Timeless Truths: Every Kind of Sin is Serious

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Timeless Truths: Every Kind of Sin is Serious

June 27, 2024

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Anyone who justifies a porn habit is on very dangerous ground. In this week's "Timeless Truths" segment, we'll look at what the Bible says happens when we allow a pattern of sin to remain in our lives.

Host: Ken Larkin has joined us in the studio again. Ken, we want to deal with a question that came in from an individual who has been struggling with internet pornography for years. As a way of justification for their pornography use, they're looking at it from the perspective that since they're not actually involved in an affair with another person then their sin really isn’t a big deal. They see it as just blowing off steam and a way to enjoy their free time and yet they're asking the question, “How can I continue in my spiritual journey while doing this?” Interesting question there.

Ken: Yes, it is. First, I would say that if they have a sincere desire to grow spiritually and become more like Jesus, then the internet porn must go. There is no rational justification for sinning to blow off steam. And without a doubt, any sin, especially a long-standing sin like habitual pornography is hindering this person in their walk with God.

Host: Okay, now let's take a look at some of the negative effects of viewing pornography.

Ken: Well, all sin has consequences even if they're not readily apparent. So, what I would say first of all is that their heart is becoming more defiled and increasingly hardened as they continue this behavior. And with that, it's going to affect their relationship with the Lord in a negative way. There's no way of getting around that. And lust is selfish by nature. So, a person is going to be alienating themselves from the Lord and from other people the more that they are involved in this behavior.

Host: For sure. Well, Ken, let's deal with the perspective that he has that I think is very often common from men that are involved in pornography. He is justifying himself by saying he isn’t engaging in sin physically with someone else. Tackle that issue if you would.

Ken: What I would say is that really, it's a heart issue. Even though you're not physically involved in a relationship, you are committing adultery in your heart. You're having an affair with someone in your heart. And that would be true whether you're married or whether you're single. And with that also, you're heading down a dangerous pathway spiritually. The wages of sin is death and there's no way to get around that.

Host: Well, Jesus talks about this too.

Ken: Yeah, he sure does. Jesus explains this and He also gives us a serious warning in Matthew 5:28-30. He says, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:28-30, NKJV)

Host: Now, you started this discussion by assuming this individual was sincere, that they have a sincere desire to grow spiritually and become more like Jesus. So, if they truly are sincere, what should they get out of that passage in Matthew? What really would you admonish a person to do if they are serious?

Ken: We would call it radical amputation. Do whatever it takes to free yourself of this addiction. First of all, you have to get rid of the pornography, that’s nonnegotiable. With that, maybe an internet filter or something like that, that would help you would be great.

Host: Whatever it takes. That may mean getting rid of the computer or getting rid of the smartphone if some kind of protection software isn't going to do it for you. And I only say that because I know you can have all the protection software in the world you want, but if you really are craving sin, there's always a way to get around it. So, if it means getting rid of the computer, then it means getting rid of the computer.

Ken: That is so true. Secondly, I would say if you haven't done so already, it's important that you share this sin, get it into the light with your pastor or some godly individual that you can trust. And they can provide you with guidance and accountability as you're coming into freedom over this addiction.

Thirdly, I would encourage you to enroll in our Overcomers At-Home Program. I've seen many individuals radically changed from the inside out as God has dealt with them at the root issues, this pride, this selfishness and all these things that aid and abet your sin. When God gets to the heart issue, it goes beyond outward change like putting a filter on your devices, God begins to take the desire for sin out of your heart. I've seen men come into a relationship with the Lord they never had before. Where they have something better than their sin and they enjoy that sweet fellowship with the Lord.

Host: And that's so important. I think that was the thing that was missing in this individual's question was they saw the issue as, “What do I do about my spiritual journey?” But all they focused on was pornography. They missed what so many of us missed until the Lord opened our eyes: pornography really wasn't the issue. It was just the manifestation of the deeper issues of the heart that the Lord wants to deal with.

Ken: That's so true. And I would also say the Lord is not trying to take from us. God is wanting to give this individual more of himself and this pornography is just getting in the way. As they open up their hearts through genuine repentance and put their faith anew in Christ, He wants to pour in His spirit and give them that abundant life that He's promised for all of us.

Host: Amen. Well, Ken, thanks so much for talking to us about this question today. And we do want to let folks know if they are interested in the Overcomers At-Home Program or our Residential Program, there's information for both of these on our website.

#586 - I Can't Get Free Unless God Chooses to Set Me Free | The 10 Half-Truths Series

July 1, 2024

Jesus promised us that the truth would set us free. He made no such promises about half-truths. In this episode, Nate Danser examines Scripture to find out why “I can’t get free unless God chooses to set me free” is a half-truth with no power to deliver people from porn addiction. And, one of our residential counselors will talk about how that very half-truth crippled his efforts to break free from pornography. And of course, we’ll look at the full truth that has power to set anyone free! Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

#585 - Sexual Pleasure is the Most Important Thing in Life | The 10 Half-Truths Series

June 24, 2024

Our mission at Pure Life Ministries is simple. Show men and women why they're addicted to porn and then show them the way out. One of the reasons multitudes are addicted is because they’ve been deceived by half-truths. In "10 Half-Truths that Keep Us Addicted to Porn", we’ll look at deceptions that keep people in bondage to sin, but more importantly, we’ll use God’s Word to reveal the powerful truths that will set them free. This week: Sexual Pleasure is the Most Important Thing in Life. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. https://lsbible.org/ and https://316publishing.com/

Timeless Truths: He Who Conceals His Sin Will Not Prosper

June 20, 2024

In this "Timeless Truths" segment: When we're unwilling to confess our sins, our hearts grow hard and calloused. But when we humbly confess our sins to God and a trusted spiritual leader, the power of the enemy will be broken off of our lives. Host: Ken Larkin has joined me in the studio. Ken is a counselor for the Residential Program here at Pure Life Ministries. Ken, we got a question in that unfortunately is not all that uncommon. It's from a young man who is involved in his church. He's a worship leader who has been giving over to pornography. And, from the natural perspective, we can certainly understand he's afraid to tell anyone. He may be having thoughts like, “What if I tell someone? I might lose my job. It might be humiliating.” But he is asking, what should I do? What kind of counsel would you give this young man? Ken: Well, the first thing I would do is take him to the Bible. There's a precious Proverb I'd like to share with him. Proverbs 28:13 (NKJV) says: “He who covers his sin will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” And if you really want to be free from your pornography addiction, it's absolutely essential that you do confess to the Lord. But besides that, you have to confess to another individual. And I would recommend that he confesses this to his pastor as soon as possible. Host: Well, you've counseled a number of men in this area. What is some of the danger of not confessing this? What happens in our inside world when we know we're in sin and the Holy Spirit's convicting us, but we don't respond to that conviction. Ken: It becomes easy to get into a cycle of failure and defeat when you're living in the darkness of hidden sin. You're in your own little world and you can find any reason to justify your sin. And what usually happens is if you're not willing to confess to another individual, your heart just grows harder. You start crossing boundaries that you never thought you would, and you actually end up going deeper into your sin. Host: And really, the unwillingness to confess your sin is a reflection of the fact that you don't want to give up your sin. Also, the reality is that if you're in a good solid church and particularly if you're in a leadership position and you're involved in sin, you're probably going to be asked to step away for some time. Talk about the benefit of that. Ken: Well, the benefit is that first of all, if you're living in sin, you shouldn't be in any type of leadership position to begin with. So, you're getting yourself out of that position of leading worship and what's happening is now you're coming under the godly counsel of your pastor and other leaderships. So, now you're having someone else come alongside you to actually aid you to get free from your sin. You're not in this battle alone anymore. You have prayer support; you have godly counsel and godly leadership. They can help you in your struggle and your fight to be free. And the verse I would share in regard to that is found in James. “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16, 1984 NIV) Host: I know we've mentioned this in a previous discussion, but it's worth bringing up again in a situation like this. I can speak from personal testimony that when you're in a position where when the truth comes out, other people might be hurt or you might lose a job or position, the enemy is always there to give you 100 reasons why you shouldn't confess it. But we do want to caution that particularly for someone who is in leadership, they need to go to their leadership to confess not to someone who's under their authority. Ken: That is correct. And really, the enemy of our soul thrives on secrecy and deception. And he would love to have you keep this thing in secret and for you to continue to deceive others. Because his goal is to keep you bound to your sin. So, the first thing you need to do is get your sin out into the light and that will break the devil's power off of your life. Bringing things into the light is part of your step to freedom. It is essential. Host: And there is mercy available to those who are truly willing to repent. Repentance is a gift. God wants to give us that gift of repentance. But I do want to say also that if you're out there listening and you're in this position, frankly, it just takes courage to step up and do the right thing. And if you're one of those folks where you just think that you don't have what it takes to bring this into the light, then get before the Lord and say God help me. Help me to be able to do what I don't want to do in my flesh. He'll answer that prayer to help you to do the right thing because he really does want to set you free.