Victory Over Pornography English
PART III: The Strategy That Works
The Critical Success Factor
You cannot achieve a victory on your own; if you could then you would not be reading this book. The truth is, rules you make up to achieve a victory are of no value when trying to control the flesh -- as explained in:
Colossians 2:20–23 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
The critical success factor in the victory over pornography is for you to sincerely do the following: In the name of God the Son, ask God the Father to give you the self-control of God the Holy Spirit. You already know that trying to use only your self-control does not lead to victory. You need to replace sole reliance on your inadequate self-control with a partnership with God. You can turbocharge your self-control by simply relying on the Holy Spirit’s victorious self-control.
The critical success factor:
Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
The critical success factor will only be effective if you are a true born-again Christian who is led by the Spirit of God. Therefore, if you seek a victory over pornography you need to do a brutally honest self-evaluation to determine if you are a true born-again Christian who is led by the Spirit of God.
Learn how to be led by the Spirit – that topic was explained earlier within the detailed section titled: How To Be Led By The Spirit Of God.
If you lack self-control, then please consider the following: 1) you are not a born-again Christian led by the Spirit of God or 2) you are a born-again Christian, but you have either forgotten you have been forgiven of your sins or 3) you are a born-again Christian, but you do not know how to be led by the Spirit of God. In one of the apostle Peter’s letters, he explains a cause for lacking various godly qualities, including self-control:
2 Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Look to the example of Jesus:
Hebrews 12:1–3 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Step 2:
In faith, depend on the self-control of God the Holy Spirit and not only on your self-control. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, ask God the Father to give you the self-control of God the Holy Spirit.