Defeating Adultery- THURSDAY

August 30, 2016

Defeating Adultery
by
Bryan Craig
 
THURSDAY- Run, Forrest, Run
 
A few days ago, I mentioned King David's adultery and the repercussions that followed this sin.  If you study the story (2 Samuel 11) you will see that David should have been away at war with his men, but for some reason, he stayed behind in Jerusalem.  It says he got up in the middle of the night and walked around on his roof.  Then, he saw Bathsheba, a beautiful, naked woman who was bathing.  David lingered and let the lust build up.  Then, he inquired about her.  Then, he sent for her.  Then, he had sex with her.
Contrast this story to that of another of God's men, Joseph.  He was single, and in charge of his master Potiphar's affairs.  Potiphar's wife was attracted to Joseph, and she began pursuing Joseph, asking him to go to bed with her while Potiphar was away.  It says she came after him day after day.  Given that Potiphar was Pharaoh's Captain of the Guard, a high ranking official, it can be inferred that his wife was likely young and beautiful.  But Joseph kept refusing Potiphar's wife...he said:
"With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.  No one is greater in this house than I am.  My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.  How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"  Genesis 39:8-9 NIV
 
Finally, the woman's lust intensified to the point where she grabbed his cloak.  This time, Joseph ran out of the house, leaving his cloak behind!
Brothers, we WILL be faced with this temptation in one form or another, and we can choose how we react.  If you linger and inquire and flirt with the temptation, you will fall.  The better plan is to RUN from temptation.  Bruce Wilkinson wrote a very popular book a few years ago called, The Prayer of Jabez, where he focused on a prayer out of 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NKJV by a man named Jabez:
"Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!' So God granted him what he requested."
 
Wilkinson talked about this prayer of Jabez in great detail, mainly because it says that God answered the prayer.  One part that really intrigued me was the part "keep me from evil, that I might not cause pain."  He is not praying for God to keep him from sin.  Wilkinson says Jabez's prayer was that God would keep him entirely out of the arena of temptation.  Lord, keep us far from temptation, lest we stumble.  James talks about temptation:
"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.'  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."  James 1:13-15 NIV
 
Paul also warns us in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Amplified:
"Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it]."
 
Men, in our quest to defeat Adultery, we must be wise.  This temptation is SO strong with men and the sin SO devastating, we must steer clear of it.  What does that mean practically?
  • Consider the images of women we allow into our minds via movies, TV shows, magazines, and pornography.  After all, Jesus said,
    "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28 NIV
  • Be very cautious about relationships with women outside of your marriage.  We should check ourselves in our one-on-one communications with other women, whether it be social media, emails, meetings or lunch.  Don't think it is innocent or that you are strong enough to handle this.
  • Keep yourselves out of all situations where you could be tempted in this area and be above reproach.  I've heard of ministry leaders who always have a male staffer share a hotel room with them while traveling or pastors who will only counsel a woman one time before referring her to a female counselor.  The Holy Spirit will warn you if you are heading into a dangerous situation, and you must have courage and conviction to listen to His warnings.
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