I believe it is correct to say that this sin is a forgivable sin like any other. We hate the sin and love the sinner so to speak. I know brothers (and sisters) who have been down this road experimentally for a period or who were in bondage to it. Some still fight this battle with the desires of their flesh on occasion. We need to have compassion, but we can’t water it down for their sakes. If we grow too soft toward this it could destroy marriages and ministries. All it would take for some is one mistake, one slip up…one moment of weakness and their lives could be destroyed. Not to mention the potential of contracting a life threatening disease.
We’re all human and predisposed to sin. Some are more predisposed to this one than others. If you’ve had struggles in this area please know that you are not alone and that God still loves you. He knows you’re but flesh. But God’s very nature, his holiness, demands judgment upon sin. Sin is sin primarily because it twists God’s intention for his creation, which was to glorify him, and causes it to glorify itself and its own desires. It carries God’s creation away from him. The danger of this sin is that it will begin to define you with a lie. It will say, “This is simply what you are.” Wrong. If this lie is believed it will tear you away from God’s love and mercy and plunge you into the darkest night of soul and shame you could ever imagine. Don’t let it define you. You’re a child of God. It may say, “You were born this way.” But in all honesty friend, we were all born sinners. That’s just a lie this spirit uses to try to convince you to give in. You may have struggles in this area but unless you act on these feelings from your flesh you’ve not sinned. And that’s all they are, feelings from your flesh. It’s not you…it’s the flesh. I know this may sound harsh, but please forgive me; it’s your low down, dirty, rotten, stinkin’, sinful flesh. And guess what…we all have flesh… and ours is just as corrupt as yours. We must stay on top of our flesh and keep it in subjection to the Holy Ghost.
But what if you’re reading this and you have fallen or given in? First, keep your mind from panicking. Calm down. Take a deep breath and get real and honest with yourself. Accept responsibility for letting it happen. Somehow you may have put yourself in a position to allow it to happen. This isn’t placing “blame” or intended to be condemnatory, but rather an honest intellectual exercise in personal responsibility. This can’t be dealt with until you accept ownership of it.
Next go to God and talk to him. Find time to get alone and TALK out loud. Tell him how you feel and how you’re struggling. Ask for his help. Ask him to forgive you. Let the tears go. When you’re with him…it’s ok to express your weakness and helplessness. Ask him to help keep you from ever doing this again. Pray in the Holy Ghost. You’ll feel so unclean and the last thing you’ll feel like doing is praying in the Holy Ghost…but you’re spirit now needs to be edified and built up. You can’t win this battle alone. Immediately sever any friendship, contact, or relationship with the individual this happened with. Change churches if necessary. You may also need counsel from your pastor; or if you’re married you may also need to confess to your wife or husband, follow God’s leading here because there may be serious repercussions.
Now comes the hardest part. Forgive yourself. Put it behind you. You’re human and you seriously messed up. But today is a new day. Now is a fresh chance to start again. God still loves you and longs to see you saved more than you do.
Pray for a healing. Pray that God miraculously heals your entire person; body, soul, and spirit. Being delivered from this will take a deep and powerful healing. Many repent and determine in themselves never to do this again through pure willpower…but in all honesty their success rate is rather low. This predisposition isn’t merely a choice to make or not to make. It’s not in your head…it’s in your flesh. The flesh has its wants and will continue to have it’s wants until you receive a powerful deliverance and healing touch from God. This kind of healing and deliverance is truly a miracle of miracles and it’s something many have experienced. Until you receive this touch you’ll most likely struggle with these desires. Without this touch, even if you don’t act on these feelings, you may struggle with this for many years; if not most of your life. But I’ve seen it happen. Once the Lord has set you free and healed your entire person (body, mind, and emotions) you’ll be whole again and free of this infirmity. You’ll begin to have normal thoughts and desires. It is a supernatural change that only God can perform, you cannot do this on your own. God is there for you and I believe he will set you free…I’ve seen it happen.
And here’s more good news…we’re here to pray for you and talk to you any time you need us. We’re not here to bash or attack you. We will stand with you and love you long after those who seduced you leave you used and abused for their next conquest.
I feel a Word in the Holy Ghost for those who struggle with this…..
Isaiah 53:5-6
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Your healing and deliverance is only…by his stripes. The scourge you deserve was laid upon him. He willingly allowed himself to be literally beaten to shreds to atone for your sin. Is that an act of a God who hates you? Oh if you only knew the depth of his love for you, even in spite of this sin. The sounds of his beating, the cracking of the whips, the slashing of the lashes…these eco down through time and can be heard even now in your darkest hour…at the moment of your failure…they can be heard today in the darkness of a late night movie theater, they can be heard in the smoke filled bars aglow in neon lights. They can be heard in the hallways and in every darkened room of every roadside motel. And when your memory remembers those places and those failures Satan will do his very best to try and make sure that you hear only his accusations and condemnation…. because he knows that if your spirit can hear the stripes...he knows you can call out to that blood and be forgiven, healed, and set free.
If you’re struggling and need a touch from God, turn off your computer right now and hear the stripes being placed upon his back…I know that if you cry out to his blood you’ll have begun the journey home from that far off country… and though you may not believe God still loves you…on that stretch toward home, you’ll see your Heavenly Father running to greet you and welcome you back in with arms wide open.