Since becoming a Christ follower it has been my desire to be an example and a model of a believer to those who are around me and certainly to those who are coming behind me. I have a desire to live convictionally in such a way that I would not allow anything that could damage my witness, my walk, my words or the work that the Lord has called and entrusted to me. I realize that there is a lot of controversy surrounding the subject of the use of alcohol when used responsibly, recreationally, in moderation, etc.
93% of males will have viewed pornography before the age of 18 and 62% of females. The average age of exposure is 11 and some studies suggest even as young as 9. 20% of 16 year olds & 30% of 17 year olds have received a "sext" 71% of teens hide their online behavior from their parents. 51% of pastors say Internet Pornography is a possible temptation and some say that 50% have viewed pornography. 64% of Christian men and 15% of Christian women view pornography once a month. The porn industry is a $10 billion a year industry according to an ABC World News Report and some studies say it is as high as $13 billion a year. To put that into perspective, that is more than the NFL, NAB, and MLB combined for a year! That’s more than ABC, NBC, & CBS put together. Take a listen and read the notes from this sermon... the statistics don't stop here. Learn what God's word says about sexual immorality, as well as ways you can experience the deliverance and freedom of Jesus Christ!!
Is there any doubt in your mind that we're living in an increasingly polluted world? There is pollution everywhere. We hear about it most often in the news, about our earth’s environment and how it is being threatened. But, how often are we hearing about our decaying society, decaying morals, decaying values, the push for things that are not normal should now be the norm. Where now, in our own homes we must constantly be on guard through what comes into our homes on the TV, the internet, magazines, books, radio, and other things that are there to constantly bring an all out assault on the way we live.
Doubt is a huge giant we'll all face at some point, some of us deeper and further than others. Some of you will cross paths with people who doubt the Lord, and you'll be able to share the truth with them! Even preachers have doubts from time to time, and you can read about some amazing, Godly people who have doubts. It is ok to say it out loud today!
The title, "Something Worth Living and Dying For", is simply the desire that God has put inside every human being. There has to be something worth looking for. What are you living for today, or better yet, WHO are you living for in your life? Is there anything in your life worth dying for? Christ offers us something worth living AND dying for and we see that fleshed out in the life of this man called Stephen.
Many of us have written on something, carved on something, left our mark on something, that said "I was here" – maybe at a restaurant, bathroom, cabin wall, billboard, etc. We all want to outlive our life – yes to be in heaven with Jesus, no doubt, but also in hopes that our time here on earth, given to us by the Lord, somehow made a difference. In hopes that the world noticed we were here, that we made an impact, that our lives made a difference in the life of someone else. We want that impact to outlast our presence after we are long gone!
The Church here in Jerusalem has experienced explosive growth, going from 120 to numbers that swell into the thousands, well over 5000 in just a few years. Imagine that happening here. Things had to change and grow as the church grew. Problems arose and we will see what happened and how they dealt with it.
Do you Realize that God has a plan for your life? But is it possible that Satan would have one for you as well? Wouldn’t it be the same for the church, specifically our church?
As a continuation of last week, we Recognize the enemy's vision, and rely on God's. The best is yet to come!
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