The famous Hebrew Leader, Samson, is a tragic example of contrasts. “And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines” (Judges 15:20). Although famous for his supernatural physical strength, he was morally weak as seen in his sexual immorality. Samson was dedicated to God with a Nazirite vow and heroically defeated the enemy Philistines, yet he broke his vows and lost his testimony, power and ultimately, his life.

• “Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying…“Get her for me, for she pleases me well…”
• Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there…
• Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah… (Judges 14:1-3; 16:1,4).

Herbert Lockyer observed,

Samson stands out as a man of striking contrasts. He had a kind of Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde being.

I. He was separated as a Nazarite (Judg. 13:5), yet tampered with evil associations (Judg. 14:1-3).

II. He was occasionally Spirit-possessed (Judg. 13:25; 15:14), yet yielded to carnal appetites (Judg. 16:1-4).

III. He appeared childish in some of his plans (Judg. 15:4), yet was courageous in battle (Judg. 15:1-4).

IV. He was mighty in physical strength (Judg. 16:3, 9, 13, 14), yet weak in resisting temptation (Judg. 16:15-17).

V. He had a noble beginning but a sad end (Judg. 16:30).
– All The Men of the Bible.

Let us pray for the Spirit-filled life, free from habitual sin (Ephesians. 5:18). But our prayers need to be more than half-hearted and doubtful: “People who ‘worry their prayers’ are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open” (James 1:8, The Message).

But the Same Spirit who have Samson physical power when he was in step with God will give us moral power to be sexually temperate. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” Gal. 5:1-24)

JBW

Recently Dr. Mark Denison gave a webinar for National Coalition of Ministries to Men. He and his wife, Beth, lead There’s Still Hope, a ministry of recovery and restoration. Mark’s books include:

• 90-Day Recovery Guide for Sex and Porn Addiction
• Life Recovery Plan: A 52-Week Guide to Keep Your Recovery on Track
• 365 Days to Sexual Integrity
• Jesus and the 12 Steps
• Couples Recovery Guide

For more information about their 1 to 1 counseling, small groups and resources, visit www.theresstillhope.org

Here is their introductory testimony:

“Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:1,2 Amplified Bible

“A believer may know that he is positionally free, and yet have to mourn the fact that his experience is that of a wretched captive. The freedom is so entirely in Christ Jesus, and the maintenance of the living union with Him is so distinctly and entirely the work of divine power, that it is only as we see that the Spirit dwells within us for this very purpose, and know how to accept and yield to His working it, that we can really stand in the liberty with which Christ has made us free.” -Andrew Murray

“There is no strength or power in ourselves against the law of sin which is in our members. The Father has left us as much dependent upon the Lord Jesus’ work for our deliverance from the power of sin as for our forgiveness! It is wholly because we died with Him on the Cross, both to sin and to the whole legal principle, that sin’s power for those in the Lord Jesus, is broken.” -William R. Newell

For a further explanation on how the law of aerodynamics illustrates this, see the article at GraceNotebook.com

 

King David resolved,

“I will behave wisely in a perfect way.
Oh, when will You come to me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not cling to me.
A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will not know wickedness.” Psalm 101:2-4 NKJV

When David went astray from this resolve (the adultery episode of 2 Samuel ch. 11), –although he was forgiven (Psalm 51)–there were devastating consequences.

Charles Stanley observes, “How many wrong relationships begin with just a harmless glance? How many thefts start with an envious gaze? How many addictive habits take hold from prolonged exposure to the wrong thing? If we wish to avoid doing evil, we must stay far away from any situation, attitude, or habit that could cause us to stumble.”

The Abide Study Bible recommends, “Pray. Ask God to evaluate you today: your eyes, your heart, your words, and your thoughts. Confess any wicked ways and thank Him for His forgiveness. Ask the Lord to help you live wisely and walk in His perfect way.”

A mentee recently applied this principle by implementing this filter on his computer: https://cleanbrowsing.org/
“CleanBrowsing is a content filtering platform. We block access to online porn and malicious sites.”  The $59.00 a year subscription for families covers up to 25 devices.

“Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy.  But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires.” Romans 13:13,14 Amplified Bible

Erwin Lutzer of Moody Memorial Church preached on “Pornography: The Soul Defiled.”  This message, based on Matthew 5:27-30, was part five in a series entitled “Seven Snares of the Enemy.”

Here are selected highlights from this sermon:

Pornography is everywhere and there are millions enslaved to the desires of sensuality that it enflames.

Jesus challenges us to be different. Can we pursue purity in our marriages? Can we harbor pure hearts, free from lustful thoughts and fantasies? Can we purify our associations, cutting off contact with practices, jobs, and objects which spark the fires of evil within us?

To be free from sexual sin is a painful and thorough process, but when we are eventually living in freedom, thanks to God’s Word [God’s Spirit] and God’s people, it will be worth it!

See the message transcript or download the audio recording here: https://www.moodymedia.org/sermons/seven-snares-enemy/pornography-soul-defiled/

“…And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matt. 6:13).

“…Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell…Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:8,11-13).

“How to Overcome Temptation” is a helpful 10 minute teaching by Steve Goss of Freedom in Christ Ministries (U.K.)

This video was just added to our Videos page:

As Dr. Bill and Anabel Gillham would teach (www.Lifetime.org), temptation needs to be resisted in “the threshold of the mind, not in the mind…”

(Courtesy of Hope for the Heart)

Beginning with Grace

“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4).

Grace – let’s begin there. There’s grace for you. You’re not alone. Help is available.

The apostle Paul wrote those words to a church that had many issues, some of which were sexual sin. As he began his letter, he did not start it with a note of guilt, shame, disappointment, or disgust. He began with gratitude and God’s grace.

That’s where God begins with you – not with shame but with grace. The Bible says, “he gives grace generously” (James 4:6 NLT).

Change is possible

Maybe you’ve tried to stop but you can’t. Perhaps you had some short-term success, but it happened again. You feel caught in a cycle of guilt and shame and repeating behaviors you don’t want to do. You might feel like the apostle Paul, who said, “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (Romans 7:18–19 NLT).

If that’s you, there’s grace for you. Friend, change is possible. But the answer is not found in trying harder, beating yourself up, or hiding it and promising to change. It’s found in Jesus Christ. Only He can remove our shame and empower us by His grace to change.

“Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 7:24–25 NLT)

14 Biblical Truths to Help You Break Free from Sexual Addiction

God loves you and has a heart of grace and compassion for you.
“The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”
(Psalm 145:8–9)

God wants you to regularly remind yourself of who He is.
“O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.”
(Psalm 86:5 NLT)

God wants you to see yourself through His eyes.
“You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.”
(Isaiah 43:4 ESV)

God wants you to stay away from all sexual sin.
“God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 NLT)

God wants you to run and flee from sexual sin.
“Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:18 NLT)

God placed our sin and guilt on Christ so we could be forgiven.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
(Isaiah 53:5–6)

God extends complete and total forgiveness to you.
“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.’  And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”
(Psalm 32:5 NLT)

God wants you in His presence—to cleanse you of the guilt and shame you feel.
“Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”
(Hebrews 10:22 NLT)

God wants you to replace the lies you’ve been led to believe with His truth.
“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
(Psalm 25:5)

God wants you to find your identity in Him—as His beloved child.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
(1 John 3:1)

God wants you to fight sin—avoiding and getting rid of things that tempt you.
“So if your eye – even your good eye – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away … And if your hand – even your stronger hand – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.”
(Matthew 5:29–30 NLT)

God wants you to seek accountability.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
(Proverbs 27:17)

God can use counselors to help you find victory over sexual addiction.
“For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
(Proverbs 24:6 ESV)

God wants you to help others who struggle with sexual addiction.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
(Galatians 6:1–2)

https://www.hopefortheheart.org/product/sexual-addiction-video-course/

https://www.hopefortheheart.org/product/sexual-addiction/

 

“If you’d like to connect with other men walking similar paths, you can also join the Connect Group (chat group) available in the app.”

The button to access the Connect Group is below (or you can navigate to it from the home page by clicking CONNECT along the bottom of the app.”

Today pornography and sex addiction are on the rise and so is the violence linked to them. The average age of initial exposure to porn is only 11 – and 93 percent of boys are exposed to pornography before they’re 18…

On April 28, 2022 Promise Keepers will gather men from around the nation for a powerful online event addressing sexual integrity—followed by a 30-day challenge with prayer, practical resources, stories from real guys, and accountability. Promise Keepers has partnered several organizations and ministries to create this compelling, transformative event, including Covenant Eyes, Pure Desire, Prodigals International, Messenger International, Axis, Dr. Steve Arterburn and New Life Live, and Be Broken Ministries.

Pornography is the scourge of our age—feeding abnormal behaviors and attitudes in relationships, dehumanizing women and girls and creating unnecessary guilt and shame. If for no other reason, please plan on participating so you know how to understand and help someone else.

Freedom awaits!

Register today for early access information.

Kick-Off: April 28, 2022
5pm Pacific | 6pm Mountain | 7pm Central | 8pm Eastern

The Free Man Challenge

“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman? [who is not my wife]?” (Job 31:1).

“Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.’  So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they [crowned the king] before the Lord… They made sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, and … all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly” (1 Sam. 11:14,15).

In the spirit of Job 31:1 (a personal commitment) and 1 Samuel ‭11:14‬, (a renewal of commitment), I write this declaration:

I have learned from the positive example of Joseph (Genesis ch. 39).

I have learned from the painful experience of king David (2 Samuel ch. 11).

I have learned from the supreme example of my Lord Jesus Christ in His temptation in the wilderness, in His dealing with the woman caught in adultery, and in His prayer time in Gethsemane.

I heed the admonition to God’s people in Romans 13: 11–14: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

I accept the the personal admonition of 2 Timothy 2:19-22: “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

As an expression of my love to God and others, through the enablement of the Holy Spirit, I hereby give to God my private entertainment time each day, to avoid electronic visual amusement that would grieve Him, and I choose morally acceptable alternatives for His glory and my ultimate good.

-JBW