When Men Of God Lead Their Homes 2

Spiritual Leadership in an Unspiritual World

Last week we began looking at what the Bible says about when a godly man leads his family. This is spiritual leadership at home. When Godly Men Lead their Families, what does that look like and how do we do it?

God calls us to love him and keep his commandments. He commands us brothers who are married to love our wives as Christ loved the church. We noted that men are never more like Christ than when they love their wives as God's word teaches. So brothers, number one in Spiritual Leadership at Home is this: we are to love God by loving our wives. (Eph. 5:25f)

Secondly, we noted that men are to share God's word with our families. We are directly responsible for this. We may not be able to make the decisions about following Christ FOR them, but we can lead our families by sharing the word of God with our wives and children. So again, brothers, number two in Spiritual Leadership at Home is this: we must love God by sharing His word with our families... if we would follow Christ ourselves. There is no indication in scripture that any man can be a Christian husband and father if he does not do this.

For today's lesson let's continue looking at when a godly man leads his family. We are going to talk about sexual purity. Some of you may not comfortable with this subject. All the more reason we need to see what the Bible says about it. Believe me the subject of sexual purity is extreemly biblical. From one end to the other, God's word talks openly about the blessings and benefits of sexual purity and the dangers and consequences of sexual sin. We dare not hide from difficult subjects simply because they are so personal.

How do we promote sexual purity while living in a sexually putrid society. God's word tells us! We start at home! We start with our own hearts and lives before a holy God who speaks strong judgments against the fornicator and the adulterer.

So what does the Bible say? Listen to Hebrews 13: 4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Turn to Matthew 5:27-30

Jesus, our Lord and Master, the Son of God who has all authority in heaven and on earth and who is coming again to judge the living and the dead, Jesus, the Christ, said:

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery, but I tell you, whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jesus here addresses not just the physical act of sexual intercourse, but here he speaks to men and specifically warns us that looking at a woman to lust after her is a heart issue that must be dealt with. Jesus knows that physical adultery starts in the heart and as far as men are concerned, it starts with looking at a woman to lust after her.

Nothing could more clearly condemn pornography than this statement. Jesus is so serious about this he gives us further instructions if this viewing pornography is a problem for us. Jesus goes on to say, "If your right eye causes you to sin... look away." Right? No. What did Jesus say? "If your right eye causes you to sin... repent and go pray about it." Right? No, that's not what he said. Jesus said, "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it from you. If is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Now, would you not say, THAT is a very serious response to looking at a woman to lust after her? Jesus' words here are shocking when we think about them and take them to heart. What would happen if every man took Jesus words literally and actually performed what he told us to do? How many men would still have two eyes?

These words are what you call going for the jugular. Why is Jesus so strong here? Sexual sin starts with looking to lust, but it doesn't stop there. What happens when you begin feeding your heart with lust is you start a fire burning that will demand more fuel. Jesus would free you from a path that leads to hell for you.

In the book, Every Man's Battle, Steven Arterburn and Fred Stoeker describe the addiction and spiritual battle of sexual temptation and how sexual sin leads steadily but surely toward destruction. Listen to God's word in Proverbs 5:15-23. In fact, if some of you get bored with this message just read Proverbs chapters 5-7. You will get the point.