April 4th
“You have plowed and plotted wickedness, you have reaped the [willful] injustice [of oppressors], you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your [own] way and your chariots, in the multitude of your mighty men. Therefore shall a tumult arise against your people and all your fortresses shall be wasted and destroyed” Hosea 10:13-14 NKJV
Eating the fruit of lies is a destructive habit. Pornography is one of the devil’s most potent means of feeding lies to people. Some of the lies that pornography promotes are:
- You can’t live without sex
- Forbidden things are satisfying
- Perverted sex is exciting
- Lust is love
- It doesn’t hurt to look/ You’re not hurting anyone by looking
- Masturbation is harmless and healthy
- Sex is about getting what you want, when you want it
- Sex limited to marriage is boring / Variety is the spice of life / Sinless sex is boring
- Lasting fulfillment comes from lots of sex
- All sex is good
If we view pornography, we’re giving the devil an open door to corrupt our minds with lies. It doesn’t take long to start buying into the lies we are viewing and reading about in porn. Reversing the process involves shutting off the input of porn and then dealing with the lies we have started believing.
The truth is what will set us free from lies. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32 NKJV). Truth destroys the power of the lie, and enables us to walk out of our self-imposed bondage.
A key to “reloading” the truth in our minds is found in getting familiar with the God’s written word in the Bible. Everything we need to know is in the Bible and it will revitalize our weakened and damaged conscience of sin. Consider what Peter wrote: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV). God’s promises to us through Christ are written in the Bible and give us everything we need for life and living in godliness.
The Holy Spirit will help us in the renewing of our minds, as we seek God daily and yield to his convictions. Part of the new covenant through Christ is that God writes his word on our hearts (Hebrews 10:16-17). The Holy Spirit will call our attention to the truth and re-sharpen our conscience (or heart) to God’s word.
Drawing from both the written word and the word in our hearts, we will be able to recognize and counter every lie that comes our way. For examples of how to apply God’s word to destroy the devil’s lies, see our Sex Addiction Lies page.
Questions for further thought:
How is looking at porn a form of internalizing lies? (Matthew 6:22-23)
How does the blood of Jesus affect our conscience when we believe in Jesus? (Hebrews 10:22)
How does repeated sin affect our “spiritual heart”? (Hebrews 3:13)
If our hearts have been hardened, what will God do for us if we ask him to? (Ezekiel 11:17-21)
Prayer:
“Father God, Thank you that the blood of Jesus cleanses my conscience from the dead works of sin. Thank you that a new heart and a new spirit are available to me through my faith in Jesus. I confess that I have eaten the fruit of the devil’s lies through the following sins: ______________(list). Please forgive me and cleanse my conscience from the residue of those lies. Please create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Please sharpen my mind to the truth and train me how to walk in righteousness. I yield my life to you, Father. I pray this in the name of Jesus, which is higher than any name in heaven, on earth and under the earth. Amen.”
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