Post by Deleted on May 21, 2015 3:30:02 GMT -7
Hi,
I haven't thought about this forum in years. I used to be addicted to pornography. I know the horrible fear and shame of secret sin. I know the sense of despair that comes from girding myself up to stop sinning and then being overwhelmed by a rush of temptation. By no strength of my natural character, but by the amazing grace of God I have been set free for about 5 years. Today I was praying and the Spirit told me to share something with you who are blessed to be rebuked by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 12:6) and are seeking freedom from the yoke of sin (John 8:34, Luke 4: 14-20) with a spirit of true repentance. For I don't think many come to this site, unless their conscience has been stirred within them. A bonfire can be lit with a single glowing coal.
What I want to tell you is that the Holy Spirit is not a force. You cannot invoke him to help you; it won't work, because he is sovereign and holy. He is a person, and he is God. Instead, draw near to him and treat with honor. To draw near to him, give glory to Jesus, who has born all your sins and broken the power of the devil, and honor the Holy Spirit by obeying him, not by "claiming" his gifts. (Read 1 Thessalonians 4: 1-8 and Ephesians chapter 4.) When the Holy Spirit is lord of your life, you will not continually sin. (1 John chapter 3.)
Here is a technique that helps. When you feel tempted to sin, take out a chair and put it next to you in front of the computer, invite the Holy Spirit to be with you as lord and give you strength. Then, open your Bible. Do these two things immediately, don't wait. If you wait, you are relying on your own strength; remember "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Now you are sitting right in front of the Holy Spirit and reading your Bible. Are you bold enough to look at something as filthy as porn while you are sitting in the presence of God? Not if you fear and honor him. So practice his presence, and your sins will melt away. "For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb. 12:29.)
A Biblical image that helped me greatly is in 1 Corinthians 6 13-17. It describes my body as a temple of God. Will I then stand right in front of God and defile his temple with impure thoughts and deeds? Imagine yourself in the place of one of the Old Testament kings, setting up an idol in God's temple. Would you do it? Never! But I used to do it a few times a week, because I deceived myself into thinking it was no big deal. (Jer. 17:9.) When you read that passage, you can feel Paul's bracing horror at doing any such thing in God's presence and his temple. It will move your heart.
Finally, I want to recommend a wonderful book that will train you to know the presence of God and hate sin. It is called "Mystery of the Holy Spirit," a little-known book by well-known preacher A. W. Tozer. Buy this book. Meditate on the scriptures (especially the ones above) and do not harden your heart to the presence of the Holy Spirit. He will forgive and heal you as he has healed and forgiven me.
May God bless you. If anyone would like to talk about these scriptures, PM me. Not that I am anyone, but I've sunk myself in the mire and I know about the rope God threw to pull me out.
P.S. You've probably read a lot about accountability. It's a good thing, but don't lean to heavily on it. No mere men can make you pure (including yourself). Only God can do that.
I haven't thought about this forum in years. I used to be addicted to pornography. I know the horrible fear and shame of secret sin. I know the sense of despair that comes from girding myself up to stop sinning and then being overwhelmed by a rush of temptation. By no strength of my natural character, but by the amazing grace of God I have been set free for about 5 years. Today I was praying and the Spirit told me to share something with you who are blessed to be rebuked by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 12:6) and are seeking freedom from the yoke of sin (John 8:34, Luke 4: 14-20) with a spirit of true repentance. For I don't think many come to this site, unless their conscience has been stirred within them. A bonfire can be lit with a single glowing coal.
What I want to tell you is that the Holy Spirit is not a force. You cannot invoke him to help you; it won't work, because he is sovereign and holy. He is a person, and he is God. Instead, draw near to him and treat with honor. To draw near to him, give glory to Jesus, who has born all your sins and broken the power of the devil, and honor the Holy Spirit by obeying him, not by "claiming" his gifts. (Read 1 Thessalonians 4: 1-8 and Ephesians chapter 4.) When the Holy Spirit is lord of your life, you will not continually sin. (1 John chapter 3.)
Here is a technique that helps. When you feel tempted to sin, take out a chair and put it next to you in front of the computer, invite the Holy Spirit to be with you as lord and give you strength. Then, open your Bible. Do these two things immediately, don't wait. If you wait, you are relying on your own strength; remember "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Now you are sitting right in front of the Holy Spirit and reading your Bible. Are you bold enough to look at something as filthy as porn while you are sitting in the presence of God? Not if you fear and honor him. So practice his presence, and your sins will melt away. "For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb. 12:29.)
A Biblical image that helped me greatly is in 1 Corinthians 6 13-17. It describes my body as a temple of God. Will I then stand right in front of God and defile his temple with impure thoughts and deeds? Imagine yourself in the place of one of the Old Testament kings, setting up an idol in God's temple. Would you do it? Never! But I used to do it a few times a week, because I deceived myself into thinking it was no big deal. (Jer. 17:9.) When you read that passage, you can feel Paul's bracing horror at doing any such thing in God's presence and his temple. It will move your heart.
Finally, I want to recommend a wonderful book that will train you to know the presence of God and hate sin. It is called "Mystery of the Holy Spirit," a little-known book by well-known preacher A. W. Tozer. Buy this book. Meditate on the scriptures (especially the ones above) and do not harden your heart to the presence of the Holy Spirit. He will forgive and heal you as he has healed and forgiven me.
May God bless you. If anyone would like to talk about these scriptures, PM me. Not that I am anyone, but I've sunk myself in the mire and I know about the rope God threw to pull me out.
P.S. You've probably read a lot about accountability. It's a good thing, but don't lean to heavily on it. No mere men can make you pure (including yourself). Only God can do that.
