Blog - Questions from Men
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Monday, August 23, 2010 by Pure Life Ministries Staff
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY, SEX, AND NUDITY IN MOVIES?
A. There is no question that we as a people have fallen from the decency that once prevailed in our nation. That is the point of my book: How America Lost Her Innocence. Today, it is no longer decency that is the norm but indecency.
Having said that, I would like to address a larger, and what I consider to be a much more important, issue: the need for Christians to be very careful to limit how much they subject themselves to the ungodly influences of television and movies. Nearly everything on television and in movies caters to the flesh. How does it affect a believer to subject himself to hours of carnal programming? Watching a limited amount of cartoon movies, documentaries and sports will not adversely affect a believer too much. But in my opinion, believers should not be subjecting themselves to carnal sitcoms, dramas and movies.
Solomon rightly said, “Watch over your heart with all diligence because from it flow the issues of life.” The heart is the core of the human being and is affected by outside influences. Like a computer hard drive, what is programmed into it determines what kind of data comes out of it. Think of your heart as a seedbed, out of which our thoughts spring. Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts…”
The heart is affected through the senses, and, in turn, generates thoughts. A person’s thinking establishes the basis for his actions. His actions become a lifestyle. A lifestyle determines a person’s destiny. As you can see, it is very important to guard one’s heart.
Posted on Mon., Aug. 23, 2010 - Permalink | RSS
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 by Pure Life Ministries Staff
I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN FALLING BACK INTO SEXUAL SIN AFTER THREE YEARS OF VICTORY. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Q. I have read your book At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry and have had victory over the last three years. However, recently I have been falling back into masturbation and porn. How can I get this back under control?
A. I will answer you with the words Jesus spoke to the Ephesian church: “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first…”
This is sound advice for anyone who gets off track. Jesus gives us three important points here. First, remember how you were living your life before you got off track. Remember the joy of being in a right relationship with God. Remember the wonderful times of prayer and worship. Remember the truths you uncovered in Scripture. As you recall these things, you will be motivated to return to them.
Second, repent of what you have done. You simply need to get on your knees before God, acknowledge your sin, and commit yourself to obeying Him. Also, confess your sin to another brother so that it will be in the light.
Lastly, go back to what works. Imagine that you are on a narrow path. After some amount of time, you notice that you have gotten off the path and are way off in the brush somewhere. The way to get back on track is to get back into the lifestyle—the “walk” as the Bible calls it—that you had before you got in trouble. My book certainly lays out that lifestyle of victory. Perhaps it would be beneficial to you to pull it off the shelf and go back over the principles that helped you so much the first time through.
There is one other thing I want to mention here. Jesus’ words were to the Ephesians who had left their first love. This is truly the underlying issue here. As you get your devotional life back in place, make sure you begin asking the Lord to restore that lost love. Nothing diffuses the power of sin like a true love for God.
Posted on Tue., Aug. 10, 2010 - Permalink | RSS
Friday, July 30, 2010 by Pure Life Ministries Staff
DOES GOD EVER GIVE UP ON THOSE DEEP IN SEXUAL SIN?
Q. Do you feel that there are some people God finally decides that there are no more chances of complete healing and restoration regarding sexual sin?
A. Absolutely not! Peter said, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come…”
This passage of Scripture tells me four important things regarding people in sin. First, God has given promises. One of those promises is the freedom from the power of sin. It was prophesied of Jesus that He would “save His people from their sins.” (Mat. 1:21) John said that “He appeared in order to take away sins…” (I John 3:5) There are many other passages that promise freedom from the hold of sin for the believer.
Second, God is extremely patient in His dealings with us. It is never too late to repent! Yes, it is true, that the longer a person resists, quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit, the harder his heart becomes. That’s why it is so important to repent immediately. But the lack of breakthrough is not because God has quit trying to reach a person but because that person has continued to resist Him.
Third, it is not God’s desire for anyone to perish. He greatly wishes for all to come into salvation through repentance. So great is God’s desire for sinners to be freed and saved that He sent His Son to die on the Cross to accomplish it. There is no lack of desire on God’s part for all to be saved and free from sin’s hold.
Last, if a person continues to resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit and refuses to repent of his sin, then the day will eventually arrive when he will have to face the consequences for those sins. “The day of the Lord will come.” Ultimately, that day won’t occur until the person dies and stands before the Lord or Jesus returns to this earth. In the meantime, if there is unrepentant sin in your life, it would be wise to repent today!
Posted on Fri., Jul. 30, 2010 - Permalink | RSS
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