Written by Joseph T. Lee for Marketplace Evangelism Ministries Inc.
Did you know that sexual immorality is the number one sin that can destroy a marriage? That is our opinion because of what the Bible says what will occur in the last days before the return of Christ Jesus. Now there are many great sins one can commit, but sexually immorality can lead to a diverse set of problems in a marriage that causes one to lie, be deceitful, have a secret sin, be unfaithful, have extra marital affairs, and sleeping with a prostitute. Lusting after another woman or man means that one is committing adultery in their heart according to Jesus (cf. Matthew 5:28-29).
Men and women, when you view pornography, you are looking upon another human being with lust in your heart. You are engaging in adultery of the heart. If you take it one step further and masturbate to these images, you have committed adultery if you are married or fornication if you are single, by proxy, meaning using masturbation, another substitute process to achieve the desired outcome of orgasm. By doing so while married, you have in fact cheated on your wife. You have in your mind and heart, lusted after another woman or man. You have in fact committed adultery in your heart and in your mind.
Here are some starling facts. According to Barna Research, there are over 40 million Americans who are regular visitors of pornographic websites. There are over 42 million porn sites on the internet. As of 2022, around 50% of families in the United States reported that pornography was a problem in their home. Pornography increases marital infidelity by over 300%. 56% of American divorces involve one party having an obsessive interest in pornographic websites. 70% of Christian Youth Pastors report that they have had at least one teen come to them for help dealing with porn in the last 12 months. 68% of church going men and over 50% of pastors view porn on a regular basis. Of young Christian adults 18-24 years of age, 76% actively search for porn daily. 59% of pastors state that married men seek help for porn use. 33% of women aged 25 and under search for porn at least one time per month. 13% of self-identified Christian women say they have never watched porn. 87% of Christian women admit to watching porn. 57% of pastors state that porn addiction is the most damaging issue in their congregation. 69% of pastors state that porn has adversely impacted the church.
As you can see, pornography leads to sexual immorality. There are many Scriptures speaking out against sexual immorality in both the Old and the New Testaments. It is mentioned in all the four gospels as well as in Paul’s writings. Jesus said that marriage is a holy union of a man and woman. See Matthew 19:5-6, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Once a man or woman starts to view pornography and the addiction starts, then the marriage is in trouble with the offender satisfying himself or herself by viewing images of other men and women. The offenders have defiled the marriage by committing adultery in their hearts and again by proxy while masturbating to images of naked people.
Why is there so much sexual immorality in our nation and world? I as well as other pastors believe that the demonic spirit of Jezabel has been released on this earth to roam and is influencing the hearts and minds of men and women. The Bible has spoken of Jezabel multiple times. She was a wicked queen and wife to an evil king named Ahab. She had a reputation of murder and sexual perversion and sexual immorality. A Jezabel spirit is of demonic influence and causes destruction in marriages through deception and seduction.
In the Book of Revelation 2:18-29, the Apostle John has had a vision of what is to come. Jesus is addressing the seven churches and mentions the following of the church of Thyatira.
“18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am He who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ -Revelation 2:18-29
The Church of Thyatira could apply to any Christian Church today. The fact that a Jezabel spirit can destroy marriages with the use of pornography and sexual immorality is awful. Demonic influences are helping men and women to destroy their marriages because these men and women are not truly grounded in the Word of God. With only 8% of Christians who read their Bible daily, no wonder there is so much sexual perversion and immorality in the Church as well as in the United States and all over the world. Reading your Bible daily will feed your mind with holy words from God. Once one becomes a true Christian, the Holy Spirit comes into your life to dwell in you to teach you as well as guide your life. He will help you recognize when you have sinned by conviction and encourage you to pray to God to ask for forgiveness of sins. But when a person starts to view wickedness, then those demonic spirits will start to influence you to lust and to sin. That is why it is so very important for young and as well as older married couples to read the Bible together and to pray together as well as pray alone.
I once knew a man who professed to be a Christian but did not lead in his family. He thought he knew it all and would not take advice from those who truly loved him and wanted the best for him in his spiritual life and marriage. He did not take the opportunity to lead his wife in Bible reading or study. Instead, he was more interested in the ways of the world, and he read books on other religions, got involved in occultic practices, and started viewing pornography. This man would go into another room to watch his porn, masturbate, and then denied his wife of love and affection. The marriage ended up failing and now they are divorced.
Those of you who have ears, let them hear. Repent of your wickedness. Pray and ask forgiveness to Christ Jesus for your sins and ask your wife or husband to forgive you. Turn back to Christ Jesus. Immerse yourself reading the Bible and praying daily. Pornography addition can be overcome through a dedicated commitment led by the Holy Spirit. If you must, seek counseling from a Christian counselor. Do not get yourself involved in such wickedness that you allow demonic influences to enter your life and into your marriage. I pray that you will turn back to God and confess your sins and seek forgiveness.
Credit: Barna Research
Photo Credit: Text Art
Copyright July 14, 2023. Marketplace Evangelism Ministries Inc. All rights reserved.
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