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SEXUAL PURITY
The old men used to say that the temptation to lust is like a
hook. If it is suggested to us and we do not let ourselves be
overcome by it, it is easily cut off; but if, once it is presented,
we take pleasure in it and let ourselves be overcome, it
transforms itself and becomes like iron and is difficult to cut
off. Thus discernment is needed about these thoughts, because
for those who allow themselves to be seduced there is no hope
of salvation, whereas crowns are prepared for the others.
The Reality of this Spiritual War!
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Sexual purity is a problem today, because it is so
looked down upon. Purity has become the sin, and
free sex has become the high standard. This seems
to be the fulfillment of Saint Antony’s saying, when
he said, “A time is coming when men will go mad,
and when they see someone who is not mad, they
will attack him saying, ‘You are mad, you are not
like us.’”
“If your goal is purity of heart, be prepared to be
thought very odd.” ~Eizabeth Elliot
More quotes
Elisabeth Elliot Quotes:
“In forfeiting the sanctity of sex by casual, nondiscriminatory “making out” and
“sleeping around,” we forfeit something we cannot well do without. There is dullness,
monotony, sheer boredom in all of life when virginity and purity are no longer
protected and prized. By trying to grab fulfillment everywhere, we find it nowhere.”
“I saw very clearly that, of all things difficult to rule, none were more so than my will
and affections.”
“Until the will and affections are brought under the authority of Christ, we have not
begun to understand, let alone to accept, His lordship.”
“When the will of God crosses the will of man,” Addison Leitch said, “somebody has to
die.” Life requires countless “Little’ deaths--occasions when we are given the chance to
say no to self and yes to God.”
Why is this even a concern?
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Do I turn away form pictures and advertisements that are meant to stir up lusts
or do I continue to stare and fantasize?
Do I listen to destructive talk (gossip), acting concerned when I know I’m only
intrigued by the details of someone’s mistakes?
What messages come from the music on my radio, whether it’s at home or in my
car?
Am I silently buying into false notions about relationships, society, God and
other topics frequently talked about in songs or on T.V or Movies??
Don’t stop now—Reflect and think of other evaluative questions for your own
personal renewal in the area of purity!
Abercrombie
Victoria Secret
Even tooth paste!
SEX SELLS We know this so well, we don’t need an example!
The Knowledge of Evil
This is
our
Current
State
after the
Fall of
Adam
and Eve
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The knowledge of Evil became man’s 1st
obstacle towards purity
Do we not know things we wish we would
have not known ?
Stay away from the knowledge of evil
Break all ties that lead you to this
destructive knowledge
Replace what you have already known
with the knowledge of good.
The importance of working towards
sexual purity
It’s
EVERYTHING!!
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---The struggle is real, the enemy of
good uses sex as a tool to make it our
idol and to defile our hearts, minds and
bodies.
Purity is considered a great virtue. We
know this because of the reward for
those who are pure in heart. Our goal
is to develop a personal relationship
with God. Blessed are the pure in heart:
for “they shall see God.”
The importance of working towards
sexual purity
It’s
EVERYTHING!!
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We also see that God honored this virtue, for he
chose for himself a pure mother, Saint Mary.
 All of us, regardless who we are; man or
woman, if we are single, married, monks or
celibate consecrated servants etc, strive
toward a life of purity (and we must
remember that it is a life and not restricted to
certain times and certain seasons). We have
to deal with issues regarding sexual purity
and materialism on a regular basis.
Scripture is clear about the sin of
Sexual immorality
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1Corinthians
6:13
13
Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but
God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for
sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the
body.
1
Corinthians 6:18
18
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is
outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality
sins against his own body.
1
Corinthians 9:27
27
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest,
when I have preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified.
Our Lines of Defense:
Let us guard them.
The Senses
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Our Eyes, Our Minds, Our Hearts.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole
body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22
Proverbs 6:25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids
Luke 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are
good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad,
your body also is full of darkness.
Lustful thoughts are like birds flying over head, we can’t help that
they fly over our heads but we can help if they make a nest in our
heads!
Whatever we see, touch, hear and speak sinks into our hearts
Deuteronomy 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and
minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your
foreheads.
This is a war of the flesh against the
spirit
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This war is unconscious, we are
enticed but once we realize it,
we should react in anger to
crush them, cut them off.
I hate and abhor lying,
But I love Your law.
(Ps119:163)
I hate them with perfect
hatred;
I count them my enemies
Psalm 139:22 and then turn to
God for help. Psalm 70:1
1 Make haste, O God, to deliver
me!
Make haste to help me, O
LORD!
DANGER! FIRE!
Flee! Be alert and vigilant, be
proactive!
We are not
wiser than the
serpent!
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“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for
food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to
make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her
husband with her, and he ate.”
Genesis 39:9 “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has
he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his
wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against
God?”
Proverbs 14:16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.
Genesis 3:6:
What are the causes that give birth to the temptation (what is
the root)—“all of us absolutely must pay attention o those kinds
of conditions which stir the coals of desire and fan the flames of
lust..”
Don’t assume you’re above or beyond
this sin…it will sneak up on you!
Internal and External Temptations
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Ease and comfort of the body,
boredom and idleness of the
mind--- can be conditions for
temptation:
tire your body with work and
refresh your mind with prayer
and spiritual readings.
Romans 8:13: For if you live
according to the flesh you will
die; but if by the Spirit you put to
death the deeds of the body, you
will live.
1 Corinthians 6:13, 18; 9:27
What’s the big deal?
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American Pie
Wedding Crashers
It is a big deal! We are becoming
desensitized—until we become victims!
How does purity affect our relationship with God
and others?
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This sin can develop into a serious issue –a Sexual
addictions which can cause isolation from others.
We need to make the purity of others a priority
Sexual Desire - Moderation and
Deviation
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Deviation to one extreme:
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Results in depression caused by shame and self disgrace
Alienation from others.
Exposure to disease. (STD, Sexual Addiction)
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Deviation to the other extreme
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Results from fear of deviation to the other extreme
People revolt and consider the instinct evil
Results in fear and avoidance of the opposite sex
Sexual Desire - Moderation and
Deviation
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Moderation:
The life of purity.
The proper direction of the instinct towards the goal
for which it was created.
It is not suppression of the natural instinct, but rather
protection.
Suppression vs. Self Control
AN EXAMPLE OF HOW
THIS SMALL FOX CAN
TURN INTO A BEAST!
The effect of the Sexual Addictions on
current or future marriages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
May develop unrealistic expectations of women’s
appearance and behavior including sexual behavior
Have difficulty forming and sustaining relationships
Have trouble feeling sexually satisfied
Pornography usually leads to chronic masturbation habit
that eventually conditions a person to not be satisfied with
sexual intercourse
Pornography teaches that there is always something new
and exciting-which leads to boredom and increasing the
behavior.
Lonely, angry, and rebellious people get stuck on the
internet
You are not a lone, there is a way out!
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James 4:7-9 Humility Cures
Worldliness
7
Therefore submit to God. Resist
the devil and he will flee from
you. 8 Draw near to God and He
will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners;
and
purify your hearts, you doubleminded. 9 Lament and mourn
and weep! Let your laughter be
turned to mourning and your joy
to gloom.
Maintaining Sexual Purity:
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The Passive (Defensive) Approach ------Keeping Away from Darkness
Guarding Your Senses (Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by
constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.)
Guarding Your Thoughts (Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about
such things)
Avoiding Excessive Laziness (Idle Time) (Proverbs 21:25 The sluggard's craving
will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.)
Avoiding corrupt Friends
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1Cor 15:33 “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
Proverbs 13:2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful
have a craving for violence) (Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.)
Maintaining Sexual Purity:
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The Active (Positive) Approach-
Drawing Closer to the Light
Establishing a relationship with Christ through the "Means
of Grace"
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Prayer
The Holy Bible
Confessions
Holy Communion
Self Control - Self Discipline begets will power through
the means of grace.
Some illuminating words to leave with
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Psalm 24:3-5
3
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Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the
believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in
purity” 1 Tim 4:12
“To the Pure all things are pure” Titus 1:15