Ministries for women porn addicts

[DaveC519]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I keep hearing "pray pray pray" and "fast fast fast" but have NEVER had luck overcoming a bad habit by doing either. In fact with the issue being discussed I would think that doing both specifically to fight an "urge" would not help, but hurt since your not replacing the urge but trying to fight it head on. The best thing to do (and this goes for other things such as smoking) is to find something ELSE to do. "Whatever your hands find to do" as the saying goes. Build a boat in your basement like Jethro Gibbs. Work out -a lot! Find something to do that occupies your time! Idol hands truly is the devils work shop and simply closing your eyes, while your hands and forehead are sweating, and praying as the sole means of fighting an urge will do little to curb anything.

Mizpeh said:

Going out to build a boat or taking a cold shower may take your mind off the habit momentarily, but does it give victory over it?

The praying and fasting are directed toward God. It's His Spirit in us that helps us to crucify the flesh. Paul stated that he "dies daily". What do you think he is dying to? Certainly he is still breathing while he says that he is dying daily.

Mizpeh, I think you've hit the nail on the head here. John the Baptist said: "He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30). This must take place in the life of every child of God. And this is what prayer and fasting accomplishes. It causes the will of the flesh and the will of self to diminish, and causes the will of the Spirit to become more pronounced in us. It is more than simply temporarily deflecting the focus of our will, it is crucifying it.

Here's what God has to say about fasting, when done for the right reasons:

"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. (Isa 58:6-12)

I realize this is but a portion of the entire passage, but I wanted to specifically focus on these verses. My goodness, just look at all that takes place when fasting is done as God directs, and for the right reasons: the bands of wickedness are loosed, the heavy burdens are lifted, the oppressed are set free, and the yokes are broken. Sin (wickedness) does bind us and lays upon us a heavy burden. This is why individuals, even believers, many times describe it as being under oppression and being bound under a yoke from which they cannot free themselves. But through fasting (what has been described as "God's Chosen Fast") and prayer, God himself looses these bonds, burdens and yokes and brings deliverance to the captives. We could easily dedicate an entire thread to exegeting the remainder of the verses, but I think people will get the picture reading it for themselves. Just look at all the promises contained in this short passage!

If I could recommend any book to a believer besides the Bible itself, it would be "Power Through Prayer" by E.M. Bounds. It was written over a century ago by a preacher for preachers, but its truths are applicable to all. It stresses the need for true intercessory prayer. Once someone reads this book and allows its truths to sink deep into their heart, they will forever understand and value the power of prayer, and put into practice its precepts. When THIS type of prayer is coupled with fasting, there is no yoke from which God will not deliver!

[DaveC519]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I know Dave has professed that he's never done this or fallen into what he calls "sin" in this area.

I'm curious... is there anyone else who'd like to state that they've always lived above this experience? Anyone willing to go on record before God and man and state that they will never do this again?

I'm curious. I've seen alot of moral chest beating in my time. But the truth is... all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire. I'm looking for some who are on the record honest about this and not self deluded about their "victory". I'd like to know your story and how you overcame. It might help a reader too.

God bless.

I find your comments absolutely incredible! I can only attribute them to the fact that you're completely unfamiliar with any believers who actually walk in victory over the will of the flesh. Is this where Apostolicism is today? Have we strayed so far from the 1st ce. experience that we not only expect believers to remain bound in sin, but call those "liars" who testify that Jesus Christ can and does deliver from the chains of sin?

I honestly don't know what to say at this point. After 30+ years of serving God, I can honestly say I've never encountered a mindset quite like this. Dear God, do we ever need revival in the Body of Christ! I can only pray that my comments in this thread will be read by enough ppl and give them hope that Jesus still changes lives, not just puts a new paint job over the old one.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor 5:17)

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I know Dave has professed that he's never done this or fallen into what he calls "sin" in this area.

I'm curious... is there anyone else who'd like to state that they've always lived above this experience? Anyone willing to go on record before God and man and state that they will never do this again?

I'm curious. I've seen alot of moral chest beating in my time. But the truth is... all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire. I'm looking for some who are on the record honest about this and not self deluded about their "victory". I'd like to know your story and how you overcame. It might help a reader too.

God bless.

Aquila, you're asking the wrong question. Of COURSE we have all sinned--but we haven't all done the same things. You might struggle in one area, I might struggle in another. I don't find it hard to believe that someone has remained sexually pure, anymore than I find it difficult to believe someone has gone through their life without being a drunk! The question you should be asking is, "How were you able to remain pure?" or "How did you overcome things you've struggled with in the past?"

I'm stumbling over your posts a bit, too, because I strongly believe that sin can be overcome. We don't need to redefine what constitutes sin simply because it comes "naturally." All sin comes naturally. The fact that we have the inclination to sin doesn't mean that we should just throw our hands up and resign ourselves to our carnal nature. God said in the NT that if we would walk after the spirit, we wouldn't fulfill the lust of the flesh, AND He said that with temptation HE would make a way of escape.

That tells me that my only response to my own failure is repentance--because I have no good excuse, including the one that says, "God, You made me this way."

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Are you arguing that a married couple role playing is sinful and immoral? Just wanted to be clear.

You still haven't proved how it is normal, let alone sinful.

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

The good ol' will. Doh! Jesus didn't even have to die. We could "will" our way to righteousness.
Love one another, and then you won't sin against each other.

What are you talking about here? What do you mean "will" your way to righteousness? How about understanding if a man and his wife think that porn is a good thing to spice up a marriage, will only find out that someone's feelings are going to get hurt in the long run. Role playing my be what one side is into, and the weaker side may be coerced into, but after it's all said and done someone is going to be adversely affected. So how can that be a good thing? Usually, it's the knuckle head husband who wants the role playing, and the poor woman feels the pressure to comply with her bone head ol man.

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

What is the topic again?

I guess how you believe that Apostolic Pentecostal Holiness people should be super freaks behind doors?

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Wow. Spiritual bootcamp in the EB household.

Just living a normal life.

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

[mizpeh]

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much KJV

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. NLT

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Aquila, you're asking the wrong question. Of COURSE we have all sinned--but we haven't all done the same things. You might struggle in one area, I might struggle in another. I don't find it hard to believe that someone has remained sexually pure, anymore than I find it difficult to believe someone has gone through their life without being a drunk! The question you should be asking is, "How were you able to remain pure?" or "How did you overcome things you've struggled with in the past?"

I'm stumbling over your posts a bit, too, because I strongly believe that sin can be overcome. We don't need to redefine what constitutes sin simply because it comes "naturally." All sin comes naturally. The fact that we have the inclination to sin doesn't mean that we should just throw our hands up and resign ourselves to our carnal nature. God said in the NT that if we would walk after the spirit, we wouldn't fulfill the lust of the flesh, AND He said that with temptation HE would make a way of escape.

That tells me that my only response to my own failure is repentance--because I have no good excuse, including the one that says, "God, You made me this way."

Good words from both MissB and DaveC.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

I find your comments absolutely incredible! I can only attribute them to the fact that you're completely unfamiliar with any believers who actually walk in victory over the will of the flesh. Is this where Apostolicism is today? Have we strayed so far from the 1st ce. experience that we not only expect believers to remain bound in sin, but call those "liars" who testify that Jesus Christ can and does deliver from the chains of sin?

I honestly don't know what to say at this point. After 30+ years of serving God, I can honestly say I've never encountered a mindset quite like this. Dear God, do we ever need revival in the Body of Christ! I can only pray that my comments in this thread will be read by enough ppl and give them hope that Jesus still changes lives, not just puts a new paint job over the old one.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor 5:17)

I don't disagree with you. I do believe we can walk above "sin". But I don't think some of the things we've talked about are "sin". Some things are just part of being human.

[Aquila]

I'm still curious about the Song of Solomon. Where the lovers who fantasized and dreamed of one another prior to their marriage "sinning"?

[Aquila]

But, I have to mention this. I was in prayer about this yesterday and a verse of Scripture came to mind that I believe Dave might agree with or maybe he might have some valuable insight to share.

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

What does it mean to "hunger and thirst" after righteousness? Does it merely mean to desire righteousness? Or is there something to bringing your desire for righteousness into the realm of literally "hungering and thristing" after it?

Could this verse allude to prayer and fasting?

Just a thought.

[Jeffrey]

Notice all those who believe 100% sexual purity to be possible are all women. hehe

I think MB is more balanced than that though, so I'll give her the benefit of doubt. We remain pure by fighting the good fight. I'm not sure if I can call myself pure if I mess up a little or a lot. Or even exactly what "a little" is (fantasized thoughts before marriage?). Am I pure in heart by being perfect or by "hungering and thirsting" after righteousness (thanks Aquila)? Or are these two identical?

Wait, what are we arguing again??? lol