How Does the Gospel Help Someone Addicted to Pornography?

How does the gospel help those who are addicted to pornography. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity why this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now is your question at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673, as always, you can post your question on one of our social media sites you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com will many of us have been watching news reports watching the images in Afghanistan over the last 24 hours and are just grieved by what we are witnessing and April.

I thought maybe it be good idea for us to start off today by just praying for that situation there yeah absolutely built my my heart breaks in a passage of Scripture that comes to mind is Hebrews chapter 13 verse three remember those who are in prison as though in prison with them and those who are mistreated since you also are in the body and so I want to just take a moment to encourage our listeners to pray with us, especially for for our brothers and sisters part of the body of Christ with us were there in Afghanistan facing persecution for that for the whole country as well for the peace of God, and so let's pray heavenly father, we join you with many believers around the world crying out for your mercy. We pray that you would sustain providentially care for your church that is in Afghanistan right now is as they face difficult times ahead.

We pray for your protection for the Christians for their families. We pray that you would sustain them in their faith that you would strengthen their faith even in this time we ask God that somehow through to the circumstances and only you can do this for your gospel would continue to advance powerfully. Would you even bring to faith. Some of those who are persecuting your church. Those among the Taliban and you are the God who could change the heart of Saul of Tarsus and cause them to be one who went from trying to destroy the church to preaching the gospel that he once tried to destroy and so Lord, would you be with them.

Would you be with all those in in that country who are who are suffering right now who are afraid, who are struggling and not just your church but everyone there would you bring peace and work in in that situation what we call upon you for this in Jesus name Amen amen thank you for that.

Israel again if you have a question for Pastor Israel on the Bible or the Christian life including what's going on in our world right now what's happening in our culture, we would love to hear from you. Here's the phone number to call its 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Robert in Memphis, Tennessee Robert, what's your question, I'm doing well Robert how are you doing what work elsewhere on sanitation and not go away a day something I want to write okay okay he's over the betrayer sought this morning to get me out and that's a good question, so I mean is this stuff Robert the people are throwing away that they don't want anymore just very big right (all four major source wanted to trade so you are not might take a bite or a magic go yes man, I don't see anything wrong with that. I was the people are getting rid of it. If they don't want it minutes and go to the trash and nothing to be stealing anything on that. I guess the real question is, would there be any issue with your work. You know, does your supervisor have a problem with that, as I would say you know just to maybe cover your bases talk to talk to your supervisor. Whatever else is there and asked that question to them and if they if they give the thumbs up then then great if maybe there some reason why why that's not okay will then not because it's it's stealing per se, but just because it's it's kind of the protocol of the of the job I would. I would listen to my supervisor but yeah that I don't think that you know if if they don't have an issue out of that that there there would be any problem you would be an issue with. She needs to be an issue with your own conscience because looks out to me like this is stuff that's in it don't way anyway so hey thanks are given us a common no drill last week you left half a chocolate donut sitting on the desk there and I will you will bill everybody knows is not true because I never leave half of a doughnut anywhere the entire doughnut is always consumed by mother always taught me that I need to finish the food that's put that I'm related � especially when it comes to donuts bill so to clarify that this is core Christianity.

If you have a question for Pastor Israel give us a call right now 833 the core. Here's a voicemail that came in from one of her listeners earlier this week. Researchers appreciate your time and I was all your messages. You have someone in your life like my parents are your parents but your parents don't you the fruits of the spirit. They show in equity in all things that are wrong, starting what are seals of the devil you still are obeying our I mean, what you do because I'm really confused. I like to know really appreciate your time and I do appreciate what you're doing in the ministry. Thanks, I appreciate appreciate that question so this is a tough tough one. It will were talking about submission to authority whatever the authority is about governing authority think that our parents that the fit command and honor your father and your mother. The authorities that God places in our lives what what does that look like when those authorities are not Christian or not behaving in Christian ways. While I would say look, we seek to honor them and submit to them insofar as they're not calling us to disobey God's law we might have disagreements with with the government. For example, they they they may not be you know if the official service may not be Christian and yet were called to you know as much is within us is possible to live peaceably with all men to submit to to show honor now if if your parents or any authority is calling you to do something contrary to God's word will then we don't submit to them. But even when were not submitting to them and that we can still show honor, even while we don't submit because were following God's word so I would say it's never right or okay to dis-honor or disrespect your parents or those authorities that God places in our lives that we seek to love them, we seek to be submissive. You know it, insofar as it if it I'm thinking of of children growing up in in the home you noises your growing up in your parents are called to submit to your parents not to love them to honor that even as we get older were still called to honor our parents as well. It's a little bit different because were no longer under our parents headship if you will, under their authority, or under their household and so the rules are a little bit different, but was still sick.to honor them and to respect them and that doesn't change if they're not believers or if they live in ways that are contrary to the gospel.

On the contrary, we we seek to honor them so that we might show a good example and hopefully have an opportunity to talk to them about the things of the Lord and to encourage them so that God might work in their lives, drawing them to Christ as well. So thanks for that question you're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have kids or grandkids.

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Again, it's how do we know Christianity is really true and it's in a help equip your children to know what they believe and why they believe it. This book explains why we can trust the Gospels as real historical documents and walk through all the evidence for Jesus resurrection and more and will send that book to you for a donation of any amount just go to our website at core, Christianity.com/offers again its core, Christianity.com/offers and you can always call us for that offer or any one of our our offers at 833 the core that's a 33 843-2673 will. Here's an email we received from one of our listeners. This is from Jason and Jason says I been trying to get out of porn for a long time I've been addicted to it since I was 18 and now I'm 37 I recently was rebaptized and I've been trying to stay away from it, but I still messed up. I know God is still listening to me and I trust him. I installed a program called covenant eyes on my computer and I got some church friends to talk to about this. What is your advice Jason, thank you for reaching out to us with that email and I'm sure as our listeners listening right now there are many people who are fighting with this porn is a huge issue in the world and in the church today and it needs to be addressed and it needs to be dealt with seriously. Of course we know what our Lord Jesus said about sexual immorality and think of the sermon the Mount a sermon on the mountain in Matthew chapter 5 reduces it. Even if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out easy as referring to the, the, the seriousness with which we should take our sin. So this isn't something to to minimize this is in a problem that that you can or anyone can handle on their own.

As of the first night I typically tell people when when they asked this question is are you isolator. I asked him are you isolated.

Are you by yourself with your sin. That's one of the places where the devil wants us is all alone with whatever our secret struggle is and it's there that that struggle that sin struggle begins to grow into take over. We have to bring our sin into the light and I encourage you and and and others. You need to be wanting a good church community and you need to be transparent, talking to your pastor or the elders there being able to confess your sin know John talks about that that this in first John James talks about in James chapter 5 bringing our sin into the light is one of the ways we we turn from it. Repent of it. We stop minimizing was a look. This is what it is and I need your help God and we we we seek out the help of of the people around us that God is placed in our lives. It sounds to me like you're starting to do that. I think you know there there are Internet software programs that help track, monitor Internet activity we can have some like an accountability partner. I think covenant eyes is great there other ones out there that I've heard really good things about as well. Of course this is a hearty sympathy will say well it's really hard issue so I don't need that will part of the reason I think those things can be really helpful is because they they create distance if you will make it more difficult for you to access that kind of material and especially when when when someone is steeped in this there need to be real clear breaks I would I go as far as donkey will just cut off the Internet at your house if it if this is such a temptation. You have to be serious about dealing with this about removing yourself from that getting the help that you need and coming before the Lord in faith and repentance. Another thing I five. Encourage before two is no there there really is an addiction here at times may be saying that an addiction counselor or therapist. Someone who specializes in things like sexual addiction often times what what an individual find is it.

It's not just that the pornography per se, is it really deeper issues there individuals were looking for acceptance for a sense of power for a sense of feeling wanted for a sense of confidence those who are addicted to pornography are often are often longing for something deeper that they're hoping this pornography will supply for them. But of course it never dies because our sin just can't.

And so it's really addressing those deeper issues. I think the can that can be helpful, but when we think about the relationship of the gospel to us as believers and Christians who are wrestling with this and in particular I I go to the words of the apostle Paul, and here's what you need to know Jason if you have trusted in Jesus Christ. If you belong to him. If you been baptized your faith in your part of that the church community for the apostle Paul would say to you in Romans chapter 6 verse six we know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin for one who is died is been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again death no longer has dominion over him for the debt that he died he died to sin once for all, but the life that he lives, he lives to God, so you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. This is your new identity. You are despite the struggle, dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Verse 12.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body to make you obey its passions do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness.

The present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life in your members to God's instruments for righteousness, for sin will not have dominion over you since you are not under the law but under grace. You need to this with the gospel gives us by faith in Jesus Christ. We have a new identity. We have with Christ through baptism and faith died to sin yesterday to struggle with it still but but it doesn't characterize who you are. If you will you you are new a new creation in Christ Jesus live in light of that reality, the reality that your sins have been forgiven that you can confess these things and bring them into the light because of Jesus Christ and what is done for you and you present yourself to God as one who is alive from the dead brother meditate on that new reality that new identity that God has given to you through his son Jesus and use everything at your disposal to fight against this. That's Christian community. That's programs like covenant eyes. All of those things, prayer, meditation on God's word is a fight is a fight but you know what it's a fight that God promises to be with you in. Paul told the Thessalonians. This is the will of God, your sanctification that you would abstain from sexual immorality. God's will for you, Jason, is your sanctification. God is on your side and so I would say pray. Continue to pray that the Lord would work in you and know that this is a prayer that God wants to answer as you as you turn to him as you bring this into the light as you make use of the things that are there before you, to fight against this and as you rest in your new identity in the Lord Jesus Christ that's yours.

But we so often forget about it. May the Lord bless you and be with you.

May God be with with all of those listening right now who are fighting the sin.

Thank you for that. A drill and of course those passages apply to all of us regardless of what type of sin we might be struggling with. We would encourage you to go to that to that passage in Romans chapter 6 and and just meditate on that. Memorize it and then apply it to your life. This is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. You can always call us at 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673, one reminder of some of the radio stations that air our program actually errored at a tape delayed basis. So if you actually want to call live in the studio.

Here's when you need to do it. 11:30 AM Pacific time. 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time for that half-hour. Were taking calls live in the studio if he heard the program at a different time of the day, you can always call and leave a voicemail. We check our voicemails daily at 833. The core go to Dustin in Breton Nebraska. Dustin what your question for pastor. A real hundred dollars and I was trying to grasp of the book of Revelation, and I was given a book called more than conquerors by William Anderson and I've also been watching Dr. Godfrey at teaching series. The blessed hope, which holds you I was wondering elaborate on the viewing and if you hold you a thank you Dustin there there there are number of different ways to view the book of Revelation that I think are within the bounds of historic Christian orthodoxy and an EEO Christians can disagree on those different ways of understanding look. Revelation and there are ways I think of reading the book of Revelation that are outside of the balance. And so, for example, something that would be outside of the balance would be any view of the book of Revelation that did does not believe in a literal return of the Lord Jesus Christ is the second coming. If you will. Maybe they spiritualize it or something like that. And there are some who have more of an allegorical interpretation all the way through the book of Revelation. If you will, who might take that view, there are other idealists.

We might say was who who see a lot of what's taking place in the book of Revelation, not in the same way that maybe our premillennial brothers and sisters receipt is as primarily things are happening historical things that are happening in the future but is relating to this present time speaking to the church today and and I would say that's that's that's fine. One thing I would send been so many people. I think miss this when they're reading the book of Revelation is the primary goal of the book of Revelation was to comfort suffering believers, especially their right in the first century to give Jesus and him him addressing that the various churches there in Asia minor. Talking to them about persevering in in the midst of the persecution that they were going to be experiencing, and I believe the book of Revelation is giving us a snapshot of essentially the church age of the that history of the church and that it's gonna be a time of suffering with Christ, if you will, persecution struggle, but that ultimately God is going to usher in his kingdom fully and finally, this consummated Kingdom on the last day and that's described later in the book of Revelation and so that that would be that would be my view on the book of Revelation and and I would just say for those who are interested in learning more specifically, Dustin. There is there's a helpful resource that we come out with your core, Christianity, and it's a it's a Bible study through the book of Revelation that it gets into some of these things. Things a 10 week study written by Prof.

Actually I had in seminary. Dr. Dennis Johnson, who also wrote a book on the book of Revelation on the book of Revelation called triumph of the Lamb. Another really helpful resource that I would recommend to you but that I think is as deep as I want to go right now get a hold of those resources if you want to go deeper appreciate your question. You can find that the Bible study on the book of Revelation by going to core Christianity.com/Revelation again.

Core, Christianity.com/Revelation let's go to Mary and Lincoln Nebraska. Mary what your question for pastor. Israel, pastor, believer, and my parents were siblings and friends of mine and I know they went to heaven? Will we know each other up there only communal chatter and so I have a friend that had to husband and they both came to the Lord so I don't know to be awkward yeah you yeah I don't know we don't have the feeling that's right yeah well thank you so much for that question. I believe absolutely yes we get to know each other. Think of what Jesus said in the Gospels, I tell you, many will come from East and West and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven working to know each other in the kingdom of heaven and the new creation in the resurrection, but to be perfect. It's a be perfect fellowship around the Lord so that those awkward you know things those those those feelings.

You know that the tension that existed may be here on earth is not can exist there because were going up working to be perfect were to be glorified. It's can it be the fullness of love in in the perfect worship of the triune God and so what at what a reunion that's going to be when were in the presence of the Lord in heaven and in the new creation together with our family members who have gone before us and the peace that we have the, the, the, the oneness that we get to experience there in the new creation with the whole church a oneness that we often don't experience this side of heaven with the divisions we see around us and so it's something that we look forward to and praise God for. Thank you for your question. Thank you Mary, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. We have a YouTube question that came in from Gianni and here she says in Mark 414. How does Satan take away the word that is sown. If he is bound. How does he still do that if he is bound by God. Yeah, two questions there really one related to our understanding of the book of Revelation. The binding of Satan in Revelation chapter 20 there the binding of Satan is is there's a purpose given for Satan's mind, so that he can deceive the nations any longer.

What I think that's precise at precisely what happened you know of, ever since the first century Satan was quote unquote bound by the Lord Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection of the gospel has advanced to the ends of the earth, so that now it's not just you know that the Hebrews who know the one true God, but all the nations of the world are being brought into the kingdom if you will, through the proclamation of the gospel and yet we know that Satan still goes around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us and part of the ways does that is still bite by deceiving by tempting that's what Jesus is getting at in Mark chapter 4 verse 14 but we have confidence in the gospel in the work of the Lord Jesus in the world.

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