Lust & Pornography
Sin has the power to be addictive and to enslave. When you are in bondage to any sin, especially a sexual sin, it is both depressing and embarrassing as well as destructive to your intimacy with the Lord as well as your spouse (if you are married). Pornography being a “secret sin” winds up being particularly persistent and dominating and also gives the Devil, the accuser of the brethren a lot of ammunition to shoot at you!
The good news is Jesus didn’t die for “some sins” or “most sins”. He died to forgive and free us from “All sin”! I know you believe this to be true even if it has not been your personal experience with finding deliverance and victory over this particular temptation yet.
Your confession to someone other than the Lord is a good sign and asking for prayer is a great step in the right direction.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16
Many Christians are addicted to porn. The statistics are staggering and saddening. Nonetheless, there is victory over lust, porn, and sexual sin.
For a brief paper I wrote about his some time ago see: http://cc-ea.org/documents/Lust%20Is%20There%20Victory%20Tract.pdf
In addition I recommend:
1. Don’t fight his on your own! Find a weekly accountability partner. Ask them to have a weekly face to face meeting where they ask you the hard questions: “Have you looked at any porn this week at all?”
Decide you will be honest with them and make they are willing to pray ofr you daily
“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6:1-2
“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.” Ecc 4:9-10
2. Destroy all pornography as well as any access you have to it in any form!
This means deleting any known porn you have on your computer as well as installing blocking filters on all computers/tablets and smartphones. It will include blocing access to adult sites if you have access on cable or satellite.
Use this site for accountability with someone. http://www.covenanteyes.com/
For desktop blocking use OpenDNS (free) and have your wife/friend put in a password so you cannot bypass it. There are similar blocking apps/setting for mobile devices – Find and install them today.
- Develop and Maintain a Spirit-filled determination to stay pure!
“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” Mt 5:28-30
You need to be more than apologetic about this kid of sin – you must get “surgical” with it! Someone has pointed out that Jesus is speaking about lust and goes onto mention the eye and the hand – some feel he is referring to masturbation. In any case, he is saying that the answer is to get radical about stopping both the lust (a heart issue) as well as the physical means of fulfilling that lust (the eye/hand). Certainly Jesus isn’t advocating self-mutilation but extreme measures to stop the performance of the sin.
I personally believe that the pornography addiction among men/Christians has skyrocketed in large measure due to the internet and the secret availability of porn. Yes, it’s still a heart issue however the Bible clearly warns:
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Rom 13:14
Men have lusted and been addicted to sexual sin long before the advent of the internet. However, if perhaps an analogy might be to consider a man who drinks alcohol and tends to get drunk in certain settings. Then suddenly he moves into in a bar for his personal residence and serves alcohol day and night. The temptation factor for him now goes through the roof. He needs to move.
Just as an alcoholic cannot have a beer or drink some wine socially so neither can you have occasional involvement with pornography. There is no healthy exposure. It must be eradicated and the underlying craving put to death.
God’s Word explains the answer to sin is more than merely removing the performance of that sin. It also will involve a new way of thinking, living and acting. It requires a power from God, given by the Holy Spirit Himself to experience and live in victory!
“For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Rom 8:13
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
This last verse is a promise not just a principle. It doesn’t mean you won’t have the ability to lust. It means that as you discover how to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led on a moment-by-moment basis you will be able to have God given self-control (Gal. 5:23) and the a supernatural ability to say “No!” to your own fleshly cravings.
As you stop the addiction and aggressively protect yourself from the temptation (2 Timothy 2:22) you will see the power of sexual temptation diminish and its domination in your life broken. As you live in victory, you will avoid those things that will bring you temptation all the more as you know the great joy of pleasing the Lord and the horror of hurting both the Lord and your spouse (if you are married).
Victory in this area was paid for at the cross! You are forgiven in Christ and invited to live in the victory that cost Him his life
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1.
May the Lord give you what is yours in Christ!
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Gal 5:1
Pastor Bob Kopeny 