Lord, Help Them To Resist All Temptation!

The women spend hours online looking at pornography or looking for sex. Some fantasize about being sexual in public. Others cruise bars looking for anonymous encounters with strangers. Tolerance builds and things get boring, so the women have to engage in ever-riskier or more frequent behaviour to get the same "hit," or even just to feel normal.

Little is known about the prevalence of sexual addiction in women, but psychologists say the phenomenon is real and only now getting the attention given men with sexual addiction.

"We're seeing women get-ting into pornography in a way we've never seen before," says psychologist and sex-addiction research pioneer Dr. Pat-rick Carnes, executive director of the Gentle Path program at Pine Grove Behavioural Center in Hattiesburg, Miss. - the clinic where Tiger Woods reportedly sought treatment.

"Women are engaging in affairs, they're engaging in sado-masochistic behaviour," Carnes said. "This thing is just morphing right in front of us. - We are seeing the biggest change in human sexuality maybe in the history of our species."

According to Carnes, sexual addiction is estimated to afflict as many as three to six per cent of the population and is defined as intense, sexually arousing fantasies, urges and behaviours that the person cannot control or stop, regardless of the consequences.

In a 2006 article on sex addiction, Carnes described how women were taking on more "male" type behaviours, including "a new level of aggressiveness in approaching prospective sex partners."

It may represent a shift in cultural or sexual mores, he said, or the fact "women are exercising greater freedom, which can manifest in compulsive behaviour."
-The Vancouver Sun, January 6, 2012, Sharon Kirkey

Sexual addiction is only one type of addiction of which many wage a daily battle. What might be at the root of this alarming problem? Is something missing in one's life that causes this type of addictive behavior? Does the Bible offer an answer, or remedy for someone struggling with this?

In today's message, we shall examine one aspect of Christian living that is associated with behavioral issues, specifically the differences between the "natural man" and the "spiritual man." Within the context of this message, it is proposed that we must reject the "natural man" and accept the "spiritual man" in regard to: 1) Self-Control, 2) Introspection, 3) Forgiveness, 4) Servitude.

It is my hope that by the end of this writing you should be able to explain the difference between the "natural man" and the "spiritual man," and that each person would want to be "less" natural and "more" spiritual in his life.

Before we go begin, I recommend that you read: 1 Corinthians 2:14-16. The theme of this writing is based on these verses. This will also put you in the proper frame of mind for our discussion. As you will see, the text tells us that Paul has just finished addressing the issue of division at the church in Corinth. This issue was caused by the wisdom of men. Paul says that he knew nothing among them save Christ and Him crucified.

This is in contrast to the philosophies and rhetoric of the men of the day. Men such as: Socrates; Plato; Aristotle; Demosthenes; the schools of the Epicureans and Stoics in Athens; the Jewish rabbinical structures; and, the Jewish schools of thought; Gamaliel, etc.

But preaching Christ and Him crucified means preaching certain things and rejecting certain things. It means preaching the wisdom of God and rejecting the wisdom of man (vs.4-9). It means preaching the Spirit of God and rejecting the spirit of the world (vs.10-13). And, it means preaching the spiritual man and rejecting the natural man (vs.14-16).

Next, I recommend that you also read: Philippians 3:17-19. Here, Paul is encouraging the brethren to walk after those who follow Paul as he followed Christ. These are: those who press toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (vs.14); those who are perfect/complete (vs.15); and those who are walking by the same rule (vs.16). This is a picture of the spiritual man.

There are some, however, who do not walk in the same way. They walk after destruction/corruption, things of the belly, shameful things. And, they mind earthly things, as well. This is a picture of the natural man.

Taking all of this into consideration, what can one do? Here are some suggestions...

1. We must reject the natural man and accept the spiritual man in regard to self-control! The "natural man places no restraints upon his lifestyle–he consumes himself with the excesses" of life. The natural man drinks to his heart’s content, feasts until he is sick and then feasts some more. If there is a vice worth being called a vice, the natural man engages it!

The "spiritual man," on the other hand, exercises self-control. He understands that God’s word forbids drunkenness (Proverbs 23:29-35; Ephesians 5:17-18). He understands that God’s word forbids gluttony (Proverbs 23:20, 21). He understands that if he gives himself to any addiction it is sin (Romans 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19). While the natural man sees no restraint upon his lifestyle, the spiritual man understands that there must be restraint to be pleasing to God

2. We must reject the natural man and accept the spiritual man in regard to introspection! The "natural man" sees a strong self who relies upon no one. He is the center of all activity–egocentric. Such was the attitude of Pharaoh in Egypt, and of Belshazzar in Daniel 5. He is confident in himself to overcome ALL obstacles of life. This was the attitude of the Naaman at first, and of the Pharisees. He sees himself as the standard for everyone else’s behavior. Look at: Herod (who slew James)- Acts 12:20-23, and Simon before his repentance in Acts 8.

The "spiritual man" sees all of his weaknesses and throws himself upon God’s mercy. He always considers others before self. Examine: (Acts 9:36-42) Dorcas thought of others before himself, and (2 Corinthians 8) where the Macedonians thought of others before self, as well. He recognizes that he needs help to overcome this life and that there is nothing he can do of his own power to merit that help (Micah 6:6-8; Luke 18:9-14).

He looks to the one true standard for his code of behavior–the perfect law of liberty (James 1:21-25; Psalm 119:97-104). Simply put, while the natural man looks to self, the spiritual man looks outside of self.

3. We must reject the natural man and accept the spiritual man in regard to forgiveness! The "natural man" sees no wisdom in forgiveness. He asks no one for forgiveness because he does not think he needs forgiveness. He in turn forgives no one if he does not need to ask forgiveness, then neither do they. When someone does ask forgiveness, it is a sign of weakness. Matthew 18:23-35 is a portrait of the natural man relative to forgiveness.

The "spiritual man" understands and practices a life of forgiveness. He recognizes His need for forgiveness and constantly asks God for forgiveness (Psalm 51; 1 John 1:8-2:2). He recognizes that others make mistakes and offers forgiveness to them (Luke 17:3, 4; Luke 23:34). God will not forgive us if we do not forgive others.

He sees forgiveness as a source of strength, because: forgiveness dispels evil (Ephesians 4:31-32); forgiveness engenders the mind of God (Colossians 3:12-13); forgiveness shows love (2 Corinthians 2:7,8). The "natural man" does not practice forgiveness, but to the "spiritual man," it is the essence of his life.

4. We must reject the natural man and accept the spiritual man in regard to servitude! The natural man scoffs at the idea of servitude. He believes in the principle of servitude only in as much as it will afford him gain in this life. He is like the Pharisees, publicans and gentiles that Jesus describes in Matthew 5:46, 47. Otherwise, he serves no one else because he is too busy serving himself. I refer you to (Luke 14:16-24) where those could not come to the feast because they had their own affairs to worry about; and the covetous fool of Luke 12:16-21. If there is to be true servitude in this life it will be others serving him.

The "spiritual man" understands that service to fellow man is a privilege in and of itself. He serves because it is his duty and privilege to serve (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Mark 9:35). He looks for nothing to be gained by his service in this life (Luke 17:10 ; 1 Peter 5:5, 6). He understands that nothing he does in this life merits gain in the next (Isaiah 64:6; 1 Corinthians 1:28-31). The natural man serves self and merits for himself his glory in this life, but the spiritual man understands that he is merely a servant in this life and can never merit God’s grace.

In conclusion, remember...we must reject the "natural man" and accept the "spiritual man" in regard to…

1) Self Control
2) Introspection
3) Forgiveness
4) Servitude

Today's scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

Prayer:

Lord, look with compassion on all those who have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of Your unfailing mercy, strengthen them in the work of recovery, and help them to resist all temptation. Amen

May God bless you,

Anita