April 18th

Forbidden Pleasures

The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. "Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment. "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!" But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave. Proverbs 9:13-18 NIV 

Proverbs gives many warnings concerning the dangers of sexual sin.  This passage reveals a powerful deception used in pornography.  The deception is that forbidden, or sinful pleasures are the more enjoyable than permitted pleasures.  Another way I’ve heard this expressed is that “sinless sex is boring.”  Pornography capitalizes on this deception by offering countless themes on every form of “forbidden” sexual pleasure imaginable.  This is simply another extension of Satan’s tactic of appealing to our lusts and pride of life in order to persuade us to rebel against God (1 John 2:15-17).   

If you are enslaved to pornography or some other sexual bondage and want to get free, you can ask God to help you recognize the lies you have believed.  He will help you recognize the enemy’s deception and make right choices when temptations come your way.   He will help you know in your heart that porn will never satisfy your eyes, and will only increase the fires of lust burning in your mind.   Solomon wrote, "Death and Destruction  are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man" (Proverbs 27:20 NIV).

Through faith in Jesus, we have access to the source of real life and power to live in purity.  The blessings that accompany living for Jesus contribute to an overall lasting satisfaction and peace.  Instead of striving to fulfill our lusts, we can rest in God’s provision and enjoy the good things he has provided for us already.  No matter what your current situation is in life, God will provide for your needs and sustain you when you follow him.  He will teach you how to be a faithful steward of your sexuality, and to walk in health spiritually and physically.   

I’ve found it helpful to use scripture to remind myself of God’s blessings whenever I start feeling anxious about the issues of life.  Psalm 103:2-5 is an excellent “faith-builder” to use for this purpose:  “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: ³Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, ⁴Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.   Psalm 103:2-5 NKJV 

Questions for further thought: 

• How are perversions forms of "forbidden pleasures." 
• In what ways have you entertained fantasies of forbidden pleasures?  What were the lies associated with them? 
• Like the loud woman of folly in the above passage, in what ways is the world “loudly” promoting the way of sin in your life?  (i.e. sources of temptation)

Prayer: 

“Lord Jesus, thank you for always being with me.  Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to live in me and to guide me in truth.  Please forgive me for entertaining any lies in my fantasies, especially any forbidden pleasures.  Please help me recognize the deception of the temptations that come my way and strengthen my resolve to reject them soundly. If I have developed perverted beliefs from the sins I’ve committed, please heal my mind and restore truth in my inmost parts. Thank you for your word, which builds my faith in your goodness and blessings on my life.  You are my God and I am your servant.  I praise you now and forever, Amen.”