The Altar of Sexual Idolatry

Pure Life Ministries

P.O. Box 410

Dry Ridge, KY 41035

(888) 293–8714 - to order

(859) 824–4444 - office

(859) 824–5159 FAX

www.purelifeministries.org

info@purelifeministries.org

Copyright © 1986 & 2000 by Steve Gallagher.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form except for brief quotations, without written permission from the author.

ISBN 0–9702202-0–0

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the

NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE,

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988,

The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Acknowledgments

My deepest appreciation to Tiffany McCormick and Justin Carabello who provided much help in the editing of this book.

My special gratitude to Bradley Furges whose commitment and tireless efforts made such a difference in the quality of this work.

This book is dedicated to my wife Kathy who

“bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.”

Her love has never failed me.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Dr. Edwin Louis Cole

Introduction

Part One: The Problem

1. Sexual Addiction

2. The Spiral of Degradation

3. The Four Primary Motives

4. The Need to Live in the Light

5. Inside the Mind of the Sex Addict

6. The Process of Sin

Part Two: The Right Course

7. The Root Issues

8. Freedom Comes Slowly for a Reason

9. How Much Do You Care?

Part Three: Influences

10. The Sinful Flesh

11. Separating From the World

12. Battles in the Spiritual Realm

Part Four: The Way Out

13. The Place of Brokenness and Repentance

14. Disciplined for Holiness

15. Walking in the Spirit

16. Overcoming Lust

17. How to be a Great Lover

18. The Power of God’s Grace

Foreword

When Steve asked me to write the foreword for this book, I was honored at first, then struck with anxiety concerning what I could say, when he is the source of truth concerning this subject. Then I remembered that I had just written something the Holy Spirit had impressed upon me, and realized it would help in the solution to addiction.

The text of “washing the mind with the water of the Word” is found in a passage concerning marital relationships.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

“The apostle, having mentioned Christ’s love to the church, enlarges upon it, assigning the reason why he gave himself for it, namely, that he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next: That he might sanctify and cleanse it, with the washing of water by the word (v. 26)—that he might endue all his members with a principle of holiness, and deliver them from the guilt, the pollution, and the dominion of sin.” (Matthew Henry)

The reason for books such as this one of Steve’s is to clarify, amplify or make ...