The Bitter Fruit of Sexual Sin
A Christian man stumbled into "CyberSex." He started flirting with a woman online and, before long, she announced she was traveling to his town on business.
"Can we get together?" she asked.
Without thinking very clearly he set a date. Fortunately, he came to his senses before it was too late and called off the meeting.
During a typical week I personally learn through my work of three or four men who risk or throw away a lifetime of investment in a wife, family, and reputation for a few moments of sexual fantasy. Here are a few things to consider as you battle sexual temptation.
Your Sins Will Find You Out
I have devoted my life to mastering one book so that I can show men how it applies to their lives. I love teaching the word of God. Let me use my knowledge of that book to frighten you a bit. A little "holy" fear can be a good thing. If I have learned anything at all from the Bible it is this: Your sins will find you out.
You wouldn't dream of committing sexual sin if you thought you would get caught. You will. Listen to what the Scriptures say,
You may be sure that your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23).
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known (Luke 12:2).
Our sins will find us out sooner rather than later. Why? Because God will not be mocked.
Is It Easy or Difficult To Fall Into Sexual Temptation?
In one way it is very easy for a Christian to fall into sexual temptation. Through creation the eye has been made to appreciate beauty. Through the fall the flesh has been made to lust after that beauty.
Any man who says that he doesn't struggle with sexual temptation is lying. Augustine put it this way: "After the fall lust rules." He would know. He had an illegitimate son by the first of his two mistresses.
We live in a sex-saturated society. Everyday we are bombarded by the availability of sexual explicit materials whether TV, movies, magazines, books, or the Internet.
How likely is it that a man walking closely with Christ might stroll down a sidewalk, have a woman seduce him, and succumb? Not very.
It's not that easy for a Christian to fall into sexual sin. You have to flirt with sexual sin for a long time before you will fall. You've got to plot and plan it out. You've got to spend a lot of time figuring out how not to get caught. All of this takes an enormous amount of forethought and premeditation. This thought should provide a great deal of comfort to men who truly love Christ.
If you abide in Christ it's just not that easy to stumble into sexual sin. However, if you live on the edge in a secret thought life you are vulnerable. What kind of company do you keep? What kind of thoughts do you meditate upon? Do you have habits that bring you into contact with sexually tempting materials? How vulnerable have you made yourself?
Overcoming Temptation
Trample your temptations. Do you know the difference between men and women when it comes to temptation? Women flee temptation. Men slowly crawl away hoping temptation will overtake them.
1 Corinthians 6:18 says, "Flee from sexual immorality." If you don't want to sin, don't permit habits that bring you into temptation, like watching sexy TV, casual flirting, or spending time "online" with no accountability. Don't put yourself in compromising situations. Don't hire a secretary to whom you feel a physical attraction. Don't stare out the window at your neighbor's wife doing yard work.
Emerge Ministries works with pastors who have fallen into sexual sin. Founder Richard Dobbins states that every single one of these pastors have one thing in common. In the days, weeks, and months leading up to their moral failure not one of these men had maintained a consistent time of daily devotions. In other words, their public ministry continued even though their personal walk with Christ had ground to a halt.
The ultimate protection from sexual sin is to live out of the overflow of a vibrant, personal relationship with Jesus. You are only vulnerable when you fail to abide in Christ.
Business leader, author, and speaker, Patrick Morley helps men to think more deeply about their lives, to be reconciled with Christ, and to be equipped for a larger impact on the world. Visit his Web site, www.maninthemirror.org
"Can we get together?" she asked.
Without thinking very clearly he set a date. Fortunately, he came to his senses before it was too late and called off the meeting.
During a typical week I personally learn through my work of three or four men who risk or throw away a lifetime of investment in a wife, family, and reputation for a few moments of sexual fantasy. Here are a few things to consider as you battle sexual temptation.
Your Sins Will Find You Out
I have devoted my life to mastering one book so that I can show men how it applies to their lives. I love teaching the word of God. Let me use my knowledge of that book to frighten you a bit. A little "holy" fear can be a good thing. If I have learned anything at all from the Bible it is this: Your sins will find you out.
You wouldn't dream of committing sexual sin if you thought you would get caught. You will. Listen to what the Scriptures say,
You may be sure that your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23).
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known (Luke 12:2).
Our sins will find us out sooner rather than later. Why? Because God will not be mocked.
Is It Easy or Difficult To Fall Into Sexual Temptation?
In one way it is very easy for a Christian to fall into sexual temptation. Through creation the eye has been made to appreciate beauty. Through the fall the flesh has been made to lust after that beauty.
Any man who says that he doesn't struggle with sexual temptation is lying. Augustine put it this way: "After the fall lust rules." He would know. He had an illegitimate son by the first of his two mistresses.
We live in a sex-saturated society. Everyday we are bombarded by the availability of sexual explicit materials whether TV, movies, magazines, books, or the Internet.
How likely is it that a man walking closely with Christ might stroll down a sidewalk, have a woman seduce him, and succumb? Not very.
It's not that easy for a Christian to fall into sexual sin. You have to flirt with sexual sin for a long time before you will fall. You've got to plot and plan it out. You've got to spend a lot of time figuring out how not to get caught. All of this takes an enormous amount of forethought and premeditation. This thought should provide a great deal of comfort to men who truly love Christ.
If you abide in Christ it's just not that easy to stumble into sexual sin. However, if you live on the edge in a secret thought life you are vulnerable. What kind of company do you keep? What kind of thoughts do you meditate upon? Do you have habits that bring you into contact with sexually tempting materials? How vulnerable have you made yourself?
Overcoming Temptation
Trample your temptations. Do you know the difference between men and women when it comes to temptation? Women flee temptation. Men slowly crawl away hoping temptation will overtake them.
1 Corinthians 6:18 says, "Flee from sexual immorality." If you don't want to sin, don't permit habits that bring you into temptation, like watching sexy TV, casual flirting, or spending time "online" with no accountability. Don't put yourself in compromising situations. Don't hire a secretary to whom you feel a physical attraction. Don't stare out the window at your neighbor's wife doing yard work.
Emerge Ministries works with pastors who have fallen into sexual sin. Founder Richard Dobbins states that every single one of these pastors have one thing in common. In the days, weeks, and months leading up to their moral failure not one of these men had maintained a consistent time of daily devotions. In other words, their public ministry continued even though their personal walk with Christ had ground to a halt.
The ultimate protection from sexual sin is to live out of the overflow of a vibrant, personal relationship with Jesus. You are only vulnerable when you fail to abide in Christ.
Business leader, author, and speaker, Patrick Morley helps men to think more deeply about their lives, to be reconciled with Christ, and to be equipped for a larger impact on the world. Visit his Web site, www.maninthemirror.org
posted by Drew Dyck at 8:48 AM
7 Comments:
This is naked truth. Only the simple and hypocrite will disagree/ignore with this points. When we walk with Christ and do not put ourselves into temptation, then it looks almost impossible to commit fornication.
Thanks for sharing your thought.
Sola.
I am a married woman who has just struggled with this issue. I work very closely with a man who is exceptionally attractive, married and has a baby on the way. Did those facts stop me from wanting the 'other' man more than my husband? NO It took courage for me to tell the other man of my attraction and whilst things aren't the same between him and myself (the friendship/flirty side) I am much closer to my husband of almost 11 years.
I haven't told my husband of my emotional affair with this other man, and I do not intend on revealing my mistake, but I have drawn on the love of the Lord to heal my heart and that of the man I was attracted to, so that we can continue working together as the wonderful team we are at work.
This isn't JUST a mans issue, it's a human issue.
Faithie P
I picked up a book for men at a Christian bookstore once and left the store very upset. Every time my husband glanced at another woman I thought he was having thoughts. I don't understand how a man can love his wife yet dream about being with another women. As I've matured more I realized that women, more through emotions than hormones, get tempted too. Temptation is experienced differently between the sexes. I'm a woman so I am naturally attached to and need my husband very much and he is obviously the only one I can possibly think about. Women want their men to be just like them in that respect. I like to believe that is the case with my husband. Anyway, men need an outlet to talk about their male issues because most women won't know how to handle their husbands saying, "Hunny, I'm struggling with lust for another woman." He might find himself sleeping in a hotel for a few nights, or more.
Great info dudes.
First off there is a website that tackles this Gate of Hell called xxxchurch.com, and hey it's easier than you think not to visit these webistes. Jesus can help you break the addiction, and check out the prayer wall and tools available at xxxchurch.com just real people loving people who need to leave the porn industry and men and women who want to stp viewing porn...
confirmed about this and loving it!
RFJC
This post has been removed by the author.
Allo et bonjour. I am a gay Haitian-American male. The statements in this website assume that those reading it are heterosexual. It excludes others who may identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. The God i pray to is all inclusive. God made me the way I am and since God does not make mistakes, I am right before God. Certain people in this society have more sympathy for murderers than they do for a gay person. Now is that what you call "loving thy neighbor as thyself?" I think not. I'm aware those who consider themselves "literalists" may disagree with my point of view. But please keep an open mind about other's circumstances and God bless all of you. Merci.
Jacques,
You are gay/lesbian, u are going to hell unless u repent and change your ways. So the Bible says, my brother.
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