When you get the porn thoughts in your mind or see a dirty image on your phone, laptop, magazine, etc., you have a very brief moment to either give in and conceive sin, or to resist and pass the tests of temptation. The Holy Spirit always provides a way of escape. One thing that works for me is when I initially get tempted by a lustful thought or pornographic image of a woman, I say in my head again and again and again, "I fear God." There's real power in that sentence when you say it. Sometimes when I feel I am about to give in to the temptation and start masturbating and giving into the flesh I audibly say "JESUS help me now Lord!" and it works 100% of the time, satan flees from me, I regain control over my sinful nature (the old man) and I get out of the room or get off the couch and leave the house or situation where the temptation took place. I pray that the Holy Spirit continues to glorify Christ in my life and to keep me from giving in to sexual immorality and to forgive me for playing with the fire. Pornography is by far my biggest weakness and I am very susceptible to it. But God is faithful and I have never experienced such raw power and self-control in my life before Jesus saved me and gave me His Holy Spirit. The temptation will attack you until the day you lay your head down in death or until Jesus returns, but God promises an escape, don't listen to the enemy, don't even listen to your own deceitful heart, give up and surrender your sexuality to Christ and he will deliver you when you reach out to Him. READ THE BIBLE. Resisting and passing a temptation trial is one of the sweetest and most satisfying and peaceful experiences, knowing God has His hand on you and is with you, empowering you. Let's stop messing around brothers and sisters, give it up to God, surrender and obey God as the Holy Spirit prompts us. I love you guys. In Jesus' name.
Man, I almost fall into sexual sin and this video appears on my widget. Nope, i don't want to fall anymore. I want Jesus. I believe and trust Him as the only savior of me, and i believe i can get out of this sexual sin with Word of God. In Jesus name. Amen
Yes we can. Our Heavenly Father will do it because He loves us and He hates what sin does to us spiritually because it separates us from Him. I believe because when we seek Him and trust Him and hate our flesh He will strengthen us in the daily fight with sin. Praying for you! Matthew 19:26 gave me some major encouragement a few days ago; still going off it today.
Right on, John! A great exhortation from a great exhorter, John Piper. Lust. This one's the big one. I'm one year older than you John, and I have come to realize that lust has been the great underminer and saboteur of my faith walk with Christ all my life...or tried to be. Of the seven deadly sins, lust has been the deadliest for me. I'm spending the remaining years of my life actively killing this one, as you put it, with faith in Christ and being accountable to many others like myself in my support group. Thank you for this study on this subject, John. I got so much out of what you said, calling sexual pleasures fleeting. I like that you pointed out what a lie these illicit pleasure are compared to the joy that comes with following Jesus and the 80 trillion years plus of the unspeakable joy we will have with him throughout eternity. Thank you for encouraging us as we deal with these potential life killers.
This sin, this evil deceitful sin has caused me to stumble so many times for so long, I need faith and to trust Christ with all my heart, Father in heaven help me to believe your promises and to be satisfied in you, I pray that the root of unbelief and lust be uprooted from me in Christ name amen.
Amen! This is my biggest struggle. And I fail so often. This was good teaching. I'm going to do my best to incorporate this teaching into my life--that I should not continue to sin.
Amen! The pleasures of knowing God and going to Heaven forever are infinitely better than the passing pleasures of sin. I think it was John Owen who said: 1. Mortify Sin (kill sin) 2. Vivify Faith (make faith Alive) 3. Make Christ your Supreme Treasure Also, I think it was Owen who said "Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you"
Lust had tormented me for as long as I can remember. It recently has caused me to lose nearly everything that brought my life purpose. Be careful out there everyone, because if you are one of Gods children he won’t let you fall too far into your sin without causing a tremendous amount of pain so that you will come back to him. I look at everything that happened and as painful as this moment is, I’m glad to know he loves me enough to pull me back. Hopefully I’ll finally learn my lesson through this.
That was a perfect presentation, and comprehensive teaching on Gods word regarding lust. Thanks for sharing. 🙏📖 Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love, and you looked with lust on their naked bodies. Isaiah 57:8
pray for my unbelief. I was doing well, and now past month been failing alot and just tired and wanting to see and serve God. I am helpless on my own, and just need the spirit to discipline me into obedience and want only Jesus . Lord please make your desires my desires and please let my aim be only on you
May you live a long life in the name of our Lord God to preach more of the Truth this generation needs.Your wisdom truly blessed and enlightened me. Thank you for delivering His Words very well . May He prosper you because of your deeds especially to Millenials as I am one of those who live in a deceitful world yet striving to seek His wisdom.Thank you pastor John🌷🙏
Thank you so much for this series! It has blessed me so much! I was needed of more understanding to fight against unbelief and it also helped me to understand how I can be more satisfied in God! May He keep on blessing this Desiring God ministry!
i love you with the Love of Christ Pastor John Piper... i hope you get to read this... please pray for me for more strength to keep avoiding sin especially sexual sins... love from the Philippines.
Right on, John! A great exhortation from a great exhorter, John Piper. Lust. This one's the big one. I'm one year older than you John, and I have come to realize that lust has been the great underminer and saboteur of my faith walk with Christ all my life...or tried to be. Of the seven deadly sins, lust has been the deadliest for me. I'm spending the remaining years of my life actively killing this one, as you put it, with faith in Christ and being accountable to many others like myself in my support group. Thank you for this study on this subject, John. I got so much out of what you said, calling sexual pleasures fleeting. I like that you pointed out what a lie these illicit pleasure are compared to the joy that comes with following Jesus and the 80 trillion years plus of the unspeakable joy we will have with him throughout eternity. Thank you for encouraging us as we deal with these potential life killers.
Please someone explain this to me. I'm terribly confused and stressed out over this. I thought that the gospel offers salvation from damnation as a free gift in Christ Jesus if only we put our faith in him, trusting that his work on the cross and resurrecting is sufficient to save us. So how am I supposed to understand when it seems that scripture says, like that verse in Matthew 5, that if I continue committing sexual sin, that I'm going to hell even though I put my faith in Jesus Christ already? I don't want to commit sin in my life, but I stumble into the temptation all the time. I always hear Christian teachers adamantly affirming the freeness of God's Gift of Life, but in the same breath saying that life and death are at stake for particular sinful behaviors that remain present in my life. How do we reconcile/harmonize those things? I'm aware that the Spirit produces works and evidences, so I'm not asking about good fruit and bad fruit. I need someone to show me clear as day whether or not I as a saved believing Christian, can go to hell for failing to mortify certain sins, and how if so that lines up with the grace of God. It just doesn't make sense to me.
I get that this seems like a total paradox... but I think there are some passages in the New Testament that help us understand why sin can still kill a believer, and why grace is sufficient to save a believer. My recommendation is that you read the book of James, chapter 2:14-24: he is explaining that faith- that is, saving faith that accesses the atonement is Christ for our sins- is more than a mental agreement with the truth of Christ: it is the willingness to put that mental agreement into positive action. Here’s an example: a famous trapeze artist prepares to carry a man across the trapeze wire in a wheelbarrow. He asks you: ‘do you believe I can safely take a man across the wire in this wheelbarrow?’ You say yes, I believe you can do it. So then he says, ‘how about you get in the wheelbarrow then?’. Faith that saves is more than believing that Jesus died for your sins, it is a willingness to follow him on that account by actively obeying him and resisting sin. The total grace of God ensures that you will be able to do it, because God will be in your life helping you, and his forgiveness will cover you every time you stumble. But we can’t have it both ways. If Jesus is Lord he needs to be OUR Lord, and we need to live as his servants and friends. He is worth the commitment. The other book of the Bible that deals with this is the book of Romans, written by Paul. Read it all, but consider what it says chapter 6 verse 1-4 ‘What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?’ We can’t wish to escape the trap AND live in the trap simultaneously: sin is a trap, and Jesus has busted it open. Forgiveness is not a license to sin, it’s a release from the power sin has over us. The question for each of us is, do we want to be released or not? If we do, then Christ’s blood shed on the cross for us is sufficient to release us. Do we want to be freed from sin? Then we each need to let Jesus who died for our sins be our Lord. That means our King; our boss. He died for us so that we could become his dear friends and enjoy his friendship and his abundant life forever. I think the key to understanding this paradox is that God will never turn away from us: but we still have the power to turn away from him. Sin that we indulge, even while believing, will gradually cause us to turn away from God. That’s why we are taught to be alert; to resist. It’s not that God’s grace is lacking: it will never run out. But we might stop wanting to receive it; we might allow sin to trick us into turning away from God. That’s the danger to guard against by putting our faith into practice. Faith in Christ that is practised is saving faith.
Great clarification by Emma West! Faith works through love, which is expressed in obedience. Some scriptures that connect them: Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. The grace of God is an empowerment to live righteously and godly. Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. If we receive the grace of God and continue to live sinful lives, that's what the Bible calls receiving the grace of God in vain or to no effect (e.g. 2 Corinthians 6:1). PROV-N, with the understanding you now have, you need to examine your foundation of repentance. That's the point where you chose that you will live for God and no longer to please yourself with any sin because that displeases God and makes you an enemy of God when you partner up with it. You need to regard sin as your mortal enemy that you must commit to turn away from and resist when temptation comes. So, out of love, you give to God a heart that is ready to obey Him in all. See also: Salvation From Sin czcams.com/video/ktPRurM2V3k/video.html Peace to you!
Walking in the Spirit of God with His Holy purpose in your life, starves the flesh of its lust to sin,but beware,dont let your guard down,Satan is hiding in the dark plotting a way to dishonor the kingdom through you,quit ye like men,be strong.Make God and His Son Jesus your first love,and you will not submit to the lust of the flesh.Remember ,you no longer represent your self,you are an example to all true believers who are seeking the true fruits of righteousness,that are so rare today. The world is packed full of reprobates,liers, theives, American Idols,witchcrafts,blasphemy, Fornication, over indulging sex depraved,fools,millions and millions of them.Stand above the crowd.be one of the rare breed,anybody can follow their flesh .many are called,few are chosen,embrace your destiny in Christ Jesus,the Son of the living God.And gain all His promises at His coming.
I don't know what God's plan is for my future in regard to marriage, but I believe that God has recently put in my life a woman either to pursue, and/or to show me what type of woman I need to pursue. But first and foremost, today I heard the clear screaming out of the Holy Spirit, "You must be pure; you must be Holy! You must be pure; you must be Holy!" The most convicting thing just happened to me today and I know that God is about to begin to rip this sin of lust out of me with violent force. And I pray that He does just that. Pray for me please. For I have a conviction that Christ is about to do something in me towards sexual purity to change my life forever, even for the purpose of being pure for my future wife.
Faith does not conquer sexual lust. It takes Love. Love for the Lord Jesus Christ and His word. There has to be something to take the place of the lust and that is Christ Himself.
No easy answers Marrieds will have Troubles Of the flesh Singles experience loneliness And frustrations Only eunuchs are free from Passions which maybe that What we should all be!
I recommend this post to you: _"09 - Struggling with Lust? (Message for Men)."_ Please see my video titled _"Be Set Free From Sin."_ You will find the link to the post in the video's description. Peace to you!
I recommend you listen to this messages: _Learning The Fear Of God First_ by Zac Poonen czcams.com/video/66_etcKtcng/video.html The fear of God is wisdom and is the key to wholehearted and faithful obedience to God that leads to overcoming (Revelation 2:7, 1 John 3:6, 1 John 5:18). Peace to you!
But we are forgiven and saved from hell. So how can we use Ephesians 5:33 to motivate us when we have already been saved and our bodies aren't going to be thrown into hell? Does that make sense?
No, that doesn't make sense. Salvation in this life is about freedom from sin (Matthew 1:21, John 8:31-36, Romans 6:7, 18.) So, someone who is set free from sin is no longer living under the power of sin (Romans 6:14), and that person is exhorted to exercise self-control in all things and to "do good" or do God's will by obeying Him, and that is a path that leads to eternal life (Romans 2:4-11). Doing evil (sinning) on the contrary is following a path that leads to death (Romans 6:23, James 1:13-15). Lookup the scriptures to get the picture. When we come to God through repentance and faith in Jesus, we receive forgiveness of our past sins. We get a clean record and are called righteous or saints by God (Matthew 13:43; Ephesians 5:3). So, if we continue rebelliously on the way of sin after coming to Jesus and being set free from sin, we will not have a clean record anymore and all the warnings in the Bible about those who are disobedient to God and live their self-willed sinful way will apply. Unless there is genuine repentance, then the sinner will not inherit eternal life as these scriptures warn (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5-10, Ephesians 5:3-5). Faith implies obedience to God. Peace to you!
If I'm understanding your question correctly, its trust in the other person to accept you, good and bad, and love you; supporting you and helping you with accountability. I came out to my girlfriend of 1 year about my struggles with pornography and masturbation and she was so loving and understanding it still brings tears to my eyes. She studies the bible with me now and is my accountability partner. Flee from temptation and study and read the bible. Good luck friend
None of this advice works not for me anyway and I can't ever understand why God doesn't deliver people like me who have cried out day and nite to be delivered all I get is how bad it is and how sever the punishment is ..if that's how God really is that's scary that he will torture people who don't FIGURE out THEMSELVES how to get free from it while he won't lift a finger despite their desperate plea for help ...horrific is too light of a word
Please see the videos in my playlist called _"Be Set Free From Sin"_ for help. God's grace will help you overcome sin and live a new life that is pleasing to Him (Titus 2:11-14). But it starts with repentance first, in the way that the Bible teaches it. Take some time to understand well the way you need to approach God. Your obedience to God is the key to your deliverance from any sin that you are bound in. Peace to you!
@@CEOofSleep I think the very wish to be with God and live before him is a good sign that you have a desire to be with him and to share your life with him. Remember that we have access to God through Jesus. Talk to him with a humble heart and tell him that you can't live the life he wants you to live without him. Remember John 15, 5-8: "“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." Throw your concerns on Jesus. He is the one who satisfies, gives you the strength to live obedient for him and who will give you peace and joy.
@@2ndPigeon yes he tells us in his word. Read the word and you understand what is wrong and what isn't. I have been falling with lust and I'm a believer! I can't allow that to happen, because if we continue in that sin then I don't truly love Jesus. Jesus has already given us the power to overcome. And that's through him in his word
johnny sanchez keep trying brother. Be encouraged. The Lord loves you. When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. Christ will prevail in the last and in your life.
Great application of the bible however it seems you’re suggesting th gouging of the eye isn’t metaphorical and that those who have sex (even in marriage) do not inherit the greater good of those who are celibate because they were in a relationship and thus more opportune to sexual sin?
dajosova I think I could grasp what he was saying for the person that takes things literally there was no mention of it being metaphorical and thus would suggest that Jesus acutely wants us to dismember our selves
We pluck out the eye and cut off the hand that cause sin "through the Spirit" (Romans 8:12-13), if we have it (Romans 8:9). So, this all assumes a saved person who has the Holy Spirit. This is not something that someone who is not saved can do.
@@yestothetruth I dont know where to start here. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe the Lord Jesus is God. I believe that the Lord Jesus died for ALL sins not just some. I believe the Lord Jesus rose again on the third day after being hung on the cross. I have asked the Lord Jesus (MANY MANY) times to please forgive me. I know I am a sinner and I know I cannot do this without you. When I was around 14 or 15 I asked Christ to be my savior. I felt pulled or called to do so. I did. After that there was a little change sure but I was still already addicted to porn, cyber sex, and phone sex. I was also still listening to the likes of Korn and Rob Zombie and watching scary movies. God was not first in my life. I just thought you asked Jesus to be your savior and that was that. The next 20 year of my life after was complete SIN!! I mean the worst kind of sin. Sex and sex and sex with any girl that would sleep with me. Prostitution through massage parlors even one off craigslist. I wanted to be in a rock band so I did everything I could to immulate a rock-star kind of life. Wicca and even wondering if rockstars gave their very souls to satan and if so if it was worth it. I sang songs with lyrics like: (God is dead and no one cares. Bow down before the one you serve your going to get what you deserve. Flat foot on the devils wing. I am the superbeast. God paged me) I mean it goes on and on and on. I would make fun of God and Jesus and even deny him at times. The odd part is during this whole time I would keep feeling a slight pull to go back to church. That maybe going to "church" would help make things better. I would go and then fall away again. I even got fully submersed baptized, because I had never been, and wanted to know what it was like and wondered if it would somehow make me closer to God. Yet I went home and had sex with my girlfriend who is now my wife. I cheated on my wife numerous times over our marriage committing literal adultery. There is more in between all of this but the fact that I would use people, lie, drink, gamble, smoke weed, smoke ciggeretts. I mean there was not much I did not do outside of killing someone physically. We started going back to church regularly in 2016. We were both Sunday Christians. In 2017 we moved from Indiana to Florida. We very much wanted to continue in church so we found a church home down here. In 2018 on a good friday I nailed a piece of paper to a cross that said sexual addiction. I asked Jesus numerous times at this point to come back to be my savior. (Too many different theologies on once saved always saved I dont know its too confusing for a guy like me). Anyway even after I nailed that paper to the cross I went on doing what I always do. Porn and massage parlors. It was not until later on that spring I thought the world was going to end. I ended our date (my wife and I) we went home I went into the bathroom and cried out to God I am so sorry. I know I have been living like garbage. I dont want to go to hell. Please forgive me. It was a full blown panic attack. Things calmed down and I went back to porn. Yet every sunday in church I would sob and sob at the alter. Feeling like eventually I was going to have to tell my wife if I wanted to be a real Christian. About two months later July 1 of 2018 I had another panic attack over the same issue. Once again I begged to be forgiven. About a week later I decided I had to tell my wife I was unfaithful. Over the course of the next month I would divulge just about everything to her sparing some of the details and the who. After doing this I stopped porn for almost 90 days. Massage parlors were a big no. Then I read a piece of scripture that made me feel condemed. I kept reading when I would read the word that I was "the wicked man" who was going to hell. That is all I could get out of the word. Finally, I gave in and said, if I am never going to be saved why try. I watched porn. I immediatley turned it off and fell to my knees sobbing for hours. The problem is every since that time I have not gone longer than two weeks without it. Most of the time it is 3 days or one week. The truth is I have to ask myself. How much do I want the porn to be gone? I ask God each time as I sob with my face on the floor to take it from me I hate doing this. Its almost like each time I go into a trance. I dont know I dont understand it. I want to be rid of it but only I think because I know it leads to death and hell. This makes me feel like I am not saved nearly every day. I am tired, I am drained, I am worn out. I have asked repeatedly to be forgiven and saved. I tell my wife each time I fall. It cuts her like a knife I know. She after all has given up all porn and turned to try to live for God. I feel unsaveable at this point. I know Paul says many times IF we have the spirit. How do I know with all the above? Since I keep seeming to go a week or so with no porn then fall back again or give in? Yet I hear a message like this and I am encouraged? So how do I know IF I have the spirit in me? It seems like some Christians are almost proud to say they have the spirit while others dont. Almost hording it for themselves and not willing to share it.
@@rothman1919 I sent a reply to you yesterday on another video. I just realized we had this exchange here a couple of months ago but my reply here did not go through. The reply I just made on the other video is sufficient. But I'll repost the one I had made here for reference as I had taken a slightly different approach. In any case I hope to hear back from you. *Earlier reply:* I believe the full benefit of the Good News is available to you. What you need is to come to the knowledge of the truth, which is Jesus Himself who saves. I will help how I can. I am glad this message encouraged you to know there is another way than what has been your experience, but when I hear it I see that the assumption is made that the hearers (the people that this message is intended for) have the power of God with them to live lives of victory over sexual immorality. The case where they don't have that power to begin with is not addressed. I have highlighted two things you have said here that are encouraging to me concerning you: "The truth is I have to ask myself. How much do I want the porn to be gone?" "I am tired, I am drained, I am worn out." First, you have to understand God's call to repentance. That's a call to turn away from evil (what is contrary to God's will). That's square one for a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit that He gives to those who do repent (Acts 2:38; Acts 5:30-32). I believe God who knows a person's heart is looking for 100% agreement with Him to call evil what is evil and call good what is good. So, He warns like this: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20). So, let's say we're just addressing porn. You must understand that you are in a state where you are (still) saying that porn is "good", "light" and "sweet". You cannot be delivered from a porn addiction if you don't hate it just like God hates it. That means 99.9% hatred for porn won't cut it. God knows when you are in 100% agreement with Him to see some wickedness gone forever from your life. So, your answer to the question "How much do I want the porn to be gone?" is critical in what you will experience with God. I'm considering porn but you must have the same attitude about any sin. When you hear the Good News of salvation in Jesus (freedom from bondage to sin), you need to regard it as a good news to you indeed. If you love some sin, some "wicked" way, then you have not answered God's call to repentance. I understand your experience and see that you have had encounters with churches but I don't believe you have encountered Jesus, hence your lacking the Holy Spirit. Read Galatians 5:19-23 and you will see a clear contrast between what you may find in the life of someone who is not being led by the Holy Spirit and someone who is. Based on what you have shared here, having the fruit of the Spirit has not been the story of your life following your asking Christ to be your Savior, but it can be and I pray you are not far from a new life in Jesus Christ. Now I want to capitalize on my second highlight from your message: "I am tired, I am drained, I am worn out." I want to share Jesus' words with you immediately: Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. You see? I think it's a match. You are who Jesus is calling to Him. And there is a big difference between hearing "Come to Me" (Jesus) and hearing "Go to church" (Christian tradition). That's critical, especially if the church is not a vehicle for you to hear that "Come to Me" from Jesus and understand it with all that comes with it. Sadly, your experience with encountering churches is far from unique. And the Bible warns about false teachers and false ministers of Christ (1 John 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). But stay focused. The truth is what you should be seeking and what you need is to hear Jesus and have a humble heart ready to follow Him (obey Him/do what He says). John 6:63 (Jesus' words) It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life. John 8:31-32 (Jesus' words) 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you remain in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.*” *Free from sin, see verses 34-36 in John 8. The Good News of salvation is freedom from sin. Not just freedom from sinful behaviors, but freedom that comes from purity of heart to live by love (Matthew 5:8, Mark 12:29-31, 1 Timothy 1:5, Psalm 24:3-4). Compare to Mark 7:21-23. And a person who is so saved is removed from under the power of the devil (Acts 26:18, 2 Timothy 2:26) and from the path that leads to death to be put on the path that leads to eternal life (Romans 6:23, Matthew 7:13-14). John 14:21 (Jesus' words) He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. You can only approach God the way He has said you can approach Him and it's through repentance and faith in Jesus: Acts 20:20-21 20 [You know] how I did not hold back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. That's the solid rock you want to begin building on (Luke 6:48). God is ready to forgive your sins as soon as you approach Him in humility and with a repentant heart, like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24). James 4:6-10 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. When you take these words at heart and put the instructions into practice, you answer the call to repentance, which opens the door to forgiveness of your past sins and reconciliation with God. He gives you a new life in Him as a new creation walking on a new way of righteousness (2 Peter 2:21, Romans 6:4, 16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:17-24). He takes you out of the way of sin - that’s what you get saved from. See also: Repentance According to the Bible yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2019/03/call-to-repentance.html
So, Ive been a Christian since I was 14, I’m almost 30, and this is basically saying I’m going to hell because I had sex with my wife before we were married? Because I was addicted to porn for almost 18 years? This is basically saying that, if I was a true Christian, I wouldn’t have had sex with my wife before marriage? That I wouldn’t have been exposed to porn when i was JUST an 11 year old BOY?? That I wouldn’t have been raped by a 14 year old boy? So it’s too late for me? If I had real saving faith then I would have defeated the sin before it even happened? I’m not saying this revelation will cause me to give up on God, or stop trying to follow Jesus, but I will say it’s one heck of a blow causing some serious doubt. Thank you for that.
"The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible." -- D. L. Moody
Amen
LORD!
Which bible though?
@@2ndPigeon THE BIBLE!!!! EVERY LANGUAGE EVERY TRANSLATION
@@moments8562 The Jahova's Witness one then? They say it's the only true one.
When you get the porn thoughts in your mind or see a dirty image on your phone, laptop, magazine, etc., you have a very brief moment to either give in and conceive sin, or to resist and pass the tests of temptation. The Holy Spirit always provides a way of escape. One thing that works for me is when I initially get tempted by a lustful thought or pornographic image of a woman, I say in my head again and again and again, "I fear God." There's real power in that sentence when you say it. Sometimes when I feel I am about to give in to the temptation and start masturbating and giving into the flesh I audibly say "JESUS help me now Lord!" and it works 100% of the time, satan flees from me, I regain control over my sinful nature (the old man) and I get out of the room or get off the couch and leave the house or situation where the temptation took place. I pray that the Holy Spirit continues to glorify Christ in my life and to keep me from giving in to sexual immorality and to forgive me for playing with the fire. Pornography is by far my biggest weakness and I am very susceptible to it. But God is faithful and I have never experienced such raw power and self-control in my life before Jesus saved me and gave me His Holy Spirit. The temptation will attack you until the day you lay your head down in death or until Jesus returns, but God promises an escape, don't listen to the enemy, don't even listen to your own deceitful heart, give up and surrender your sexuality to Christ and he will deliver you when you reach out to Him. READ THE BIBLE. Resisting and passing a temptation trial is one of the sweetest and most satisfying and peaceful experiences, knowing God has His hand on you and is with you, empowering you. Let's stop messing around brothers and sisters, give it up to God, surrender and obey God as the Holy Spirit prompts us. I love you guys. In Jesus' name.
Extremely powerful, thank you for this
Spot on!
The perfect wisdom of James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Thank you so much for sharing!
Man, I almost fall into sexual sin and this video appears on my widget. Nope, i don't want to fall anymore. I want Jesus. I believe and trust Him as the only savior of me, and i believe i can get out of this sexual sin with Word of God.
In Jesus name. Amen
Literally the same thing happened to me. Amazing how the Holy Spirit works.
I was doing good and then I fell. Please pray for me
Yes we can. Our Heavenly Father will do it because He loves us and He hates what sin does to us spiritually because it separates us from Him. I believe because when we seek Him and trust Him and hate our flesh He will strengthen us in the daily fight with sin. Praying for you! Matthew 19:26 gave me some major encouragement a few days ago; still going off it today.
@@amandal.1422 I'm going to add you to my prayer list. Don't give up, even if you fall again, keep walking towards Jesus.
Right on, John! A great exhortation from a great exhorter, John Piper. Lust. This one's the big one. I'm one year older than you John, and I have come to realize that lust has been the great underminer and saboteur of my faith walk with Christ all my life...or tried to be. Of the seven deadly sins, lust has been the deadliest for me. I'm spending the remaining years of my life actively killing this one, as you put it, with faith in Christ and being accountable to many others like myself in my support group. Thank you for this study on this subject, John. I got so much out of what you said, calling sexual pleasures fleeting. I like that you pointed out what a lie these illicit pleasure are compared to the joy that comes with following Jesus and the 80 trillion years plus of the unspeakable joy we will have with him throughout eternity. Thank you for encouraging us as we deal with these potential life killers.
This sin, this evil deceitful sin has caused me to stumble so many times for so long, I need faith and to trust Christ with all my heart, Father in heaven help me to believe your promises and to be satisfied in you, I pray that the root of unbelief and lust be uprooted from me in Christ name amen.
I'm praying for you
Amen
Amen thank you Jesus Christ
Amen! This is my biggest struggle. And I fail so often. This was good teaching. I'm going to do my best to incorporate this teaching into my life--that I should not continue to sin.
Just chop it off. End of problem.
Amen! The pleasures of knowing God and going to Heaven forever are infinitely better than the passing pleasures of sin.
I think it was John Owen who said:
1. Mortify Sin (kill sin)
2. Vivify Faith (make faith Alive)
3. Make Christ your Supreme Treasure
Also, I think it was Owen who said "Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you"
Lust had tormented me for as long as I can remember. It recently has caused me to lose nearly everything that brought my life purpose. Be careful out there everyone, because if you are one of Gods children he won’t let you fall too far into your sin without causing a tremendous amount of pain so that you will come back to him. I look at everything that happened and as painful as this moment is, I’m glad to know he loves me enough to pull me back. Hopefully I’ll finally learn my lesson through this.
The power God gives us through His Word is UNDERRATED!
That was a perfect presentation, and comprehensive teaching on Gods word regarding lust. Thanks for sharing. 🙏📖
Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love, and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.
Isaiah 57:8
That’s a Word right there🙌🏽🙌🏽
Thank God, this have really fresh and opened my mind.
pray for my unbelief. I was doing well, and now past month been failing alot and just tired and wanting to see and serve God. I am helpless on my own, and just need the spirit to discipline me into obedience and want only Jesus . Lord please make your desires my desires and please let my aim be only on you
Please see the videos in my playlist called _"Be Set Free From Sin"_ for help if you need.
Peace to you!
May you live a long life in the name of our Lord God to preach more of the Truth this generation needs.Your wisdom truly blessed and enlightened me. Thank you for delivering His Words very well . May He prosper you because of your deeds especially to Millenials as I am one of those who live in a deceitful world yet striving to seek His wisdom.Thank you pastor John🌷🙏
Thank you so much for this series! It has blessed me so much! I was needed of more understanding to fight against unbelief and it also helped me to understand how I can be more satisfied in God! May He keep on blessing this Desiring God ministry!
i love you with the Love of Christ Pastor John Piper... i hope you get to read this... please pray for me for more strength to keep avoiding sin especially sexual sins... love from the Philippines.
Ron Barrameda, please see the videos in my playlist called _"Be Set Free From Sin"_ for help.
Peace to you!
Most selfless and sacrificial Pastor I know. Hands down!!! Thank you Pastor John
I really needed this, thank you
Please see the videos in my playlist called _"Be Set Free From Sin"_ for help if you need.
Peace to you!
Wow... this is powerful and so practical! Praise God!
Sometimes we keep looking for our own belief and understanding
Maybe it's a gift from God for his purpose 💛
Right on, John! A great exhortation from a great exhorter, John Piper. Lust. This one's the big one. I'm one year older than you John, and I have come to realize that lust has been the great underminer and saboteur of my faith walk with Christ all my life...or tried to be. Of the seven deadly sins, lust has been the deadliest for me. I'm spending the remaining years of my life actively killing this one, as you put it, with faith in Christ and being accountable to many others like myself in my support group. Thank you for this study on this subject, John. I got so much out of what you said, calling sexual pleasures fleeting. I like that you pointed out what a lie these illicit pleasure are compared to the joy that comes with following Jesus and the 80 trillion years plus of the unspeakable joy we will have with him throughout eternity. Thank you for encouraging us as we deal with these potential life killers.
God help me trust and to believe that you honor those who earnestly seek you with their whole heart!! Help me to see that your love is better
Have you gotten closer to God since this comment?
BLESS YOU for your words of Wisdom only straight from Our Lord Christ! Blessed are us who put our lives in Our Jesus Christ!!
God of the highest, be there for who lust and sin too much, in Jesus Christ his name and Jesus Christ his blood: Amen!
Such truth🙏Such exposition 🙏🙏Such faith🙏🙏🙏
Thank you Pastor 🙏🏿
Please someone explain this to me. I'm terribly confused and stressed out over this. I thought that the gospel offers salvation from damnation as a free gift in Christ Jesus if only we put our faith in him, trusting that his work on the cross and resurrecting is sufficient to save us. So how am I supposed to understand when it seems that scripture says, like that verse in Matthew 5, that if I continue committing sexual sin, that I'm going to hell even though I put my faith in Jesus Christ already? I don't want to commit sin in my life, but I stumble into the temptation all the time. I always hear Christian teachers adamantly affirming the freeness of God's Gift of Life, but in the same breath saying that life and death are at stake for particular sinful behaviors that remain present in my life. How do we reconcile/harmonize those things? I'm aware that the Spirit produces works and evidences, so I'm not asking about good fruit and bad fruit. I need someone to show me clear as day whether or not I as a saved believing Christian, can go to hell for failing to mortify certain sins, and how if so that lines up with the grace of God. It just doesn't make sense to me.
I get that this seems like a total paradox... but I think there are some passages in the New Testament that help us understand why sin can still kill a believer, and why grace is sufficient to save a believer. My recommendation is that you read the book of James, chapter 2:14-24: he is explaining that faith- that is, saving faith that accesses the atonement is Christ for our sins- is more than a mental agreement with the truth of Christ: it is the willingness to put that mental agreement into positive action.
Here’s an example: a famous trapeze artist prepares to carry a man across the trapeze wire in a wheelbarrow. He asks you: ‘do you believe I can safely take a man across the wire in this wheelbarrow?’ You say yes, I believe you can do it. So then he says, ‘how about you get in the wheelbarrow then?’.
Faith that saves is more than believing that Jesus died for your sins, it is a willingness to follow him on that account by actively obeying him and resisting sin. The total grace of God ensures that you will be able to do it, because God will be in your life helping you, and his forgiveness will cover you every time you stumble. But we can’t have it both ways. If Jesus is Lord he needs to be OUR Lord, and we need to live as his servants and friends. He is worth the commitment.
The other book of the Bible that deals with this is the book of Romans, written by Paul. Read it all, but consider what it says chapter 6 verse 1-4
‘What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?’
We can’t wish to escape the trap AND live in the trap simultaneously: sin is a trap, and Jesus has busted it open. Forgiveness is not a license to sin, it’s a release from the power sin has over us. The question for each of us is, do we want to be released or not? If we do, then Christ’s blood shed on the cross for us is sufficient to release us. Do we want to be freed from sin? Then we each need to let Jesus who died for our sins be our Lord. That means our King; our boss. He died for us so that we could become his dear friends and enjoy his friendship and his abundant life forever.
I think the key to understanding this paradox is that God will never turn away from us: but we still have the power to turn away from him. Sin that we indulge, even while believing, will gradually cause us to turn away from God. That’s why we are taught to be alert; to resist. It’s not that God’s grace is lacking: it will never run out. But we might stop wanting to receive it; we might allow sin to trick us into turning away from God. That’s the danger to guard against by putting our faith into practice. Faith in Christ that is practised is saving faith.
Great clarification by Emma West!
Faith works through love, which is expressed in obedience.
Some scriptures that connect them:
Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commandments.
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
The grace of God is an empowerment to live righteously and godly.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
If we receive the grace of God and continue to live sinful lives, that's what the Bible calls receiving the grace of God in vain or to no effect (e.g. 2 Corinthians 6:1).
PROV-N, with the understanding you now have, you need to examine your foundation of repentance. That's the point where you chose that you will live for God and no longer to please yourself with any sin because that displeases God and makes you an enemy of God when you partner up with it. You need to regard sin as your mortal enemy that you must commit to turn away from and resist when temptation comes. So, out of love, you give to God a heart that is ready to obey Him in all.
See also:
Salvation From Sin
czcams.com/video/ktPRurM2V3k/video.html
Peace to you!
Amen. This is a very profound approach to this matter. It makes perfect sense! Thank you!
Shalom Amen
🙏😇☔🕊️🕯️✝️🛐
We can lust after a lot more than sexual behaviors.......
Thank you Bro. Piper for your sharing of this series! It has ministered to me.
AMEN EL SHADDAI
Thank you !
Priceless
Wow, I wish I had heard this before my biggest regret happened in November 2nd, 2018.
How you doing Cory ?
A great teaching! Thank you!
Walking in the Spirit of God with His Holy purpose in your life, starves the flesh of its lust to sin,but beware,dont let your guard down,Satan is hiding in the dark plotting a way to dishonor the kingdom through you,quit ye like men,be strong.Make God and His Son Jesus your first love,and you will not submit to the lust of the flesh.Remember ,you no longer represent your self,you are an example to all true believers who are seeking the true fruits of righteousness,that are so rare today. The world is packed full of reprobates,liers, theives, American Idols,witchcrafts,blasphemy, Fornication, over indulging sex depraved,fools,millions and millions of them.Stand above the crowd.be one of the rare breed,anybody can follow their flesh .many are called,few are chosen,embrace your destiny in Christ Jesus,the Son of the living God.And gain all His promises at His coming.
Thanks Mr Piper...
I don't know what God's plan is for my future in regard to marriage, but I believe that God has recently put in my life a woman either to pursue, and/or to show me what type of woman I need to pursue.
But first and foremost, today I heard the clear screaming out of the Holy Spirit, "You must be pure; you must be Holy! You must be pure; you must be Holy!"
The most convicting thing just happened to me today and I know that God is about to begin to rip this sin of lust out of me with violent force. And I pray that He does just that.
Pray for me please. For I have a conviction that Christ is about to do something in me towards sexual purity to change my life forever, even for the purpose of being pure for my future wife.
This is a tremendous teaching!!
Celebacy is Good, as is chastity.
Yes
Faith does not conquer sexual lust. It takes Love. Love for the Lord Jesus Christ and His word. There has to be something to take the place of the lust and that is Christ Himself.
Hard hitting truth,amen.
No easy answers
Marrieds will have Troubles
Of the flesh
Singles experience loneliness
And frustrations
Only eunuchs are free from
Passions which maybe that
What we should all be!
This is a beautiful message
Thank you for that ictech
Romans 10:17
💛
Please pray for me as I fall into lust. I thought like giving up to fight against it.
I recommend this post to you: _"09 - Struggling with Lust? (Message for Men)."_ Please see my video titled _"Be Set Free From Sin."_ You will find the link to the post in the video's description.
Peace to you!
Line upon line, precept upon precept! Lord please cause the increase!
I recommend you listen to this messages:
_Learning The Fear Of God First_ by Zac Poonen
czcams.com/video/66_etcKtcng/video.html
The fear of God is wisdom and is the key to wholehearted and faithful obedience to God that leads to overcoming (Revelation 2:7, 1 John 3:6, 1 John 5:18).
Peace to you!
@@yestothetruth Thank you! God bless!
@@derekchildress5 You're welcome. Thank you.
But we are forgiven and saved from hell. So how can we use Ephesians 5:33 to motivate us when we have already been saved and our bodies aren't going to be thrown into hell? Does that make sense?
No, that doesn't make sense. Salvation in this life is about freedom from sin (Matthew 1:21, John 8:31-36, Romans 6:7, 18.) So, someone who is set free from sin is no longer living under the power of sin (Romans 6:14), and that person is exhorted to exercise self-control in all things and to "do good" or do God's will by obeying Him, and that is a path that leads to eternal life (Romans 2:4-11). Doing evil (sinning) on the contrary is following a path that leads to death (Romans 6:23, James 1:13-15). Lookup the scriptures to get the picture. When we come to God through repentance and faith in Jesus, we receive forgiveness of our past sins. We get a clean record and are called righteous or saints by God (Matthew 13:43; Ephesians 5:3). So, if we continue rebelliously on the way of sin after coming to Jesus and being set free from sin, we will not have a clean record anymore and all the warnings in the Bible about those who are disobedient to God and live their self-willed sinful way will apply. Unless there is genuine repentance, then the sinner will not inherit eternal life as these scriptures warn (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5-10, Ephesians 5:3-5). Faith implies obedience to God.
Peace to you!
Thanks, Pastor John! Would love to learn more about how to hold a healthy conversation about lust in a marriage/relationship. Thanks!
If I'm understanding your question correctly, its trust in the other person to accept you, good and bad, and love you; supporting you and helping you with accountability.
I came out to my girlfriend of 1 year about my struggles with pornography and masturbation and she was so loving and understanding it still brings tears to my eyes. She studies the bible with me now and is my accountability partner. Flee from temptation and study and read the bible. Good luck friend
This is REALLY GOOD. Can I reupload this on my channel?
Amen
Aleluia!
This is highly effective and is considered an obligation John Piper - God is most glorified in us o yea you know the rest ☺️
Ohh thank you God for this understanding Matthew 5:8 really explain why atheists can’t find God because they’re aren’t pure in the heart
Or because he doesn't exist and you're just fooling yourself.
Romans 8: 13
None of this advice works not for me anyway and I can't ever understand why God doesn't deliver people like me who have cried out day and nite to be delivered all I get is how bad it is and how sever the punishment is ..if that's how God really is that's scary that he will torture people who don't FIGURE out THEMSELVES how to get free from it while he won't lift a finger despite their desperate plea for help ...horrific is too light of a word
Please see the videos in my playlist called _"Be Set Free From Sin"_ for help. God's grace will help you overcome sin and live a new life that is pleasing to Him (Titus 2:11-14). But it starts with repentance first, in the way that the Bible teaches it.
Take some time to understand well the way you need to approach God. Your obedience to God is the key to your deliverance from any sin that you are bound in.
Peace to you!
How do I know if I'm being Esau ? I'm scared
Do you feel the need that there is something to be discussed between you and God? Do you have the need to confess something to him?
@@germaan1 I have but I often stumble back to the same lifestyle... What if I'm not part of the elect?
@@CEOofSleep I think the very wish to be with God and live before him is a good sign that you have a desire to be with him and to share your life with him. Remember that we have access to God through Jesus. Talk to him with a humble heart and tell him that you can't live the life he wants you to live without him. Remember John 15, 5-8: "“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
Throw your concerns on Jesus. He is the one who satisfies, gives you the strength to live obedient for him and who will give you peace and joy.
@@CEOofSleep If god has a problem with you or what you do, he would tell you. If not, then just keep doing what you're doing :)
@@2ndPigeon yes he tells us in his word. Read the word and you understand what is wrong and what isn't. I have been falling with lust and I'm a believer! I can't allow that to happen, because if we continue in that sin then I don't truly love Jesus. Jesus has already given us the power to overcome. And that's through him in his word
Tired of Failing ..😞
johnny sanchez keep trying brother. Be encouraged. The Lord loves you. When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. Christ will prevail in the last and in your life.
Why are you placing it on YOU to succeed? Depend on Christ alone to overcome.
Great application of the bible however it seems you’re suggesting th gouging of the eye isn’t metaphorical and that those who have sex (even in marriage) do not inherit the greater good of those who are celibate because they were in a relationship and thus more opportune to sexual sin?
I think you misunderstood it that way!
dajosova I think I could grasp what he was saying for the person that takes things literally there was no mention of it being metaphorical and thus would suggest that Jesus acutely wants us to dismember our selves
We pluck out the eye and cut off the hand that cause sin "through the Spirit" (Romans 8:12-13), if we have it (Romans 8:9). So, this all assumes a saved person who has the Holy Spirit. This is not something that someone who is not saved can do.
@@yestothetruth I dont know where to start here. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe the Lord Jesus is God. I believe that the Lord Jesus died for ALL sins not just some. I believe the Lord Jesus rose again on the third day after being hung on the cross. I have asked the Lord Jesus (MANY MANY) times to please forgive me. I know I am a sinner and I know I cannot do this without you.
When I was around 14 or 15 I asked Christ to be my savior. I felt pulled or called to do so. I did. After that there was a little change sure but I was still already addicted to porn, cyber sex, and phone sex. I was also still listening to the likes of Korn and Rob Zombie and watching scary movies. God was not first in my life. I just thought you asked Jesus to be your savior and that was that. The next 20 year of my life after was complete SIN!! I mean the worst kind of sin. Sex and sex and sex with any girl that would sleep with me. Prostitution through massage parlors even one off craigslist. I wanted to be in a rock band so I did everything I could to immulate a rock-star kind of life. Wicca and even wondering if rockstars gave their very souls to satan and if so if it was worth it. I sang songs with lyrics like: (God is dead and no one cares. Bow down before the one you serve your going to get what you deserve. Flat foot on the devils wing. I am the superbeast. God paged me) I mean it goes on and on and on. I would make fun of God and Jesus and even deny him at times.
The odd part is during this whole time I would keep feeling a slight pull to go back to church. That maybe going to "church" would help make things better. I would go and then fall away again. I even got fully submersed baptized, because I had never been, and wanted to know what it was like and wondered if it would somehow make me closer to God. Yet I went home and had sex with my girlfriend who is now my wife.
I cheated on my wife numerous times over our marriage committing literal adultery. There is more in between all of this but the fact that I would use people, lie, drink, gamble, smoke weed, smoke ciggeretts. I mean there was not much I did not do outside of killing someone physically.
We started going back to church regularly in 2016. We were both Sunday Christians. In 2017 we moved from Indiana to Florida. We very much wanted to continue in church so we found a church home down here. In 2018 on a good friday I nailed a piece of paper to a cross that said sexual addiction. I asked Jesus numerous times at this point to come back to be my savior. (Too many different theologies on once saved always saved I dont know its too confusing for a guy like me). Anyway even after I nailed that paper to the cross I went on doing what I always do. Porn and massage parlors. It was not until later on that spring I thought the world was going to end. I ended our date (my wife and I) we went home I went into the bathroom and cried out to God I am so sorry. I know I have been living like garbage. I dont want to go to hell. Please forgive me. It was a full blown panic attack.
Things calmed down and I went back to porn. Yet every sunday in church I would sob and sob at the alter. Feeling like eventually I was going to have to tell my wife if I wanted to be a real Christian. About two months later July 1 of 2018 I had another panic attack over the same issue. Once again I begged to be forgiven. About a week later I decided I had to tell my wife I was unfaithful. Over the course of the next month I would divulge just about everything to her sparing some of the details and the who. After doing this I stopped porn for almost 90 days. Massage parlors were a big no.
Then I read a piece of scripture that made me feel condemed. I kept reading when I would read the word that I was "the wicked man" who was going to hell. That is all I could get out of the word. Finally, I gave in and said, if I am never going to be saved why try. I watched porn. I immediatley turned it off and fell to my knees sobbing for hours. The problem is every since that time I have not gone longer than two weeks without it. Most of the time it is 3 days or one week.
The truth is I have to ask myself. How much do I want the porn to be gone? I ask God each time as I sob with my face on the floor to take it from me I hate doing this. Its almost like each time I go into a trance. I dont know I dont understand it. I want to be rid of it but only I think because I know it leads to death and hell. This makes me feel like I am not saved nearly every day. I am tired, I am drained, I am worn out. I have asked repeatedly to be forgiven and saved. I tell my wife each time I fall. It cuts her like a knife I know. She after all has given up all porn and turned to try to live for God.
I feel unsaveable at this point. I know Paul says many times IF we have the spirit. How do I know with all the above? Since I keep seeming to go a week or so with no porn then fall back again or give in? Yet I hear a message like this and I am encouraged? So how do I know IF I have the spirit in me? It seems like some Christians are almost proud to say they have the spirit while others dont. Almost hording it for themselves and not willing to share it.
@@rothman1919 I sent a reply to you yesterday on another video. I just realized we had this exchange here a couple of months ago but my reply here did not go through. The reply I just made on the other video is sufficient. But I'll repost the one I had made here for reference as I had taken a slightly different approach. In any case I hope to hear back from you.
*Earlier reply:*
I believe the full benefit of the Good News is available to you. What you need is to come to the knowledge of the truth, which is Jesus Himself who saves. I will help how I can.
I am glad this message encouraged you to know there is another way than what has been your experience, but when I hear it I see that the assumption is made that the hearers (the people that this message is intended for) have the power of God with them to live lives of victory over sexual immorality. The case where they don't have that power to begin with is not addressed.
I have highlighted two things you have said here that are encouraging to me concerning you:
"The truth is I have to ask myself. How much do I want the porn to be gone?"
"I am tired, I am drained, I am worn out."
First, you have to understand God's call to repentance. That's a call to turn away from evil (what is contrary to God's will). That's square one for a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit that He gives to those who do repent (Acts 2:38; Acts 5:30-32). I believe God who knows a person's heart is looking for 100% agreement with Him to call evil what is evil and call good what is good. So, He warns like this: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).
So, let's say we're just addressing porn. You must understand that you are in a state where you are (still) saying that porn is "good", "light" and "sweet". You cannot be delivered from a porn addiction if you don't hate it just like God hates it. That means 99.9% hatred for porn won't cut it. God knows when you are in 100% agreement with Him to see some wickedness gone forever from your life. So, your answer to the question "How much do I want the porn to be gone?" is critical in what you will experience with God. I'm considering porn but you must have the same attitude about any sin. When you hear the Good News of salvation in Jesus (freedom from bondage to sin), you need to regard it as a good news to you indeed. If you love some sin, some "wicked" way, then you have not answered God's call to repentance.
I understand your experience and see that you have had encounters with churches but I don't believe you have encountered Jesus, hence your lacking the Holy Spirit. Read Galatians 5:19-23 and you will see a clear contrast between what you may find in the life of someone who is not being led by the Holy Spirit and someone who is. Based on what you have shared here, having the fruit of the Spirit has not been the story of your life following your asking Christ to be your Savior, but it can be and I pray you are not far from a new life in Jesus Christ.
Now I want to capitalize on my second highlight from your message: "I am tired, I am drained, I am worn out." I want to share Jesus' words with you immediately:
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
You see? I think it's a match. You are who Jesus is calling to Him. And there is a big difference between hearing "Come to Me" (Jesus) and hearing "Go to church" (Christian tradition). That's critical, especially if the church is not a vehicle for you to hear that "Come to Me" from Jesus and understand it with all that comes with it. Sadly, your experience with encountering churches is far from unique. And the Bible warns about false teachers and false ministers of Christ (1 John 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). But stay focused. The truth is what you should be seeking and what you need is to hear Jesus and have a humble heart ready to follow Him (obey Him/do what He says).
John 6:63 (Jesus' words)
It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
John 8:31-32 (Jesus' words)
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you remain in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.*”
*Free from sin, see verses 34-36 in John 8. The Good News of salvation is freedom from sin. Not just freedom from sinful behaviors, but freedom that comes from purity of heart to live by love (Matthew 5:8, Mark 12:29-31, 1 Timothy 1:5, Psalm 24:3-4). Compare to Mark 7:21-23. And a person who is so saved is removed from under the power of the devil (Acts 26:18, 2 Timothy 2:26) and from the path that leads to death to be put on the path that leads to eternal life (Romans 6:23, Matthew 7:13-14).
John 14:21 (Jesus' words)
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.
You can only approach God the way He has said you can approach Him and it's through repentance and faith in Jesus:
Acts 20:20-21
20 [You know] how I did not hold back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
That's the solid rock you want to begin building on (Luke 6:48).
God is ready to forgive your sins as soon as you approach Him in humility and with a repentant heart, like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24).
James 4:6-10
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.
When you take these words at heart and put the instructions into practice, you answer the call to repentance, which opens the door to forgiveness of your past sins and reconciliation with God. He gives you a new life in Him as a new creation walking on a new way of righteousness (2 Peter 2:21, Romans 6:4, 16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:17-24). He takes you out of the way of sin - that’s what you get saved from.
See also:
Repentance According to the Bible
yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2019/03/call-to-repentance.html
So, Ive been a Christian since I was 14, I’m almost 30, and this is basically saying I’m going to hell because I had sex with my wife before we were married? Because I was addicted to porn for almost 18 years?
This is basically saying that, if I was a true Christian, I wouldn’t have had sex with my wife before marriage? That I wouldn’t have been exposed to porn when i was JUST an 11 year old BOY?? That I wouldn’t have been raped by a 14 year old boy?
So it’s too late for me? If I had real saving faith then I would have defeated the sin before it even happened?
I’m not saying this revelation will cause me to give up on God, or stop trying to follow Jesus, but I will say it’s one heck of a blow causing some serious doubt. Thank you for that.
go and witness yur bs to the Sentinelese 👍😎
Ohh thank you God for this understanding Matthew 5:8 really explain why atheists can’t find God because they’re aren’t pure in the heart
Or because he doesn't exist and you're just fooling yourself.
Amen
Ohh thank you God for this understanding Matthew 5:8 really explain why atheists can’t find God because they’re aren’t pure in the heart
Or because he doesn't exist and you're just fooling yourself.
Vincent Kierkels What are you gaining from this? Like are you guiding people into eternity?
@@adriel115_ Guiding people into eternity? This is CZcams dude, not a group LSD session.
Vincent Kierkels You have nothing good to say!
@@adriel115_ And you don't anything substantial