Many Christians struggle with sexual immorality, not knowing that God has given us the grace to live sexually pure lives. Too often we allow the norms and values of society to dictate our behavior, while God has called us to a lifestyle that agrees with His Word. We have been set free from sin and are no longer subject to our old nature; however, we must renew our minds and put corresponding action to our faith.
Understanding what the Word has to say about sexual sin is the first step to overcoming it. If there was ever any doubt about whether it is wrong or not, all we have to do is open up the Bible for the answer to that question. First Corinthians 6:18-20 says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Fornication involves any sexual activity with someone you are not married to. Our bodies do not belong to us but to God, which means we will be held accountable for what we did with them.
There are many other scriptures that talk about the importance of abstaining from fornication and making sure our lives reflect Christ’s character. Ephesians 5:3 says that fornication and sexual impurity should not be named among Believers, and 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says that it is God’s will that we abstain from fornication. Since we know it is wrong, the next question is, how do we get out of it?
The spiritual part of the issue has already been dealt with by Jesus. As Christians, we have been spiritually liberated from sin; however, we must maintain our deliverance on a daily basis, which is our responsibility. By putting these practical keys into practice, we can walk in the full manifestation of complete deliverance from sexual immorality until Jesus returns.
1.Commit to the process of mind renewal. Romans 12:1,2 instructs us to renew our minds so that we can prove what the acceptable and perfect will of God is. Abstaining from fornication is the perfect will of God, so by constantly meditating on the Scriptures day and night regarding sexual purity, our thinking will begin to align with God’s Word. As a result, we will begin to make choices that support our stance. Mind renewal is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that we must actively engage in on a daily basis.
2.Cast down thoughts by speaking the Word. Second Corinthians 10:4 instructs us to cast down thoughts and imaginations that go against the Word. When sexually immoral thoughts and feelings rise up within you, don’t sit there and receive them. Open your mouth and declare the Word of God over your life. Do this as many times as necessary in order to bring those thoughts into obedience to the Word.
3.Establish boundaries. One of the biggest changes we can make in our lives involves the people we are in relationship with, as well as the things we look at, listen to, and talk about. If you are serious about committing to a lifestyle of sexual purity, you have to disconnect from those people, places, and things that create an environment that causes you to be vulnerable to sin. We must set boundaries to protect our decision to remain sexually pure.
The world would have us believe that living a sexually pure life is impossible, but with God all things are possible. It takes a quality decision and a plan. By implementing the Word of God into your daily life and making choices that support holiness in your life, you can experience freedom from sexual sin.
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