“Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 ASV
I was so excited when I dedicated my life to Christ a few years ago to fully walk as a new creature. As most new followers of Christ we all struggle with weaknesses that are hard to let go of and are excited when we overcome the tempting spirits. My tempting spirit was sex.
Before Christ
Before having a relationship with Christ, I would stay in unhealthy relationships far too long because I enjoyed sex. Can you imagine how overjoyed I was to get rid of those relationships! I even made a vow to stay pure until marriage. Although I wasn’t having sexual intercourse with a man I would still engage in self pleasure. When engaging in the act a spirit of conviction would come upon me but I never stopped because I would tell myself, “There was no scripture in the Bible that says masturbation is a sin so what’s the harm?” So for years I kept self pleasing and feeling convicted but the conviction never stopped me. I even told myself why stop it’s not like I’m hurting anyone?
My turning point
I like to have date nights with God so that our relationship is genuine , it’s like I am getting to know a man that already knows me and loves me despite my flaws. This one particular night God ask me did I love him? This took me by surprise because I love God more than words can explain, but I responded yes. Then God ask me again do you love me? I began to cry and I said Yes Lord I love you! Then God ask then why do hurt me? I was baffled not sure what I may have done to hurt God. “My child the old things are to be passed away but yet you want let this go. Aren’t you sick of pleasing flesh? You say your heart belongs to me but every time the Holy Spirit speaks to you before acting you never listen. How do you love me but keep pleasing yourself first?”
After Christ
I cried that night because I knew the honeymoon phase was over and God wanted all of me. I looked up the word masturbation and it means to stimulate one’s own genitals for sexual pleasure, key words:own & pleasure. I’m still thinking of self and pleasing myself when I continue to engage in self pleasure. Becoming a new creature in Christ is not just by my own understanding it’s by anyway God sees fit.
Scripture says: “But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.”
1 Timothy 5:6 ASV
God wants me to die to self pleasing all together! It is not just sexual pleasure it is financial (skipping tithes) spiritual (oh I will go to church next Sunday God knows my heart) emotional (why do I have to keep waiting I’m tired of waiting God) and anything of the world that doesn’t allow us to become new!
Question
What self pleasure are you engaging in that God wants you to let go of? Everything does not have to make logical sense for you to be obedient to Christ. Seek what God wants to replace and let him rid you of any worldly pleasures that are not pleasurable to him.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
1 John 2:15 ASV
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