Freedom is bound to a spiritual law
Those seeking freedom from out-of-control lust must learn the spiritual law that determines freedom. Without this knowledge it is doubtful if true liberty can be obtained. A spiritual law is inexorable; it is universal and applies at all times to all people.
The first law of discipleship
The most fundamental law and the first principle of discipleship is that of pride and humility. We see this woven through many of Jesus’ teachings.
Blessed are the poor in spirit Matthew 5:3
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted Matthew 23:12
Pride the chief vice
In the kingdom of darkness, what you must understand is that the chief vice or sin is pride. I am not referring to pride as “a sin”, like thinking your better than others. What I am referring to is pride “as sin”. See it as a bite from Satan himself, a venom that flows through our members and completely enslaves our nature to be self-serving, self-seeking, self-consumed. All other sins are connected to a natural drive that has become twisted. NOT PRIDE. It flows from Satan’s own nature and when we are selfish or proud, we are being purely Satanic.
Humility the chief virtue
In contrast to pride, the chief virtue is humility. Andrew Murray describes it not so much as a virtue, but the soil out of which all virtue grows, even love. Humility is essentially taking the place of nothing so that God can be all. It is the complete emptying of self and the looking to God to be all and fill all. Jesus is our supreme example and he himself bestows this virtue of untold beauty in the new birth.
Why self-help does not work
Many seekers of freedom turn to self-help. This is a dead end, because it is the focus on self that is the problem. Worldly psychologies preach healing past trauma or dealing with emotional healing (important issues that the gospel addresses) which only make the person more supremely focused on themselves, which is more pride. Ultimate healing and deliverance are found when the quest for freedom is abandoned, and the quest for giving God his rightful place of all is taken up. Freedom is then a biproduct of the humble heart, that has relinquished all to Jesus and has taken up the towel of service to God and fellowman. The cross is the doorway to resurrection power, and death precedes life in the kingdom.
Let’s make it practical
Now let’s apply this law to sexual sin. The outplay of this principle in real life is this: the greater the pleasure associated with a sin, the greater the bondage. For example, the slavery connected to eating too many potato chips can hardly be compared to taking a drug like Methamphetamine, a drug that gives incredible feelings of euphoria and pleasure. The accompanying addiction is then indescribably powerful and life controlling. Many never escape its power. So, it is with sexual sin. The feelings associated with porn us are pure ecstasy (at least at first). Therefore, the accompanying addiction is unparallelled in its power to enslave. Some researchers have used the term “super-addiction” in connection with porn use, citing its ability to stimulate all four pleasure centers. The only way to get free is to embrace humility.
Time to get humble
Therefore, the only way to reverse the pattern of the enslavement of the law of pride, is to get humble. The principle of humility plays out this way: the harder it is to do, the greater the freedom when you do it. You will be faced with choices on your journey to freedom and the harder it is to perform the act of obedience, whatever it may be, the greater the breakthrough you will receive when accomplished. We teach our guys to call before they fall. That is the hardest call to make when your triggered and want to act out. However, if you break from the desire and call your accountability partner, you will get, oftentimes immediately, a reprieve of that temptation. Calling is an act of humility and it releases kingdom power, the power of the Holy Spirit. Mark this, the breakthrough will be in proportion to the struggle. If you are struggling a little and you call, you get a little breakthrough, but if you are struggling a lot, you will receive a stronghold shaking breakthrough. This is just one example of the many ways that humilty must be embraced to find lasting freedom. Pride simply cannot withstand the power of Christ humility embodied in his people.
Further support
If this message resonates with you, consider signing up for our 20-week Freedom Fighter series for men. We will work one-on-one with you until you are free indeed. https://freeindeedne.com/freedom-fighter-program/
