Written by Richard Welsheimer
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Below is a teaching first designed for prison ministry so that a new person that might receive a direction when walking away from sexual bondage.
Most men that are trapped in sexual bondage feel that they need a 'step' process to get out. (In reality they need a 'heart' transplant) Here is a 'step' process with the main step being Jesus.
Before a person steps into or walks out of something, they should first 'consider the cost' of their actions.
Being released from bondage, such as deviant sexual behavior, is a process that will cost the individual their rebellious self-sufficient nature.
The Cost
John 6:66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Matt. 13:20-21 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the work and immediately received it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
I Tim. 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
I Cor. 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
This process of emotional separation will sometimes cause us to go through a time of grieving.
The purpose for grieving is to bring me face to face with the truth; my old life is under the blood and is dead and I am able to walk away from it.
Rom. 6:12-14 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Heb. 11:24-25 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, …
Putting my past behind me (closure) is a process, not a single event.
A word of caution, not all areas of our past need to be dealt with; they are under the blood and just need to be ‘put away’.
2. I must confess my feelings. (Why are you cast down, O my soul? – Ps. 42:5)
From asking God to reveal my heart to me I will be able to understand the turmoil that is raging in my soul.
3. I must invite God to change my feelings. (Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. - Ps. 51:10) A broken and contrite spirit will produce a clean heart and a feeling of closeness with God.
4. I must pronounce forgiveness specifically. (But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, … - Matt. 5:44) Obedience produces peace.
5. I must release my feelings. (Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” says the Lord. – Rom. 12:19) By trusting my emotions to God, I will receive courage to face life.
Remember, our fleshly desire is what we are dealing with.
James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Plus, we now have the ability to choose our master.
Rom. 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
"Committed to helping hurting men find peace in Jesus."
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