You CAN be free! Not just “free for a while”–I mean totally, permanently F-R-E-E free! However, this kind of freedom doesn’t come easily and it’s not going to happen overnight. It has taken time to create this habit, and it will take time and effort to gain victory over it.
Welcome to The Point of Purity Podcast. This is episode 91, and in this week’s episode we continue with our new series focused on discovering from Scripture the Point of Purity and how to get there! Today’s episode is entitled “F-R-E-E I’m Free!”
Learn more about the ministry of The Purity Coach at http://www.thepuritycoach.com
You CAN be free! Not just “free for a while”–I mean totally, permanently F-R-E-E free! However, this kind of freedom doesn’t come easily and it’s not going to happen overnight. It has taken time to create this habit, and it will take time and effort to gain victory over it.
Welcome to The Point of Purity Podcast. This is episode 91, and in this week’s episode we continue with our new series focused on discovering from Scripture the Point of Purity and how to get there! Today’s episode is entitled “F-R-E-E I’m Free!”
Learn more about the ministry of The Purity Coach at http://www.thepuritycoach.com
Listen carefully my friend: You CAN be free! I don’t mean “free for a while”–I mean totally, permanently F-R-E-E free! However, this kind of freedom doesn’t come easily and it’s not going to happen overnight. It has taken time to create this habit, and it will take time and effort to gain victory over it.
Welcome to The Point of Purity Podcast. I’m your host, Steve Etner, Author, National Speaker, and Purity Coach for The Pure Man Ministry. This is episode 91, and in this week’s episode we continue with our new series focused on discovering from Scripture the Point of Purity and how to get there! Today’s episode is entitled “F-R-E-E I’m Free!”
Let me repeat something here so that it truly sinks in: freedom doesn’t come easily and it’s not going to happen overnight. It has taken time to create this habit, and it will take time and effort to gain victory over it.
If you’re anything like me, it’s the “time and effort” piece that can be so discouraging. Wouldn’t it be great if the Wizard of the Word (God Himself) just waved His magic wand or snapped his fingers (or even wriggled his nose) and made your struggle just (“Poof”) go away? Actually, no – it wouldn’t. I know, I know … I’m sounding like a nut case right now but hear me out.
This is not a free ride my friend. It takes sacrifice.
This “effort and work” that I’m referring to isn’t what you might think. I’m not talking about white knuckling your way through a temptation. Nor am I talking about barely holding on by the skin-of-your-teeth. This isn’t a “keep doing this” and “stop doing that” and you’ll be free kinda thing. Sure, there are some things you will need to start doing and other things you need to stop; but that’s not the work I’m referring to.
You can experience lasting freedom from this battle, but you must apply the biblical principles I’m going to teach you to your life. Choosing to invest your time in the daily study and memorization of God’s Word will take focus, energy, time, discipline, and hard work. Yes, you head me correctly – daily.
This isn’t about squeezing in one more thing into your already hectic schedule. This isn’t about trying to fit God into your busy life. God won’t be “fit” into anything. God doesn’t want to be a bigger part of your life; He wants to be your life.
If you look at this study as a way to learn what to do and what not to do, you’ll be sadly disappointed. As I said before, this isn’t a checklist kind of thing. Let me remind you that what we’re going to be working on is a change in our lifestyle. To change your behavior, you need to change the core of your heart. You need to transform the way you think (Romans 12:2) - and only God’s Word will do that.
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield
unto them that put their trust in him.” (Proverbs 30:5 KJV)
Let me take a moment to show you how various translations of the Bible render the first part of this verse:
Think about that. God’s word is flawless – there are no errors in it. That’s what God’s Word is! God’s word is true – there are no lies in it. That’s what God’s Word is! God’s Word is tested – it has not failed in any way. That’s what God’s Word is! And God’s Word is pure – there is not even a hint of sin in it. That’s what God’s Word is!
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we see that God’s Word is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness so that you can be thoroughly furnished and totally equipped with everything you need to not just fight the temptation, but always come away from every battle totally victorious! Do you truly BELIEVE that? Is your life currently backing up your answer?
Consider this: God promises to shield you; to protect you from being defeated by lust and porn. Please let that truth sink in. He doesn’t promise to keep you free from the lure of lust. God doesn’t promise to shield you from the pull of porn. He’s not saying you won’t experience the magnet of masturbation. No. His promise is to protect you from being defeated by it.
This habit doesn’t have to dominate your life. You don’t have to give in to your temptation. With His strength, porn won’t destroy you; it doesn’t have to take you down. You do not have to live a defeated life. That’s God’s promise in God’s Word – a promise that is flawless, true, tested, and pure!
A major key to defeating your temptation to give in to sexual impurity and a critical component to living in victory is to choose deliberately, daily to be in God’s Word AND THEN choose to walk in obedience to what God tells you to do.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6)
In other words, if you want to know how to be free from the lure of lust, if you want to understand how to fight off the pull of porn, if you want to no longer cave-in to the magnet of masturbation–you need God’s wisdom that comes from God’s Word. To be pure and stay pure you must be IN God’s word daily.
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them, I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)
Notice that God says, “I will lead the blind down a new path.” In what ways has porn, lust, and masturbation “blinded” you? This is an important discussion to have with your accountability partner(s), your spouse, your best friend, or even your pastor. They may see things you don’t (or can’t). Let them speak truth into your heart and be willing to truly listen.
The promise of relief from your frustration, stress, boredom, loneliness, or sadness; the anticipation of that pop, that rush, that sense of something better, is lying to you. It’s blinding you. It’s deceiving you. Think about it. When has it ever actually kept its promise to you? It has always overpromised and it will always under deliver.
However, God (who does not lie because He cannot lie) has promised you in His Word that He will lead you down a new path. A perfect path of purity. A path filled with exquisite joy and pleasure that you can only experience through a vibrant, growing relationship with Him.
According to Isaiah 42:16, not only will God lead you down a new path, but He will guide you along an unfamiliar way. Consider that for a moment. The path of genuine, lasting purity is currently unfamiliar to you. Living a life that never gives in to lust, never looks at porn, never masturbates is at best a pipedream. Something that up till now you’ve dreamt about and hoped for but are clueless how to get there–let alone stay there.
Right now, because you have been blinded by your sexual temptations, you cannot see that path of purity. You cannot see how God’s way could possibly be better than what lust, porn and masturbation has been promising (lying to) you. If you would just choose to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own ability to understand; if in all your ways you would choose to acknowledge Him, acknowledge the fact that His way IS the perfect way, He will lead you to something far, far better than what you are attempting to experience on your own–God guarantees it! (See Proverbs 3:5-6)
So, as I conclude this week’s episode – let me share this with you: No matter what sin issues you may be battling with, no matter where you may be in your walk with God, or in your marriage relationship, don’t give up hope, don’t quit, don’t allow discouragement to defeat you. God has a perfect plan for your life. God is at work even now molding you into the Christ-follower He wants you to be. Stop fighting Him, stop trying to take over the process, and trust Him with EVERYTHING. Let Him show you how to be Purely Satisfied!
OK, we’re going to hit the pause button here until next week’s episode as we look forward to continuing this study. Until then, thank you so much for listening to today’s podcast. If this has ministered to you, if this has blessed you, challenged you, or encouraged you I ask you to please let your friends know about this Point of Purity Podcast. Help us help men and women across the globe win their war for sexual purity and live in freedom.
And if you have not yet subscribed to this podcast, let me encourage you to do so today so you won’t miss any of our upcoming episodes!
So, until next time this is Author, Speaker, and Purity Coach Steve Etner reminding you that if you are going to glorify God in your everyday living, He must first be glorified in your every moment thinking.