SATAN’S TRAPS: SEXUAL SINS (3 of 5)

Satan’s trap of “Sexual sins” (3 of 5)

Satan has a plan, and it is to convince us that
we can sin against God with no consequences.
Whenever he succeeds, we can fall deeper
and deeper into a whirlpool of sin.

However, we know from God’s Word that there
are consequences whenever we disobey His laws.
Here are a few of the possible consequences
whenever we are guilty of committing sexual
sins (and other sins as well).

1. Guilt.
     – We may try to cover it or rationalize it,
        but deep down inside, we have a feeling of guilt.
        Note:
             If we practice it enough, it may not bother us
             as much (we may be desensitized to a degree),
             but we can’t completely erase the guilt.

2. A feeling of self-condemnation.
     – We feel condemned on the inside.
     – The more truth we know,
        the more condemnation we will feel.
     – Because it damages our relationship
        with the Lord, we feel condemned.

3. A sense of anxiety.
     Question:
     Why?
          – Because we know we are doing the wrong thing.
          – We become anxious about our relationship with the Lord.
          – We become anxious about what is happening to us.

4. A divided mind.
     – Sin (all sin) divides the mind.
     – It takes away some of our holy thoughts,
        and replaces them with sinful thoughts.
     – As a result, it eats away at us continually.
     – Sin eats us up on the inside (like termites do to a house).
     – James says, sin comes from within us.

5. Damaged self-esteem.
     – When we give ourselves away in a sinful fashion,
        it damages our self-esteem.
     – God made us to be somebody;
            He made us for Himself;
            He didn’t make us to prostitute our bodies;
            He didn’t make us to give ourselves away
            for someone else’s use
            (or for us to use someone else).

6. A feeling of hypocrisy.
     – Others may think we are one way,
        but we know we are doing things entirely different.
     – We are living a lie and we have to deal with it
        (along with the feelings of hypocrisy).

7. A feeling of emptiness.
     – No amount of sex will fill the emptiness in our lives.
     – It is a pleasure for a passing moment; it doesn’t last.
     – We are violating the will of God,
        so we can’t expect everything to be just fine.
     – The very nature of sin is,
        it leaves us empty and wanting more.
     – Only God can fill the emptiness in our lives.
     – We need to give Him control of our lives
        and strive to fellowship with Him.

8. Disappointment.
     – We know we have disappointed others.
     – We know we have disappointed God.
     – When we know we have disappointed God and others
        we disappoint ourselves.
     – Sometimes we are disappointed because
        we went to bed with someone who made
        all kinds of promises, but ended up walking away.

9. Anger.
     – We get angry with those who used us.
     – We get angry with ourselves for our actions.
     – Like sin, anger can eat away at us
        (causing – sleepless nights, frustrations, suspicions, etc.)

10. Depression.
       – After getting angry, we can become depressed.
       – Our self-esteem can be damaged.
       – We feel that we aren’t respected, but just used.

11. Dishonesty.
       – The same as hypocrisy (we know we are living a lie).
       – No matter how we try to justify it,
          deep down inside we know it’s not right.

12. Doubt.
       – It can cause doubt about our relationship with God.
       – It can cause doubt about our future.
       – It can cause doubt about our health.
       – It can cause doubt about the sincerity of others.

13. A waste of time.
       – A divided mind causes us to waste time.
          For instance, on a job, we will not be as effective,
          (because we continue to think
          about the sexual sins in our lives).
               – We think about who we were with.
               – We think about our plans for tonight.
               – We think about who we hope to be with next.
               – We think about whether or not we will ever
                  have a meaningful relationship with anyone.
               – As believers, our minds can be preoccupied
                  with thoughts of failure and disappointment.
               – Sin divides the mind.

14. Diminishes our effectiveness.
       – It diminishes…
               – Our effectiveness on the job.
               – Our relationships with others.
               – Our relationship with God.
               – How God can use us.

15. Fear.
       – Fear of being found out.
       – Fear of pregnancy.
       – Fear of an incurable disease.
       – Fear of having to make new plans for our life.

16. Jeopardizing valuable relationships.
       – We can jeopardize relationships with those important
          to us (because we have gone outside the boundaries
          of what God established for us).
          Note:
               The lines are being blurred
               between adults and children in the area of sex.
               Sexual sins are reaching lower and lower ages of children.
               They are developing a distorted view of what sex is all about.
               This is the type of thing, can destroy a nation.

17. Protection of sinful conduct.
       – We are always looking over our shoulder
          to make sure we don’t get caught.
          Note:
                This alone can prevent
                 happiness and contentment in our lives.

18. Willful disobedience to God.
       – We are choosing to do what we know is not right.
       – It is actually rejecting God (the scriptures say that
          those who do these things are rejecting God).

19. Hurts our testimony.

20. Jeopardizes our future.
       – We miss out on the plans (and blessings) God has for us.

21. Breaks down the trust in marriage.
       – Unfaithfulness breaks the trust one has for the other.

22. Destroys our ministry.
       – God doesn’t want those involved in sin serving in His ministry.
          Note:
               Look how many times prominent preachers
                have been exposed, and lost their ministry.

23. Limits our usefulness for God.
       – Our usefulness for God is affected by our level of obedience.

24. Hurts those who love and support us.
       – When we continue in sin, we hurt those who…
                – Love us.
                – Support us.
                – Want the best for us.
                – Pray for us.

25. Lose the power of God in our life.
       – When we live in continual sin (which is rebellion
          toward God), the Holy Spirit can be withdrawn from us.

26. Unforgettable regret and remorse.
       Example:
           A prostitute gets to the later years of life
           and thinks, “What have I done?”
           Others who live in continual sin can say
           the same thing (along with: “How many have
            I hurt?”, “I have hurt God all these years”)

27. Addiction.
       – One sexual encounter can arouse the desires even more
           (we have thoughts of,
            “Well, I’ve already messed up anyway”).

28. Pregnancy and abortion.
       – We experience all the emotional upheaval
          that goes along with a choice to abort.
          Note:
               At one time abortion was unacceptable in America.
               Since it has been accepted, look at the increase
               in crimes against children who are born
               (abuse – both sexual and physical; murder; etc.).
         Note:
               Those who continue in sin for so long,
                begin to develop a depraved mind.
                     – They justify their actions.
                     – When God is mentioned, they get angry.
                     – They don’t want any reminders
                        that what they are doing, is wrong.

29. Devastates our fellowship with God (and our prayer life).
       – Some say,
         “I know I have these sins in my life,
          but I talk to God, and He talks to me”.
          (chances are they are talking to themselves)
       – God has said how He feels in His Word
          (and probably reminded them several times),
          but they have become desensitized.
          Note:
               The scriptures say that He will not hear us,
               because our sins have separated us from Him.

30. Can result in crime and punishment.
       – In an effort to reach new sensations, a person
          can gravitate to sexual abuse of young children.
       – A depraved mind can cause people to do things
          they would have never believed they could do.
          Note:
               We never know at what point
                our mind might become depraved,
                but living in continual sin will create
                an environment where it can happen.

31. Disease, sickness, death.
       – Many people today are dying from sexual diseases
          (some as a result of sexual sins by others).

Sexual sin offers brief pleasures without penalty, but God’s
Word says there are consequences to a life of continual sin.

Note:
    If someone asked us to invest money in some venture,
    but the consequence is, we could lose all that we have,
    not many of us would invest in the venture.
    There are consequences to sexual sins,
    so why would we want to allow them to control our life.

Note:
    We’ve just touched on a few of the possible consequences,
    but there are probably many more.

Some may say, “I don’t believe there are consequences.”
Note:
     God’s Word has not changed (and will not change)
     to suit what we believe, or do not believe.