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Living Pure in an Impure World

Cover art: Gustave Doré

No Part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

ISBN: 978-0-9896518-7-5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIAL THANKS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: THE WILL OF GOD

CHAPTER 2: BY FAITH

CHAPTER 3: SPIRITUAL HEALTH

CHAPTER 4: FIRST ENCOUNTER

CHAPTER 5: IDENTIFYING THE TRAPS (WHAT)

CHAPTER 6: UNDERSTANDING THE TRAPS (WHY)

CHAPTER 7: AVOIDING THE TRAPS (HOW)

CHAPTER 8: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

CHAPTER 9: FOUR MANDATES

CHAPTER 10: HARDNESS OF HEART

CHAPTER 11: DECEITFULNESS OF SIN

CHAPTER 12: DOUBT AND UNBELIEF

CHAPTER 13: FLESH, EYES, AND PRIDE

CHAPTER 14: A LITTLE LEAVEN

CHAPTER 15: WOMEN

CHAPTER 16: PURE WATER

CHAPTER 17: SLAVE TRADE

CHAPTER 18: NO TEMPTATION

CHAPTER 19: OVERCOMERS

CHAPTER 20: THE BRIDE OF CHRIS

CHAPTER 21: THE LIFE OF HOSEA

CHAPTER 22: UNCLEAN

CHAPTER 23: IDOL WORSHIP

CHAPTER 24: CLINICALLY SPEAKING

CHAPTER 25: IN CHRIST

CHAPTER 26: QUICK REVIEW

CHAPTER 27: DECISION

CHAPTER 28: ABSTINENCE

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SPECIAL THANKS

To my Heavenly Father God, my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, and the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit – to You I give all the glory and praise!

To my editors: Thelma Adams and Brenda Davenport.

To Lynn Thomas for her detailed final edit, grammar, proofing, and readability suggestions.

To Dr. Doug Wingate and Life Christian University.

To Logos Bible Software.

Jim Langlois, Ph.D.

PREFACE

9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

12 Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.

13 With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.

16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word (Psalm 119:9–16).

This Psalm is most widely accepted to have been written by King David.

INTRODUCTION

For many of us, today’s society seems more evil than ever before. With the advent of the internet and the openness of sexual immorality blatantly vaunted through television programming, the absence of godly morals is on the decline in an unprecedented way. The decay of morals – adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, same-sex marriage, pornography, pedophilia, abortion, bestiality and the like come with tragic life-altering results: teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, divorce, single mother households, and fatherless children, just to name a few. However, when we study the history of society we find these issues have existed for thousands of years. Technology has only allowed more exposure and easier access.

Statistics show that even small towns are not exempt from the social effects of moral depravity. Our church is in the small train town of Ashland, Virginia, about fifteen miles north of Richmond. The population is about 7,200 and within a six mile radius from the center of town there are ninety-one sexual offenders on registry! (Family Watch Dog).

The Bible has much to say about sexual immorality, impurity, temptation, and the will of God. It addresses every one of the issues mentioned. If we are willing to listen, it gives us direction, wisdom for success, and instructs us how to live “free” from the impurities that destroy our lives, our families, our children, and our future.

Living pure in an impure world is not difficult with the Word of God as our guide and the Holy Spirit as our inner strength. Satan’s goal is to steal, kill, and destroy, but Christ has come that we might have life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10). This abundant life has been made available to us. It is a gift from God. With a repentant heart, a simple hunger for Him, and mustard seed faith, we can overcome the “world” (1 John 4:4, 5:4-5).

Another word for purity is righteousness. The kind of righteousness I am speaking about cannot be obtained through the righteousness of man. Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Christ was tempted, like we are, but never sinned; therefore, He earned perfect righteousness as a man. In the “Great Substitution” on the cross He took our sin and paid the price of death, and by faith we receive His righteousness and become the sons of God.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). (The New King James Version)

Purity not only represents the righteousness of God, it also demonstrates the outworking of His spirit producing fruit in our daily lives.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22–23).

As we walk in the Spirit, we become examples to others, by our “fruit.” Purity within should have an outward expression in our actions. We are known to others by our by our fruit, or by how we behave, both publicly and behind closed doors. (Matthew 7:20).

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).

Sanctification (holiness and separation unto God) is both instant through Christ (in the spirit man,) and a process through Christ (in the soul man), called the “renewing of the mind.”

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).

God’s standards are higher than the world’s standards. His prosperity, success, joy, and happiness, is greater than anything the world can provide. His morals may seem narrow, but His purpose for our future has no boundaries and no end! He sees eternally, while we see minute by minute. He sees a thousand years as a day, while we see a day as a thousand years. In order to understand His view, we must expand our vision. We must take the limits off of daily life and begin to see eternal life! We must take the priorities off earthly silver and gold, and begin to order our lives according to the Kingdom principles of faith, hope, and love. It can be done, and that is my purpose in writing this book.

God has a better way! With His way we can overcome the curse and receive the blessing. Joy and happiness are attainable. It is readily available – just for the taking. Most of us know the “what,” but the “how” seems so elusive. I believe as you read this book you will learn the “how.” You will see that it is not difficult and you will be able to live pure in an impure world!

Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references quoted are The New King James Version - NKJV.

Unless otherwise noted, all Greek and Hebrew words and their meanings come from Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.

CHAPTER 1

THE WILL OF GOD

Below are three versions of 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8. We begin by first establishing the foundation of God’s Word on the subject of purity and impurity. In order to be set free from anything that may be controlling us, we must first clear up any subtle deceptions we have on what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s acceptable, what’s unacceptable, what’s true, and what’s untrue. The world (man) has been deceived in so many ways, because he has defined the answers in his own mind by the precept, “if it feels good, do it.” Man is so “pleasure seeking for the moment,” that he can’t see beyond today and think about what consequences may occur from his actions. Then when things blow up – and they will – and he’s standing in the middle of failure and destruction, what does he do? Either he tries to justify his actions, blame someone else, or is so deceived and blind to reality he continues down the same destructive path, wreaking havoc, not only in his own life, but for everyone around him.

Man has redefined sin. He has done it through his own wisdom. The problem is that “his” wisdom is not enough. His wisdom is tainted by selfishness and pride; hence, the results never turn out as he hoped. Unless he admits his mistake and adopts the wisdom of God, he will continually fail and never reap the results desired.

We must agree that God knows best and we are willing to listen to what He has to say. Unless we first humble ourselves and accept Christ as the Lord of our lives, we will always come up short of perfection, never reaching the goals and successful life we desire.

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, NKJV).

3 For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice,

4 That each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor,

5 Not [to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will,

6 That no man transgress and overreach his brother and defraud him in this matter or defraud his brother in business. For the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we have already warned you solemnly and told you plainly.

7 For God has not called us to impurity but to consecration [to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough purity].

8 Therefore whoever disregards (sets aside and rejects this) disregards not man but God, Whose [very] Spirit [Whom] He gives to you is holy (chaste, pure) (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, AMP). (The Amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament).

3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.

4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—

5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.

6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before.

7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.

8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, NLT). (Holy Bible: New Living Translation, 3rd ed.)

Notice how the last version says if we refuse to live by these rules we are not disobeying human teaching. Why? Because human teaching says that sexual impurity is acceptable. Human teaching says that adultery, fornication, lesbianism, homosexuality, pornography, sex outside of marriage, and even sex with animals is acceptable. It has justified these actions by saying, “it is not hurting anyone.” However, we must realize this “human wisdom” is not the wisdom of God.

Is God trying to hurt us? Is He trying to take away our fun? Or, does He know what’s best? Does He know something we don’t know? Can He see further into the future to know what is best for our health, wealth, and welfare? Are we willing to accept His definition of sexual purity on the mere point of faith and trust in His wisdom and goodness?

What’s my point? Unless you are willing to admit your failure and humbly accept the truth of God’s Word, there is no reason to read any further. Unless you are ready to submit to His wisdom and admit He is right, you will not be able to make the changes in your life – you will not be able to live pure in an impure world.

However! If you are ready to listen to Him, confess your failure, and are hungry for the truth of the Word of God, through faith you will be able to conquer any (and all) control these things may have in your life – guaranteed!

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (1 John 5:4).

CHAPTER 2

BY FAITH

You can conquer ANYTHING through faith, but you must understand this is the only way – there is no other way. There is no victory over the world outside of faith.

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23).

But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).

The Bible tells us we can overcome the WORLD through faith!

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith (1 John 5:4).

So, what exactly is the WORLD? The original Greek word for world is “kosmos.”

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible:

"Kosmos” means the universe, the earth, the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race, the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ, world affairs, the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ. (Strong)

The Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words:

Kosmos: The “earth,” in contrast with Heaven, the human race, the “present condition of human affairs,” in alienation from and opposition to God, the sum of temporal possessions, an age – period of time, the cares of the world – its sons, its rulers, its wisdom, its fashion, its character, its god. (Vine, W.E.; Unger, M.F.; White, W.;)

What does this mean to us? It means we can gain victory over any temptation through faith! This brings us to the next question: “How do we get faith?” The answer is simple, and it works every time...

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself) (Romans 10:17, AMP).

The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to (Romans 10:17, The Message). (Peterson).

Why does the New King James Version say “hearing and hearing?” Because it may come from hearing, but the only way to keep it and grow it (faith) is by “continual” hearing. You know how easy it is for us to forget what we heard just a day or so ago! Faith in God is a daily process of hearing His Word over and over and over again. If you think you can just read the scriptures in this book just one time and you will always have the victory, you are mistaken. It took many years of training (through impure habits) to get you to this point. So, it’s going to take a daily renewing of your mind with the Word of God to overcome temptation and enable you to live pure in an impure world.

Faith is much like food. It’s not a natural food but a spiritual food. Just as natural food does not last forever, neither does spiritual food. In order to keep your faith strong you will need to feed it spiritual food (the Word of God) on a daily basis. You can’t eat a hamburger today and expect to be full tomorrow. Just as your physical body needs food every day, your spirit will also need nourishment on a daily basis. This can best be accomplished by developing a Spiritual Health Plan. It would include a Daily Bible Reading Plan (BRP), a Daily Prayer Plan (DPP), and a Church Attendance Plan (CAP).

CHAPTER 3

SPIRITUAL HEALTH

Here are some tips on developing your Spiritual Health Plan. These are just a few options. You will have to develop one that works best for you and your daily schedule.

How to Develop a Bible Reading Plan (BRP):

He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded (Proverbs 13:13).

1. Decide WHEN you are going to read.

a. Morning is best! (Early).

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me (Proverbs 8:17, KJV). (The Holy Bible: King James Version).

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water (Psalms 63:1).

b. You need to be spiritually fed in the morning to have spiritual energy (faith) for the day.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

2. Decide what DAYS you are going to read.

a. The best recommendation is every day, Sunday through Saturday!

Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors (Proverbs 8:34, KJV).

Give us this day our daily bread... (Matthew 6:11, KJV).

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23, KJV).

3. Decide how many CHAPTERS you will read each day.

a. Children should read at least one chapter.

b. Youth and adults should read three or more.

c. But remember – even one a day is better than none!

4. Decide WHAT you are going to read.

a. All New Testament chapters (Matthew through Revelation).

b. Old and New Testament. Here’s one example:

One Old Testament chapter (Genesis through Malachi).

One chapter of Psalms.

One chapter of Proverbs.

Two New Testament chapters (or more).

Five chapters total!

5. Decide what VERSION you are going to read.

a. Recommended for adults: the King James Version (KJV),English Standard Version (ESV) or the New King James Version (NKJV).

b. Recommended for children: the New King James Version (NKJV).

c. There are other good versions, but these are my best recommendations.

6. Good HINTS on daily Bible reading:

a. Buy a good quality Bible that you will cherish. (Good size print, words of Christ in red, nice cover, etc.)

b. Get additional ribbon markers to mark your places. (In the Old and New reading example given you will need a total of four.)

c. Do it first! Don’t even take a shower (unless it’s necessary to wake up). Don’t check the news, the phone, social websites,or personal messages!

d. Put on your robe, get a cup of coffee, juice, or water, and get your Bible!

e. Find a quiet place, with good lighting and a comfortable chair – somewhere you won’t be interrupted.

f. Read it like a book rather than trying to study everything you read.

g. If you don’t understand what you read, just keep reading!

h. When you finish a section (like the book of Proverbs, or the New Testament), start it again!

i. Do your Bible reading plan forever! Never stop for the rest of your life!

j.When you have finished your daily reading, close the book and go about your day!

7. REMEMBER...

a. It’s faith that overcomes the world!

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith (1 John 5:4).

b. Faith comes by hearing and hearing.

That means continual. Over and over and over and over!

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

c. This is how we live!

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).

d. This is how we walk!

For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

e. So Christ may dwell in our hearts!

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17).

f. That we might not sin against God!

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You (Psalms 119:11).

The simplest Bible Reading Plan I can recommend is one chapter of the New Testament five days a week. This plan may seem too easy, but it does have some advantages. It’s easy, does not take much time, and if you missed what you read it’s easy to read it two or three times! This is one way to concentrate on smaller sections, rather than getting too much information at one time. Another interesting fact is that there are exactly two hundred and sixty “weekdays” (Monday thru Friday) in a year and exactly two hundred and sixty chapters in the New Testament. If you follow this plan you will read the New Testament in exactly one year!

How to Develop a Daily Prayer Plan (DPP):

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42).

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit... (Ephesians 6:18).

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanks-giving (Colossians 4:2).

...continuing steadfastly in prayer (Romans 12:12).

Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

If we are to pray without ceasing, and we can only pray in our understanding, then we are in trouble! What does “without ceasing” mean?

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words:

"not of what is not interrupted, but of that which is constantly recurring.”

That’s helpful, but even so, I still have difficulty knowing what to pray! Thank God we have two ways to pray – “in the Spirit” (other tongues) and “with the understanding” (in our own language).

What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15).

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).

"Groanings which cannot be uttered” can be translated as “words which cannot be articulated in a known language.” This brings us to the theology of praying in the Spirit, in other tongues – or new tongues.

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17).

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20).

It is not my intent to get into this teaching in this book, however, if you are interested in this subject and how it can assist you in your prayer life, I suggest you get my book, Is it Okay to Pray in Tongues in Church? (Langlois). In this book I go into detail on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. I share about its purpose, value, and how it is by far the most powerful tool I have personally experienced in having an effective prayer life. It is available online at BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com, and other book sites.

Basically, the best way to develop a prayer life is to pray throughout your day. A few other tips would be as follows...

1. Start your day with a set time of dedicated prayer – a few minutes or more.

2. Have other set times during the day. Daniel prayed three times a day!

...And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days (Daniel 6:10).

3. Attend corporate prayer meetings at your church.

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (Acts 3:1).

4. Attend small group prayer meetings.

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

The Prayer of Faith!

Your method of prayer is also important. Prayers of faith are the most effective. God already knows what you have need of before you ask (Matthew 6:8). What He wants to know is what you think about those needs! Are you anxious and worried about how they are going to be met or do you trust that your heavenly Father is there to meet those needs? The question to ask as you pray is “where is my faith?” Your prayers should declare His goodness, not question His love or care for you.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanks-giving, let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6).

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:31-34).

Developing a prayer life is developing a relationship with the Lord. To pray is simply to speak to God and listen. The more you pray and listen to what He has to say, the closer your relationship with Him will be. You can’t have an effective relationship with anyone (including the Lord) without spending some quality time together.

How to Develop a Church Attendance Plan (CAP):

I feel very strongly about this... I believe everybody should attend church a minimum of once a week, and I strongly suggest twice a week. Why? Several reasons:

1. The Bible says so!

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).

13 If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words,

14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken (Isaiah 58:13-14).

2. You need to allow the gifts of the five-fold ministry to disciple you.

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).

God gave gifts to men to equip the saints. He instructs those entrusted with the five-fold ministry gifts to spend time in prayer and in the Word (Acts 6:4), so that they may bring the teaching and preaching of the Word that you need. Allow their gift to impart the Word of God into your life. This is how you “grow up” in Christ.

14 That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ (Ephesians 4:14-15).

3. You need to encourage one another and fellowship with those of like faith.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16).

An Additional Tip:

Make sure you have the right friends!

The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray (Proverbs 12:26).

Notice how it says “the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Many Christians think they can have ungodly friends with the thought they would lead them to Christ, but this scripture says the opposite! It says the way of the wicked will lead the righteous astray! How could this be? The key is in the word “friend.” This word in the original Hebrew means “companion, lover, intimate person.” Yes, we are to go into all the world (Mark 16:15) but we are not to be “of the world” (John 17:16). God is telling us that we do need to live in the world and bring the good news to sinners, however, we are not to be intimate companions (best-friends, hang-around buddy-buddies), participate in their lifestyle, and accept the peer pressure to be like them. If we do, the scripture says we will be led astray!

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4).

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one (John 17:15).

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). Many say this scripture is talking about marriage, but it has to do with all our close relationships. It is referring to friends, wives, husbands, family members, and even co-workers. The wisdom from God: choose your friends carefully!

With a plan and goal for each of these areas (reading the Word, prayer, and church attendance, and the right friends) you will find spiritual, mental, and even physical strength in a world of chaos, disarray, and destruction.

My prayer is that the Word following will transform your life, as it has for me and many others. God bless you as you dive deeper each day in your relationship with Christ.

Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs:

1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.

6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:1–6).

16 To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words,

17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.

18 For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead;

19 None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life (Proverbs 2:16–19).

The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; He who is abhorred by the LORD will fall there (Proverbs 22:14).

CHAPTER 4

FIRST ENCOUNTER

My first encounter with the dark world of pornography took place as a young teen when I found some pornographic short stories in the top drawer of my father’s dresser. I took them, read them all, and hid them in my desk. My father found them and took them back, but never spoke with me about them. I am convinced that’s when an unclean spirit entered my life, with the goal of making me its slave.