Sexual Purity - practicing it and fighting our propensity to run away

This is from a great post by Dr. Harry W. Schaumburg and the particular post, Fireproof your life and marriage.

1st Biblical Essential: A Consistent Diet of “Meat” Heb. 5:11-14

To be skilled in the word of righteousness

To have the powers of discernment

To distinguish good from evil

2nd Biblical Essential: A Rigorous Training in the Grace of God Titus 2:11, 12

To renounce ungodliness

To renounce worldly passions

To live self-controlled, upright and godly lives

3rd Biblical Essential: A Well-Established Heart James 5:8-11

To be patient

To not grumble

To remain steadfast

4th Biblical Essential: A Determined Effort to Supplement Faith 2 Peter 1:5-11

To increase these qualities

To not lack these qualities

To practice these qualities

5th Biblical Essential: A Strict Departure from the Old Life Col. 3:5-14

To put to death what is earthly

To put away; put off the old self

To put on the new self

6th Biblical Essential: A Restless Diligence Heb. 2:1; 3:12

To avoid unbelief

To not be hardened

To be firm to the end

7th Biblical Essential: A Concerted Effort Must Be Made Heb. 12:15-16

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God.

See to it that no root of bitterness springs up.

See to it that no one is sexually immoral.

See to it that no one is unholy like Esau.

We can deceive ourselves and settle into a stupor when we're not aware of this area. The gospel can become dull and unfasinating if our minds are dulled by the encessant attack from the sexualized culture that we live.

I cannot tell you enough of how we need this to grip us, the secret nature of this sin is the nastiest and most deadly to our spiritual senses. We can justify it to ourselves but it will never grow us closer in intimacy with the ones that we truly love the most, if we sat down and thought about it. But that is the problem, we never sit down and think it out. Ultimately it is a separation from the One who has given us all things, especially His own Son for our sin.  I pray that we can find accountability and never generalize this but kill it or as Col. 3:5 says, "Put to death..."

Your boasting friend,

Tim