Brief Summary
This video provides a five-step program for Christians to overcome sexual sin, emphasizing that victory comes not from striving for purity alone, but from understanding God's love and grace. The steps include recognizing God's heart for you, acknowledging His blessings, utilizing the Word of God as a defense, exposing sin through confession, and embracing the Gospel. It encourages believers to accept the inevitability of falling, and to use the Gospel as a means to return to God, learn from mistakes, and continue fighting against sin.
- Recognize God's heart for you
- Acknowledge His blessings
- Utilize the Word of God as a defense
- Expose sin through confession
- Embrace the Gospel
Intro
Many Christians struggle with sexual sin, which can manifest differently for individuals, including pornography, using dating apps for sex, crossing boundaries in unmarried relationships, or infidelity in marriage. This leads to a cycle of sin, guilt, and shame, often resulting in frustration or acceptance of defeat. However, there is a path to victory through a five-step program that can break this cycle and free believers from guilt.
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Step #1. See God's Heart
The first step in overcoming lust is to recognize God's heart. In Genesis, God blessed Adam before giving him commands, demonstrating His desire to care for and bless humanity. Purity should be a result of seeing God's heart, not just an attempt to abstain from sin. Jesus showed people God's heart through healing, teaching, and ultimately sacrificing Himself. Christians should remember the heart behind God's commands, understanding that God's goodness leads to repentance. When tempted, focus on God's love and desire to bless you, rather than just trying to stop the sinful behavior.
Step #2. See God's Blessings
The second step involves recognizing and appreciating God's blessings. Before giving the Ten Commandments, God reminded the Israelites of His deliverance from Egypt and how He brought them to Himself. Gratitude is the opposite of lust; lust says "I want," while gratitude says "I have." Regularly thanking God develops a mentality that rejects lustful desires because you recognize you already have enough. When tempted, specifically thank God for His blessings, making gratitude a habit to combat temptation.
Step #3. Use God's Sword
The third step is to use God's Word as a weapon against temptation. Paul encourages believers to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). There are two words for "word": "logos," referring to the entirety of God's Word, and "rema," meaning the spoken word relevant to specific circumstances. Jesus used specific Bible verses to counter Satan's temptations in the wilderness. For every temptation, there are counter verses. Memorize and use Bible verses relevant to sexual lust, such as 1 Corinthians 6:18, Romans 13:14, and Ephesians 6. Having multiple verses memorized is wise, as temptations often come in waves.
Step #4. Use God's Light
The fourth step involves exposing sin by bringing it into the light through vulnerability and confession. Paul urges believers to walk as children of light and not to fellowship with works of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5:8, 11). Regularly confessing struggles to other believers is essential for victory over lust. Walking in the light means not hiding sin, but bringing it into the open and asking for help. Depending on the severity of the struggle, this may involve an accountability partner, church leadership, or a specialized program.
Step #5. Embrace God's Gospel
The final step is to embrace God's Gospel, recognizing that Christ died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1, 3). All people are sinners in need of a savior, and salvation comes through faith in Jesus, not through personal purity. It's important to be okay with falling to sin, because perfection is unattainable. When a believer falls, they should turn to God, understanding that Jesus died for that sin. They should remember God's love and desire to bless them, analyze the reasons for the fall, use God's Word to combat future temptations, and seek accountability. Embracing the Gospel gives the freedom to fall, leading to true victory over sexual sin as purity becomes a natural result of loving God.
Outro
The video concludes by reiterating the five steps to defeat lust: see God's heart, see God's blessings, use God's sword, use God's light, and embrace God's gospel. Even when you fall, remember that you can always return to God, because Jesus loves you and died for your sins.
