Building an Offense to prevent pornography addiction

In Hebrews chapter 12 we are told that we must run the race that has been set before us.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1–2, ESV)

But we must first lay aside every weight, and sin, which clings to us. If you want to run a race, you must set aside everything that will hold you back.

Sexual sin is a weight that prevents the Christian from engaging in their God-given calling. We must help the addict connect with their greater calling and purpose, so that they will lay aside their pornography addiction.

Our physical health is directly tied to our spiritual and emotional health. We cannot neglect our physical discipline and expect to be spiritually sharp.

Eating well, sleeping well, and exercise provide the body with the energy and strength it needs to win the war against the soul.

The life of integrity is a life of discipline. You must build key disciplines into your life if you desire to live in integrity. Here are 5 key disciplines to build: https://youtu.be/JnuUTcj_Pqk

It’s very hard to stop thinking about something. But the beauty of your brain is that we are not designed for multi-tasking. So how can we refrain from sexual thoughts and guard our thought life against fantasy? By building a habit of Scripture memory.

It’s much easier to actively pursue thinking about something else. We must replace our impure thoughts with better thoughts. This is where Scripture memory becomes a game-changer for your thought life. Scripture memory becomes an offense, a focus, a method for filling your mind with the truths of Scripture and replacing the impure thoughts of pornography addiction.

Here are some of the brain changing benefits of Scripture memory: https://youtu.be/g18kDKBEMZI

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to memorize Scripture: https://youtu.be/c8aVkbP5Fyk

Our offense is about what we will replace pornography addiction with. Something must fill the void of our time, energy, and thoughts if we are going to eliminate sexually addictive behavior. The Scripture gives us the put-off, put-on principle, where we see that we must build an offense of a new focus.

Ephesians 4 is filled with this principle.

“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:25–29, ESV)

Someone who was living a life of stealing must now live a life of giving. This is redemption. For the porn addict, who once was taking from others and using them for his own personal pleasure, he can now build his life around serving others. He can use his time and energy to love, serve, and protect. This is the redemption of the Gospel. It’s radical transformation. It’s the offense we need to live the life of sexual integrity.