ON THIS PAGE Consider the Consequences [Introduction] Consider The Consequences Of Sin Consider The Consequences Of Holiness Pray To See Sin Through God’s Eyes Make Plans to Develop Self-control and Resist Temptation Choose Scripture Verses To Read And Memorize. Choose Wholesome Entertainment Watch Out for Cultural Contamination Guard Your Thought Life Consider the Consequences [Introduction] (Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8).
The Consequences of Sin: Introduction Have you ever decided to sin and thought, "I don't care about the consequences"? I've counseled with many people who allowed themselves to be carried away by temptation, thinking they didn't care what happened, only to discover that they really did care when they faced devastating consequences. Realistically considering the consequences of our actions can help us make the right choices. For me, it helps to consider the consequences of not sinning as well as considering the consequences of sinning.
Consider The Consequences Of Sin. Remember that your actions have consequences! When tempted to sin, don't let your emotions overrule your intelligence or your desire to please God. Discipline yourself to consider the possible consequences of your actions. Sin grieves God. God loves you intensely and is hurt when you sin. For example, he is grieved when you give in to anger and speak crossly (Ephesians 4:30-31). Make it your goal to please him, not to get away with sin. Ask yourself, "Do I want to grieve God?"
Sin harms your walk with God. A tragic consequence of sinning is that you put a wedge between God and yourself. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk (1 Timothy 1:5-6). Fight the good fight holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith (1 Timothy 1:18-19).
Sin gives Satan an opening. When we sin, we give Satan an opening. For example, when we are angry and speak unwholesome words, we "give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27) and open ourselves up to further temptations.
God punishes sin. Sin has consequences. God often punishes (or disciplines) us when we sin, usually to help us learn (Hebrews 12:5-11). Paul referred to God’s punishment when he warned the Thessalonians about sexual sins: "The Lord will punish all men for such sins" (1 Thessalonians 4:6). Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished (Proverbs 6:27-29). Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8).
God does not always punish sin, especially when people repent (Psalm 103:10 and Jonah 3:10). However, we would be foolish to choose to sin, assuming he would not take action. For a striking example of God’s punishment, read Isaiah 42:14 and 42:24-25. Sin harms others. One of the saddest consequences of sin is that when you sin, you hurt your spouse, children, friends and others. For example, when people divorce for non-biblical reasons (Matthew 19:9 and 1 Corinthians 7:15), they usually inflict indescribable pain on their children and spouse. Some of the most painful counseling I do is when I talk with children whose parents divorced. I wish these adults could fully understand the agony they put their children through. God punishes those who lead others into sin. If you tempt someone to sin with you, God takes it seriously. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea (Matthew 18:6).
Sin harms your witness for Christ. When you sin, you may put a stumbling block in others’ paths and your ministry may be discredited. We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited (2 Corinthians 6:3).
Sin harms your potential. If you give in to temptation, you can miss out on the exciting life God wants for you. You can waste your life without developing your gifts or touching this world for Christ. Sin results in natural consequences. If you overeat, you may get sick. If you continually overeat, you probably will get fat. If you engage in immoral sex, your spouse may divorce you and you may get a sexually transmitted disease. If you gamble, you are likely to lose money. I sometimes think about the natural consequences of sin when I am tempted to eat too much unhealthy food. I think about how I would only enjoy eating it for a few minutes, then I consider how much time it would take to work off the calories. I also think about potential illnesses down the road that might be caused by eating a lot of junk food. Sin results in guilt and misery. You may think sin will make you happy. But, although you may experience temporary pleasure, you will end up miserable because of your guilt, natural consequences and God’s punishment. He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made (Psalm 7:14-15).
Personal application Name one temptation you face. What will be the negative consequences if you say "yes" to this sin and "no" to God? What will be the positive consequences if you say "no" to this sin and "yes" to God? Write a prayer asking God to help you remember the consequences and turn from sin.
Consider The Consequences Of Holiness (choosing not to sin). It's encouraging to realize that just as there are consequences to sin, there are consequences when we choose righteousness. Train yourself to remember them when you are tempted. Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you (Hosea 10:12).
You please God. Each time you say "yes" to God, he is pleased, much as an earthly parent takes pleasure in his or her child’s obedience. You grow in the Spirit. When you are tempted, it is an opportunity to grow in the Spirit. It’s exciting to see the power of God working in your life as you say "yes" to God and "no" to sin. You build resistance to further sin. When you overcome temptation, you learn that you have the strength to say, "No." That makes it easier to say "no" the next time. You are a good example to others. When you obey God, you provide a great example and encouragement to others. You experience joy. When you obey God and break free from the power of sin, you experience the excitement and joy that come from spiritual victory. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (John 15:10-11).
You avoid the negative consequences of sin. When we follow God's Word, we avoid all sorts of problems.
Pray To See Sin Through God’s Eyes See sin as evil, unpleasant, unappealing and disgusting Introduction It's no secret that you and I are tempted to sin. Everyone is. On many occasions, I have struggled and failed. Yet I've learned there are things we can do to overcome temptation. This Bible study, adapted from the Book Defeating Temptation: Biblical Secrets to Self-Control, illustrates one weapon in our struggle against sin—to see sin as God sees it. The deceitfulness of sin One of the biggest obstacles we face in the battle against temptation is that sin sometimes seems fun at first. Even if we don't engage in a particular sin, we fantasize about it, imagining how pleasurable it would be. We forget that although sin may look good at first, once we are hooked, it traps us (Proverbs 5:22-23) and drags us down (Ephesians 4:19). Study Proverbs 2, a chapter that encourages us to seek wisdom as an antidote to sin. Pray for God's Holy Spirit to help you overcome sin. As you read this Bible study, you will come across many prayer projects. I encourage you to pause at each one, consider it, and then pray sincerely, for it is only with God’s help that we can see clearly ... and it is only with God's help that we can be transformed. Recognize the evilness of sin. God hates sin. We need to see sin as he sees it and catch a vision of how serious it is when we sin. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom (James 4:8-9).
Pray to see sin as evil. Sample prayer: "Father, I have been casual about sin and rebellious to your commands. Please forgive me, and help me grasp the evilness of sin, in Jesus’ name." Pray to see sin as your enemy. Whatever tempts you is your enemy, not your friend. Ask God to burn this fact deep into your spirit. Sample prayer: "Lord, I have treated [names of sins] more like friends than enemies. I confess that I have strayed far from you in this area of my life, and ask you to help me know in a deep way that sin is my enemy, in Jesus’ name." Pray to hate evil. Sample prayer: "God, please replace my interest in anything evil with a hatred for evil, in Jesus’ name." As you pray these prayers, you will begin to find yourself avoiding sin because you know God hates it, not because you are afraid someone will catch you. See sin as rebellion against God. Many people, even Christians, are casual about sin. This is a big mistake. Sin is serious to God, and we should not take it lightly. When we sin, we rebel against—or reject—him. Psalm 51:4 brings this home to me. David had sex with another man’s wife, arranged to have the man killed and then married the woman (2 Samuel 11:2-27). Later, the prophet Nathan confronted David, and God punished him (2 Samuel 12:1-19). When David wrote about this incident, he knew he had sinned against the man and his wife, yet he realized that his major sin was against God. He wrote, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" (Psalm 51:4). Even when we sin against others, it is primarily God we are sinning against, for he is the one who commands us to live holy lives. Paul emphasized this point in his first letter to the Thessalonians. After telling them to avoid sexual immorality, he added: Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:8).
Realize that God is grieved when you sin. God is not a passive observer, watching you go through life as if watching a movie. He loves you passionately and wants the best for you. When we sin, it grieves God's Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:29-31). See sin as unpleasant, disgusting, and unappealing. When you see clearly, you realize that the things that tempt you are disgusting and ugly. Ask God to take away the blinders and help you see the truth. Pray to lose interest in what tempts you. Sample prayer: "Please take away my desire, Lord, to [names of sins]. I want to be like Jesus. I ask this in his name." Pray to be disgusted and revolted by what tempts you. Sample prayer: "Lord, I am embarrassed to admit that sometimes I find [name of sin] tempting. I know it is detestable in your sight, and ask that you make it seem disgusting and unappealing to me. Please take away all pleasure I have found in this. Help me think and feel about this sin exactly as you do, in Jesus’ name." Pray to see a gross picture when tempted. Let’s go one step further. Think of something that tempts you. Now think of something that is absolutely disgusting to you, such as eating a slug. Ask God to plant the image of eating the slug in your mind whenever you are tempted to commit that sin. Replace pleasant memories of past sins with sorrow. When counseling with a man who had served prison time for murder, I noticed that he smirked a little as he talked about his past. It became obvious that although he regretted his actions, he felt some pride for being a tough guy. A key to his spiritual growth was to identify his actions as sin and leave it at that. Pray for unpleasant memories of past sins. Get angry at sin. The Bible says, "Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it" (Genesis 4:7). In this verse, God identifies sin as your enemy. Since sin is your enemy, don't be passive. Get mad at it and at the devil—the one who introduced sin into the world. Pray for anger at sin. Pray for anger at the devil. Pray to love what is good. Pray for a pure heart. Sample prayer: "Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Create in me a pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (This prayer is adapted from Psalms 86:11 and 51:10.) Pray to love doing what is good. Personal application Look over all the prayers in this Bible study and choose the one that is most helpful to you. Now write a prayer that has the same message, but use your own words. Go into detail about how you would like God’s help.
Make Plans to Develop Self-Control and Resist Temptation
The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways (Proverbs 14:8). Are you frustrated in your efforts to resist temptation? It can be frustrating to intensely want to overcome a temptation, and then fail again and again. This can be especially hard if you are a Christian and feel discouraged in your desire to grow in the Lord and overcome sin. If you sometimes find yourself in this position, it may be because you do not go beyond making good intentions or vague plans. You may say, "I'll try harder," or, "I have to do something about this." In addition, you may pray for hours. Or you simply may mutter a quick prayer without much thought. Good intentions and prayer are not enough. Make a plan! Good intentions and prayer are important in your struggle against sin, but be sure to also make a precise, practical plan about how you will battle the temptations in your life. When you combine prayer, determination and a plan based on God's Word, you will find victory. The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty (Proverbs 21:5). An upright man gives thought to his ways (Proverbs 21:29).
Pick one temptation to work on. Have you ever made a long list of changes you want to make? Most of us have done this and soon have felt overwhelmed by trying to do so much. Start slowly, instead. Personal application: Write one temptation you want to overcome: __________________________________________
Analyze your temptation/sin patterns. If you can identify patterns when you sin, you will be able to make a better plan. Even if a temptation seems to come out of nowhere, if you pray and think about it, you usually can identify patterns in your behavior. This can help you understand why you sin and how to be an overcomer. For example, you may discover that every time you think your spouse mistreats you, you "give yourself permission" to become angry, get drunk, flirt with someone else or engage in a sex sin.
With whom are you are tempted to sin? Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies (Psalm 141:4). Personal application: Whom I am tempted to sin with: _______________________________
Where are you tempted? Where are you usually tempted to commit this sin? At home? At school? On the job? Somewhere else? Stay away from dangerous situations if you can. If you must walk on a dangerous path, be alert. “In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them” (Proverbs 22:5). When are you tempted to sin? Is there a certain time of the day or week when you are more likely to sin? Why are you tempted? What are your excuses for sinning? Do you justify your sin? Does it seem it "just happens?" Do you realize you are rebelling against God when you sin? “Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 4:8). What are the first steps you might take on the path to sin? What is your thought process before you sin? What are your first steps? Choose Scripture Verses To Read And Memorize. Identify Bible verses that speak to you personally about holiness and the particular sin you want to overcome. These could be from your personal Bible study, a sermon, or a book such as Defeating Temptation: Biblical Secrets to Self-Control. Keep an eye open for verses that jump out at you. Once you find some verses, read them regularly. Memorize what you can, but don't feel guilty if you can't memorize them all. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11). Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it (Joshua 1:8).
Personal application: Scripture(s) I will meditate on to strengthen me:
_____________________________________ List preventive actions to overcome temptation. Personal application: Steps I will take in my daily life to avoid dangerous situations: ______________________________
Write how you will resist when tempted. Don't play around with sin. When tempted, flee! Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue Righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).
Personal application: Steps I will take to resist sinning if I am tempted: __________________________________________ Choose Wholesome Entertainment Don't Expose Yourself to Ungodly Movies, Music, Books and TV Introduction to potential dangers of secular entertainment Jesus offers us an abundant and joyful life, yet in our search for enjoyment and relaxation we often unthinkingly accept the world’s idea of fun. The result: We harm ourselves and our relationship with the Lord. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (John 15:11).
A good guideline is to only engage in activities of which Jesus would approve. As John wrote: Be aware of the dangers in secular entertainment. Much of the entertainment and literature in our society is ungodly. This doesn't only apply to obvious material such as pornography. It also applies to many regular television shows and movies, books, magazines and music. Let’s take a look at some of the potential dangers from secular entertainment: · We can accept a secular picture of the world. Much entertainment presents a false or incomplete picture of reality by leaving Christ out. Even if there are no negative references to Christianity, the picture of the world we expose ourselves to may ignore the most important element of truth--God. It is like reading a book about how to survive in the wilderness that does not mention food or water. If the main thing we fill our minds with are these godless versions of reality, we can come to see Christianity as irrelevant to human interactions and "religion" as only belonging in church. We learn lessons that rarely work out in real life. If you watch television sitcoms, movies or pornography, you are liable to internalize a false picture of human relationships. For example, if you watch soap operas, you may become upset because your spouse does not seem as romantic or sexy as the actors and actresses. We often are not truly refreshed. I used to spend a couple hours every night after work watching sitcoms and other television shows, thinking I needed to relax and unwind. But I discovered that when I was done watching, I wasn't truly relaxed, closer to my wife and children or nearer to God; instead, I felt like I was mildly drugged. We can become cynical. We can develop disrespect for pastors or Christianity since few movies or television shows portray Christians or pastors in a positive light. Pastors and evangelists often are shown as greedy or as lunatics, or both. We can develop impure sexual thoughts or lust. The sexuality in most secular entertainment--and I'm writing about most everyday entertainment, not just pornography--portrays sex in a dreadful way. It presents sex simply as an instinctive drive, or it makes adultery and other sexual sins appear romantic and wonderful. When you expose yourself to these messages, your thoughts about sex are likely to become more like the world’s and less like God’s. You may fantasize about sexual sins. If you are married, you may become dissatisfied with the way your spouse makes love. On the flip side, you may find yourself thinking that sex is ugly and distasteful and pull away from your mate. We can learn to accept ungodly violence as okay. In some instances, violence has an appropriate role in movies and television shows. But the violent scenes we usually see are brutal, sadistic and ungodly. If we aren't careful, we can find ourselves accepting on-screen sinful violence, or even laughing at it. Some of us may actually find ourselves imitating the violent behavior we see in TV or the movies. I have counseled with many delinquent teenage boys who imitated the violence they saw on TV and in the movies. We can become materialistic. Most advertising has one purpose: to make you think you must buy some particular thing to be happy. Movies and TV shows often feature luxurious living and give the message that happiness comes from spending lots of money.
Avoid Harmful Entertainment. Ask God before you watch, listen to or read something. Do not "fool" yourself or allow yourself to be careless. Keep your spiritual eyes open. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me (Psalm 101:3).
Evaluate what you let into your spirit. Do not put vile things before your eyes. Do not poison yourself. Do not violate the Bible or your conscience. Paul gave timeless guidelines when he wrote: Fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith (1 Timothy 1:18-19). Do not blindly follow society’s standards. We sometimes watch questionable movies or listen to questionable music, thinking that since "everybody" else is listening or watching, it must be okay. Or we think something is acceptable simply because it is not as bad as something else. Watch rationalizations. Be honest with yourself. Would God want you to watch that movie or television show? How does it really affect you? Let’s look at two common rationalizations. "I filter out the bad parts." This can be true to a degree, but repetitive exposure usually affects us. Further, the reason we watch or read questionable material often is because we want to enjoy things that we should not enjoy. "Christian media sometimes gets boring." If you are bored with Christian TV or radio shows, don't let that be an excuse to watch or listen to unprofitable things. There are lots of other ways to spend your time. I am not trying to lay down an absolute rule that we only watch, read or listen to things which are overtly Christian. Some secular materials can be educational, entertaining or uplifting. But I am suggesting that we carefully evaluate what we do for recreation and entertainment, and how these activities affect us. Enjoy healthy activities and entertainment. When you choose entertainment activities, identify those that are both fun and edifying. The following is a short list of ideas. Check those that you would enjoy doing: ___ Make a great meal and share it with friends.
___ Listen to inspiring radio shows.
___ Visit with friends.
___ Tell jokes.
___ Go to a good musical or play.
___ Listen to uplifting music.
___ Go backpacking or climb a mountain.
___ Play tennis, golf or another sport.
___ Sing at home.
___ Join a choir.
___ Go for a walk in the park.
___ Play games with friends.
___ Learn to play a musical instrument.
___ Read Christian magazines.
___ Study the Bible.
___ Watch a good movie.
___ Read Christian novels or other good books.
___ Read biographies.
___ Listen to an orchestra.
___ Grow a garden.
___ Write letters.
___ Start a collection or develop a hobby.
Don't spend too many hours on entertainment. When we spend too much time watching television, surfing the Internet or engaging in sports or other activities, we often neglect our family and friends, and our relationships suffer. Plus, we are not fulfilling God’s purpose for us. He wants us to develop our gifts and to reach out and minister to others. We are called to make a difference in this world, not merely to be spectators. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Be alert if you read or watch dangerous material. There may be times when it is appropriate to expose yourself to material that has ungodly elements. For example: studying in school, reading job-related material, watching plays, reading "great literature" or staying aware of current events, trends or thoughts. When you do any of these things, ask God to help you respond in a proper manner. Ask him to protect your spirit and help you not accept ungodly actions, attitudes or vocabulary as being okay. Pray for wisdom and balance. Recreation is fine if it is part of a balanced life, but if you mainly live to have fun, you are missing out on God’s purpose for your life and the joy that comes from serving God and helping others. Set your mind on things above. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2).
Personal Application: Evaluate what you do for entertainment. Would Jesus enjoy what I enjoy? Yes/No Would Jesus find the same jokes funny? Yes/No Would Jesus read or watch the same things I do? Yes/No Would Jesus listen to the same music? Yes/No Would Jesus do the same things I do? Yes/No What changes do you think God would like you to make in what you do or watch for entertainment? What changes do you think God would like you to make in how much time you spend on entertainment?
Watch Out for Cultural Contamination Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1). Introduction to cultural contamination (or "cultural pollution") (This printable online Bible study is adapted from Defeating Temptation: Biblical Secrets to Self-Control.) Many people worry about pollution that impacts our environment. Although we should be concerned about this, we should be more alarmed by the way we are polluted by our culture. Throughout the Bible, we are cautioned about the way ungodly cultures tempt us to sin. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were warned not to adopt the practices of those around them (Leviticus 18:1-5 and Deuteronomy 18:9-14). In the New Testament, James wrote that we should avoid "being polluted by the world" (James 1:27). Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1).
We are more influenced by our culture than we realize. We embrace the world’s propaganda and become ineffective as God’s ambassadors. We accept lies and compromise our witness without knowing it. We try to fit into our culture instead of invading our culture. As you read this Bible study, ask God to show you any changes you should make. You are a branch in Christ’s tree and God is the gardener. Let him prune you of any ways the world has corrupted you. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful (John 15:1-2).
Evaluate what influences you. We are assaulted by non-Christian opinions and often adopt them as our own without realizing it. Learn to critically evaluate everything you see, read or hear. Ask yourself these questions when evaluating a specific activity: (1) How does it match up to the Bible? (2) Would Jesus be pleased by it? (3) Does it encourage you to draw closer to God? (4) Is it possible it might lead to sinful thoughts or actions? (5) Does it push you away from God?
Personal application What is the major non-Christian influence in your life? Evaluate its effect on you using the above five questions. Declare independence from an impure culture. It’s hard not to be influenced by ungodly voices in our culture, since they are always around us. To break free, we must realize that our citizenship is in heaven, and that God’s values and truths are all that matter. 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 (Romans 12:2). Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17). Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:19-20). Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul (1 Peter 2:11). The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17).
Personal application What are some ways your culture pollutes you? Write a prayer asking God to help you be aware of the way your culture influences you negatively. Also ask him to help you be free from these influences. Choose godly role models. Rock stars, famous athletes, movie actors and television personalities often are our heroes or role models, yet many of them provide poor examples of morals, ethics and faith. We should follow, instead, the examples of people of genuine faith and of Christ himself. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you (Philippians 3:17). To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21).
Personal application Write the names of your heroes or role models. Draw lines through any who you think are bad influences.
Now write the names of people whose examples you would like to follow. Names __________________________ Why I respect them ______________________________
Write a prayer asking God to help you be aware of the way your culture influences you negatively. Also ask him to help you be free from these influences.
Guard Your Thought Life The road to sin starts in your mind. Get off the road before you travel too far. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23). Personal introduction A few years after becoming a Christian, I thought it would be harmless to enjoy daydreaming about certain sins, since I was sure I never would engage in the actual sins. That was a mistake, for the temptations grew and gained strongholds in my mind. By God’s grace, I didn't engage in those sins, but I had to fight to regain a pure thought life. (This Bible study is adapted from "Defeating Temptation: Biblical Secrets to Self-Control." This comprehensive book gives both men and women practical, biblical tools to break free from sin's grasp.) It is dangerous to "entertain" sinful thoughts. The road to sin begins in your thought life. When you commit a sin, it never "just happens." Sinful acts begin as attitudes or temptations in your mind and emotions. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly (Mark 7:21-22). Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:14-15). What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? (James 4:1).
We should try to act properly, but it’s even more important to deal with our thoughts and emotions, since they are the source of our sinful actions. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean (Matthew 23:26).
Don't fantasize about sin, thinking that your thoughts are harmless. When you cherish sin in your heart, you put a wedge between yourself and God. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (Psalm 66:18).
You can become ensnared by sinful thoughts. You can become spiritually crippled if you continuously think about committing a sin, even if you never commit that particular sinful act. If you allow yourself to daydream about divorcing your spouse, seeing a prostitute or committing any other sin, this thought pattern can become a habit that is hard to break. The thoughts become compulsive and can continue for years, robbing you of the joy that comes from a clean conscience. If this has happened to you, don't despair. Read on and learn how God can help you escape. Impure thoughts are not sin; they become sin when we entertain them. Everybody has impure thoughts of one type or another. That's part of the package of being alive. Having an impure thought come into your mind is not a sin by itself; choosing to entertain the thought is a sin. A good guideline is not to allow yourself to consider or dwell on anything God would not want you to do. Don't allow yourself to think about sinning or ways you could go about sinning. Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature (Romans 13:14).
Ask God to search your heart. We aren't always aware of what we are thinking about. In fact, it’s possible to go through the day unaware that we are entertaining tempting thoughts. Take a few minutes to ask God to reveal any areas in your thought life that need to change. Analyze why you are tempted. Ask God to help you figure out what’s underneath your temptations. For example: You may feel like getting drunk because you feel depressed or hopeless. You may flirt or engage in sexual conquests because you are insecure or feel unloved and want to feel desirable or important. You may sin in various ways because of peer pressure. You may shop (and spend money you shouldn't) when you feel insecure or depressed. Once you identify what motivates you to sin, pray about the underlying reason. For example, if you feel unloved, pray to enjoy God’s love instead of looking for a cheap substitute.
Reject sinful thoughts. Learn to identify and reject unwholesome thoughts. Don't allow yourself to fantasize about sin. Don't continually brood about how someone irritates you, fueling your anger toward him or her.
Repent of "pleasant" sinful memories. Some people think about early sinful sexual experiences or other sins with fondness or nostalgia. If you do this, ask God’s forgiveness for the original sins and for enjoying their memory. Confess your early actions as sins and ask God to cleanse and purify your memories. Do not masturbate. If you masturbate, you probably entertain sinful fantasies at the same time. Although masturbation is not explicitly forbidden in the Scriptures, the thoughts that usually accompany it are. Do not escape into a fantasy life. Determine that, with God’s help, you will stop. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28).
Sometimes people have orgasms in their sleep. If that happens to you, don't feel condemned. However, if you have sexually immoral dreams, ask God to replace them with pure dreams. Choose wholesome thoughts. Do you think you can't control your thoughts? If so, you are not alone. Many people think thoughts are like rain—there’s not much we can do about them. But that’s not true. You can discipline your mind and decide what to think about. Make it a habit to think about things that are pure and true. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires (Romans 8:5). Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8). Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess (Hebrews 3:1).
Pray to choose wholesome thoughts. Don't give up if (when) you sin. It's inevitable that you and I will sin from time-to-time. The Bible tells us to aim for perfection (2 Corinthians 13:11). However, we all come short, and God's Word encourages us not to give up! When we ask the Lord to forgive us, he does!. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check (James 3:2). If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (1 John 1:8-2:1).
Personal application Do you allow yourself to entertain impure thoughts? If so, write a prayer asking God’s forgiveness. Also ask him to help you resist and reject these thoughts. | 
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