What is sexual temptation?

There are different types of temptations. Chief among them are pride, money and sex. Many Christians have fallen, are falling and will continue to fall because of pride, money and sex.

Families, great men and women of God as well as great ministries have been destroyed either because of financial or sexual scandals. This is partly because there are not many churches that teach their members on the dangers of succumbing to any one of these temptations as well as what one can do when tempted. Due to the lack of knowledge in this area, some people have perished while others continue to perish.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” – Hosea 4:6

So, what is sexual temptation? It is simply temptation of a sexual nature. It is being enticed, persuaded or seduced into engaging in a prohibited sexual act. Anyone who engages in a prohibited sexual act becomes by virtue of that act, sexually immoral. In other words, sexual temptation can lead to sexual immorality. You will fall into sexual immorality. You will walk into it. Sexual immorality is not something that happens to you. NO. It is something you make happen. Sexual immorality is a choice. You can choose to be either sexually pure or sexually immoral. The choice is entirely yours. To choose to be sexually immoral is to choose to live in sin.

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impunity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”- Ephesians 5:3

Types of sexual immorality

Bestiality

This refers to having sex with an animal. The Bible prohibits bestiality.

“Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to any animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.” – Leviticus 18:23

In Zimbabwe, bestiality is a criminal offence. Section 74 of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform Act) Chapter 9:23 provides that; “Any person who knowingly commits any sexual act with an animal shall be guilty of bestiality”

Incest

This refers to sexual intercourse within a prohibited degree of relationship. In Zimbabwe, incest is a criminal offence. Section 75 (2) of the Criminal Law (Codification& Reform Act) Chapter 9:23 provides that;

“Where sexual intercourse takes place between: – (a) A parent and his/her natural child, whether born in or out wedlock, or adopted, whether the child is under the age of eighteen years or not, or

(b) A step-parent and his or her step-child, whether the step-child’s parent and step-parent are married under the Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11) or the Customary Marriages Act (Chapter 5:07) or are parties to an unregistered customary law marriage and whether or not the child was over the age of eighteen years at the time of the marriage; or

(c) A brother and sister, whether whole or half blood, or

(d) An uncle and his niece, or

(e) A grand-uncle and his grand-niece, or

(f) An aunt and her nephew, or

(g) A grand-aunt and her grand-nephew; or

(h) A grand-parent and his or her grand-child; or

(i) Any person and his first or second cousin; or

(j) Any person and an ascendant or descendant of his or her spouse whether the person and his or her spouse or former spouse are or were married under the Marriage Act (Chapter 5:11) or the Customary Marriages Act (Chapter 5:07) or are or were parties to an unregistered customary law marriage; or

(k) Any person and his or her ascendant or descendant in any degree;

To be continued

Davison & Gwendoline Kanokanga; Founders & Senior Pastors of Impact Christian Centre: www.impactchristiancentre.net

 

 

(l) Any person and a descendant of a brother or sister, whether of whole or half-blood; and either or both of the parties know or realize that there is a real risk of possibility that they are related to each other in any of the foregoing degrees of relationship, either or both parties to the intercourse as the case may be, shall be guilty of sexual intercourse within a prohibited degree of relationship.

The Bible also condemns incest. It says;

“No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations…

Do not dishonour your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonour your father. Do not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere. Do not have sexual relations with your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, that would dishonour you. Do not have sexual relations with the daughter of your father’s wife, born to your father, she is your sister. Do not have sexual relations with your father’s sister; she is your father’s close relative. Do not dishonour your father’s brother by approaching his wife to have sexual relations, she is your aunt. Do not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; do not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would dishonour your brother. Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sexual relations with either her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter they are close relatives. Do not take your wife’s sisters as a rival wife and sexual relations with her while your wife is living.”– Leviticus 18:6-18

Lesbianism/Homosexuality

This occurs when sexual intercourse takes place between people of the same sex.

“And the man, instead of having normal sexual relations with women burned with lust for each other, men doing shameful things with other men…” – Romans 1:27

Fornication

This takes place when an unmarried person has sexual intercourse;

“…God wants you to be holy and pure and to keep clear of all sexual Sins so that each of you will marry in holiness and honour”- 1 Thessalonians 4:4

God takes fornication so seriously that he has prepared a lake of fire for fornicators:

“But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators and sorcerers, and idolaters, and liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone” – Revelation 21:8

Masturbation

This occurs when one sexually arouses himself or herself by manual stimulation of the genitals;

“So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows…better to stay unmarried if you can, just as I am. But if you can’t control yourselves go ahead and marry. It is better to marry than burn with lust.” – 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

Adultery

This refers to voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person other than his or her spouse.

“Honour your marriage and its vows, and be pure; for God will surely punish all those who are immoral or commit adultery”- Hebrews 13:4

The Bible in Proverbs 6:32 (Msg) says:

“Adultery is a brainless act, soul-destroying, self-destructive”

Davison & Gwendoline Kanokanga

Founders & Trustees of The Marriage Centre: www.themarriagecentre.com

Founders & Senior Pastors of Impact Christian Centre: www.impactchristiancentre.net