Lust absolutely cripples us as men and women of God. In fact, it in tangles us in a net that prohibits us from being able to freely bear God’s image throughout all of creation. Jesus invites us into a communal relationship not only with God himself, but with other brothers and sisters who are experiencing Holy Spirit power transform their inner life.
I had never heard something like this before, and certainly not from God. Sure, I knew in my head I was saved by grace. But deep inside, from the place I actually live my life, I felt that God was waiting for me to get my act together before he officially decided if he forgave me or not.
Did you know a man can avoid pornography all his life and still live in sexual bondage? Here are four signs you are not sexually free as well as four signs that you are.
A few weeks ago I sat down with a long-time family friend and casual mentor of mine, Merle Burkholder, to discuss men taking responsibility for their own sexuality.
If you long for true freedom, if you want to be able to look yourself in the mirror and not feel ashamed of what you do or have done behind closed doors, don’t miss this series.
In this post, we’re looking at whether or not it’s wrong for someone who isn’t married to feel sexually aroused. Does it mean they are lusting if they do? And what is a person who feels sexually aroused supposed to do if they have no legitimate and meaningful way of fulfilling it?
None of us want the bondage of pornography. Yet, unless we have something practical we can do with our sex drive that is not also sin, we will continue struggling with moral failure. It doesn’t matter how much we resist lust, or how much we rest in God’s promises that He will give us victory and remind ourselves of God’s truths concerning His plan for us. If there is not something we can do meaningfully in living out our sexuality, it looks pretty hopeless.
People often quote Romans 8:28 when tragedy strikes. And while we can look at other parts of the Bible and see that God can work tragedy for His glory and use it for good, I do not believe we are being fair to the message God is speaking through Paul here in Romans. In fact, I will go so far as to say what Paul is talking about has nothing to do with tragedy. It might actually have more to do with porn.
What happened that causes us to wrestle with lust and pornography? Why is it that we experience pain and sometimes hurt others, ourselves? Because we have chosen to listen to another person’s voice instead of God’s.
But instead of giving us what we deserve (death), God has taken personal responsibility for restoring us back to His original design. He’s done something reckless, in our human way of looking at it. Without it, we have no hope.
So, when a guy struggles with pornography or masturbation, does he struggle because his sexuality is so strong? Does he desire sex too much? Could it be that his sexual desires are actually too weak?
Everyone, to a certain degree, is looking for a place to belong, a sense of self-worth, and confidence in his ability to do something well. And I believe Adam and Eve experienced that perfectly in the Garden of Eden.
But they lost their perfect sense of security because they believed the lie suggesting God didn’t have their best in mind, that He was holding out on them. They grabbed fig leaves to cover their shame, and in the same way, we grab a sort of fig leaf or mask to prevent others from seeing us for who we really are.
For years, I was afraid of beautiful women, of ever being alone with someone I felt attracted to. I feared I would not be able to control my desires for her. And what if I was married and a woman tried proposing to me or seducing me? Could I stand strong, or would I give in?
Author Asher Witmer knows what it’s like to want freedom from sexual sin only to continually fail. We’re often told we need more personal discipline, that we need to think godly things instead of fleshly things.
What if I told you that discipline won’t solve your problem with lust?
Our male sexuality is given by God for advancing beauty and goodness. But somewhere along the line it becomes something that causes devastation and guilt. The good news is we don’t have to live with guilt. In Live Free, Asher Witmer shows us how we can find freedom from sexual sin, live with nothing to hide, and be able to fight for others.
