Introduction and Overview
Freedom Homework:
It is the claim of some that the Bible is silent on the subject of pornography. In fact, Scripture has much to say about pornea. The word pornea, a Greek word meaning sexual sin, plus the suffix graphic, when combined, literally means pictures of sexual sin. What principles and truths do you find in each passage of Scripture as it relates to building moral purity into your life?
Thought Control (Pro 23:7; Rom 12:2; Phil 4:8; 2 Cor 10:5)
- Eye Control (Job 31:1; Psa 101:3; Pro 4:23, 25; Mt 6:22,23)
Body Control (1 Thess 4:4; 1 Tim 4:7, 8; Rom 6:12)
Companion Control (1 Cor 15:33; 5:9-11; Pro 13:20,21; 22:24,25; 27:17)
Circumstance Control (Rom 13:14; 1 Thess 5:22; 2 Tim 2:22)
Influence Control (1 Thess 4:6, 7; Pro 27:17; Rom 16:17, 18)
Focus Control (2 Cor 5:9; 1 Cor 10:31; Phil 2:3, 4; Mt 20:25-28)
Thought Control Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, ‘Eat and drink! ’ But his heart is not with you.” Roman 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
2 Corinthians 10:5, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…” Eye Control Job 31:1, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?” Psalm 101:3, “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.” Proverbs 4:23, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.” Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Body Control
1 Thessalonians 4:4, “that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor…” 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Romans 6:12, “Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts…” Companion Control 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
1 Corinthians 5:9-11, “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-not even to eat with such a one.” Proverbs 13:20-21, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Adversity pursues sinners, but the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.”
Proverbs 22:24-25, “Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways, and find a snare for yourself.” Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Circumstance Control Romans 13:14, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22, “Abstain from every form of evil.” 2 Timothy 2:22, “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” Influence Control 1 Thessalonians 4:6-7, “And that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.
For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.” Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Romans 16:17-18, “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Focus control 2 Corinthians 5:9, “Therefore, we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to him.” 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
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Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Matthew 20:25-28, “But Jesus called them to himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’”
Thought Control (Pro 23:7; Rom 12:2; Phil 4:8; 2 Cor 10:5). Based on these verses, what is your strategy to control your thoughts for God’s glory?
- Eye Control (Job 31:1; Psa 101:3; Pro 4:23, 25; Mt 6:22,23). Based on these verses, what is your strategy to control your eyes for God’s glory?
- Body Control (1 Thess 4:4; 1 Tim 4:7, 8; Rom 6:12). Based on these verses, what is your strategy to control your body for God’s glory?
Companion Control (1 Cor 15:33; 5:9-11; Pro 13:20,21; 22:24,25; 27:17). Based on these verses, what is your strategy to choose your friends for God’s glory?
Circumstance Control (Rom 13:14; 1 Thess 5:22; 2 Tim 2:22). Based on these verses, what is your strategy to make right choices in difficult or tempting circumstances for God’s glory?
Influence Control (1 Thess 4:6, 7; Pro 27:17; Rom 16:17, 18). Based on these verses, what is your strategy to choose good influences and reject bad influcnces for God’s glory?
Focus Control (2 Cor 5:9; 1 Cor 10:31; Phil 2:3, 4; Mt 20:25-28). Based on these verses, what is your strategy to control your focus for God’s glory?