“We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. For the person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live [together] with Him, because we know [the self-evident truth] that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:6-11 Amplified Bible

Charles Stanley summarized this truth: “If we have died to sin by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will have the resurrected life of Christ within us. Neither sin nor death will ever be our master again. Death has been defeated because He gives us life without end with Him in heaven. Until we reach our new heavenly home, we are to draw on the power of the Spirit to put to death the sin that still wants to express itself, and obey God for His glory” (Charles F. Stanley, Life Lessons).

J. B. Stoney observed: “The constant tendency is to try to improve the manner of one’s life here below by adopting Christian principles, whereas you will never arrive at it unless you start from ‘crucified with Christ.’ Then it is not thinking of what I am, but of what He is, ‘Christ liveth in me.’“

Deliverance from evil is not about our willpower, but about tapping into divine enablement. Harry A. Ironside gave this grace-oriented counsel:

“Do not accept the suggestion of the Temper that you are powerless to break away from evil habits. Remember, it is not a question of your own power, but when you honestly repent of the wrongdoing and turn to the Lord for divine help to overcome your besetting sin, He will undertake for you. As you reckon yourself to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Holy Spirit will work in you and through you. He will cause you to triumph over tendencies toward evil and enable you to live victoriously to the glory of the God who has saved you.”

Fellow believer, consider yourself “dead” to the authority of Sin and alive to God to live according to His wise and righteous design!

A popular book on overcoming sexual sin is titled Every Man’s Battle. We need to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12). But the challenge to live in victory over the world, the flesh and the Devil is more than just a personal struggle. Our commitment to personal holiness is a bigger battle than our choice to walk in obedience.

Reginald Wallace observed that this cosmic war involves the believer’s three enemies: the world is our external enemy, demons are our infernal enemies, and the flesh is our internal enemy.[1]  So overcoming sexual sin has bigger implications than just a choice for personal obedience. It’s a matter of being loyal to God‘s kingdom instead of the world, being loyal to Jesus and holy angels, rather than capitulating in spiritual warfare, and walking in the Spirit, instead of fulfilling the lust of the flesh.

Thankfully, as a believer in Christ, you are on the winning side! “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?… In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:31,32,37).

We worship God the Father, who is sovereign over all, and His kingdom will never end. We pray that His kingdom will come, and His will will be done in our lives as it is in heaven. So we can have victory over the world system that sponsors pimps, prostitutes and pornographers. “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14). 

In Christ we can have victory over the Devil and his fallen angels. The Lord Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil (Heb. 2:14). Some demons are are already chained in Hades, and the rest will be cast into Hell at the end of the age (2 Peter 2:4; Rev. 20:10). During Christ’s earthly ministry, He saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven, and through His death and resurrection Christ has been given all authority (Luke 10:18; Col 2:15). Christ has ascended above the realm of all angelic or demonic powers (1 Pet. 3:22). As believers, we are raised with Him and share His authority over our spiritual enemies (Col 3:1-4). Therefore, stand in Christ’s victory, suited up in spiritual armor (Eph. 6:10-18).

The flesh in us is corrupt and enslaving; it is prone to lust and self-deception. Paul said “In my flesh dwells no good thing” (Rom 7:18). “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another…(Gal 5:17). But the Holy Spirit in us is more than able to give us victorious life. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal 5:16).

Regarding the enablement of the Holy Spirit in you, remember His powerful work at the beginning of creation. The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible states,

“As for the world of nature, in the beginning (Gen 1) the Spirit of God brooded like a bird on the nest over the formless primeval chaos. As a result, from chaos there emerged the cosmos. The Spirit, as the source of all energy and life, impregnated, as it were, the deep nothingness or formless void, and out of it came forth at the divine behest the vast realm of the created order. Once the creation had been achieved, the same Spirit conserves, renews, and withdraws life by a continuous process in the realm of nature (Job 33:4; Ps. 33:6; 104:30). Thus the OT justifies the epithet, ‘the One who makes alive,’ used to describe the Spirit in the Nicene Creed.”

This same Holy Spirit of God lives in us as believers and can give us the fruit of self-control (Gal 5:23).

So as we choose to walk in freedom from intentional sin patterns, let us consider that this involves a bigger battle than just our own experiences. We don’t live for ourself alone, we live unto the Lord (Rom. 14:7,8). Our testimony affects the advancement of God‘s kingdom, the health and growth of Christ’s church, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in and through us.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).

_______

[1] Reginald Wallace, The New Life, ch. 1. GraceFellowshipInternational.com

JBW

I recently tuned into a webinar by Freedom Fight. After getting their flagship book and checking out their web site, I am glad to spread the word about their excellent, practical resources. – JBW

Living Out Your Identity in Christ in a Sexualized Culture: A Six Session Bible Study in Ephesians
Sit Walk Stand Video Bible Study
This is “a six session Bible Study in Ephesians. Paul not only explains the truths about our position in Christ, but he gives practical steps to make living out our identity in Christ a lifestyle. The Ephesians lived in a sexualized culture which has great application for today’s believer in a pornified world.” https://thefreedomfight.org/sit-walk-stand/

The 30-Day Challenge
“This free email service delivers 10-minutes of biblical, clinical, and practical content that mixes video, scripture, articles, and testimonies to support the challenge to go 30 days without porn or other unwanted sexual behaviors. Just as with our more comprehensive Freedom Fight Program, this ‘mini course’ can be done by an individual or with a small group. Our 30DC Leader’s Guide helps you facilitate a group through a 5 weeks period with simple discussion questions. This resource is particularly helpful for helping and equipping others in a non-shaming way who might be lacking conviction or may not be quite ready for a bigger commitment.” (Also, YouVersion has the “Freedom From Porn Begins Here” in their Bible app.)
https://thefreedomfight.org/30-day-challenge-sign-up/

The Freedom Fight Book
“For those looking for a book study as the on-ramp to the main program, this is a great option. This is a 13-week study of the entire book (17 chapters) written by The Freedom Fight founder, Ted Shimer. The first section of the book looks at the Brutal Realities of Porn’s Impact, and the second section focuses on the six roots of a sex/pornography addiction and the solutions that address them. This is a great resource to begin taking steps towards finding freedom while gaining a holistic understanding of the issue.”
https://thefreedomfight.org/book/

The Freedom Fight Program
(6 MONTHS, HIGH COMMITMENT LEVEL, FOR THOSE READY TO TAKE ACTION)
“Our comprehensive program blends brain science, clinical practices, and biblical wisdom to guide men and women to freedom. This no-cost mobile and web app use a systematic approach of dozens of 5-8 minute videos, tools, and scripturestudies that guide the participant through key principles that address the 6 roots of pornography addiction. Although built to be accessible by the individual, this program is most helpful when embarking on this journey with others, whether in 1:1 accountability or in a small group. Learn more about what makes our program so successful. The full program is commonly a 25-week journey.”
https://thefreedomfight.org/about/our-approach/

“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” (Rom. 13:14 Amplified Bible).

Regarding this principle, Dr. Charles Stanley observed, “We know we should avoid a certain place, but we go there anyway. We recognize a personal weakness for a particular activity, but we tempt ourselves anyway. How often do we fall into sin because we plan for it?”

And The Spirit Filled Life Study Bible adds, “The way to moral excellence is twofold (v. 14). Positively, we must put on the Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to His lordship, accepting His moral standards, living in constant fellowship with Him, and depending upon His strength. Negatively, we are to make no provision for the flesh, doing nothing to foster its sensual desires and appetites (see Gal. 5:16–25).”

In our Lord’s model prayer, the phrase preceding “Deliver us from evil” is “Lead us not into temptation.”

Pure Desire Ministry provides a free document with practical suggestions on the role of filters and accountability in protecting our Spirit-filled walk: Accountability User’s App Guide doc

They recommend:
Filtering

Using Google Chrome’s free SafeSearch:
https://www.google.com/safesearch

and/or Using Cisco’s free OpenDNS:
https://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/

Accountability

https://www.covenanteyes.com/

https://accountable2you.com/

https://everaccountable.com/

May we heed the counsel of 2 Timothy 2:22: “Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that young men often have, but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. Have faith and love, and enjoy the companionship of those who love the Lord and have pure hearts.” (Living Bible paraphrase)

Gary Thomas is an author with the Center for Evangelical Spirituality. In his book, Pure Pleasure, he has a chapter entitled “Dangerous Pleasures.”

He introduces the chapter with this quote by A. J. Russell: “A man cannot be happy in a life of vice so long as he is conscious of moral scruples; conversely, he cannot be happy in a life of virtue so long as he compromises with vice.”

The chapter addresses pleasures such as sex, money, alcohol and food. Note Thomas’ observation:

“Sex, a potent force, needs to be contained and held accountable. It carries the potential to do great good—hold a family together, renew bonds of loyalty, create refreshing memories of intimacy, provide relief from the routines of life, create a brand new life—and the potential to bring great harm… Because pleasure motivates us, it possesses tremendous force. Such power must be held accountable, lest it become an evil tyrant. [For example] Money in the hands of a satisfied, God-honoring soul can do tremendous good. Money in the hands of a spiritually sick person can become a ferocious force of evil.” [1]

Thomas goes on to help us navigate life’s pleasures successfully. “Rather than absolutely denying us pleasure, God gives us the ability to enjoy dangerous pleasures within appropriate boundaries. David Powlison provides a helpful list of when such pleasures verge on becoming dangerous threats”

• All that gets obsessive (I’m always thinking about it)
• All that gets impulsive (Just do it)
• All that gets compulsive (I can’t help doing it)
• All that gets cancerous (expanding out of control, devouring)
• All that gets mutant (unstable, restless, bizarre, and inhuman, dehumanizing) [2]

The city of Corinth in Ancient Greece was infamous for abusing dangerous pleasures. In his first epistle to the church there, the apostle Paul gives several corrective guidelines, responding to some of their culturally permissive slogans.

“‘All things are lawful for me’, but all things are not helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Cor. 6:12)

“Therefore, if food [or any other behavior] makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (1 Cor. 8:13).

“‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are helpful; ‘all things are lawful for me’, but not all things edify” (1 Cor. 10:23).

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

Therefore, the answer to our prayer “deliver us from evil online” includes the wisdom to avoid legalism on the one hand, and license on the other. May we apply these insights to our attitude and behaviors concerning sex, money, alcohol and food by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians. 5:17,18).

Gary Thomas gives this summary: “to truly enjoy potentially dangerous pleasures without becoming their slave, we need to submit to a God greater than our pleasure.”

J.B.W.

______________

[1] Gary Thomas, Pure Pleasure, (Zondervan, 2009), 149.

[2] David Powlison, “Innocent Pleasures”, Journal of Biblical Counseling 23 (Fall 2005), 25.

[3] Gary Thomas, Pure Pleasure, 150.

We have mentioned this important video documentary resource, Somebody’s Daughter, in a previous post. It has this intro:

“Pornography is one of the most difficult moral challenges of our time. What was once considered obscene is now a multi-billion dollar industry increasingly becoming the norm within mainstream culture. Because of the internet with its accessibility, anonymity, and affordability, pornography addictions have risen to epidemic levels, destroying intimacy, marriages and families, while distorting our definition of sex and sexuality. Watch as three men and a husband and wife share their intensely personal struggle of how pornography crept in and ravaged their lives. From abuser to victim, its introduction seemed harmless but proved to be an infectious destroyer. Somebody’s Daughter, confronts the darkness and lies of this alluring vice with compelling honesty and hope.”

Michael John Cusick has published a six session small group study guide that can be used with the DVD edition.  Visit MusicForTheSoul.org for these materials.

Now Redeem TV (a donor-supported, ad-free streaming service) provides this movie in their online video collection. Just sign up for a free account at www.RedeemTV.com 

Proverbs chapter 30 features counsel from someone named Agur: “The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance.” Prov. 30:1

This chapter gives some vivid warnings and illustrations that are relevant to freedom from sexual immorality. Here are relevant wisdom statements with added commentary.

Consider the value of God’s Word:
“Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Prov. 30:5

A warning to not change God’s standards based on personal preference or the changing opinions of culture:
“Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” Prov. 30:6

A warning about a society that accepts sin as normal and excusable:
“There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.” 30:12

A illustration from nature:
“The leech has two daughters— Give and Give!” 30:15a
Likewise, sexual immorality leeches a person’s resources: money, time, testimony, family, spiritual vitality…

A wisdom list
“There are three things that are never satisfied,
Four never say, ‘Enough!’:
The grave,
The barren womb,
The earth that is not satisfied with water—
And the fire never says, ‘Enough!’” 30:15b,16

The idiom, “three things…, four” indicate that this list is suggestive and can be added to. Sexual immorality also never says “enough”.  But the believer in Christ, in light of these biblical wisdom statements, can and should pronounce “enough”!

A warning about the seductress
“This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, ‘I have done no wickedness.’” 30:20

Her conscience is seared; she assumes that whatever the body desires is OK. Animals may function according to nature (though, since the fall of Genesis 3, that also can be harmful and contrary to the Creator’s original design).
But people are made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26, 27) though this image has been damaged by sin.  This likeness to God includes living by the standards of His design law and morality. Conscience is a witness to our accountability, but one’s conscience can be ignored; the adulteress (and adulterer) turns a deaf ear to it.

The wisdom of God is developed further in the New Testament. Through a personal relationship with God we can experience true wisdom, applying truth to life. “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:30,31).

-J.B.W.

Corinth in Ancient Greece was infamous for sexual immorality. So the early church needed to be warned to turn away from this seductive, socially acceptable sin. Western culture today has descended into a similar climate of immorality. So God’s directive for morality and dignity is still applicable.

“Run away from sexual immorality [in any form, whether thought or behavior, whether visual or written]. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the one who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Amplified Bible

Dr. Charles Stanley observed that Proverbs warns us to stay away from the immoral person: “Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house” (Prov. 5:8). “God’s Word tells us to ‘flee sexual immorality’ (1 Cor. 6:18), not to test our spiritual maturity by seeing how close we can get to it without falling into it. If you know something tempts you, stay away from it.”

Dr. Tony Evans counsels, “Sexual sin is unique because by joining to someone other than one’s spouse, a person enters into an illegitimate one-flesh union (see 1 Cor. 6:16) and sins against his own body. This, in fact, is why people experience emotional, psychological, and spiritual scars as a result of sexual sin.”

Living according to God’s design delivers us from sin’s harmful consequences psychological and physically. Dr. Warren Wiersbe summarizes the implications of this passage in 1 Corinthians:  “As you review this section, you will see that sexual sins affect the entire personality. They affect the emotions, leading to slavery (v. 12b). It is frightening to see how sensuality can get a hold on a person and defile his entire life, enslaving him to habits that destroy. It also affects a person physically (v. 18). The fornicator and adulterer, as well as the homosexual, may forget their sins, but their sins will not forget them.”

If you are believer in Christ, your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit. Let’s heed the timeless admonition: “honor and glorify God with your body.”

-JBW

“Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].” Romans 8:6 (Amplified Bible)

Neil Anderson observed: “The moment you are tempted to get your need met in the world instead of in Christ, you are at the threshold of a decision. If you don’t immediately choose to take that thought “captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5), you will begin to consider it as an option. And if you begin to mull it over in your mind, immediately your emotions will be affected and the likelihood of yielding to that temptation is increased…

“For example, a man sees a pornographic picture and is tempted toward lust. He has the opportunity to respond by saying something like, ‘My relationship with sin has ended. I choose to take this thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I’m not going to look at it or think about it.’ And he separates himself from the picture immediately and escapes the lust.

But if he hesitates at the threshold, stares at the picture, and begins to fantasize about it, he will trigger an emotional landslide producing a physical response which will be difficult to stop. He must capture the tempting thought in the threshold or it will probably capture him.” [1]

The booklet, A Study of the Mind, also teaches the relevance of this principle–that victory over temptation is gained at the threshold of the mind, not in the mind.” [2]

The author of At The Altar of Sexual Idolatry confirms this wisdom in his testimony: “I overcame temptation because I refused to allow myself to dwell on sexual thoughts. When a fantasy entered my mind, I would make the conscious decision not to entertain it. The person who affords himself the luxury of savoring a fantasy is setting himself up for a huge fall. The time to deal with temptation is when it first appears. The longer the thought lingers, the more difficult it is to resist.” [3]

By the enablement of the Holy Spirit we can be renewed in the spirit of our mind (Eph. 4:23).

[1] Daily in Christ, 3/26. Emphasis added

[2] Preston Gillham and Anabel Gillham, A Study of the Mind (ebook) https://www.lifetime.org/store/a-study-of-the-mind-ebooklet

[3] Steve Gallagher, At the Altar is Sexual Idolatry, p. 95

JBW

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