Spiritual Warfare Series — Devotional #2
Sexual Temptations, Abuse of Christian Liberty, & Addictions
This week, we continue to answer the critical question:
How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting, and derailing them from being involved in God’s great mission?
As we survey Pauline literature, we will uncover fourteen tactical strategies the enemy uses to attack God’s people—along with specific antidotes to counter them. (See the introduction to this series for an overview.)
Tactic 2: Sexual Temptations, Abuse of Liberty & Addictions
“Sexual temptations are lurking around every corner of our lives today! Resisting the temptation to gratify the flesh is a full-time job.” — Gary Rohrmayer
Texts:
1 Corinthians 5:5–6
“When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?”
1 Corinthians 6:12–20
“‘Everything is permissible for me’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’—but I will not be mastered by anything... The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body... Flee from sexual immorality... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit... You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.”
The Problem
“Satan can destroy life by controlling a person through immoral sexual addiction along with other addictive substances such as food, alcohol, medication, etc.” — J. Robert Clinton
The enemy targets our bodies—using sexual sin and substance abuse to gain mastery over what God has redeemed. These are powerful tools of destruction, numbing us to the Spirit’s voice and derailing us from mission.
The Antidote
“Avoid situations that can lead to sexual addiction and frequently ask the question, ‘Am I being controlled by these substances, sexual impulses, or the Spirit of God?’” — J. Robert Clinton
Guard your heart and habits: Proactively flee situations that invite compromise.
Ask hard questions: Who or what controls me?
Seek accountability: Invite others to help you walk in freedom.
Remember your identity: You are not your own—you belong to Christ.
Reflection Questions
If the enemy were to exploit one area of your life, what would it be?
How do you currently release stress in healthy, God-honoring ways?
Are you crossing moral lines in your thought life? (See Matthew 5:27–30)
When did you last conduct a rigorous spiritual inventory?
Do you often tell yourself, “I really need…” or “I really deserve…”?
Have you considered a spiritual fast to break any bond of wickedness? (Isaiah 58:6)
Prayer
Father in heaven, I praise You for redeeming not just my soul but my body through the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. My body is Your temple, a dwelling place for Your Spirit. Grant me courage to deal with sin in my life and in the church. Help me seek what is beneficial, not merely what is permissible. I surrender my desires, impulses, and appetites to You, longing to honor You with my body. Teach me to treat all relationships with purity, respect, and love. Be my Master, Lord—I want to be ruled by You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
