Sexual sins are so
commonplace in the Church today that we would be entering the New Year
thoroughly unprepared if we do not take a study that will enable us to deal
with the roots of lust in our hearts. Remember anyone and everyone can and will
be tempted - no matter how spiritual we are. Let him that thinks he stand take
heed lest he falls.
Our case studies today are Samson and Joseph. There are
several lessons we can learn from them as we labour in God’s vineyard. These
lessons are to enable us to strive to maintain integrity, and help to overcome
every trace of lust and immorality.
How Temptation Works
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot
be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it
is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a
kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Jam.1
·
Temptation occurs gradually
and succeeds only when it finds lust within.
·
Temptation is a drawing away from the presence of God
and the family of faith
·
Sin can be aborted at
any stage as long as man has breath.
Read: How to be a Faithful Steward
Sexual Immorality: Mistakes Samson Made
1. Loss of focus
or misplaced priority (Judges 13:25; 14:1-2; Matthew 6:33; Proverbs
1:10)
Samson dabbled into
marital affairs too early in life and ministry when he was yet physically,
emotionally, spiritually and psychologically immature.
2. Refusal to
heed his father’s advice (Judges 14:3-5; Exodus 34:15-17)
Samson had no counsellor
or adviser. When men neglect the silent warnings of God’s word and instruction,
they end up in troubles and woes. When men ignore good counsel, they jeopardize
their own safety (Proverbs 19:20; Exodus 18:17-19; Proverbs 11:14; 24:6; Deut.
7:3-4).
3. Always going
to the wrong places (Judges 14:5-6, 19; 16:1; Ecclesiastes 4:9)
He went to Timnath
alone. He went to the vineyards alone. Even when he was in Timnath with his
parents, he still slipped away alone to the vineyards where he saw a lion
alone. Later in life, Samson was an isolated warrior and fought battles alone,
unlike other patriarchs who all raised armies for God’s battles.
4. Secret
Indulgences (Judges 14:8-9)
Samson ate
honey secretly while pretending to his parents that it was from a
good source. Learn to probe the source of everything you take. How is your life
in secret?
5. Bad company
(Judges
14:11; 2 Samuel 13:1-5; Psalm 1:1; I Corinthians 15:33 NIV)
One of his
companions whom he used as his best man eventually snatched his wife
from him. Judges 14:20
6. Always in the
company of the opposite sex (Proverbs 31:2-3. Amplified Bible)
We see three
different women in Samson’s life within a short time. Judges 16:1, 4.
7. Low level of
spirituality and seriousness (Judges 14:12-14; 15:3)
Samson was a
frivolous person; he was given to jokes, careless jesting, and anger. He was
also a talkative, with no trouble revealing divine secrets carelessly. (James
1:26).
8. Not marrying
the right person at the right time (I Corinthians 6:15-16)
Samson should
have married properly, without exercising undue delay, at the point when he was
beginning to burn with passion – instead of patronizing prostitutes and women
of easy virtue. (I Corinthians 7:2, 9; II Corinthians 6:14-18.
9. Not fleeing
from Delilah after the first two victories over her Philistine collaborators
Learn from
Joseph. Flee fornication (I Corinthians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:22).
Sexual
Harassment: Learning from Joseph (Gen 39:7-21)
1. Refuse to indulge yourself. How did
Joseph refuse free sex? By opening his mouth to say NO (v. 8). There are at
least 5 tools in the scriptures that can enable you to say no. They are: (1)
the Holy Spirit (2) the Word of God (3) a good heart (4) a renewed mind (5) a
pure conscience – which is the last line of defence. Each of this can aid your
escape out of harassment.
2. Apply your mind towards your decision. Joseph found
logical reasons from his mind to refuse Potiphar’s wife? Can you locate
these 5 reasons in verses 8 & 9? Even if you forget God’s word at the
instance, what is your mind telling you?
3. Do not place yourself where harassment can
easily occur. Joseph avoided the woman like a plague (vs. 10).
4. Be courageous to flee. Joseph fled
for his Christian life (vs. 12 & 13). He left his garment. He ran out
topless. Are you attracted to sin or to flee? Remember you will not be bold to
run if you abhor a secret desire for the warmth of the opposite sex.
5. Be ready to submit to the consequences of your
decision.
You may suffer punishment. You may lose your job. You may lose the contract.
You may be imprisoned, like Joseph. But remember the Lord will see you through
(vs. 20 & 21).
How do you live in
secret? Do you walk, live and act as a lone ranger? Can you be readily
corrected or counselled? Is there a Delilah in your life already? Or is
Potiphar’s wife appearing in your dreams giving you sleepless nights? Let us
pray again that God will keep us standing for Him till His coming (John 17:22).
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