If you are a leader today, whether in the church or out in the business world or some other sector, and desire to walk in integrity, pornography cannot be part of your life. If it is, porn will destroy your leadership by killing you.
Before going on, I want to clarify that pornography is no longer a male issue; today, both men and women struggle with porn and its effects.
LEADERSHIP AND PORNOGRAPHY
If you want to grow to your full potential as a leader, beating and overcoming pornography is not an option. Pornography is one of the most destructive forces in our society, and as leaders, we must be diligent in our stand against its use and influence in our lives.
Porn is a destructive habit that will rob you of integrity, dignity, confidence, and your ability to make sound judgments. It will affect your leadership and relationships because it skews perceptions and ideas concerning sex and relationships. It will arouse desires and passions that can influence a leader to do things they typically would not do, for example: having an affair.
The viewing of pornography can dramatically affect your home's environment; it may become an addiction that steals precious time from pursuing dreams and other worthy goals. Porn can ruin a career and even lifelong ambitions. Ultimately, it can lead to the destruction of our relationship with God.
In our development as a leader, we can not brush it aside and consider it a harmless little habit but must devote ourselves to developing the character of a leader that removes anything that will hurt our life and influence.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE AND EVEN LEADERS VIEW PORNOGRAPHY.
1) Sex is part of our lives, and sex interests us. It is no surprise to anyone that we have sexual desires as humans, which, if unchecked, can lead us to become curious and experiment.
2) It is Accessible. With the internet and other forms of mass media, pornography is easy to access as the local newspaper. It is not hard to find, and it is easy to view while keeping it a secret.
3) It is an Escape. People with demanding positions, such as leaders, are often caught and hooked into porn because it offers an escape from the stresses they face into a temporary reality where those pressures do not exist.
4) Problems in their Relationship. This is like number 3, except that because of a lack of attention or other strains on a marriage relationship, someone can use porn to get what they think they might be missing at home.
These are a couple of reasons, and indeed, it is not limited to these four. I gave them to help us understand what people may be looking for when they view porn. It should cause us to recognize the reasons behind an issue such as this in our life.
STEPS TO OVERCOMING PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION.
1) Repent - not making excuses or looking to lay blame, but sincerely and genuinely repent before God.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2) Do Not Give Up - it is easy when we fail to throw our hands up in the air and give up, but if you fall, quickly get up, repent and move forward.
Proverbs 24:16 for a just man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked will fall into mischief.
3) Get Accountability - find someone you can trust and ask them to hold you accountable. It requires transparency and honesty.
James 5:16 Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much.
4) Protect Your Eyes and Mind - be intentional with what you watch or allow to enter your life. There are some things you cannot control. But there are many things we can. Be careful of the movies, the shows, and the media that you allow into your life.
Psalm 119:37 Turn away my eyes from beholding worthlessness, and revive me in Your way.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things.
Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
1 Corinthians 6:18 Escape from sexual immorality. Every sin that a man commits is outside the body. But he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
5) Trust Christ For His Strength - understand that you need the strength of Jesus Christ to overcome. Everything that we need to overcome and live a victorious life has been provided to us through the life of Christ.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things because of Christ who strengthens me.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Colossians 1:27 To them God would make known what is the glorious riches of this mystery among the nations. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory,
6) Walk By The Spirit - Listen and submit to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in us and dwells in us to provide guidance, strength, and the ability for us to live a holy and righteous life.
Galatians 5:16 I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
7) Store Up In The Word In Your Heart - get into God's Word, read, study and memorize it. When you have moments of weakness, go to the Bible and read it.
Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
I hope this encourages you. Don't give up. Trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Word. God will never fail us.