- Sexual Sins Include
- What Scripture Says
- Your Spiritual Health Is Affected
- How To Be Free
- As You Pray
- Suggested Reading
Sexual Sins Include
Immorality - Moral behaviour that is contrary to God's standards.Perversion - Turning from the true and/or proper purpose of sexual intercourse; misusing or abusing it, such as in pedophilia, homosexuality and lesbianism, sadism, masochism, transvestism, and beastiality.
Adultery - Sexual activity with a person other than your spouse.
Fornication - Illicit sexual activity when you aren't married.
Sexual sins are committed because of lust (1 John 2:16; Galatians 5:19-21). When you allow improper sexual drives to control you as a Christian, an inner tension will result in your mind, emotions and will. You will want to be spiritual, but find yourself being a slave to sensuality. The result is what the Bible calls double-mindedness (James 1:8), which leads to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28).
What Scripture Says
"Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting" (Romans 1:27-28)."Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4).
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9,10).
"But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be even named among you, as is fitting for saints" (Ephesians 5:3).
Your Spiritual Health Is Affected
Besides breaking God's laws, your disobedience will wreck your life and the lives of many others. It is impossible to involve yourself in sexual sin without damaging your spiritual nature and that of your partner, family members, friends, etc.You may try to "tune out" the spiritual aspects involved, but will succeed only in deadening your conscience to spiritual truth. You will then be guilty of tampering with your inner spiritual core and that of your partner and others. The scars from this kind of involvement are ugly, deep and long- lasting. God cares too much for you (and all of His children) to leave such tampering and spiritual abuse unpunished.
How To Be Free
To be free from sexual lusts, you must repent. Just as you have allowed lust to control your flesh in the past, you must now yield to God as the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sin. God will forgive you and cleanse you physically, emotionally and spiritually as you call on Him in repentance and faith. He will save you from sin's consequences and put His nature within you (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 John 1:8,9; Romans 10:13; John 1:12).To overcome temptations, follow God's plan for resisting them. Minister to God with sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15), until you are filled with the peace and joy of the Lord (Isaiah 26:3). That is when your praise has become acceptable to God and He has ministered release from the temptation.
Finally, you need the ability to live the righteous, holy, abundant life that God has for you as you are filled with His love. The baptism of the Holy Spirit enables you to become more like Christ: able to overcome sin, pray effectively and help other people who need to be saved and know God in His fullness.
As you grow in the Lord, you need to become part of a vibrant, Spirit-filled church. Follow a planned way of studying the Bible daily. Pray constantly and have fellowship with other like-minded Christians.
If you still experience temptations, you need the help of a Spirit-filled minister, counsellor or one of our Crossroads prayer partners.
As You Pray
Thank and praise God for forgiving, cleansing and strengthening you to stand fast in His liberty. Pray for those who were involved in your sins, that they also will be delivered from sexual lusts and sins.Suggested Reading
Fornication Acts 15:20; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:13-18; 7:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3Adultery Proverbs 2:16-19; 6:20; 7:27; 9:13-18
Perversion Genesis 38:1-10; Romans 1:18-32
Study these Scripture verses and promises. Above all, minister praise (honour and respect) to God until He delivers you. Each time you face temptation, continuously praise Him, enthroning Him in your thoughts instead of allowing the temptations to gain control. The following verses will show you how to gain victory through praise:
Give thanks in everything 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20
Reason for thanks Romans 8:28
Sacrifice of praise Hebrews 13:15
Enthrone God Psalms 22:3
God gives peace Isaiah 26:3 Crossroads is happy to help. In fact, that's the whole reason we exist as a ministry. The daily 100 Huntley Street telecast and the 24-hour-a-day Telephone Ministry line are here for the same reason. You may want to call us as you are reading this: 1-866-273-4444
God loves you and we love you! Please give us the privilege of doing our best to help more. For further ministry, you may contact the Crossroads Ministry Centre by writing to:
Crossroads Christian Communications Inc.
Attn: National Ministry Centre
PO Box 5100
Burlington, Ontario L7R 4M2
