Anatomy of a Fall - Pt 3

• Who was physically the strongest man in the Bible? (Samson)
• Who was the wisest man in the Bible? (Solomon)
• Who was the one in the Bible called “a man after God’s own heart?” (David)
• What did they have in common?

The strongest man in the Bible…
The smartest man in the Bible…
The godliest man in the Bible…
…All of them struggled with sexual temptation and LOST.

Think about it! What does it say to you? It says that we are not so strong, not so smart, and not so godly that we can defeat sexual temptation, on our own. We are NOT beyond falling into this temptation, and when we think we are, we become the most vulnerable.

"If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you too may fall into the same sin." (1 Corinthians 10:12)

How does one protect oneself from falling? Are there steps that we can take to maximize our efforts not to become one of the many fallen, a casualty, or a statistic?

Maintaining a ‘Security Fence:’ (protecting your borders)

1. Maintain your marriage covenant!
2. Speak often and publicly of your affection for your wife, when she's present and when she's not. Do it from the pulpit often.
3. Be obedient to God’s word! Keep mind pure! Guard your heart!
4. Remove any and all sources of temptation. Don’t go anywhere that arouses passion. Locally (porn stores, x-rated movies, TV movies and shows) or Internet wise (porn sites, chat rooms, email affairs)!
5. Don't be ruled by passion. Be self-controlled. Dogs have no control, people do!
6. With the opposite sex compliment character or conduct, not hair style, clothing, weight loss, looks, etc.
7. Do not meet in a closed room with opposite sex nor ride alone in a vehicle with them (other than your spouse).
8. Be accountable for your time and actions to your spouse and a person (same sex). Lengthy, unaccountable hours with numerous temptations available is a recipe for failure.
9. Don’t be ashamed to ask for counseling or outside help. (If you are ensnared by porno, emotional attraction or an ongoing affair - get out now and seek help- this is bigger than you can handle alone).
10. Make your ‘security fence’ public. Hang a 'No Trespassing' sign on it. Let others know, especially the congregation.

There may be other things to do (you can add them in the comments); this is just a sampling of my ‘security fence.’

1Ti 3:7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside [the church], lest he become involved in slander and incur reproach and fall into the devil's trap. AMP

May God grant us the ability to live life ‘above reproach!’