How We Handle Sexual Temptation, by Men of God

29 Nov How We Handle Sexual Temptation, by Men of God

Men of God are very vulnerable to sexual temptation. The reasons include the perception of them by others as people with power and influence; their isolation and private sessions with women during spiritual counseling and prayers; and the tendency for many of them to feed on the attention and comments of others,; and the habit of being carried away by the approval of people rather than God. Below, some Pastors reveal how they handle sexual temptation.

# Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Pastor Word of Life Bible Church: “Yes, I face temptations, why wouldn’t I? Let me clarify my answer. In the Bible, Jesus was tempted by all things, yet he resisted sin. Temptation itself isn’t a sin, although succumbing to temptation is. For example, I’m not blind, and I can appreciate the beauty of an attractive woman when she walks past. I thank God for her life, but I don’t allow her beauty to affect my mentality or my morality. I know who I am and I know where I’m supposed to be. Consequently, I’m not going to succumb to her seductiveness. That’s why I answered that I’m tempted just like everybody else. However, by the grace of God, I don’t fall into temptation.

“Every day of my life, whether I am in or out of the country, I spend time praying. I don’t know if I should admit this, but I devote many hours to praying about all kinds of things each morning. For example, I pray that God will keep me away from any individuals who will not be good for me on that day. He should only bring people to me whom I can bless. That is one of my daily prayers. I also pray about temptation and that I will be able to overcome it before I leave my room. Sometimes when I leave my room—because I believe I’ve communed with God—some temptations will pass without even luring me, because God has already taken care of them. On the other hand, the grace of God helps me to prepare for some of the temptations. I don’t have to start praying at the moment of temptation. I recall a time during one of my flights when a man started praying diligently right before our flight commenced. I found this quite interesting, and his actions made me smile. I appreciated his action, although I had already prayed before I left my room and boarded the plane. I knew that God would ensure we landed safely wherever we were going. I have a mission. I perform many tasks every day, and I visit different places — criss-crossing territories to perform the work of God. Therefore, I know that by the grace of God, I won’t die on any day I begin with prayer.

# Pastor Sam Adeyemi, Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre: People encounter temptations on a daily basis. Money tempted me when I was very young. I have been tempted by the opposite sex. I am even more tempted by the opposite sex to be very candid. I realize that ministry is a risky profession. Actually, the fact is that the anointing attracts as well as the many miraculous tasks God accomplishes through us — the anointed. Complications arise because we’re sent to help people who are broken-hearted. If we aren’t careful while doing so, and if we don’t clearly define the boundaries, we can fall overboard. We show care and love to people who have been deprived of love. We accept people who have been rejected. We start out with only the purest intention. However, complicated emotional elements often develop over time.

A woman once confided to me that whenever she spoke to me, she always became sexually aroused. I was terrified. If I was tempted to take advantage of her, it was a powerful opportunity to do so. However, I have since learned that if you want to be in ministry, you should remain completely committed to God. Living a holy life is not something you can bargain. Therefore, when the lady spoke, it was as if I heard the devil himself. I have since learned that in order to avoid temptation, you have to remain very devoted to God. A daily prayer life and a consistent study in the Word of God help to ward off temptation.

I have also discovered that human beings are easily motivated by pleasure and pain. You will continuously do whatever you find pleasurable, and the habit dies hard. You will run from whatever you find painful. Therefore, you have to pray and read relevant portions of the Bible whenever temptation threatens. For example, regarding the area of sexual temptation, I consistently read Proverbs 5-7. The portion warns about all the dangers of sinful sex.

# Bishop Mike Okonkwo: Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission

“I tell people that a man of God will always be tempted. Temptations! I always tell people that if they can’t pray it out, they should fast it out. You can’t begin to tell temptation not to appear and hope it will just disappear. I recommend something called the Daniel Principle to any man of God.

Some people feel that others should watch and guide the men of God so they don’t fall into temptation. They accomplish this by keeping people close to them everywhere they go. That doesn’t make any sense to me. If you think you can stop a man of God from stealing money or chasing after women by watching over him, you are wasting your time.

The Daniel Principle refers to Daniel’s conduct when he found himself in a strange land in Babylon. When the people wanted him to eat from the food on the king’s table, the scripture (Daniel 1:68) made us understand that Daniel refused to defile himself. Every decision you make has a corresponding effect on your life. Besides, there are people you can’t afford to disappoint. Your conduct will affect the destinies of the people.

Therefore, you must make very conscious decisions regardless of how inconvenient, because they may affect generations. Of course, another temptation will always present itself. Any man of God who tells you he has not faced temptation isn’t telling you the complete truth. Temptations will appear, but the litmus test is whether you give in to them!”

# Bishop George Amu, Bishop, Goodnews Bible Church

“Oh, yes! I have experienced many instances of temptation. People talk about the temptation of women, but that is a simple one. If a man of God considers what he stands to lose by such an indulgence, he would surely think twice.

The evidence is clear in the Bible. Besides, no matter how strong the infatuation for a woman, the feeling soon dies away. I would say the greatest temptation faced by the people in ministry is trying to be famous — trying to be what God has not intended them to be.

Regarding the relationship with the flock, I would say anointed men of God are naturally charismatic.

Therefore, they tend to attract both sexes of their congregation. My advice is to never get intimate with a member of the opposite sex in the church. In addition to prayers and the study of God’s Word to fight the temptation, physical measures can also be used.

For example, the sources of temptation should not be given undue privacy. Such recourse may even raise harmful rumours. Counseling can be undertaken in the presence of one or two other persons.”

#Pastor Lazarus Muoka, General Overseer of the Lords Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement:

The Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” And also that, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”

# From a book “NIGERIA’S MEN of GOD” by Bisi Daniels