 Reborn free from porn
-
|
For he who has died, has been set free from sin.
(Romans 6:7)
Pornography is everywhere and
impacting almost everyone. According to
a study by Covenant Eyes (a pioneer in Internet accountability software):
One
out of eight searches on the Internet is for erotic content, more than 50% of
boys and nearly a third of girls see their first pornographic images before
they turn 13, and 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women say
they are addicted to pornography.
I recently came across a helpful interview
of Heath Lambert discussing his new book Finally Free: Fighting for Purity
with the Power of Grace. Heath is a biblical counseling
professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's undergraduate school, Boyce
College in Louisville KY, and is Executive Director of the Association of
Certified Biblical Counselors.
Heath realistically notes:
The Internet is the "crack cocaine" of pornography. It is readily available in many anonymous ways.
The lie of Internet pornography says,
"I'll do this little thing over here, and it's nasty and ugly, but when
it's done I can cover it up and go back to the rest of my life." The problem is that sin doesn't stay covered
up. You think you can control it, but you can't. It will break out and it will
ruin your life.
The
heart of Heath's discussions of biblical truths was affirming to my heart. Particularly affirming were Health's discussion of the foundational verses in Romans 6, the same verses where the Lord has immersed me in for several years now. These are foundational truths for ministering to others who struggle with pornography, and with any other
sin.
This Rest Stop briefly highlights some of
these truths.
GRACE IS A POWER
But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and His grace toward me was not in vain;
but I labored more abundantly than they all,
yet not I,
but the grace of God which was with me.
(1 Corinthians 15:10)
God's unmerited favor toward us is forgiving grace. However, grace is also a powerful transforming grace after a person becomes a new creation in Christ.
How do you appropriate this empowering, transforming grace? By simply believing in Romans 6:1-11! Believe that you have been set free from sin by God crucifying you with Christ, burying you with Christ, and raising you with Christ! Just as Christ has overcome sin and death, by virtue of your union with Christ, you have too!
| Know who you are in union with Christ and then, and only then, fight sin with the power of grace. |
A Christian does not fall into sin, he chooses to sin. However, a Christian has all the power of the resurrection available to him to overcome sin!
There are Christians who cry out, "You just don't understand. Porn somehow is just a part of me. I just cannot help it at times." These Christians are focusing on their sin more than on God's grace. They are focusing on a lie.
But a focus on truth will nurture more victorious cries such as, "By God's grace, I truly don't want porn. Yes, I do want what God wants and not what He hates."
GRACE IS A PERSON
He who raised Jesus from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies
through His Spirit
who dwells in you.
(Romans 8:11)
It is vital to know that God's grace is not an impersonal power. Romans 6 says your old self was crucified so
that you are no longer enslaved to sin. So, because you're in Christ, porn (nor any sin) is not your
master. Jesus Christ is.
| Grace is a Person, and His name is Jesus. |
You are free in Christ -- you have power in Christ -- to walk with Jesus, to cultivate the
virtues of the Spirit of Christ, so that you are transformed.
Nobody is going to be looking at porn in
heaven, and the good news of the gospel is that you don't have to wait until
heaven to be free from pornography.
You
have the Spirit of Christ right now who gives life to your mortal body so that you can
walk in victory. In perfection? No. In
victory? Yes.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of His glory and grace.
(Hymn by Helen Lemmel, 1922)
Worship of the Lord Jesus Christ is always the key. When you read Romans 6, prayerfully acknowledge you are sitting at the feet of Jesus as He personally teaches you these truths. Remain captivated by His beauty.
| You can't look at Christ and at porn at the same time. |
I recently witnessed a man find his freedom from pornography by believing the truth that he is no longer alone during these temptations.
He is growing in embracing the truth that he is no longer his own, that he has been bought with a price of Christ's blood (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and that he is inseparably united with the risen Christ (Ephesians 2:5-6).
We all can choose, by faith, to behold the glory of Christ Himself through God's Word, and to be transformed.
But we all with unveiled face,
beholding as in a mirror
the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed
into the same image
from glory to glory,
just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
God bless you in the simplicity and purity of Christ,
PS, Feel free to contact me if you would like to be learn more about true freedom from pornography or if you would like to learn more about ministering to a loved one who is in bondage to pornography.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
About 
Discipleship through
Counseling
Teaching
Training
Gregg Gibbons
Pastoral Director
Michael Chalmers
Training Director
Kellie Boggs
Fellowship Director
Joy Gibbons
Ministry Assistant and women's ministry coordinator
Carole Blyth
Board member and women's ministry coordinator
Paul Crews
Board member and Pastor Mountain Creek Baptist Church
Florence Colby
Board Member and Exec Assistant
at US Endowment of Forestry
Dave Loser
Board Member and Chaplain with Corporate Chaplains of America
Carolyn Kennedy
Staff discipleship counselor
Randy Garrick
Board Advisor and
CFO Engineered Systems Inc.
Dawn McClendon
Board Advisor and
school teacher in Durham NC
Marty Price
Board Advisor and Pastor
Pendleton Street Baptist Church
|
Partnership
I believe with all my heart that ministry is through relationships.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you for your partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:3, 5).
YouTube link below of my ministry commissioning service that included testimonies from several partners, including Bobby Richardson, former 2nd baseman for the NY Yankees.
Please contact me to learn more about partnering with me. I'd love to hear from you!
|
Ministry News
Gregg is teaching at the Haven of Rest mission in Anderson on Monday evenings.
|
Archives
Link for Rest Stops
since August 2010:
|
Contact Info
JOURNEY IN CHRIST, INC.
655 Fairview Road
Suite H-188
Simpsonville SC 29680
(864) 483-3201 (Gregg cell)
|
|
