Exhort one another daily, lest any be hardened …”

By: American Decency Staff

Do you guard yourself and work to train your loved ones to pursue holiness? Indeed, it is a spiritual battle.  Sin is what it is.  Temptation is all around us in this media oriented age. J.C. Ryle writes: “We are too apt to forget that temptation to sin will rarely present itself to us in its true colours, saying, ‘I am your deadly enemy, and I want to ruin you forever in hell.’  Oh, no! sin comes to us, like Judas, with a kiss; and like Joab, with an outstretched hand and flattering words.  The forbidden fruit seemed good and desirable to Eve; yet it cast her out of Eden.  The walking idly on his palace roof seemed harmless enough to David; yet it ended in adultery and murder.  Sin rarely seems sin at its first beginnings.  Let us then watch and pray, lest we fall into temptation.  We may give wickedness smooth names, but we cannot alter its nature and character in the sight of God.  Let us remember St. Paul’s words:  ‘Exhort one another daily, lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin’  (Hebrews 3:13).  It is a wise prayer in our litany, ‘From the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil, good Lord deliver us.’ [Taken from “Holinessâ€Â by J.C. Ryle] When we place before ourselves wicked things, it incrementally opens up the possibilities for sin. Sin in eye, ear, mind, heart and soul. Watching programs like “Family Guyâ€Â, “Cleveland Showâ€Â, “American Dadâ€Â, “Love Bitesâ€Â, etc.  opens us to sin as surely as sticking our foot into the water contributes to getting wet. I am thankful for those of you who have made guarding your hearts and that of your household from the moral/spiritual pollution that surrounds us. It’s sometimes a lonely walk even in our own households.  Many will not resist the “kiss of Judasâ€Â, but a few do.  Stand firm in the faith my friends. Some have written recently: **** Please keep our family in prayer as I pray for unity in fighting for purity and holiness in our home and lives.â€Â ***  I whole heartily agree with you!!!  We gave up receiving any TV channels in our home years ago because even if the show was good the commercials are bad.  I am of the belief that if I wouldn't allow the kinds of things I see on TV in the front door of my house, then I should not have it showing on the TV in my house either.  We do have a TV for watching select Christian DVDs, but that is it.  We pray often for the hearts of the people in this country to change so they will give up the pleasures of this world and will turn their hearts to God. Even with giving up the TV it is a struggle to keep evil from our eyes because it is everywhere in America.  Just go to about any store and you still have to guard your eyes.  How sad it is that America's morals have dropped so low. I also like the next chapter in Romans where it says "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." *** This is a question that we often talk about in our home and in our Bible study. Terms such as "acceptable vulgarity" are in use. Through the Bible with Buck Denver, a DVD series for kids and adults about the Bible, put out in part by Phil Vischer, creator of Veggie Tales, is a great resource. *** Thanks, Bill, for the daily encouragements to remain diligent in the battle for purity.  I believe it is a fight… a daily struggle for many Christians.  We need to strengthen and encourage the brethren… and so your ministry is vitally important and much appreciated. And then this: A parent writes that in their household they live to hold the line on purity and a son goes off to youth group and the pastor tells the youth of his appreciation of a godless though very popular show. The parent writes:  “Where is the church that will support what we are trying to do as parents!…â€Â J.C. Ryle writes:  “Grant for a moment that Bible-reading, and praying, and repenting, and believing, and holy living require pains and self-denial.  It is nothing compared to that ‘wrath to come’ which is stored up for the impenitent and unbelieving.  A single day in hell will be worse than a whole life spent in carrying the cross.â€ÂÂ  … [Taken from “Holinessâ€Â by J.C. Ryle] ========================================================== Register for our summer event featuring Gary Bauer, Friday, July 29, at 7:00 pm https://secure4.afo.net/ada/registration.php?eventno=28 Your support is important to our ability to make a difference. Donate online at: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/donate.php American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

---