Pwn Pornography: Tempted To Watch Porn? Read This First

You may as well assume that every man you meet is actively battling porn temptation or has watched it in the past. All one needs to do is see which are the most frequently visited websites to understand that porn is alive and well in our society. The 8th, 9th and 10th most frequented websites are all pornographic. That means that these sites are more mainstream than Yahoo, Amazon and Netflix. I have had my fair share of struggles with this destructive vice and have found these 7 truths invaluable in my battle to resist the temptation to engage in pornography. Come back to this whenever you are being tempted and renew your mind so you can have dominion over your emotions and feelings that are drawing you to view pornography.

1. You’re Believing A Lie 

Pornography is a lie. It says, “Come engage with this and you will be blessed, come and eat at my table and be satisfied.” 

Have you ever watched pornography and felt whole, satisfied or blessed? Remember the guilt, shame, disgust and hurt you experience when viewing porn. See Proverbs 5:3-5

Think about this truth:

“No good thing does God withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11  

Do you trust that if God is withholding something from you, in this case instant sexual gratification, it is because it is in reality not good?

God does not withhold good from the Christian. Christ is the source of pleasure, blessing, peace and wholeness. It is irrational to seek these things outside of Him. 

The promise of pornography is a lie and will NOT satisfy. 

2. Superior Pleasure 

There is a superior pleasure to be had and that is one of having a good conscience before God. See 1 Timothy 1:5, Acts 24:16

I am far more confident when pleading with others to repent of their sin and put their trust in Christ if I have first removed the plank from my own eye. Matthew 7:3-5, Romans 2:21-23 

The pleasure of doing this outweighs any gratification one can experience through the nefariousness of pornography.

Let the exceedingly pleasurable thought of being a useful soldier and tool in God’s army motivate you to resist the pull of pornography. 2 Timothy 2:20-22

3. You are Rejecting God Not Man 

Are you plotting of ways to circumnavigating any filters or barriers you have in place to view pornography? First read this scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 

Do you know that the will of God for your life is to actively resist sexual immorality? Therefore, by embracing pornography (your will), you are not rejecting man (your filters), but God Himself. 

Do you not love your master? John 14:15 Do you not treasure His costly sacrifice on the cross for your sin? 

View him prostrate in the garden;
on the ground your Maker lies;
then on bloody tree behold him,
Sinner, will this not suffice?
~Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy, Joseph Hart 

Ye who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly
Here its guilt may estimate
Mark the sacrifice appointed
See who bears the awful load
‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed
Son of Man and Son of God
~Stricken, Smitten & Afflicted, Thomas Kelly 

Resist the temptation for the Glory of Your King that you may kneel before Him in the whole armour of God, with clean hands and a pure heart ready, to do battle according to His will. 

4. God Chastises Those Whom He Loves 

Chastisement is not pleasant but God will chastise His children who continue in sin.

Would you watch porn in the presence of someone you greatly respected? Or would you watch porn if a gun was to be put to your head?

This is something to think about because Jesus said that people should not fear man who after destroying the body can do nothing to you but to rather fear God who after destroying the body can destroy both body and soul in hellfire Matthew 10:28 The scriptures say that it is by the fear of the Lord (respect and reverence for God) that men depart from evil Proverbs 16:6

Remember as a Christian your members belong to Christ. Will not God be just in cleansing His temple? 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

I am no way insinuating that your works justify you, however, your sin has consequences, such as not being able to hold the office of an elder Titus 1:5-9 or be useful in furthering the Kingdom of God on earth as discussed previously 2 Timothy 2:20-22 It could even cost you your job, or worse, your marriage. Numbers 32:23

5. Man up

Men don’t watch pornography, weirdos do. By watching pornography, you are not taking responsibility for your evil desires. You are not acting like a man.

Men should defend, cherish and respect woman by recognising their value as being Imago Dei not use them as objects to be discarded as soon as one has had their fill 2 Samuel 13:12-18 

Yes, society is sex-obsessed and dressing like a prostitute has been normalised, but is not the Holy Spirit that is in you greater than all these things? Is not self-control a fruit of the Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 You are the problem here. Your desire to sin comes from within your own heart Matthew 15:19

Job said that he made a “covenant with my eyes not to look at a young woman” Job 31:1 

I used to think this was hyperbole, however, I have found it very helpful to commit to never looking at any woman unless necessary (in conversations, greeting people etc). If the average woman on the street that I pass by is not going to start dressing more modestly then I can at least be a gentleman and avert my eyes. Such a protocol is the reality of taking Jesus at his word when he says it is better to pluck out your eye or chop off your hand than to engage in sexual immorality Matthew 5:27-30  

6. Never Forget How Stupid You Are

So, you have resisted temptation and no longer feel it’s full force. “This is no longer a problem”, you think to yourself. “I have transcended the bane of men!”

Your musings are in vain. Your arrogance will be your demise.

You must always be alert, always on watch. Don’t ever think this won’t come back with a vengeance. The definition of stupidity is to hate correction Proverbs 12:1 Recognise that you will always be tempted to throw off restraint and act stupidly in the future. Until glory this will never leave you.

Realise you are never in your right mind when being tempted. The small compromise you make today could be devastating tomorrow. Watch out for depression, self-pitying, covetousness and fatigue. These are the foundational idols in which pornography must breed upon. 1 Corinthians 10:6-13

7. Accountability 

I used Covenant Eyes as accountability software for many years however I found that it would crush my internet speeds (which is a problem when I was paying premium prices for gigabit internet). I now use Accountable2you which does not affect my internet speeds, has mobile alerts and other cool features. I recommend you sign up and get someone you greatly respect to hold you accountable.

If you have any of your own tips for battling this sin make them known in the comments below.

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