While you build real interpersonal intimacy into your life by joining an accountability group, don’t forget to place God in the center of the equation. By seeking and asking Him for supernatural help in this battle, you can overcome things that you never thought possible. You’ll find yourself hungrier to know Him, and you’ll experience a greater desire to communicate with Him. As your intimacy with God grows, you’ll need less of that false intimacy. You’ll find Him to be your best accountability partner.
—adapted from Every Young Man’s Battle
What then shall I do when God rises up?
When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?
JOB 31:14, RSV
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand.
Do not forget the afflicted.
Why has the wicked spurned God?
He has said to himself, “You will not require it.”
You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and
vexation to take it into Your hand.
The unfortunate commits himself to You;
You have been the helper of the orphan.
Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer,
Seek out his wickedness until You find none.
PSALM 10:12–15, NASB
He who deals wisely and heeds [God’s] word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord—happy, blessed, and fortunate is he.
PROVERBS 16:20, AMP
If you sin without knowing what you’re doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you’re doing, that’s a different story entirely. Merely hearing God’s law is a waste of your time if you don’t do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.
ROMANS 2:12–13, MSG
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
MATTHEW 12:36, KJV
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
LUKE 16:2, KJV
For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:
“ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.’ ”
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
ROMANS 14:9–12, NIV
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord prolongs one’s days, but the years of the wicked shall be made short.
PROVERBS 10:27, AMP
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
1 THESSALONIANS 4:7–8, NIV
Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.
HEBREWS 4:13, NLT
You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
Of course, your former friends are very surprised when you no longer join them in the wicked things they do, and they say evil things about you. But just remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.
1 PETER 4:3–5, NLT
My child, don’t ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
PROVERBS 3:11–12, NLT
Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
JOB 5:17, NKJV
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
PROVERBS 1:7, NASB
Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
PROVERBS 19:27, NASB
Fear of the LORD gives life, security, and protection from harm.
PROVERBS 19:23, NLT
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction goes astray.
PROVERBS 10:17, NKJV
Many young men fighting for sexual purity seek support in a men’s Bible study group or a smaller accountability group with one or two other men. Having a safe place to discuss tough issues often results in honest exchange, although getting there can be awkward.
Honest sharing must occur in these relationships. Tough questions must be asked, and true answers given. Otherwise, you don’t have an accountability group at all, but merely a sympathy gathering where each person admits his failure again and again, week after week.
—adapted from Every Young Man’s Battle
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he whose walk is blameless
will minister to me.
PSALM 101:6, NIV
It isn’t our job to judge outsiders. But it certainly is our job to judge and deal strongly with those who are members of the church, and who are sinning in these ways. God alone is the Judge of those on the outside. But you yourselves must deal with this man and put him out of your church.
1 CORINTHIANS 5:12–13, TLB
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
PROVERBS 9:9, NIV
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.
PROVERBS 17:10, RSV
There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real
friend sticks closer than a brother.
PROVERBS 18:24, NLT
Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the
rest of your life.
PROVERBS 19:20, NLT
Open rebuke is better than hidden love!
Wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy!
PROVERBS 27:5–6, TLB
Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.
ROMANS 14:13, AMP
Anyone who loves other Christians is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble.
1 JOHN 2:10, NLT
Maybe you aren’t concerned with your sexual impurity. Maybe you think that God will forgive you and everything will be over once you marry. He’ll forgive you, but it won’t be over. Sin comes with inescapable consequences that follow you. You’ll have to pay the price at the same toll bridge as the rest of us.
—adapted from Every Young Man’s Battle
Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is victory.
PROVERBS 11:14, NASB
Your testimonies also are my delight;
They are my counselors.
PSALM 119:24, NASB
Valid criticism is as treasured by the one who heeds it as
jewelry made from finest gold.
PROVERBS 25:12, NLT
Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
PROVERBS 27:9, NASB
Without counsel purposes are disappointed; but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
PROVERBS 15:22, DARBY
The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
PROVERBS 15:31, NKJV
From my experience, I know that fools who turn from God may be successful for the moment, but then comes sudden disaster.
JOB 5:3, NLT
It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in folly.
PROVERBS 17:12, NLT