How to Overcome Sexual Temptation

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!

For I am conscious of my transgressions, and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment.

Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful]. (Psalm 51:1-4 Amplified)

Psalm 51 was written by a man called David who experienced extreme shame that accompanies sexual temptation. The good news is that he also found extreme freedom when he surrendered to God.

David started off as a shepherd boy taking care of his father’s sheep. His family did not think much of him and used him as a delivery boy to run errands for his more powerful and capable brothers. Through the Lord’s mercies, he then became a warrior fighting battles for the Lord. He eventually became ruler in Israel.

Ironically, at the height of his life, he experienced his lowest moments. He fell into sexual sin. He manipulated and committed murder to hide his sin. Despite all his failures, in the end, look at what the Lord said about David:

‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ (Acts 13:22)

As unique as every person’s life is and will be, each one of us has to battle sexual temptation. Here’s an email that I recently received from a young man:

Dear Pastor Michael,

I really have a deep desire to be free from my youthful lusts, but the way to do this has never been told to us. Could you help? Please!

The Holy Spirit, who is the greatest teacher, did not mention all that happened to David for our entertainment. He allowed it to be written in the bible for a reason.

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)

The purpose of scripture

As an example to us

As an admonition to us (as a warning)

A wise man or a wise woman does not learn by experience; that’s a very painful way to learn. He learns from others’ successes and failures.

Quite obviously, there is much to learn from King David. I believe, if we pay careful attention to what God showed David, we too can become warriors after God’s own heart and overcome sexual temptation.

The journey was not easy for David, but if we pick up the sword of the Spirit - the word of God, and we head into battle, determined to fight for our freedom, the victory will be ours in Jesus name.

If you are saying, “enough is enough. These chains of shame are causing me to waste my life and calling”, then pray with me.

How to Overcome Sexual Temptation

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