1) It is a secret sin, and thus respectable. We can engage in anonymity without hurting our reputation or our standing in the church. It is deceitful in this regard, because our lack of joy and downcast countenances betray our ungodliness.

2) It is a pleasurable sin. When the soul is engaged in this filthiness, we feel good in the moment. Endorphins are released. We are highly stimulated. Sexual gratification is pleasurable. We ignore the consequences, reasoning that God will forgive us.

3) It’s a shameful sin, so we hide from God. We may think that we’ve gone too far, broken the relationship, so we might as well continue the journey to the land far away. Guilt enters the conscience, and we feel forsaken. We hate ourselves for going back, so we assume God’s displeasure is stronger than His love. He will love us from afar, we reason, but He will not bring us back into joy.

This deceit keeps us from God, and it is one of the true traps of Satan. He loves to lead us into sin and then to whisper accusations. He loves to tempt us, and then to kick us when we are down. Anything that keeps us from full confidence in God’s grace will promote a downcast, sinful, or hypocritical life.

4) We fight in our own strength. We watch movies that stir us up. We do not come armed to the battle. We think that we can do our own thing during the day, living for ourselves, and then have strength at night. We don’t realize that we’re helpless and dependent on the Spirit.

We don’t live a NEW LIFE to deal with this one sin. We think that we can clean up this one area, but we don’t realize that we need a radical overhaul of our entire being. God will not give us the Spirit for one area of life: He comes to take over completely, and to lead us into glorifying God by living to save others with a special love for the saints.

5) We don’t fear the Lord! We think that we can keep this sin and have peace. We think it is no big deal, so we don’t see the displeasure of grieving the Spirit. Eph 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

We’re not in God’s joy, so losing His presence means little. We don’t realize how far we’ve fallen. Being miserable, downcast, and heavy burdened is normal. We have spouts of joy, but we are used to guilt and shame. We think the promise of abundant life is somewhat far-fetched and theoretical, so we don’t really pursue it!

We go on living for the world, trying to hold onto Christ and our own will, seeking pleasure in things - family, friends, hobbies, work, success, fame, money, activities, entertainment, ministry, etc - that won’t satisfy. We don’t know how desperately we need the Spirit, and only He can satisfy the soul. We need the fear of the Lord to give up sin, so that we can have His presence. Then, the joy that He gives will make us fight to keep it.

These are a few reasons why this shameful sin of pornography has such a stronghold on Christians - real Christians. We must fight it tooth and nail, realizing that it is better in obedience. We can no longer tolerate the short lived pleasures of sin: what it costs us - the loss of assurance, joy, peace, usefulness, boldness, power, zeal, and real pleasure - is too much!