CONSEQUENSES

Do any of us really understand the consequences of porn? The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. But since I did not die, what does it mean?
Did something partially die as a result? A relationship, or my ability to be a good parent, or my finances, or my ability to spread the Gospel, or my relationship with the Holy Spirit?
People say, "I am giving up porn." But the truth is - we are either giving up porn and choosing to keep things from the above list. Or, we are choosing porn and letting the things (write your own list) on our list partially die.
Something always dies or partially dies with P.

Since I don't understand the consequences, from now on I am going to say 10 times each day, "The wages of porn is death."

Today I am choosing life, light and Jesus.

Secondly, Matthew 7 may be the most important chapter in the Bible for most people. I copied a bit from the New International Readers version:

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do what my Father in heaven wants will enter. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord! Lord! Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we drive out demons in your name? Didn’t we do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will tell them clearly, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who do evil!’

Many focus on the last sentence. It is scary, so let's try another version. New King James Version: “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

This is tough, but don't panic. Instead, commit a block of time to work on addiction every day. Then consider having a block of time to work on spiritual growth. Then consider upping your commitment by focusing more on scripture and prayer throughout the day.

Lastly, Jesus knows your heart. Jesus will help you change. You can change.

 

P kills our joy. If we give in for a day, our joy will be hugely diminished for a week. It may even be hugely diminished for a month or a year. It is wise to be aware of this fact every day of the year.

When we live like John 15 says we will have more and more joy. This chapter talks about bearing fruit as Christians. This is a great goal. But first, we need verse 10.

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

People grow weary of Bible study, prayer, and memorization, but not me. Why? Because I have already experienced the joy of living the way John 15 says to live. I know that I can increase that joy even more.

Because I have tasted that joy I will not be fooled by satan's invitation to a day of his pleasures. I know the full consequences of that day.

Yes, the 18-year-old P addict whose dream girlfriend dumped him knows some consequences. But often he is totally unaware that satan was sucking his joy out of him at every turn as well. He is unaware that he has lost his ability to enjoy the simple things in life. He can't even relax and do normal things. He has to be on sin's crazy train to even get by.

Consider praying: “Father, show me the full consequences.”



Secondly, John 15 says to obey, love, and bear fruit. Consider praying:

“Father, show me the consequences of living life exactly like John 15 says.”

Yes, verse 11 already answered that. But we need to be reminded a million times.

 

Randy Alcorn published his list of the consequences of lust:

• "Grieving my Lord; displeasing the One whose opinion most matters.
• Dragging into the mud Christ's sacred reputation.
• Having to one day look Jesus in the face at the judgment seat and account for why I did it.
• Forcing God to discipline me in various ways.
• Suffering of innocent people around me who would get hit by the shrapnel of my sin.
• Hurt to and loss of credibility with my children, _____________and _____________
• If my blindness should continue or my family be unable to forgive, I could lose my wife and my children forever.
• Shame to my church family.
• Shame and hurt to my friends, and especially those I've led to Christ and discipled.
• Guilt that would be awfully hard to shake.
• Loss of self-respect, discrediting my own name, and invoking shame and lifelong embarrassment upon myself.
• Plaguing memories and flashbacks that could taint future intimacy with my wife.
• Disqualifying myself after having preached to others.
• Forfeiting forever certain opportunities to serve God."

For me, lust kept me empty, dark, and depressed. It also held me back from fulfilling my purpose. Today, consider writing out a list of your consequences of lust.

 

I believe your reference is the #1 meaning, but in my experience, something always dies or partially dies when I sin. It takes some thought to see what that was. But it is well worth it to think about it.

I love your joy quote. I may start using that every 10th article.

 

We either fight addiction with power or without it. When we study key verses, power enters our lives. When we declare war on sin, power enters our lives. When we strain to pray all the time, power enters our lives. Daily Bible reading adds power, and praising the Lord adds power. Praying to be filled with the Spirit adds power. Praying to find our purpose adds power.

Second, believe the Bible as written. You can deeply trust the literal versions: NKJV, NIV, NASV, ESV. If a verse does not make sense to you, read it every day until it does. God loves to see a person wrestling to understand and obey scripture. Doing so adds power.

Third, can we quit sinning? The answer is both yes and no. We can go to war with specific sins and start to cut them out. At some point, we will cut certain sins out if we fight enough. We all know people who drank too much but then quit drinking (The sin of drunkenness). They quit their most problematic sin, and you can quit your most problematic sin as well.

Fourth, we can cut out specific sins, but some sin will be missed. My brother knew some guy who said, “I don't sin anymore.” Obviously, his pride is ruining his message. If he said, “I always go to war with sin, and I am starting to see its grip on me fading.” That is saying it in a way more people would believe, and even try to copy.

Fifth, almost all of the techniques I recommended make our bad desires decrease, and that allows the Holy Spirit to increase “in us.” “He” does not sin. If we actually die to ourselves as the Bible tells us to... “He” would steer us on a sinless course for as long as we allow Him to do so. I am always, no, often, trying to do that. I should always try to do that. But no man will ever be perfect in doing that. But trying to improve, is the smartest thing we can do.

Finally, dying to self is the key to joy. The more we work on it, the more we will get that very destructive sin out of our lives.