Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom, Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival, Life Action Ministries, 2004
1. Recognize your potential for moral failure. 1 Corinthians 10:12
2. Realize that you don’t have to give in. 1 Corinthians 10:13
3. Resolve to be pure. 1 Peter 1:13-15
4. Remove all bitterness. Hebrews 12:15-16
5. Restrain your fleshly desires. Romans 13:14
6. Reject anything that could lead you into moral bondage. Proverbs 7:7-9
7. Run from every form of evil. 2 Timothy 2:22
8. Renew your mind with the Word of God. Philippians 4:8
9. Recruit Help. James 5:16
10. Remember the consequences. James 1:14-15
11. Refuse to remain in defeat and depression. Proverbs 24:16a
12. Rely on the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16
1. Recognize your potential for moral failure. 1 Corinthians 10:12
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1Corinthians 10:12) All of us are vulnerable to the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. History is filled with examples of men and women who fell prey to sexual temptation even though they had previously walked in intimacy with God. The most committed of believers are susceptible if they relax their guard or believe they are above being tempted.
Acknowledge to the Lord that apart from Him you could be vulnerable to any kind of sin, and that you need His protection in every area of your life, including your sexual life.
2. Realize that you don’t have to give in. 1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
You do not have to be overcome; you can overcome. The choice is yours. If we are honest, many would have to admit that we often fall because inwardly we want to sin.
3. Resolve to be pure. 1 Peter 1:13-15
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:13-15)
Battles can be won or lost before the enemy is ever engaged. Don’t wait until you are face-to-face with sexual temptation before you decide how you will respond. That’s too late! Go on the offensive – before the temptation comes – by resolving in your heart to be morally pure, by God’s grace.
Have you purposed to be pure, no matter what or how strong the temptation? Make a commitment to God that, whatever it takes, you will make moral choices that are pleasing to Him.
4. Remove all bitterness. Hebrews 12:15-16
“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Easu, who sold his birthright for a single meal.” (Hebrews 12:15-16)
The hurts of the past and our refusal to forgive those who have wronged us provide fertile ground for bitterness to flourish. Bitterness, left unchecked, makes us more apt to succumb to -or even pursue – sensuality and to subconsciously justify it in our mind, on the basis of how deeply we have been hurt… You cannot hold on to harbored hurts and pursue purity at the same time.
Ask God to show you if there is any “root of bitterness” in your heart. If there is, release it to God, and receive His grace to forgive the offender and to help you deal with the hurt he/she has caused.
5. Restrain your fleshly desires. Romans 13:14
“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desire.” (Romans 13:14)
You cannot indulge your flesh in one area and expect to conquer it in another. Do not allow even one area of compromise. Giving in on one issue (no matter how small) weakens your resistance and will make you more vulnerable to sin in other matters that may have even greater consequences.
6. Reject anything that could lead you into moral bondage. Proverbs 7:7-9
“And I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.” (Proverbs 7:7-9)
We cannot live in a cave, but we can exercise some control over what we encounter during the routine of our lives. Little choices may seem insignificant or justifiable. But if those choices could lead us into temptation, they need to be avoided at all costs.
Are there any items or influences in your home, your car, or your workplace that could lure you to be morally impure? Determine to get rid of them without delay. Make a list of places and people that could entice you into immorality, and resolve to avoid them.
7. Run from every form of evil. 2 Timothy 2:22
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
If you find yourself in a potentially compromising situation, flee! Do not linger to consider your options. Don’t rely on your reason or willpower. Rely on God; He has already told you what to do; run!
Are you currently involved in any activity, situation, or relationship that is immoral, or could lead you to moral compromise? What does God want you to do about it? Do whatever you know God wants you to do?
8. Renew your mind with the Word of God. Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phillippians 4:8)
Wrong actions stem from wrong thoughts. If we are to change our behavior, we must first change how we think. God’s word has the power to reform our habits by cleansing our thoughts and renewing our minds. But we must assume our responsibility to engraft God’s Word into our hearts by reading, memorizing, and meditating on it.
Are you allowing any ungodly influences to shape your thinking? What change(s), if any, do you need to make? What are you doing to fill your mind and your heart with the word of God?
9. Recruit Help. James 5:16
Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)
It is extremely difficult to achieve victory in any struggle with sin, especially of a moral nature, without the help of godly friends. If you find yourself failing morally (or enslaved to any other sinful habit), identify a mature, godly believer (of the same sex) and humble yourself by admitting your need to that person. Ask him or her to pray for you and to hold you accountable in whatever specific areas you need help.
Who knows your innermost personal struggles and is committed to pray for you and to join you in believing God for freedom and victory? Are you being honest with that person and making yourself accountable on a regular basis?
10. Remember the consequences. James 1:14-15
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)
In the heat of temptation, sin is tantalizing. Afterward, it is completely destructive. Think ahead to the anguish you could bring on yourself and your loved ones if you choose to yield to immorality.
11. Refuse to remain in defeat and depression. Proverbs 24:16a
The righteous falls seven times and rises again. (Proverbs 24:16a)
Have you failed morally? God cannot bless the sin of your past. But He can – and He will – bless a broken and a repentant heart. There is no sexual sin too great for God to forgive. He will not restore your virginity if you have given that away; but He will restore your purity. Do not allow your defeats to keep you defeated; allow His mercy to keep you humble and reliant upon His grace. You can experience victory, in spite of momentary or even major setbacks.
Thanks God that through the power and cross of Christ, you do not have to live under the domination of sin but have been set free to obey and follow Him.
12. Rely on the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)
The Lord Jesus lived a blameless and pure life even while wearing the robes of humanity. The very power that raised Jesus from the dead is able to “keep you from stumbling, and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (Jude 24)
Write a prayer expressing your desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to yield to Him in every area of your life, rather than fulfilling the natural desires of your flesh.
Sexual Purity - The Joy of Moral Freedom .docx
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