{RELATIONSHIP} Dealing with cybersex bondage (1)

When the demand for sexual stimulation escalates, the con­sequences of sex­ual promiscuity become increas­ingly severe. In cybersex, which is more like an encounter of sex with­out skin, erotic gratification is the desire. Unfortunately, our fragile flesh is hardly satisfied.
Those involved in cybersex con­tact each other through entering a variety of group ‘chat rooms’ where the messages of various partici­pants appear on-screen along with other ‘posts’ that have accumulat­ed. These chat rooms have names such as Romance Connection, Gay Room, Naughty Girls, etc.

Since the onset of the internet, instead of learning to live responsi­bly as embodied persons with sex­ual identities, cyberspace beckons us to experiment in an artificial world of stimulation, simulation and seduction. The wrongness of yielding to seduction is plain if we heed the words of Jesus:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery’, But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already com­mitted adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:21-28).
The disembodied sexual ex­change practised in cyberspace is even closer to physical sex than the activity of the solitary imagina­tion described by Jesus. Our senso­ry field is more fully occupied and engaged (and at least in some cas­es) another person is actively in­volved, even if not bodily present.
The essence of freedom, accord­ing to Jesus Christ, is the consecra­tion of the entire self, heart, soul and mind to the love of God (Mat­thew 22:37, John 8:31-32). The tit­illating exploration of sexual fan­tasies (in cyberspace or otherwise) fails to honour God. It diverts and dissipates energies meant for other purposes. It negatively affects mar­riage. The imagination when not disciplined, can become a tyran­nical ruler, overwhelming reason and restraint. James explained this.
“Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after de­sire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15).
If you have given yourself to pornography or sexual fantasies, you have been committing fornica­tion or adultery. If you are return­ing to this behaviour over and over again, despite your desire to stop, then you are out of control. You are addicted. What you need to do is to first, admit that you are a sex ad­dict. If you have done this, then, congratulations!. You have taken the first step towards recovery.
Now, you need to come un­der the authority of the Lord Je­sus Christ. You are involved in a spiritual battle. The scripture has no promise of help in overcom­ing temptation for those who are not born again. Now, what does it mean to be born again?
We understand from the Bible in Genesis 1:26-30 that when God created our first parents, Adam and Eve, his intention was to have fel­lowship with man regularly. Adam and Eve committed sin and sin separated man from God. God was determined to reconcile man back to himself. He sent his only begot­ten son Jesus Christ, to come to the world to die for your sins and mine, and reconcile us back to God (John 3:16).
When you give birth to a child, there are certain things that you don’t have to teach the child like lying, etc. Naturally, the child will commit certain sins as time goes on if there is absence of godly par­entage because he has sinful ad­amic nature. All of us came into this world with sinful adamic na­ture. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Ro­mans 3:23). The fact that your father is a Bishop or occupies a high position in church does not make you born again. The day you are born, you are already a sinner. It is when you now un­derstand the difference between good and evil, Jesus and the dev­il, you then make up your mind and say: “Now, I want to drop my sinful nature. I want to accept Je­sus Christ as my personal Lord and saviour so that he begins to direct what I do as I submit to his authority.”
When Jesus takes over your life, what it means is that anything that Jesus cannot do, you can no long­er do them. Jesus cannot steal, lie, cheat, fight, fornicate, bear mal­ice, manipulate, deceive, hate, kill, etc. You can no longer do these things because you now carry a spirit called Jesus. You cannot be operating with a different spirit. That is the meaning of born again.
The birth of a child is not a se­cret. Everybody around knows that something has happened. These days, someone would say he has been born again. You ask “When and how did it happen?” And he would say, “I can’t remem­ber.” This is not possible. The ex­perience is neither a joke nor a se­cret. When you give your life to Jesus, everybody around you will know that something has hap­pened to your life. You too, will always be eager to tell people what Jesus has done in your life.
That is the meaning of ‘born again.’ It means you are start­ing life all over again in a differ­ent way. It means Jesus has con­quered the power of sin over your life and you have received a new grace. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; be­hold all things are become new” (2nd Corinthians 5:17).
Brother! Sister! Until you have this experience, you are an ene­my of God. People might have known you as Pope, Bishop, Pas­tor, Prophet, Deacon, Deacon­ess, Apostle, etc. But irrespective of any spiritual title you carry, as long as you are living in sin, you are an enemy of God. You are just a victim of the devil’s branding and packaging ministry in these last days.
The devil is desperately using marketing strategies to gather people that will suffer with him in hell fire. One of them is cyber­sex which many have happily em­braced. In our society, cybersex has been fuelled by idleness, and other factors. Though they say an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, his access to the workshop high­ly depends on the owner’s con­sent. Besides, a cybersex captive can never have a successful mar­riage for obvious reasons. As you read this piece, ask yourself: “Do I want to remain a victim of the devil’s marketing strategies and go to hell fire because of sexual im­morality?
My dear! Everything that is happening in the physical realm was prepared from the spiritual realm. By this time yesterday, God knew that by this time today, you will be reading this write-up and receiving this message. Remem­ber! For the people that died last night, God did not take permis­sion from them before it hap­pened. You know you are not bet­ter than them.
You may want to be free from devil’s troubles and give your life to Jesus. Say this prayer in your heart right now:
“Lord Jesus! I come to you as I am. Please, forgive me my sins. Wash me with your precious blood. I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and saviour. Write my name in the book of life. Take over my life. Thank you for conquering the power of sin in my life in Je­sus name. Amen!
Congratulations! You are now born again. Have a blessed mar­ital life in Jesus name. (Amen).