We live today in a society that is highly sexually charged and perverted. Sexual signals are constantly being transmitted to us in our homes through the media and in our streets through the billboards and prostitutes who are scantily dressed.

In today’s sexually inclined society, television commercials, movies and soap operas without any sexual scene or inducement are very rare. Artistes who cannot entertain the audience with their nakedness are no longer celebrated today.

In our today’s debased society, any music without sexual undertones cannot top any best hit albums or musical chart. Nudity, pornography, sex before and outside marriage, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, masturbation and other sexual perversions are now becoming widely acceptable or tolerated.

Unfortunately, our churches also are fast becoming brothels where ungodly ladies parade and conduct themselves in indecent dresses and manners. So, at home, in the street, and in the church we are besieged on every side by sexual waves and surges. How then shall we escape sexual immorality or perversion?

The Scripture and history is replete with accounts of great and anointed men and women of God who fell into sexual sins and some who even got drowned completely in the ocean of sexual immorality.

It is therefore sheer ignorance, foolishness, and self-deception or delusion to think that being born again, being spiritually gifted or anointed gives you immunity to sexual temptations, or shield you from the surges of sexual immorality. Nevertheless, every true believer in Christ has all that it takes to overcome the force of sexual immorality and stay sexually pure in this ungodly and sexually perverse generation.

Although it is fast becoming increasingly difficult or challenging to stay sexually pure in our sexually charged and debased society, yet sexual purity is not totally impossible or unattainable for the believers in Christ.

God has neither changed nor lowered His standard of sexual purity. It is still adultery to look at a woman lustfully even without sleeping with her.

Jesus said, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5:28 NKJV).

Although our debased society no longer scowl or frown at fornication and adultery, yet sex before or outside marriage is still a sin and unacceptable to God.

The Scripture states, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (Heb. 13:4 NKJV).

Even though our ungodly society today now accommodates or tolerates homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality and other sexual perversions, yet God still regard them as sins and abominations.

God said, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. ‘Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion.” (Lev. 18:22-23 NKJV).

How can we stand against today’s evil sexual tide or invasion?

How do we overcome sexual temptations that come our ways on a daily basis and stay sexually pure in today’s immoral society?

Understanding the nature, power, and consequences of sexual immorality is critical and helpful to overcoming it and to staying sexually pure or undefiled!

First, Sexual immorality is a spiritual force.

There are demons, unclean spirits or evil powers behind all filthy movies, sexually induced TV commercials and music, pornographic materials, and all forms sexual perversions.

These evil spirits are always seeking to lure and drive us into sexual immorality in subtle ways, to rule, dominate and control our emotions, to possess, enslave and make us addicted to sinful sexual habits. Therefore, mere resolution, determination or strong will is not enough to experience constant victory over sexual immorality, for it is a spiritual battle.

Unfortunately, the fall of man through disobedience has weakened and made man subservient to evil or immoral spirits (Eph. 2:1-3). But thank God that Jesus Christ has delivered, revived and restored man to God and to his original position of authority through His death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.

Moreover, the Holy Spirit can now indwell and strengthen us to resist and overcome the negative influences and manipulations of the unclean spirits. It is only the unbelievers that are now still slaves to unclean spirits. The believers are no longer slaves to sin or any evil spirit.

Second, Sexual immorality is a matter of the heart.

The Scripture reveals, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications… “All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:21-23 NKJV).

Everyone is born with a natural tendency or inclination towards sexual immorality, for we are all born with a depraved heart, a sinful nature, the flesh, the body of sin (Rom. 6:6). Victory over sexual immorality is therefore absolutely impossible without a new heart or a new nature which only God can give.

Until you become a partaker of God’s holy nature through spiritual birth or regeneration, you are powerless against the force or tide of sexual immorality (1 John 3:9, 2 Pet. 1:3-4). However, being born again through repentance and faith in Christ is just a starting point in your walk of holiness.

Having become born again, you must continue to press on to grow in the revelation knowledge of God and all that Christ has done and made available for you to live a holy, victorious and overcoming life in this fallen and ungodly world.

It is only in and through Christ that you can find a refuge from the evil surges of sexual immorality that are drowning and sweeping away lives and destinies of many people today. Without first submitting to the lordship of Christ, you cannot resist the spirit of immorality.

The Scripture states, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (Jam. 4:7 NKJV).

Besides, you must set Jesus Christ before you as your standard, model, or example in holiness and seek always to be conformed to Him who “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15 NKJV).

Third, Sexual immorality is first a thought before it becomes an act.

Sexual immorality takes place first in the heart. When you continually tolerate, accommodate or cherish immoral thoughts in your heart, you will eventually commit the act when given the opportunity.

This is why Jesus warns, “whoever looks at a woman and cherishes lustful thoughts has already in his heart become guilty with regard to her.” (Matt. 5:28 WNT).

When you lust after a woman in your heart, you are already guilty of the act of fornication or adultery in God’s sight.

The battle against sexual immorality is either won or lost in the mind, in the realm of thoughts. Whatever thought rules or dominates your mind will ultimately control your action. Your thoughts form the basis of your actions. Your thoughts are the seeds while your actions are the fruits of the seed you cultivate or allow to grow in your mind.

Therefore, unless you take charge of your thoughts, you cannot control your actions. If you allow or cultivate immoral thoughts in your mind, you will eventually act immorally. When you constantly incline your ears to listen to ungodly and sexually induced music, you are sowing seeds of lust and immorality in your mind.

When you are watching sex films or staring at nude pictures or pornographic materials, you are filling or cultivating your mind with the unclean seeds that will ultimately bear the fruits of sexual immorality. When you keep company or hang out with immoral friends who communicate in filthy and corrupt slangs, you are presenting your mind as good soil for corrupt seeds of lust and immorality to grow, flourish and bear fruits.

The Scripture warns, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Gal. 6:7 NKJV).

Fourth, Sexual immorality is mostly committed behind a closed door, in a secluded or dark place.

Sexual perversions are works of darkness; your victory comes by walking in the light. You can escape the tide of sexual immorality sweeping men and women to eternity of sorrow, pain and regret if you avoid placing yourself in a compromised setting or environment (Eph. 5:11).

The Bible warns you to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Rom. 13:14 NKJV).

Going to night clubs, getting drunk, visiting the opposite sex unaccompanied and at awkward time, hanging out late with your boy/girl friend or finance, or living in the same room with your fiancé when not yet married is simply making provision for the flesh to fulfil its lusts – it is setting up yourself to fall into sexual immorality. Only a fool will do that!

The Scripture commands, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8 NKJV).

Lastly, Sexual immorality defiles and destroys the body, the temple of God.

Sexual immorality is not just a sin or wickedness against God or someone else; it is also a sin or wickedness against yourself.

The Scripture warns, “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” (1 Cor. 6:18 NKJV).

Sexual immorality defiles and weakens your body and makes it vulnerable to many diseases. You are doing yourself a great evil or wickedness by engaging in any kind of sexual immorality or perversion.

Sex is created by God and confined within the context of marriage for the purpose of procreation, intimacy, and pleasure. It is only within the marriage setting that sex is a blessing!

Outside the marriage setting, sex is a curse. It will only bring you guilt and expose you to shame; erode your confidence and leave you with low self-esteem; abort your dreams and swallow your destiny; expose you to deadly diseases and demonic oppression; multiply your sorrow and compound your problems. Only a fool will sacrifice his/her eternal destiny for a few moments of sexual pleasure.

Beloved, when you engage in sexual immorality as a believer, you are actually defiling and destroying the temple of God.

The Scripture warns, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Cor. 3:16-17 NKJV).

When Samson defiled the temple of God, the Holy Spirit left him without him knowing, and he ended up a good sport to his enemies (Judg. 16:1-31). Nevertheless, when Samson turned to God, he was restored.

Friend, like Samson, have you also been swept into the pit or prison by the tide of sexual immorality?

The merciful and gracious Lord Jesus is waiting to be merciful and gracious to you!

The Scripture testifies, “Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.” (Isa. 30:18 NKJV).

All that you need to do is to turn humbly and wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus Christ to ask for and receive by faith total forgiveness and deliverance from the bondage of sin.

The Scripture assures, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NKJV).

Confess you sins to the Lord today and receive forgiveness and cleansing from the filth of sexual immorality and “go and sin no more.” (John 8:11 NKJV).