Break Free from Sexual Addiction

[rizen1]

Break Free from Sexual Addiction
Whitney Hopler


Sexual fantasies, pornography, illicit affairs, masturbation, prostitution, and more can lure you into a world of sexual addiction, in which sex becomes a burden rather than the blessing God intends it to be.
Here are some ways you can break free from sexual addiction:


Pursue relationships with people, not sex for its own sake. Realize that God never intended sex to be separated from relationships; in fact, He designed sex to foster greater intimacy between people.

Ask God to show you how you got caught up in sexual addiction. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal past events, decisions, and relationships with others that motivated you to pursue unhealthy sexuality. Then pray specifically about each one that the Holy Spirit shows you, asking for healing. Also seek God's help to forgive any people who sexually abused you.

Have confidence that Christ is strong enough to help you change. Remember that He broke sin's hold over all people through His death and resurrection, and He offers you that great power to apply in your own life today.

Confess each sexual sin in your life, then renounce each one before God, asking for the grace to turn away from it and pursue healthy sexuality instead.

Decide to offer your body to God rather than to sin by using it only in ways that you know please God. Reserve the sexual use of your body for your spouse only. If you're single, ask God to show you healthy ways in which you can channel your energies, and to give you the grace you need to remain sexually pure.

Be careful what you allow into your mind. Images of pornography, for instance, can burn into your mind for years to come, poisoning your mind, which God wants to be pure. Carefully choose your experiences and the thoughts you dwell on, making sure that they're positive and healthy, because your thoughts have great power to affect who you are as a person. Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind.

Enlist the support of others. A counselor, support group, or trusted friend can help you through your healing process. Be willing to be open and honest with those who can support you.

Be patient. Know that change is a process that can take a while, but that God will be faithfully present with you each step of the way.

Accept and embrace God's deep love for you. Sexual sins often make you feel especially unlovable. Know that God will forgive you and help you, no matter what you've done, as long as you sincerely want to change and trust Him to transform you.

Commit yourself to daily prayer and Scripture reading to strengthen your intimacy with God.

Adapted from A Way of Escape: Freedom from Sexual Strongholds by Neil T. Anderson, copyright 1994 by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Or. Buy this book online by by visiting your local Christian bookstore.

Neil T. Anderson is the president of Freedom in Christ ministries, and speaks often on living free in Christ. He is the author of many books, including the bestselling The Bondage Breaker.

 

[trucker]

sexual addiction

Great post. Neil Anderson has great stuff. Highly recommend his material

Trucker

 

[rizen1]

Yes, I enjoy anything from him, I've posted a couple of things on TJ.

God bless you.

 

[trucker]

addiction

There is another author that is outstanding, his name is Steve Mcvey. Look him up on the web. His material on Grace and in Christ brings great peace. I was attending an Andrew Wommack mens meeting and found out about he and his wife.

God is really moving his people to find out who we really are and to live our life for Christ from that position rather than be so concentrated on our behavior. When you know who you are in Christ, then you conduct, behavior and attitudes will reflect Christ and it becomes nearly effortless.

God bless you Rizen1. Keep II corth 5: 17-21 in the fore front of your thoughts,

Trucker

 

[rizen1]

When you know who you are in Christ, then you conduct, behavior and attitudes will reflect Christ and it becomes nearly effortless.
Trucker

What,,,,,
Sorry I had to take that in again, Tucker you hit the nail man.
Awesome quote.

God bless you Rizen1. Keep II corth 5: 17-21 in the fore front of your thoughts,

Yes I will thank you.

There is another author that is outstanding, his name is Steve Mcvey. Look him up on the web.

I will check that out.

God bless Tucker.

 

[Faithful Son]

I thought I'd post the scripture brother Tucker mentioned, I think it's really fitting to this thread.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NKJV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

[trucker]

Addiction

Brothers and sisters, the key to living this Christian life is wrapped up in II corth 5: 17-21 and Galatians 2: 19-20. When you stop trying to live a lifestyle based on behavior and live who you really are in Christ (that would be a new creature) and realize that the old you is dead and the new you is alive unto Christ sin will lose its hold on you.

The problem is we identify with sin and then think that is who we are. Even when we sin, we are still in Christ. Romans chapter 7 reveals Paul’s frustration when he stated, the thing I do not want to do, I do. He battled with sin, but always realized that Jesus rescued him from the sin nature embedded in our flesh. Stop identifying with the old you and identify with the new you in Christ. As you acknowledge Christ spirit in you, and learn to yield to it, transformation takes place very easily. When you place yourself under Law and strict rules, it only makes you more aware of sin.(Romans 3: 20) You are now under Grace which is his power working through you to produce change.. The more you acknowledge his presence in you, the more you will see the fruit of the Spirit in your life. (see gal 5: 19-22).

God bless you,
Trucker

 

[Faithful Son]

Brother Trucker.

I don't know how to word this actually, but I'll just ask for your insight. I've been having some trouble in my life for the past 3 years and I recently started a thread about it in the Counselling section, called "I don't have free will".

The main reason I started it was because of sin, not that I committed it, but because it's more part of who I am, I can't see who I am in Jesus.

Will you take a look at it sometime and continue where you left off here today?

I do have sexual sin in my life as well, so I'm not just posting here for the fun of it.

God bless

 

[4Given]

Thanks for this post,it helps alot

 

[meldieching]

This is a simple and short article yet it is very informative. Sexual addiction should be something that we opt out for. It's not bad to have sex as long as it is with your wife / husband.