Winning the Battle for the Home 


Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28

God has a plan for the family, but Satan has our homes under constant attack. A war has been waged on our homes, a war over moral purity and the sanctity of the home. God built the home before He even instituted government and before He built the church.

His plan was for one man to marry one woman, till death do them part. He intended a man to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. He commanded that a man not commit adultery. But the devil has aimed the artillery of hell against God's plan for the family. He knows that he can destroy our country if he can subvert the home. His plan is to deny God, then debase man.

In Proverbs chapter five we are given some important guidelines for maintaining purity. These five factors will help build strong families, and their neglect will tear down families.

The Instruction Factor


"My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: that thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge" (Proverbs 5:1-2). Solomon wanted to talk to his son about sexual purity, so he starts by reminding him to listen to instruction.

Where does a young person go to find instruction on sexual morals? There is only one answer: God. God has a plan for our moral life, and we ought to follow it. Proverbs 6:32 tells us the person involved in immorality is ignorant. He doesn't know the truth, and his ignorance leads him to destruction.

Christian, God has given us an instruction manual for our lives. We need to study and apply His wisdom on morality. That's the first step in creating strong families.

The Deception Factor


Proverbs 5:3-5 reads, "For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell." We must be aware of Satan's snares for he wants to deceive you and ruin your life.

He does it by bringing immorality into your life and making it seem fun and exciting by deceiving us with allurement, entrapment, and eventual enslavement.

To many people think immorality is a great idea. But sexual sin has a deadly power. It fascinates, then assassinates. It thrills, then kills. It leads directly to death, the death of joy, purity, your spiritual life, your marriage, and eventually physical death. The only way to stay away from Satan's deceit is to fill your mind with Scripture.

Spend time with the Lord before your day begins. Nothing will offer you better protection from immorality. Search for godly wisdom and then become aware of Satan's deceit and how you can protect yourself.

The Protection Factor


Proverbs 5:7-8 says, "Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house."

Sexually immorality is not a sin we are called to fight; it's a sin we are called to flee. Avoid dangerous situations. That's why Paul told Timothy to "flee also youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22) and the Corinthians to flee immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18). Don't worry about being called a coward; just stay away from her door.

Don't visit the opposite sex alone in their homes or counsel them alone in your office. Don't go to lunch alone with the opposite sex and never discuss sexually detailed problems with them or say cute things or flirt with them. Protect yourself and give temptation a wide berth.

The Destruction Factor


Solomon warns us not to go near the doorway of sin, "Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger" (Proverbs 5:9-10).

Sin has consequences. You may think you can sin and no one will know, but God knows. It may seem like it pays you the dividend of pleasure, but it costs far too much.

Sexual sin puts people into bondage. Like links in a chain, every act binds them, forged on the anvil of lust, tempered in the bellows of a hard heart. Solomon ends his proverb with the words, "He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray" (v. 23). The warm flame of lust leads to the fiery flame of hell. You cannot live this way and strut into heaven. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

The Intention Factor


"Let thy fountain be blessed," Solomon says in Proverbs 5:18, "and rejoice with the wife of thy youth." If we are to have strong families, we must understand God's intention for us. He intends for us to have lasting marriages.

God's intention is that your marriage should last a long time. And it should not only be a lasting marriage, but it should be a loving marriage. "Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love" (v. 19). Don't think that by living according to God's laws, you're going to miss out. You'll miss out if you live according to the world's standards. You'll never know fulfillment and joy until you obey His Word.

God's laws are for your welfare. He would never ask you to do something less than the best. The Lord isn't trying to keep sex from you. He's trying to keep sex for you. That's why He calls us to flee fornication. He wants you to have something much greater: a happy marriage. Keep yourself pure. God has something wonderful in store for you!

1. In what ways do you see the home under attack in our society?

What is the reaction of society to the traditional view of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers?

In your view, why has Satan made destroying the home such a priority?

2. Where do most people learn about sex? Why is that significant?

How is most teaching about sex at odds with God’s teaching?

Skim through Proverbs 1 through 4. What do these chapters have to say about the importance of getting God’s perspective on matters?

3. How are individuals drawn into sexual sin, according to Proverbs 5:1-5?

To what does Solomon compare sexual temptation in Proverbs 6:23-29?

How is the man in Proverbs 7:6-27 described? How is he led astray?

In all three passages, what is the result of sexual sin?

4. What principle of protection is given to us in Proverbs 5:8, 2 Timothy 2:22, and 1 Corinthians 6:18?

What are we promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13?

In Genesis 39:6-12, how did Joseph deal with temptation the first few times? The last time?

Why is it a better idea to run from temptation than to reason with it?

5. What are the consequences of pornography in the life of a Christian?

What does Proverbs 5:9-14 reveal as the end results of sexual sin?

What would you say to a person who claimed, “I’ve seen a lot of those movies and magazines, and they’ve never affected me”?

6.What principles can you glean from the following passages:

Exodus 20:14

Matthew 5:27-28

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Hebrews 13:4

Why does Christ equate looking lustfully at a woman with adultery?

Application: Children always want to know the rules before playing a game. As adults, we ought to be clear on our own rules. Make a list of the top ten principles for your behavior with the opposite sex. Examples might include, “I never talk about sexual topics alone with a person of the opposite sex,” and “I don’t visit the opposite sex when they’re alone at home.”

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