The Bible teaches us to “resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7) and in another place it tells us to flee lusts (1 Timothy 6).

Many great people in God have fallen into various fleshly temptations, potentially ruining their lives and ministries! One person has said “it takes a lifetime to build integrity and a minute to lose it!” This is a true saying!

I believe this is because many have never intentionally set up mental and emotional firewalls. By “firewall” I mean something that acts as a barrier so the temptation does not easily penetrate the heart. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to “guard our hearts because out of it flow the issues of life.”

Many people have no firewalls set up. Thus, as soon as a strong temptation comes their way, the only thing stopping them from sinning is their own will power, which is based upon the spiritual and emotional condition they are in during the moment of testing.

However, in order for the enemy to trip me up and get me to fall into adultery he would have to get through not only my will power but five layers of firewalls I have set up to protect my soul!

(I would also include pornography in the category of adultery because it could eventually lead to full-blown experiential adultery if not repented of!)

The following are some of the firewalls I have set up:

(No firewall is foolproof. Of course, the only primary way to resist temptation is to be in the strength of the Lord as Ephesians 6:10-13 teaches. However, there are times we may not be at a high level of spiritual and emotional strength or at times we are caught off guard. Thus, this is something the Holy Spirit can use to further strengthen our resolve.)

1. I do not want to lose my intimate fellowship with the Lord

By far the most important relationship I have in my life is my friendship and covenant with the Lord. I told the Lord when I first started in the ministry that I would never allow the ministry to be so consuming that I do not have time to pray and walk in His manifest presence. Growing and knowing the presence and person of the Lord is the main reason we were born. I never want to exchange this walk with the Lord for any earthly pleasure (read Ephesians 4:30).

2. I do not want to destroy the trust my spouse and children have in me

Besides the Lord, the greatest call and joy of my life is the family God has entrusted to me. Before I fall into temptation I will think about the commitment I have to my wife and would not want to devastate her! Worse yet, I would never want to do anything that would destroy the way my children view me and possibly hurt their own view of the Lord and His church! Our greatest legacy will be the lives we lead, which is the inheritance we will pass on to our children’s children (Proverbs 13:22).

I want my legacy to include leaving a generational blessing to my biological family that will continue to speak after I am long gone (Hebrews 11:4)!

3. I do not want to compromise the purpose and call of God upon my life

I believe a person can derail the purpose and call of God upon their life with the choices they make. I have worked more than 35 years to fulfill the call of God upon my life and I do not want to blow it for momentary pleasure!

4. I do not want to discourage my spiritual sons and daughters

I have only five biological children but many close spiritual sons and daughters. I have seen and read about the faith of many church members and/or spiritual children of leaders disillusioned with the things of God because of leadership failure. Of course I have also seen incredible restoration and transformation in the lives of fallen leaders because they repented and climbed back up the mountain of their great calling for God!

Bottom line: People need to put their eyes upon Jesus more than their leaders. But I do not want to allow foolishness in fleshly pursuits to place a stumbling block in their lives.

5. I do not want to bring shame to the gospel before the world

The last (but not least) firewall in my life is that I do not want to bring shame to the gospel before the world! The more influence I have, the more temptation and tests I will experience, so I need to always have these firewalls up and continually inspect them to make sure there are no cracks in them! The flesh-driven scandals of the 1980’s set back the reputation of the evangelical church in this nation for many decades. I do not want to set back the gospel in my family, community or city!

In conclusion, I speak about the need to have these five firewalls in my life because I know that I, like all of us, am fragile, born with a wicked sinful nature, and have to watch and pray lest I fall into temptations (Matthew 26:41). Part of the way I “watch” is the construction and maintenance of these firewalls. But no amount of firewalls will be able to protect me from my wicked flesh unless I pray and walk in the presence and power of the Spirit

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