Pastors and Pornography

# 77 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 3:2 A bishop (pastor) then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, (1 Tim 3:2) We have just begun addressing the matter of adultery and those who would seek to serve as pastors. A line has been drawn in the sand, and those who have converted to Christianity and therefore have left the culture of sexual promiscuity must leave that lifestyle behind! NO MORE ADULTERY OR UNCHASTE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR FOR FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST! The one who would serve as pastor must not give cause to anyone to charge them with improper sexual behavior, and in our culture today, this is where pornography also becomes an issue. Jesus said in Mt 5:28, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Purposeful and persistent viewing of pornography is adultery, and according to most statistics is a huge problem in the church today, even among pastors. To the pastor I ask, “If someone were to look at your history of viewing on the internet, what would they see? If someone were to examine all items you have discarded in the trash, what would they see? Would there be evidence that someone could use to blackmail you? Would you be found blameless in the matter of sexual promiscuity or not?” If such evidence exists, you have a problem and you need to deal with it! There is plenty of help out there for those who struggle with pornography. Seek it! Find it! Use it! And above all fight it! Don't give in to it! The first step is to admit your problem, and the second step is to admit it to your church board, admit it to those who have called you to serve their flock! They need to know! Then you and the board and the congregation need to prayerfully consider a course of action with the ultimate goal of restoring to the “line” that has been drawn in the sand. NO MORE ADULTERY OR UNCHASTE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR FOR FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST! I know it's not easy to admit moral failure, but take heart from this verse in James: Jas 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Stop Trying To Fight Your Battles Alone

# 145 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 11:3 Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, "Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out to you." (1 Sam 11:3) Jabesh, the snake, has amassed his armies against the people of Gilead. The people of Gilead were greatly afraid and offered to make a covenant with him. This in spite of what God had told the Israelites in Ex 23:31, "And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. 32 "You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 "They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you." Jabesh, told the people that his conditions for the covenant would be to put out their right eyes. This is the choice the people of Gilead faced. In their eyes it was either be massacred by the superior forces of Jabesh, or surrender to him and have their eyes plucked out. They forgot that God not only forbade them to make covenants but He also promised to deliver them from such enemies. God never asks us to do something that He will not provide the means to do it! “Resist the devil and he will flee from you!” To their credit, the people of Gilead asked for time to plea to their brethren for help. This is a crucial spiritual truth for you and I to learn. Stop trying to fight your spiritual battles and temptations alone! God has given you brothers and sisters in Christ to help you overcome. Don't just “go to church,” be the church! Be a part of a living Spirit filled congregation. Get involved in small group Bible Studies. Be in touch with men and women of integrity who will go to war for you on their knees when temptation and spiritual battles come your way. Admit your weaknesses, rely on the brethren for help.”Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16)