Targeting Porn: A Physical (and Spiritual) Plan of Action

Psalms 101:1-4 NKJV A Psalm of David. I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O Lord, I will sing praises.  (2)  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.  (3)  I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me.  (4)  A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.

Take inventory of your surroundings:

“I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.”

            Is your house an atmosphere of purity?

·         Are there books, magazines, movies, music, posters, etc. that will cause temptation?

·         If you have internet, is it in a public, visible location?

Don’t live in an environment prepared for your failure!

Take inventory of your influences:

“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes.”

            Are your habits pure?

·         What are your TV and movie viewing habits?

·         Do you listen to music that causes thoughts of pure things or impure things?

·         What kind of places do you frequent?

·         Are there other habits conducive to temptation?

Don’t live with habits that pull you toward failure!

Take inventory of your associations:

“I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”

            Do your friends encourage purity?

·         What kinds of activities do your friends or associations enjoy?

·         What kinds of conversation do your friends or associations engage in?

·         What kinds of places do your friends or associations draw you to?

Don’t live with people that pull you toward failure!

Bottom Line:

You must be willing to make the external changes you need to make to equip you for purity.

Matthew 5:27-30 NKJV "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.'  (28)  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  (29)  If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  (30)  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Targeting Porn: A Spiritual Plan of Action

Realize this temptation is bigger than you.

1 Corinthians 6:15-20 NKJV (15) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!  (16)  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "THE TWO," He says, "SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH."  (17)  But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  (18)  Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.  (19)  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  (20)  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

“flee” – Literally, “run away” or “shun”

Shun: Don’t flirt with it.

Run: Don’t fight with it.       

Realize this is a spiritual battle

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV (3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  (4)  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Freedom and victory is not found in human strength.

The battleground is the mind.

            QUOTE: “Frisk every thought at the door of your mind” – Dr. Neil Anderson

Sinful thoughts produce sinful desires.

            Sinful desires produce sinful plans.

            Sinful plans produce sinful actions.

            Sinful actions eventually produce sinful habits.

            Sinful habits produce sinful strongholds.

Galatians 2:20-21 NKJV I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  (21) I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

The battle position is surrender: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”

The battle weapon is faith: “…and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith…”

The battle commander is Christ: “…in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”