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Guest
Guest
Resisting Internet Porn
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This is serious adult topic. If you're not struggling with lust, keep surfing.
Lust and sexual sin is as old as Adam. While it's possible to "white knuckle" it for a while and resist, men are basically wired to enjoy sex, especially visually. For a non-Christian who's just out to find whatever fun he can, there's a lot of immediate pleasure in sex and pornography. But for the Christian man who wants to please God, pornography puts the "flesh" on what the Apostle Paul said:
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
- Romans 7:15
First, I want you to know that there is hope. From the testimony of many Promise Keepers and other Christian men, it is completely possible to overcome an addiction to pornography.
Two Scriptural truths lay the foundation for dealing with temptation:
Christ is our High Priest
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- Hebrews 4:15-16
Our growth is God's Promise
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 1:6
What to do?
Pornography is a powerful addiction. On your own you don't stand a chance. But God will be your strength and He will prove Himself an even more powerful ally in the face of evil.
Specifically, here's how to put your faith into action:
Hate Sin
Come face to face with the holiness of God. The first thing to do is to begin a study the Righteousness of God.
Commit yourself to living a life of worship based on Romans 12:1, which is our reasonable response to our salvation.
See viewing pornography and self-satisfaction as primarily selfish acts.
Remove any and all filth from your computer, throw out any magazines. And commit to keeping it that way.
new Wineskins
Romans 12:2 talks about how to live a life of worship - by renewing your mind. So replace the old ways of thinking with new thoughts, prayers, and meditations.
The Romans 12 commitment is based on the Romans 11 doxology of who God is and the first 11 chapters of Romans explaining the salvation God offers. The key to the commitment is worshiping God in truth. So study the things of God.
Adopt a more Biblical attitude toward sex. Study what the word says about sex.
Memorize scriptures having to do with holiness, temptation, and Christ's power.
Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
- Psalm 119:11
See temptation as a path for victory
Meditate on
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
Log your impulses and temptations, your growth, and the success you've had.
Understand your emotional patterns. Pornography is triggered by depression and stress. In difficult times, spend more time with your wife, family and friends. Don't isolate yourself.
Pray. Ask God to cleanse your mind of images and memories you that feed your temptation.
If you continue having trouble dealing with pornography or any other addiction, you should consider seeing a Christian counselor. If your daughter was addicted, you would help her do whatever it takes to find freedom and recovery. Isn't seeking the righteousness of God in your life worth enough to you to do whatever it takes?
True Intimacy
Everyone has trouble with true intimacy. We all seem to avoid baring our souls, even to those we love and trust. Yet, we crave that deep connection and acceptance from another.
Pornography and self-satisfaction are basically attempts to find intimacy, but it's a false intimacy. One of the best ways to avoid false intimacy is to recognize it as a cheap substitute and to begin to seek true intimacy.
True intimacy can only be found when we are first honest with ourselves and with our God. Ask God is search your heart. Study His Word and pray. Get to know and love God, and be transparent to His Spirit, and you will find the need for false intimacy declining.
Set-up Safeguards
Set-up an accountability relationship with another man who isn't too impressed by you. Commit to weekly meeting / prayer times, and give him permission to scan your hard drive at any time.
Join Promise Keepers.
Show your wife how to check for .jpgs on your computer and remove any passwords or give them to her.
Sign up for an internet adult blocking service.
Remove the software settings for newsgroups.
Place your computer in a very public and open location within your home.
You may want to cancel your internet subscription.
Only God's grace makes the difference
You won't make it perfectly at first, but it will get easier. When you think you can make it on your own, you'll fail again. If you fail, clean off your hard drive, confess your sin to God and your accountability partner, and get right back in step with grace.
Only by trusting in God for grace will you continue. Pray without ceasing. Worship with your life. God will not give up on His children's growth.
But only if...
The power of God to fight addiction is only available to the beliver. Let me ask you something, if you were to die tonight and stand before God, and the Almighty Creator of the universe asked you; "Why should I let you into my heaven?", what would you say?
The Holy Scripture urges us to
"be diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you"
- 2 Peter 1:10
if you're not sure about your relationship with God or where you'll spend eternity, please read God's message of hope for you.
Suggested Memory Verses
As you put new thoughts into you mind, here's some suggested passages to memorize.
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
- Romans 13:14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is serious adult topic. If you're not struggling with lust, keep surfing.
Lust and sexual sin is as old as Adam. While it's possible to "white knuckle" it for a while and resist, men are basically wired to enjoy sex, especially visually. For a non-Christian who's just out to find whatever fun he can, there's a lot of immediate pleasure in sex and pornography. But for the Christian man who wants to please God, pornography puts the "flesh" on what the Apostle Paul said:
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
- Romans 7:15
First, I want you to know that there is hope. From the testimony of many Promise Keepers and other Christian men, it is completely possible to overcome an addiction to pornography.
Two Scriptural truths lay the foundation for dealing with temptation:
Christ is our High Priest
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
- Hebrews 4:15-16
Our growth is God's Promise
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 1:6
What to do?
Pornography is a powerful addiction. On your own you don't stand a chance. But God will be your strength and He will prove Himself an even more powerful ally in the face of evil.
Specifically, here's how to put your faith into action:
Hate Sin
Come face to face with the holiness of God. The first thing to do is to begin a study the Righteousness of God.
Commit yourself to living a life of worship based on Romans 12:1, which is our reasonable response to our salvation.
See viewing pornography and self-satisfaction as primarily selfish acts.
Remove any and all filth from your computer, throw out any magazines. And commit to keeping it that way.
new Wineskins
Romans 12:2 talks about how to live a life of worship - by renewing your mind. So replace the old ways of thinking with new thoughts, prayers, and meditations.
The Romans 12 commitment is based on the Romans 11 doxology of who God is and the first 11 chapters of Romans explaining the salvation God offers. The key to the commitment is worshiping God in truth. So study the things of God.
Adopt a more Biblical attitude toward sex. Study what the word says about sex.
Memorize scriptures having to do with holiness, temptation, and Christ's power.
Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
- Psalm 119:11
See temptation as a path for victory
Meditate on
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
Log your impulses and temptations, your growth, and the success you've had.
Understand your emotional patterns. Pornography is triggered by depression and stress. In difficult times, spend more time with your wife, family and friends. Don't isolate yourself.
Pray. Ask God to cleanse your mind of images and memories you that feed your temptation.
If you continue having trouble dealing with pornography or any other addiction, you should consider seeing a Christian counselor. If your daughter was addicted, you would help her do whatever it takes to find freedom and recovery. Isn't seeking the righteousness of God in your life worth enough to you to do whatever it takes?
True Intimacy
Everyone has trouble with true intimacy. We all seem to avoid baring our souls, even to those we love and trust. Yet, we crave that deep connection and acceptance from another.
Pornography and self-satisfaction are basically attempts to find intimacy, but it's a false intimacy. One of the best ways to avoid false intimacy is to recognize it as a cheap substitute and to begin to seek true intimacy.
True intimacy can only be found when we are first honest with ourselves and with our God. Ask God is search your heart. Study His Word and pray. Get to know and love God, and be transparent to His Spirit, and you will find the need for false intimacy declining.
Set-up Safeguards
Set-up an accountability relationship with another man who isn't too impressed by you. Commit to weekly meeting / prayer times, and give him permission to scan your hard drive at any time.
Join Promise Keepers.
Show your wife how to check for .jpgs on your computer and remove any passwords or give them to her.
Sign up for an internet adult blocking service.
Remove the software settings for newsgroups.
Place your computer in a very public and open location within your home.
You may want to cancel your internet subscription.
Only God's grace makes the difference
You won't make it perfectly at first, but it will get easier. When you think you can make it on your own, you'll fail again. If you fail, clean off your hard drive, confess your sin to God and your accountability partner, and get right back in step with grace.
Only by trusting in God for grace will you continue. Pray without ceasing. Worship with your life. God will not give up on His children's growth.
But only if...
The power of God to fight addiction is only available to the beliver. Let me ask you something, if you were to die tonight and stand before God, and the Almighty Creator of the universe asked you; "Why should I let you into my heaven?", what would you say?
The Holy Scripture urges us to
"be diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you"
- 2 Peter 1:10
if you're not sure about your relationship with God or where you'll spend eternity, please read God's message of hope for you.
Suggested Memory Verses
As you put new thoughts into you mind, here's some suggested passages to memorize.
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
- Romans 13:14
