Avoiding Sexual Sin

(Prov 22:14 AMP) The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit [for ensnaring wild animals]; he with whom the Lord is indignant and who is abhorrent to Him will fall into it.

One of the clear advantages of reading through, applying, and being transformed by God's wisdom literature (like the book of Proverbs) is so that we can develop and maintain Godly discretion -the ability to judge critically and to distinguish between Godly right and wrong. We need divine discretion because the attacks from the enemy are endless. Our enemy is a deceiver, a conniver, and he will do everything he can to get us to go down the wrong path, to stray from God's best.

One of satan's most successful tactics is sexual sin. Here Solomon tells us about the dangers of a loose woman's (man’s) mouth. Some translations list her as an adulterous woman. Whatever the case, this is obviously a woman (or man for that matter) with which the reader has no right to legal/marital sex. Back in chapter five Solomon warned us about her, saying: "For the lips of an immoral woman (man) are as sweet as honey, and her (his) mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she (he) is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword" (verses 3 and 4).

This woman (man) comes with sweet words that drip off her lips like honey, and therein lays the danger. She (he) may come to you with smooth, sweet, and flattering words; she (he) might paint a picture of sensually enticing bliss; he may look and sound very tempting and that is exactly his aim. He is telling you what you want to hear. He is appealing to whatever remnant of lust and illicit desire remains in your heart. In our text Solomon tells us that those who are against the Lord fall right into his trap. But the sad reality is that many Christians have fallen into this trap as well. Why? Because they get drawn away by their lusts.

Not only does sin leads to death, but sexual sin is extremely dangerous. Sexual sin can quickly destroy the bonds of a family; it can tear apart husbands and wives, father and sons, mothers and daughters. It can erode a person's desire, will, and ability to love. It strips a marriage of intimacy. It degrades partners to mere objects. It can lead to disease and unplanned children. It can be awfully destructive and that is exactly why the enemy uses it so much. Sexual sin, perhaps above all other forms of sin, has caused the fall of many church leaders who were impacting lives for Christ. When the leader of a church falls to sexual sin it causes some to question their walk with God, some to make concessions for sin, saying "Well, Pastor such and such did it," and then - and probably the worse of all - it causes some to avoid the church and God altogether, claiming that Christianity is not but a gathering of hypocrites.

So what does this mean? It means that you must develop and operate in the divine discretion. Paul told us not to be ignorant (2nd Cor 2:11) of the devil's schemes, tricks or ways. The enemy will always seek to paint a rosy picture of sin. He will make every attempt to lure you from God's best. His temptations may start off sweet as honey, but they end with the debilitating power of poison and the sharp edge of a sword. When you operate in divine discretion, with spiritual discernment, you are able to see right through the smoke screen of the enemy and to resist the temptation of sin. So walk closely with God, by led of the Spirit, remain consistent in prayer, and you will be able to develop the discretion you need to avoid the pitfalls of the enemy!

Father, I declare by faith, that I walk with You and You walk with me today and every day. I am led by Your Spirit, governed by Your Word, and ruled by Your law. I operate in spiritual discernment and I am able to distinguish between divine right and wrong, between God and satan, and between blessing and cursing. I am not tricked by sweet lips of honey. I walk in righteousness, holiness, and purity, and I do it by faith! I am determined to arrive at Your desired destination for my life and I am equally determined to make the impact You desire for me to make along the way. So I avoid, even the very appearance of evil, so that I can shine as light in the midst of darkness. In Jesus' name. Amen!