Divided You Fall — Part 1: Internal Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Divided You Fall — Part 1: Internal ------------ Date: 10/30/1998 Keywords: "divide" "natural instincts" "build up" "conscience" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Jude 1:17-25* 17  But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18  They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19  These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20  But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21  Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22  Be merciful to those who doubt; 23  snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-- hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 24  To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- 25  to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Questions 1. How could porn peddlers be linked to the scoffers mentioned in verse 18?   2. What do you think is meant by mere natural instincts in verse 19?   3. Verse 19 indicates these men (such as porn peddlers) are out to divide you. Why is this important to them?   4.  What might these divisions look like internally?   Practical help If I want someone to keep coming back for more of my product, I must convince them that they need it (and deserve it) — no matter what. If I'm a porn peddler, I start by dividing you away from the moral conscience God created in you (see Romans 2:14-15) by persuading you to believe you're different. "Divide and conquer" works for evil as well as for good.  Do you recognize any of these internally divisive objectives: I'm different because I have this struggle! - Don't believe it. Many, many struggle. Other's might suspect I'm into it, so I'd better steer clear and keep to myself. - Don't buy it; keeping you isolated is keeping you hooked. If I like this stuff, it must be the way I am. - Don't fall for it; God gave you natural desires for expression of intimacy and love honoring to Him — not to satisfy mere natural instincts. Tomorrow we'll look at divisions on the outside. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1998 by eXXit *Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.