Video #8 - Keeping Perspective

So far in this series we’ve been talking about the motivation of our heart.  We’ve learned that it must be for God’s glory, or we will not know real victory in our battle against sexual impurity.  Psalm 100:3 challenges us to

“Know that the Lord, he is God!  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” 

True purpose and meaning to life is found only when we are doing that which God created us to do – only as we are living a godly life that brings honor and glory to him (1 Cor. 10:31 cp Col. 3:17; Eccl 12:13).

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read the story of a man named Solomon who embarks on this massive quest to find purpose and meaning to his life.  He tries to find satisfaction and fulfillment in money, possessions, relationships, pleasures – he runs the whole gambit.  Yet, no matter how hard he tried, how much money he put in the bank, how many things he accumulated, how many friendships he developed or how many different types of pleasures he pursued, he just could not find true happiness.

Aren’t we in the same boat?  How many times have you pursued lust, porn, masturbation and other forms of sexual impurity?  How desperately did you want those things to satisfy you and fill that emptiness inside?  How successful were you?  True satisfaction comes only when we fulfill the intent of our creator.  Meaning, purpose, happiness and joy comes only when we discover an intimate, personal relationship with God and walk in total obedience to His commands.

Consider this next verse in Deut. 10 carefully: 

“What does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good” (Deut. 10:12-13 cp. 1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 21:3; Mark 12:29-31)? 

I don’t think God could make it any clearer.  A life lived in pursuit of bringing glory to Him is where we will find victory.

Victory over sexual impurity isn’t a pipe dream guys; it’s possible!  We do not have to live defeated lives.  For years I focused all my attention on changing outwardly, trying to behave the way I thought I knew God wanted me to.  I believed that making those changes would bring me happiness and that long sought-after victory.  The problem was that the motivation of my heart was all about me.

During that part of my life I struggled with feelings of failure, defeat and discouragement.  No more!  
... This sin that we battle with is not greater than God (1 Jn. 4:4). 
... The temptations that seemingly overwhelm you are actually powerless over you. 
... You can live a consistent, godly life!  You can learn how to walk in true victory over sin and how to live a life that glorifies our Heavenly Father!

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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.