DAY 21: WINNING THE WAR AGAINST JEZEBEL IV (OVERCOMING SEXUAL TEMPTATION)

 PHRONESIS DEVOTIONAL

30 DAYS DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM

September 21, 2023.

Topic: WINNING THE WAR AGAINST JEZEBEL IV (OVERCOMING SEXUAL TEMPTATION)

Bible Reading: Proverbs 7:1-27

Verse for Meditation: 2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Sex is good but only in the confinement of marriage. God who gave that instruction is all wise, and you cannot be wiser than Him. Most of the problem we are facing in our world is as a result of violating God’s principle of marriage. For example, some of the effects of forceful single parenting has led to increase in poverty, drug abuse, unwanted pregnancies, and has caused poor behaviour and bad societal relationship like lack of trust, low self-esteem, depression and emotional instability. Children raised by forceful single parenting are seven times more likely to be involved in a crime.

Some people may feel like to opt in for the withdrawal method or use of the contraceptives. First having sex generally build up romantic attachment; commonly called soul tie. Apostle Paul, through the wisdom of God wrote on this as we have seen yesterday. And it has been proven medically that when oxytocin is released during coitus trust and bonds are formed. It is also called a love hormone. Now this affects married couples has part of them has been joined with another, thus a high risk of divorce.

Secondly, the use of contraceptives can sometimes cause neo-plastic diseases such as breast cancer, cervical cancer and ovarian cancer. And most research has shown the association between the use of contraceptives and cardiovascular diseases.

What about masturbation? It generally leads to weakness, fatigue, can affect sexual intimacy between married couples, lower back pain, and mental and physical imbalance.

How about pornography? It affects one’s mental reasoning, it increases aggression, it leads to isolation, it causes one to neglect other areas of their lives and builds up a distorted belief and perception about relationships and sexuality.

There is one thing that is common with sexual sins, it affects interpersonal relationship. A man who has no self-control is like a city without defence, open to attack (Prov. 25:28). If you have no control over your lustful desires, it will control your life eventually. So how do you overcome sexual temptation? Starve the flesh; feed the spirit.

To starve the flesh and feed the spirit is to have a change of appetite and desire. When Jesus was tempted He didn’t engage the devil in a conversation like Eve did, instead He confronted the devil’s temptation by declaring the Word. Don’t keep quiet when you are tempted with lust; speak the Word. Spend more time with God’s Word; it can save your soul. Spend more time praying in the Spirit; by so doing you build around yourself defence against all forms of temptation.

And many times, you have to run away from such environment that arouses sexual urge. Joseph was not speaking in tongues when faced with sexual sin, instead he ran away. Build discipline and burn those bridges; block and delete those contacts if need be, uninstall those apps that arouses you, also there are some movies you need to stop watching. It is a war!

While running away from sexual sin, don’t run into isolation. Apostle Paul told Timothy to run away from youthful lusts and pursue a right company of believers. Also never stay idle; get occupied and engaged in profitable activities.

And lastly, you need to have someone you can trust to help you, who can be your accountability partner. Get someone that you will be accountable to. The Bible says, “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counsellors, there is safety.” (Prov. 24:6).

PRAYER:

I RECEIVE GRACE TO PUT MY BODY UNDER SUBJECTION. AMEN!

DECLARATION:

SIN HAS LOST ITS GRIP OVER MY SOUL. I HAVE THE POWER TO OVERCOME!

Bible Reading Plan: John 19:1-30; Galatians 1:1-2:10; Proverbs 21