Going on the offensive against porn

Walk through the mall, watch one set of commercials during primetime TV, or turn on your local hit music radio station and you cannot miss it. Our culture is one of in your face sexuality. What was created by God to be a beautiful, intimate, and PRIVATE blessing of marriage is plastered across every magazine cover and verbally depicted in many popular songs. Sex and porn is everywhere. So, in a culture triggering temptations for each one of us at every turn, how can one ever overcome pornography and their struggle with sexual sin? We cannot win this war on defense, trying to avert our eyes our entire life. We have to turn the tables and go on the offensive.

1. Identify the enemy.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13

It’s too easy to see our sin and temptation as just little things we struggle with. However, we MUST throw off that simplistic view of sin and remember that there is a RAGING war against our souls. Pornography is a dark sin. It is a wicked distortion of what God created to be a picture of his intimate love and relationship with his Church. It is a powerful tool Satan will try to use to slowly pull you away from the Kingdom of God. On our own, we have no power over sin. So, if you are trying to fight pornography through distraction, physical exercise, or pure will, you are fighting a losing battle. Our power comes through the blood of Jesus and the power of his Word. To win the spiritual battle for our souls we have to fight in the spiritual realm. We need to fight sin in the name of Jesus. We need to memorize Scripture so that our swords (the Word of God) are sharpened and ready for battle. We need to be actively praying for strength and perseverance to continue to fight.

2. Go on the offensive.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Sin isn't just one little temptation that dangles out in front of us, but it's a constant barrage of temptations, all surrounding us at the same time. (I love Francis Chan, and one of my favorite sermons has a great demonstration of this concept.) To defeat sin in our life we can’t just look away from it. Rather, we need to focus all our attention on running after Jesus, drinking from his Word, and letting his love fill our lives. When we do this, God changes our mindset. He resets our priorities and passions. When we are focused on Him, the real deal and the ultimate satisfaction, we are naturally less interested in all the counterfeits that tempt us.

For many of us this will mean a lifestyle change: giving up primetime TV for time in our Bibles with our spouse every night; spending our free time serving God, broken people, and His church rather than serving ourselves; choosing to forgo music filled with sex and listening instead to Christian podcasts or Christian music. But this sounds CRAZY, doesn’t it? Do I have to give up things just to overcome pornography? Most likely, YES! Jesus is radical. He gave up EVERYTHING for us in his humility and death. How can we not do the same for him? The truth is he never called us to the easy, convenient, wide road the world is walking down. We are called to live our lives in complete surrender to him. We need to pursue of lifestyle of not just taking sin out of our lives, but replacing it with God. He will NOT disappoint. He is the ultimate pleasure and satisfaction, and guess what, he doesn't leave you feeling guilty and dirty after spending time with him!

3. Accountability

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

You don’t have to struggle alone. We need accountability. We need help. We need the fellowship and encouragement of other believers. We need people who won’t let us give them excuses and lies. We need to be held accountable so that we learn the discipline of holding ourselves accountable. A cord of three strands… that means not just a good friend, that means making sure Jesus is wrapped in there too! In other words, pray and get in the Word together.

Finally, please remember: It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 1 Thessalonians 4:2-5.

Since this is his desire for you, he will provide the strength, the perseverance, and the faith to overcome. We have the Truth on our team; the ultimate Victor on our side. We need to press on with confidence and complete reliance on his never failing strength!

Romans 8:37-39 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Please feel free to contact me privately if you need prayers or would like to talk more about this topic. Email me at: henrietta@holyhenhouse.com. Also, if you missed it, you can read part one of this series here.