Proverbs 5:1-23

Sexual sin is one of the most tantalizing temptations that we face.  All sins promise to provide pleasure of some kind but in the end they produce pain.  However, with sexual sin all of this is magnified a great deal.  The lure of sexual sin is one of the strongest, all-consuming and irresistible temptations that we face.  Young men are especially vulnerable to this temptation, but scores of older men and women of all ages have fallen prey to seductive powers of sexual sin.  Unfortunately, the consequences of sexual sin are proportionate to the power of its appeal.  The pain that sexual sin has inflicted upon humanity is far greater and much longer lasting than the passing pleasures that it has produced.  Families have been torn apart, countless un-born children have been slaughtered and bodies have been infected with terrible diseases because of sexual sin.  But even more tragically, numerous people have turned their backs on God because of sexual sin.  This chapter of Proverbs gives us valuable advice to avoid this disaster that lurks in our hearts.

CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN: The voice in our minds that talks to us about the thrill of sexual sin is seductive, soothing and sweet.  It goes to the very depths of our hearts and shakes us at our very foundations.  It paints a picture of pure ecstasy that makes our hearts flutter and our mouths water.  We must learn to stop listening to this deceitful voice and honestly consider the consequences of following that voice.  Sexual sin ends in great bitterness, cuts us like a knife and lead us to destruction in every area of our lives.  We must think about these things because the temptations that cry out to be satisfied know nothing of thinking they only care about the feelings of the moment.  We must learn to run from this temptation and keep away from any situation where sexual sin could occur.  We must create barriers in our lives where we are never alone with someone of the opposite sex.  We must STAY AWAY.  This sin robs us of all honors and inflicts merciless pain; it causes us to lose our financial security and guarantees that the latter years of our lives will be filled with regret.  This pain can be avoided if we will just take time to consider those consequences.

SEEK SATISFACTION IN YOUR SPOUSE: Perhaps the most effective way of preventing this temptation is to find complete satisfaction in our sexual relationship with our spouses.  God has created marriage and given His complete blessing of the pleasure of sex within the commitment of marriage.  We must learn to drink deeply of our desires for our husband or wife.  We must treasure that pleasure and protect it because it will bring us true satisfaction and lasting joy.  Sexual sin is always followed by bitter guilt whereas the pleasures of sex within marriage are complete and brings true satisfaction.  Husbands and wives must be vigilant and vigorous in their sexual relationship with one another.  We must drink deeply and often of the fountain of joy that God has provided through the sexual relationship within marriage.  We must learn to rejoice in that relationship, delight ourselves in one another to the point of being drunk with desire for our spouse.  God has blessed this passionate desire for sex within marriage and He is honored and glorified when we rejoice in the pleasures that He has created for us.  But our sinful actions are always before His eyes and these iniquities will trap us and bring the wrath of God crashing down upon us because of our own stupidity.