Another area where we need a GUARDRAIL is with temptation...especially SEXUAL TEMPTATION.
Think you're exempt? It's out there and it's going to try to get you to yield to it regardless of who you are. What are you going to do when it hits? It's time to decide NOW!
Do you know someone who is being tempted sexually? Perhaps it's you. Whoever it is...you're going to need the following GUARDRAILS in place:
1. Know the difference between the truth and a lie! - Say this with me..."The Devil is a liar!" The Word of God declares the devil to be a liar. (John 8:44) He will attempt to offer you a counterfeit and not the REAL THING. He'll tell you to go ahead and "have that affair!" Friend...how many people do we have to see go down this road of destruction before we learn to keep our clothes on?
2. Quit making excuses! - It seems so many people want to use David as an excuse! Seriously? They say, "David committed adultery and was called a man after God's own heart." Yes...but he repented (which means he turned away from his sin instead of diving deeper into it and then screaming that people needed to show him grace!) He also had sexual sin in his family for generations, had a daughter raped and a son rebel against him. DO NOT BE FOOLISH and think that your children are not going to suffer the consequences all because you were more passionate about "living a loose lifestyle" than Jesus. Instead of using David as an excuse...look to Joseph for an example!
3. Reach out! - Don't deal with temptation alone. Ask for help! Seek help from someone you know that loves Jesus and loves you too. If you don't get help - it's going to get WORSE! Men...you need Godly men around you! CONFESS your problem and then SUBMIT to their leadership.
4. Quit blaming others! - Have you messed up and you're blaming others for it? If you'll listen to the people who sincerely love you and want to try to protect you, your marriage and your church then DON'T SCREAM that they and the church turned their back on you when it was actually you that decided to fornicate or commit adultery. You are NOT THE VICTIM once you decide to commit sin...and sin has consequences. And that's not being judgemental...its simply declaring the truth!
- By the way...your "friends" aren't the ones who rally around you and affirm your sin...they are the ones that DO love you, do beg God for you to repent, do speak truth and do hurt for you more than you know! And...the church didn't turn its back on you when you sinned...you turned your back on her!!!
Does God forgive sexual sin? YES INDEED! He is a God who loves unconditionally! But HEAR ME...God's work is too important for any one of us to sell out for MOMENTARY PLEASURE! We've got to FIGHT...we've got to RUN from this temptation!
- 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body[a] and in your spirit, which are God’s.
God help us keep integrity in our ministries and marriages! The cross of Jesus is too important to sell out for sex! I emplore everyone to keep these things in mind when temptation comes knocking on your door.
A local shepherd,
Pastor Hylton
