Bible Text: Selected Scripture | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: God’s Design for Marriage

Recap of 9/8/13:

1.  “7 Ways to Avoid Sexual Sin” by Dustin Neeley (from Church Leaders Top 100: 2013 Edition)

-Don’t say it can’t happen to you. 1 Corinthians 10:12

-Repent of your pride and self-righteousness in this area.  Proverbs 16:18. Pride allows us to push the envelope and keeps us from getting the help we need.

-Put all the needed safeguards in place and keep them there. Proverbs 16:17.  Think through the “moral fences” you will put around your life to keep from falling.

-Be “really” accountable to other leaders—not just in word.

-Make you spouse your partner in purity.  “Your [spouse] needs to know enough to be prayerful but not so much that [they’re] paranoid.”  Have regular intimacy so that you’re not looking for it elsewhere.  Be sure your Facebook page, cell phone, and email accounts are open to each other.  Have regular conversations in this area.

-When in doubt, err on the side of caution.  Make good decisions.

-Never forget that we are in a spiritual battle with real winners and losers.  The Scripture identifies three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the Devil.  Reflect on what would happen to your marriage, your children, your church if you choose pride and pleasure.

2.  “So don’t put yourself in a situation where something could happen, because you and I are one touch, hug, note, email, lunch, kiss, emotion away from endless pain and regret.  Don’t even go near it.  Proverbs 4:14,15 says, ‘Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.’ The best way to prevent your emotions from overriding your intellect is to avoid your areas of weakness.  Don’t get near them.  Avoid them.  Turn and walk away.

-“But I’ve grown weary of sitting across the desk from highly intelligent people who let their friendship slip into an emotional or physical affair that wrecked their life.  The reason we need to take every precaution is because there is a line that gets crossed by well-intended people all the time.  They say, ‘I don’t know how it happened, because it wasn’t about knowing; it was about emotion.  They crossed an invisible line where their emotions nullified their intellect.  And once that line gets crossed, it’s almost impossible to turn back.  Not knowing where that line is should scare you into imposing some firm boundaries that you simply will not violate.  You have way too much to lose.  So do I.”  (from 7 Simple Choices for a Better Tomorrow by Bob Merritt, pp. 189-190)