Conquer Series by KingdomWorks is a 12-DVD, Bible-and-accountability-based, state-of-the-art, cinematic sexual purity program that teaches men how to break free from porn and other sexual sins by starving the flesh. But in a surprising turn, its program builders also unknowingly give the wholly Spirit-powered Way of Escape 3-Bubble Battle Plan (figure above, lifted from page 115 of the Second Edition of A Way of Escape) a “thumbs-up.”
We pick up the Conquer Series teaching lesson on Volume 2, DVD 2, Track 9 (Shield of Faith) [1]. About 30 seconds into this track, the host (Dr. Ted Roberts) explains how daily anointings with oil made the shields of Roman soldiers impervious to enemy attacks. Continuing, he describes how, in an analogous way, to keep from becoming brittle, the faith of believers also needs to be oiled daily by the Holy Spirit. Finally, he shares one way in which he keeps his faith oiled by intimately connecting with the Holy Spirit:
“When I am alone in the car with Jesus, I’m singing my heart out, because in that moment of adoration and praise to Him, the water of the Holy Spirit is pouring over me, and no matter what fiery darts the enemy may fire at me, I can stand against his onslaught [1].”
This 15-second testimonial is easily missed in 6-plus hours of teaching material in the 12-DVD series; it wasn’t until my third viewing of Conquer Series that I caught it. In this 15-second testimonial, Dr. Roberts gives the viewer a word-picture of the Way of Escape 3-Bubble Battle Plan! His 15-second testimonial is broken down in the three sections to follow.
THE LOWER-LEFT BUBBLE
“... the water of the Holy Spirit is pouring over me ...”
In that Spirit-filled moment when Dr. Roberts says, “... the water of the Holy Spirit is pouring over me ...” he is walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). This is the lower-left bubble of the Way of Escape 3-Bubble Battle Plan!
THE LOWER-RIGHT BUBBLE
“... I’m singing my heart out ...”
When did Dr.Roberts experience this watering (filling) of the Holy Spirit? It was while seated in his car “... singing (his) heart out ...” i.e., it was while seated in his car belting out one of his favorite spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:18b-19). This is the lower-right bubble of the Way of Escape 3-Bubble Battle Plan!
THE TOP BUBBLE
“... no matter what fiery darts the enemy may fire at me, I can stand against his onslaught.”
And finally, in this moment of spiritual ecstasy, Dr. Roberts states, “... no matter what fiery darts the enemy may fire at me, I can stand against his onslaught.” In this moment of spiritual ecstasy, he can resist all the fiery darts of temptation that the enemy has to offer because his oiled Holy Spirit Shield renders him impervious to the enemy’s attacks. The sheltering presence of the Holy Spirit provides him with a way of escape from the enemy’s onslaught (I Corinthians 10:13). This is the top bubble of the Way of Escape 3-Bubble Battle Plan!
THE WAY OF ESCAPE 3-BUBBLE BATTLE PLAN NEATLY SUMMARIZED IN DR. ROBERTS’ 15-SECOND TESTIMONIAL
The essence of the Way of Escape Battle Plan is captured in Dr. Roberts’ 15-second testimonial. All that remains is to add that mind renewal may be achieved by regularly repeating these experiences of spiritual ecstasy. All that remains is to add that mind renewal may be achieved by regularly experiencing the Spirit’s filling.
The repeated singing of favorite spiritual songs feeds the still-struggling believer’s limbic system with the spiritual content needed to reprogram his brain. The new (good) brain circuits created by the repeated singing of limbic-laced spiritual songs compete with the old (bad) porn-created brain circuits. In time, the new eventually replaces the old. This is the essence of the Way of Escape 3-Bubble Battle Plan, neatly summarized in Dr. Roberts’ 15-second testimonial.
ADDING A “FEED THE SPIRIT, ACCOUNTABILITY NOT REQUIRED” OPTION TO CONQUER SERIES
In his 15-second testimonial, Dr. Roberts has verbalized the very real possibility of escape without flesh-starving accountability. This simple Repeated-Immersions-In-The-Spirit Escape Plan is likely all that most still-struggling Christian men will ever need. As pastor/author John MacArthur states:
All a believer absolutely needs to live a holy life according to the will of God is the Holy Spirit [2].
The creators of Bible-and-accountability-based, flesh-starving purity programs would do the Church a great service if they were to add a “Feed the Spirit, Accountability Not Required” option to the front end of their purity programs (see the figure below). But until they do, the Way of Escape Battle Plan is the best available “Feed the Spirit, Accountability Not Required” option for the believer wanting to quit porn.
A GAME-CHANGING “FEED THE SPIRIT, ACCOUNTABILITY NOT REQUIRED” BOOK HAS ARRIVED
In A Way of Escape, readers are introduced to a Repeated-Immersions-In-The-Spirit Escape Plan. Readers learn how to renew their minds, not by starving the flesh, but by stepping up the degree to which they “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). They learn how to build a library of Spirit-anointed, flesh-diffusing apps that are uniquely fitted to them, and their unique Spirit-filling triggers (Ephesians 5:18b-19).
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
The still-struggling now have another option. The still-struggling now have fresh hope for discovering that long-sought-after way of escape from temptation and resulting sin (I Corinthians 10:13). A way that—because it is wholly Spirit-powered—does not require enlisting the aid of an accountability partner or group. Truly, a game-changer!
REFERENCES
1. Wiles, J., and T. Wiles, Conquer Series: The Battle Plan for Purity (12-disc DVD set), Volume 2, Disc 2, Track 9 – Shield of Faith, KingdomWorks Studios, Stuart, FL, 2017
2. MacArthur, J., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Galatians, First Printing, Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL, pages 151-152, 1987
