What Happens In Vegas Won`t Stay In Vegas

Pure Sex, part 4 of 5
The commercials promoting Las Vegas end with the slogan: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. This motto for the Las Vegas advertising campaign has become the metaphor and mantra of people who struggle with sexual sin and lust, people who are tempted to visit (symbolically) Las Vegas and then try to live out their life unhindered and unscathed by the visit. Does a visit to Las Vegas stay in Las Vegas? The Bible says it doesn’t because no one can compartmentalize part of their life and not have it affect the other parts of their life. We will look at the three tactics that the tempter, Satan, uses to get us to visit Las Vegas and then understand that God has provided a way of escape by applying His principles for leaving the “lust Vegas” lifestyle.

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“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then (B)when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when ©sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”
(James 1:13-15, NASB)

“I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you…”
(1 Thessalonians 3:5b, NIV)

I. Welcome to Lust Vegas

1st) He plays the role of the compelling tempter.

“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
(Genesis 3:1, NLT)

2nd) He plays the role of the convincing promoter.

“‘You will surely die,’ the serpent said to the woman, ‘For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”
(Genesis 3:4-5, NLT)

3rd) He plays the role of hte condemning accuser.

(The fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:6-24)

“…the accuser of our brothers…accuses them before our God day and night…”
(Revelation 12:10c, NIV)

II. Now leaving Lust Vegas

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
(1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV)

1) Seek out supernatural help from on high.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
(Matthew 26:41, NIV)

“Have mercy on me, O God…cleanse me from my sin…Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…”
(Psalm 51:1,2,4a, NIV)

2) Start seeing yourself through God’s eyes.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
(Matthew 10:29-31, NIV)

3) Stop believing the seductive lies of satan.

“[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
(John 8:44b, NIV)

4) Settle for nothing less than God’s complete cleansing.

“‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow.’”
(Isaiah 1:18,NIV)