Video #30 - This Is War!

I’m willing to bet that as you are faithfully pursuing purity in your life, you are feeling the relentless attacks of the enemy on your heart and mind.  We are at war my friend  – of that let there be no doubt.  So, how are you doing?  Seriously – how is the battle going? 

As we work through the final part of this Freedom from Porn Series, our focus is going to be on the spiritual warfare we are engaged in.  Remember, we are not fighting against men; our battle is against the evil of hell itself (Eph. 6:12).  You see, just as Satan deceived Eve by his cunning, his goal is to lead your thoughts away from being fully devoted to Christ (2 Cor. 11:3).  The Devil knows that what you think determines what you do (Prov. 27:19).  So, if he can impress your thinking - he will impact your living!

There are times when this war against sexual impurity can seem to be overwhelming.  I love God’s promise in Deut. 20:1 that “when you go out to war against your enemies (against sexual impurity), and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt”.  God has delivered you out of the very pit of hell itself.  He has adopted you as His child and given you a glorious inheritance.  Do you really think He is going to let you flounder and be massacred by the enemy?

For so many years I let myself be defeated.  I stayed stuck in the mire of my sin, thinking that there was no way out.  I was wrong (1 Cor. 10:13).  Today, praise God, I am free!  All because “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed … I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.  The Lord will rescue me (and you) from every evil deed and bring me (and you) safely into his heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:17-18).

This war can feel defeating at times, believe me – I know.  Keep in mind “that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation (including lust, porn and masturbation), will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39 addition mine).  That’s powerful!

You will struggle from time to time with feelings of discouragement and thoughts like “will I ever be free?”  Here is a verse in Deut. 31:6 that has been a great encouragement to me: “Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you”.

So, let me encourage you to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and run with patience the race that is set before (you)” (Heb. 12:1).  This battle will never be easy.  The fact is, “in your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Heb. 12:4).  There are still rough times ahead.  As you face each struggle, never lose sight of the fact that God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Col. 1:13).

You can fight this and win!  You can do it through Christ because He will give you the strength and He will supply every need of yours according to His riches (Phil. 4:13, 19)!

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About Steve Etner
Steve Etner is a National Men’s Speaker, Author and Purity Coach (www.thepuritycoach.com). He has authored many books, including “Extreme Mind Makeover: How to Transform Sinful Habits into God-Pleasing Patterns of Life”; “The Pure Man’s Devotional Guide: A Biblical Toolbox for Purity”; and “Are You A Super Man? Becoming God’s Man of Steel.” 

Steve’s conferences, seminars and retreats focus on what God has to say about the way we think and the impact it has on our behavior. By teaching men how to live in moral purity by equipping them with Biblical answers, Steve’s goal is for men to have a re-ignited passion for Jesus and learn how to prepare their minds to successfully overcome their temptations and thus live pure lives for Christ.