380 your lives 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.099 need to become 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:39.360 much more engaged 00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:40.880 in living for other people, 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.460 most of all 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.720 in living for your wives 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.400 and children 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:46.000 or husbands and children 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.720 for those of you 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.420 who are married, 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:49.180 but also in a life 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:50.180 of serving others. 00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:52.259 And if you are single, 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:54.880 just get deeply involved 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:56.339 in some truly demanding 00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:57.059 relationships 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.660 in a ministry 00:30:58.660 --> 00:30:59.900 that uses your mind, 00:31:00.120 --> 00:31:00.480 heart, 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.599 imagination, 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.539 soul, 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.519 and strength. 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:05.159 You simply 00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:06.399 will not have 00:31:06.399 --> 00:31:07.319 so much time 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.619 or so much energy 00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:10.039 and your mind 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.539 and heart 00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.519 will become full 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.339 of your concern 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:13.339 for other people 00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:14.579 rather than merely 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.659 the needs of yourself. 00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:17.579 You will develop 00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:19.359 genuine battle faith 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:21.399 and an embattled life 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:22.980 because you will become 00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:24.059 full of concern, 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.139 compassion, 00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:26.079 and love 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:27.019 for other people 00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:28.619 rather than being 00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:29.420 so focused 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.619 on your own fulfillment 00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:32.419 and your own sin. 00:31:33.659 --> 00:31:34.739 And then he goes on 00:31:34.739 --> 00:31:35.419 to say this, 00:31:36.379 --> 00:31:38.279 in addition 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.339 to this general 00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:40.139 human problem 00:31:40.139 --> 00:31:40.959 and your weaknesses 00:31:40.959 --> 00:31:41.819 in this area, 00:31:41.939 --> 00:31:42.559 you are children 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.559 of this generation, 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.119 a generation 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:45.879 in which all 00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:46.759 through your lives 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.579 you have been encouraged 00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.619 to love yourself, 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:50.139 to serve yourself, 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:51.219 to make time 00:31:51.219 --> 00:31:51.819 for yourself, 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:53.059 to find fulfillment 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.759 for yourself. 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:55.500 Instead of this 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.399 absurd call 00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:57.219 from our culture 00:31:57.219 --> 00:31:58.319 to be self-centered, 00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.779 we have been created 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.700 and redeemed 00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:01.480 for the Lord 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.920 and to give ourselves 00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:03.720 every day 00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:05.160 to a life of love 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:05.920 for others. 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:08.019 These are the fundamental 00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:09.599 and most constant graces 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.319 of repentance 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:12.279 for which we need to pray 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:14.240 and at which we need to work. 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.019 Of course, 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.379 you can see 00:32:16.379 --> 00:32:17.220 this is a long letter. 00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:18.059 It costs a dollar 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:18.839 for him to mail it. 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:23.180 The point is this, 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.819 this man, 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.420 it's not just 00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:26.399 that he's at the wrong place 00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:27.119 at the wrong time. 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:29.059 He is not pursuing the good. 00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:31.079 He is not working hard 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:31.759 like the ant. 00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:32.720 He is not loving 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:33.839 his neighbor as himself. 00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:34.819 So it's not just 00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:35.579 his location 00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.500 but his activity. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.500 If he were an ant, 00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:39.919 he wouldn't have time 00:32:39.919 --> 00:32:40.659 to be wandering 00:32:40.659 --> 00:32:41.399 the streets 00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:42.779 by himself, 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.419 himself. 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:45.119 Because he's a simple person though, 00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:47.599 he has all this time 00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.220 on his hands. 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.539 And so it's not just 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.799 that we stay far away, 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.019 that we pursue 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:55.159 the love of others. 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:56.480 We pursue true 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:57.680 and real 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:59.140 community. 00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:01.540 And of course, 00:33:01.580 --> 00:33:02.320 these aren't the only 00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:03.980 solutions to sexual sin. 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.560 As I've told you, 00:33:04.560 --> 00:33:05.320 I'm going to say something, 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.019 but not everything, 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.000 but that's the one 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:08.940 that's presented here. 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:11.860 We stay far away 00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:12.660 from places 00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:13.640 where we might be tempted 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:15.300 because we love God 00:33:15.300 --> 00:33:16.400 and we love his ways. 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:19.400 And we look to do things 00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:20.779 that are serving others. 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.180 And so we don't even have time, 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:22.400 right? 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:23.400 We're not even able 00:33:23.400 --> 00:33:24.960 to get caught up 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.640 in these sorts of things. 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:29.040 Of course, 00:33:29.080 --> 00:33:30.140 as I've been telling you, 00:33:30.300 --> 00:33:31.880 Jesus is our great 00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:34.019 and greater wisdom teacher. 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:35.259 Matthew chapter 12, 00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.060 verse 42, 00:33:36.320 --> 00:33:37.120 tells us that Jesus 00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:37.980 is greater 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:39.280 than Solomon. 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.160 And Jesus teaches 00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:42.740 these very same things. 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:44.580 Jesus also tells us 00:33:44.580 --> 00:33:45.900 to stay 00:33:45.900 --> 00:33:47.300 far away 00:33:47.300 --> 00:33:48.040 from sin. 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:49.860 Remember, 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:50.860 in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.860 Matthew chapter 5, 00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:52.300 he says, 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:52.620 this, 00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.700 if your right eye 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.880 causes you to sin, 00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.040 tear it out 00:33:56.040 --> 00:33:57.000 and throw it away. 00:33:57.900 --> 00:33:58.660 For it is better 00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.480 that you lose 00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:00.320 one of your members 00:34:00.320 --> 00:34:01.440 than that your whole body 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.380 be thrown into hell. 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.220 And if your right hand 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:05.259 causes you to sin, 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.600 cut it off 00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:07.480 and throw it away. 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.119 For it is better 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.940 that you lose 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:11.000 one of your members 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:13.099 than that your whole body 00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:14.260 go into hell. 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:16.660 So Jesus is just repeating 00:34:16.660 --> 00:34:17.920 as the greater wisdom teacher 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:18.660 the same thing. 00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:19.160 Look, 00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:20.519 stay far away from sin. 00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.380 Whatever might be 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.519 drawing you towards that, 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.700 even if it's your eye, 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:26.400 run away from it. 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.740 Put it to death early 00:34:27.740 --> 00:34:29.660 so you don't have to suffer 00:34:29.660 --> 00:34:31.119 great consequences later. 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.019 Of course, 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.980 that's a motivation 00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.039 of fear 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:36.039 and it's good and right 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:36.740 to talk about 00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:38.019 the consequences of sin. 00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:39.300 But as I've been telling you, 00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:40.760 we need more than fear, right? 00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:42.260 We need a new love. 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:43.640 We need something good 00:34:43.640 --> 00:34:44.440 and great 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:46.160 to replace things 00:34:46.160 --> 00:34:46.840 that are little 00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:48.059 and small. 00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:49.400 And so Jesus also 00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:50.699 offers us something better. 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.920 I told you from 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:54.000 Proverbs chapter 5 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:55.279 that he makes us a promise 00:34:55.279 --> 00:34:56.460 again in Matthew 5, 00:34:56.579 --> 00:34:57.679 blessed are the pure in heart 00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:59.599 for they shall see God. 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:01.900 We could say that God 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.719 pulls us 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:04.320 into a greater drama. 00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:04.940 He pulls us 00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.420 into something 00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:06.219 more beautiful. 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:07.759 I shared with you 00:35:07.759 --> 00:35:08.279 last time 00:35:08.279 --> 00:35:08.880 from this book 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:09.559 about the fact 00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:10.119 that there is 00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:11.699 something greater 00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:12.659 than sex, right? 00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:13.759 That sex points to. 00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.739 It's our relationship 00:35:14.739 --> 00:35:15.219 with God 00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:16.019 and the community 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.259 that he's building. 00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.579 And this man points out 00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:20.219 from Mark chapter 2 00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:21.019 the fact that Jesus 00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:22.059 refers to himself 00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:23.280 as the bridegroom. 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:23.980 In other words, 00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:25.800 he is the true husband. 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:27.079 He's inviting us 00:35:27.079 --> 00:35:27.980 into something 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.480 ultimately 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.619 that's even greater 00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:30.800 and better 00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.920 than sex 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.599 and family 00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:33.179 and marriage. 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:33.980 These things 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:35.400 are just small pictures 00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:36.960 of the great future 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:38.360 that Jesus has for us 00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:39.280 that we experience 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:40.139 in part now 00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:41.019 and will experience 00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.619 in full 00:35:41.619 --> 00:35:42.719 in the future. 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.739 And so it's not just 00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:46.379 that we stay far away 00:35:46.379 --> 00:35:47.419 from sexual sin 00:35:47.419 --> 00:35:48.599 but we pursue 00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.959 the real, 00:35:50.199 --> 00:35:51.119 true intimacy 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:51.899 and love 00:35:51.899 --> 00:35:52.479 and community 00:35:52.479 --> 00:35:53.759 that Jesus offers us 00:35:53.759 --> 00:35:55.239 now through himself 00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:57.359 and through his community. 00:35:58.299 --> 00:35:59.679 He gives us 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:00.679 something better 00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:01.559 and greater 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.359 that is actually 00:36:02.359 --> 00:36:03.959 worth our love. 00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:04.979 He gives us 00:36:04.979 --> 00:36:06.139 a better place 00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:06.879 to walk 00:36:06.879 --> 00:36:09.299 than the corner 00:36:09.299 --> 00:36:10.099 that her house 00:36:10.099 --> 00:36:10.659 is on. 00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.759 Jesus offers us 00:36:12.759 --> 00:36:13.579 something better 00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.539 to pursue 00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:16.000 and work for 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:17.440 and chase after. 00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:19.139 Jesus, 00:36:19.319 --> 00:36:20.099 the bridegroom, 00:36:20.599 --> 00:36:21.519 is here. 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.519 Recently, 00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:27.119 over during 00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:27.819 the coronavirus 00:36:27.819 --> 00:36:28.380 when we were all 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.039 under quarantine, 00:36:30.259 --> 00:36:30.900 I received 00:36:30.900 --> 00:36:31.719 a friend request 00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:32.319 on Facebook 00:36:32.319 --> 00:36:34.000 from someone 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:35.000 I have not had 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:35.659 contact with 00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:36.440 in over a decade. 00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:37.799 And this person 00:36:37.799 --> 00:36:38.599 was not even really 00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:39.179 a friend of mine. 00:36:39.259 --> 00:36:39.519 They were just 00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.179 an acquaintance. 00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:41.799 So I was very surprised 00:36:41.799 --> 00:36:42.500 that they were friending me 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.239 and I looked on 00:36:43.239 --> 00:36:44.000 his profile 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:45.900 and I was shocked 00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:47.880 to see that this person 00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:48.639 was engaged 00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:49.679 in Christian ministry. 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:51.679 The reason I was shocked 00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:52.639 is because the time 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.679 when I knew this individual, 00:36:53.840 --> 00:36:54.800 he was very much 00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:55.539 not a Christian. 00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:57.739 He was living 00:36:57.739 --> 00:36:58.440 a lifestyle 00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:59.079 that we would not 00:36:59.079 --> 00:37:01.219 follow as people 00:37:01.219 --> 00:37:01.980 who love Jesus. 00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:03.500 So I immediately 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:04.179 messaged him. 00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:04.460 I said, 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.300 what in the world? 00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:06.179 Why are you working 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:06.940 for such and such 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.320 organization? 00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:09.440 He messaged me back, 00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:09.619 yeah, 00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:10.360 lots changed 00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:11.079 since I knew you. 00:37:11.079 --> 00:37:11.380 And so, 00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:11.679 of course, 00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:12.559 I was very curious. 00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:13.079 I ended up having 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:14.119 a phone call with him 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:14.920 because I wanted 00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:16.159 to hear about his journey 00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:17.400 to faith in Jesus Christ. 00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:20.219 And as we began talking, 00:37:20.299 --> 00:37:21.139 I kind of asked him, 00:37:21.239 --> 00:37:21.460 you know, 00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:22.259 what was it really 00:37:22.259 --> 00:37:23.059 that convinced you? 00:37:23.139 --> 00:37:24.059 And he shared with me 00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:24.579 that one of the most 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:25.679 challenging things for him 00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:26.639 in becoming a Christian 00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:28.000 was embracing 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.420 the Christian sexual ethic. 00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:31.059 And I said, 00:37:31.099 --> 00:37:31.179 well, 00:37:31.179 --> 00:37:31.739 what was it 00:37:31.739 --> 00:37:32.579 that changed your mind? 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:32.819 You're like, 00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:33.519 what book was it 00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:34.059 that you read 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:35.199 or what argument was it 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:35.799 that really, 00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:36.279 he said, 00:37:36.299 --> 00:37:37.579 it wasn't a book 00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:38.119 or an argument. 00:37:39.319 --> 00:37:39.639 He said, 00:37:39.639 --> 00:37:40.819 I became a part 00:37:40.819 --> 00:37:42.019 of a Christian community. 00:37:43.179 --> 00:37:44.179 And as I was part 00:37:44.179 --> 00:37:44.799 of that community 00:37:44.799 --> 00:37:45.859 and I saw the gospel 00:37:45.859 --> 00:37:46.539 lived out, 00:37:46.659 --> 00:37:48.239 I realized that it was true 00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:48.940 and it was plausible. 00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:50.519 And even more than that, 00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:50.940 and he said, 00:37:50.980 --> 00:37:52.159 this might be too much information, 00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:54.179 but as I was part 00:37:54.179 --> 00:37:54.879 of that community, 00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.639 as I was involved 00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:56.339 in other people 00:37:56.339 --> 00:37:56.920 in their lives, 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:57.699 living with them 00:37:57.699 --> 00:37:58.639 and loving them, 00:37:59.199 --> 00:38:01.139 I found myself naturally 00:38:01.139 --> 00:38:02.980 looking at pornography 00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:04.239 less and less. 00:38:05.059 --> 00:38:06.239 I didn't want it anymore. 00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:08.439 I had something better, 00:38:08.519 --> 00:38:08.699 right? 00:38:08.759 --> 00:38:09.559 He had real 00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:11.399 and true relationships 00:38:11.399 --> 00:38:12.559 and community. 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.479 He was pulled 00:38:13.479 --> 00:38:14.539 into real love. 00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:15.179 He was pulled 00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:15.839 into a place 00:38:15.839 --> 00:38:16.479 where he was actually 00:38:16.479 --> 00:38:17.699 serving other people, 00:38:18.459 --> 00:38:19.599 sacrificing for them. 00:38:22.139 --> 00:38:22.959 And so brothers 00:38:22.959 --> 00:38:24.039 and sisters, 00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:27.239 Jesus calls us away 00:38:27.239 --> 00:38:28.399 from sexual sin. 00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:29.239 He calls us 00:38:29.239 --> 00:38:31.339 to stay far away, 00:38:31.459 --> 00:38:32.819 to not even get close. 00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:34.880 But he doesn't just 00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:35.880 call us away. 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.860 He calls us 00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:38.120 into something. 00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:39.340 He calls us 00:38:39.340 --> 00:38:41.420 into his greater story. 00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:42.420 He calls us 00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:44.140 into a greater community. 00:38:44.300 --> 00:38:45.039 He calls us 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:46.660 into real love 00:38:46.660 --> 00:38:47.400 and intimacy 00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:48.240 and fellowship 00:38:48.240 --> 00:38:49.059 and commitment. 00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:52.000 And so we can embrace that, 00:38:52.120 --> 00:38:53.380 we can embrace him, 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:54.820 and we can embrace wisdom 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:58.600 instead of any other counterpart. 00:38:58.800 --> 00:38:59.700 And we do that 00:38:59.700 --> 00:39:01.680 because Jesus comes 00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:03.079 and does that for us first. 00:39:04.099 --> 00:39:04.879 And so we can do it 00:39:04.879 --> 00:39:05.279 with joy, 00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:06.879 loving and embracing 00:39:06.879 --> 00:39:08.319 the people 00:39:08.319 --> 00:39:09.299 that God has given us, 00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:10.339 loving our neighbor 00:39:10.339 --> 00:39:11.779 as ourselves. 00:39:12.919 --> 00:39:13.639 I invite you 00:39:13.639 --> 00:39:14.259 to pray with me. 00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:18.119 Our Father in heaven, 00:39:18.279 --> 00:39:19.419 we thank you 00:39:19.419 --> 00:39:20.480 and praise you again 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.359 for your word 00:39:21.359 --> 00:39:22.960 that is your gift to us. 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:24.319 We ask that you 00:39:24.319 --> 00:39:25.099 would build us 00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:26.319 up into a community 00:39:26.319 --> 00:39:26.779 and people 00:39:26.779 --> 00:39:28.299 who stay far away 00:39:28.299 --> 00:39:29.379 from sexual sin. 00:39:29.380 --> 00:39:31.200 and we embrace you 00:39:31.200 --> 00:39:32.260 and the better story 00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:33.680 that you've given us. 00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:34.519 We thank you 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:35.220 that this isn't something 00:39:35.220 --> 00:39:35.820 we do 00:39:35.820 --> 00:39:37.820 by pulling ourselves up 00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:38.619 by our bootstraps, 00:39:38.640 --> 00:39:39.180 but it's something 00:39:39.180 --> 00:39:40.920 that Jesus gives to us 00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:42.240 through his word 00:39:42.240 --> 00:39:43.619 and in his community. 00:39:43.720 --> 00:39:44.440 And we ask that you 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.240 would make that true 00:39:45.240 --> 00:39:45.760 of us 00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:47.160 and of this church. 00:39:47.160 --> 00:39:48.320 And we ask these things 00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:49.519 in Jesus' name. 00:39:50.180 --> 00:39:50.420 Amen. 00:39:50.420 --> 00:39:50.559 Amen. 00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:50.599 Amen. 00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:50.640 Amen. 00:39:50.640 --> 00:39:50.680 Amen. 00:39:50.680 --> 00:39:50.700 Amen. 00:39:50.700 --> 00:39:50.740 Amen. 00:39:50.740 --> 00:39:50.760 Amen.