In Ezekiel 16:49-50, God describes the real sins of Sodom that led to the destruction of that city (in Genesis 19). Most of us have always associated Sodom with sodomy (homosexuality) and other sexual sins. But sexual sin was the ultimate result of a way of life.
What was it that led them into such depths of evil? Here we are told that Sodom's sins were actually:
- Pride
- Laziness
- Gluttony (love of good food) and
- Neglecting the poor and needy
These were the reason why God wiped out that city. It is interesting to note that God does not even mention their sexual sin.
Sexual sin in Sodom was the result of their lazy, comfortable life-style. What can we learn from this? That there is a close connection between:
* pride and sexual sin,
* laziness and sexual sin
* gluttony and sexual sin and
* a lack of concern for other people and sexual sin.
Consider just these four areas. Many of you who are young have to admit that you are finding it very difficult to overcome your sexual passions. That is an extremely difficult area. But why not begin by overcoming in these four easier areas? You may, then, find it easier to overcome in the sexual area.
Begin first of all, by humbling yourself in all situations. Avoid all arrogance.
Then begin to be hard-working and diligent in whatever you do.
Then try fasting � avoiding food � once in a while.
And fourthly, begin to think a little more about the needs of people around you and see how you can help them.
Try this prescription for one year and you may discover that overcoming your sexual passions becomes easier. We cannot overcome any sin without grace from God - but He gives His grace only to the humble; and He helps only those who are kind and helpful to others.
Overcoming passions, sexual........for the men, stop downloading porn, stop the fantasy imagery....read "Every Man's Battle".
For the women, well that is not as difficult, stop reading romance novels. read "Every women's battle".
Sexual issues are dependency issues, not a true addiction.
Passion is fine, when the balance is found. We are sexual beings, that is the way we were made. It's not a blessing to sleep around, it is a blessing when you have your sexuality within bounds, men are then masculine and women are feminine.
You are such a sweetie. There are so many great books on dating out there, Cloud and Townsend have that one nailed down. Yes, romance novels are lady porn, I suppose unless they are Christian-Based and I am sure there are Christian-Based ones out there.
Porn can be called an addiction, yes, the thing is its not physically addictive like alcohol or meth...its more like on the line of weed, marijuana its a dependency.
Porn distorts reality. God said something in the Old Testament about "the way of a man with a maid"....and in short, its a mystery. There isn't really anything mysterious about porn..its sets in the brain unreasonable expectations for men and women. men end up thinking physical beauty is all there is, that selfish love, instead of "servant lover" is what its all about. Women end up thinking they are so, so independent, that they "emotionally guide" a man along, that men just pop out of the wood work, sweep them off their feet in an emotionally satisfying wonderland.
I think I have said this before..God set up a simple plan of attack for life..
DEPENDENCY - We depend on having our needs met through the love of the Lord Jesus Christ......that means he is able to see to it that others, even others you do not know can meet physical needs (food, shelter, clothing). whatever, a new job..
INDEPENDENCY - relying on the Lord Jesus Christ results in independence. Independent thinking and behaving.
INTERDEPENDECY - developing independence results in the ability to have and develop deeply satisfying relationship with others. Relationships that hold one accountable for bad behavior, relationships that allow you to be you and them to be them..
Just becarefull what we call BALANCE, most of that is luke warmity. And CHRIST said he will spit you out of his mouth. Revelation is about JESUS. it is revelation of WHO Christ is and what HE DOES NOT tollerate.
He does not tolerate someoen who claims to follow him(whic h would be loving christ and the bretheren wit hall you are) and yet then says that "passion is fine"
Passion with you WIFE.Husband is fine...yes. And im not agaisnt seekign amate.(im on a datign website)
But since i follwo the spirit leadign me, i posted this. I KNOW that ths will help some peopel so please read it.
God said trust NO man. But folow HIM lean on GOD with all you are.
"For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death." Romans 7:5
"Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:24
"For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another" Titus 3:3
When we are Born again of GOD all the PASSIONS die, or are supposed to die. YES it can be difficult, adn yes it wont ALWAYS be right away, especiall in todays day and age, but it is NECESSARY
So if you are struggling with sexual sins, and or lusts, work on Pride. That is one of THE WORST thigns, adn it is incidius. I love all you guys, and i pray that you ae blessed by this. Look up more of Zac poonens stuff he is a very good teacher.
" Many of you who are young have to admit that you are finding it very difficult to overcome your sexual passions."
I almost laughed when I read that. Sexual sin knows no age. It is not just young people who have issues in this area. (And what is "young"?)
Don't take the words of Ezekiel 16:49-50 out of of context. Ezekiel was giving a prophecy about Jerusalem and the people living there (and, by extension, all the Jews in Israel). He was using Sodom as an example of what the Jews had become. Genesis 19:1-11 clearly shows one of the reasons God destroyed Sodom nd Gomrrah, which is sexual sin. Taking both sections together it is clear, as you point out, that God pairs sexual sin with pride and having no compassion.
God made us sexual beings, and I believe He also gave us tools and reasoning and a mind to be strong enough to stand up under temptation, with His help.
As one who has overcome this stronghold in His life, I would have to agree with coman that Every Man's battle has helped arm me with ways to walk victoriously such as bouncing my eyes away, taking hold every thought captivve, and loving a woman who will at times be unlovley with the same fervor that Uriah loved David. But this is more for defeating lust which is only part of the problem, the other is self control, which is a whole diferent ball game.
