Godly Words of Encouragement

 (This message was edited by pinoy_celt on 12-24-03 @ 6:19 am EST)

Although the Bible may not necessarily have any direct references to the subject of masturbation, the Bible does have plenty to say about this subject, believe it or not, with regard to being a form of sexual sin. It’s openly talked about today, and although some people squirm or are disgusted when it’s mentioned, a lot of people giggle about it and are even OK with it. Even though it seems normal, it’s not. I’m going to share with you why it’s wrong and has no place in God’s creation because a lot of people are either in bondage to it and/or are not aware of its spiritual consequences. If you are at all struggling with this, there’s good news: we can overcome through the power and grace provided by Jesus Christ, and I just want to encourage us with this word.

First, we must understand that our bodies are temples for the LORD. NIV 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” NIV Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.” NIV 1 Corinthians 12:22,23 says, “…those parts of the body…that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty.” It’s important we realize how sacred our bodies are.

James 1: 14, 15 NASB says, "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." Masturbation really starts with the mind and how we can tempted to lust through the flesh in our thought patterns, even if one is alone when (s)he masturbates, as is typically the case, or with a partner in the case of being masturbated by a partner or with mutual masturbation. It’s a mental bloc that must be broken. We need to see the importance of NASB Romans 12:2, just after the verse about offering your bodies to the LORD, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, and acceptable, and perfect.” Masturbation is specifically a human tendency. There are various reasons why people masturbate, whether it’s because of lust, stress, rejection, isolation, or just “for fun.” But the bottom line is that it is pure selfishness. And although the Bible does not specifically mention the word or explicitly talk about it, the Holy Spirit can show us where God stands on this subject.

Jesus understood being tempted with masturbation as with any other sin, sexual or otherwise. He knew that His body was a temple in NIV John 2:21 which says, “But the temple he had spoken of was his body.” (although the original context in that passage was referring to another matter, the general principle of Jesus knowing His body was a temple still applies) He was also tempted with masturbation because it says in NIV Hebrews 4:15,16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in EVERY way, just as we are--yet was without sin.” He overcame every temptation to masturbate.

But how did Jesus overcome this temptation? First, He realized the consequences of masturbation. He realized it was a sin against the LORD. NIV 1 Corinthians 6:13 says, “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” NIV 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” Also, masturbation is a sin against your own body, whether it’s with your hand or, for women, with sex toys such as dildos and vibrators. And masturbation is also a sin against your future or current wife or husband. NIV 1 Corinthians 7:4 says, “The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.” For most of us, God has a special someone out there for you, if you haven’t found him or her already. If you masturbate, you are essentially saying that your (future) wife or (future) husband cannot satisfy you enough sexually.

And it’s obvious in God’s Word where this sin can take a person. NIV Romans 8:13 states, “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die.” NIV Galatians 6:8 says, “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction.” NIV Galatians 5:19,21 spell it out: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery…drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The effects of masturbation to our hearts can be devastating over time just like with any other unrepentant sin. We also must give an account to God someday as to anything or anyone that of which He has put us in charge, including our own bodies. NIV 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Masturbation is a serious offense against God.

But here’s the good news: God has already provided a way for you to overcome in Christ because He overcame this. But we need to understand that any temptation, especially sexual temptation, is to be expected no matter how holy a man or woman of God you are. NIV 1 Corinthians 10:13 states, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Praying and believing on God’s Word while we’re being tempted and having other Christians pray for you is a great way to overcome masturbation. NIV Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” But by the same token, please don’t look down on your friends if they’re struggling with masturbation; pray for them willingly. NIV Galatians 6:1 states, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” Also, having something to do or hanging out with godly friends are other ways we can overcome. But most importantly, it’s living by God’s Spirit and disciplining ourselves so we can overcome masturbation. We need to realize from NIV Galatians 5:16,17 that “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” God uses temptations to train us, to make us stronger in Him, but we must ignore our flesh. NIV Romans 6:6,12,13 says, “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin…Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." Furthermore, NIV Romans 8:13 states “but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” Also, NIV Romans 13:14 says, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” In other words, surround yourself with Christian people in your life and always seek to be in the presence of God; do whatever is necessary to keep your eyes on Christ and His sacrifice for you. NIV 2 Corinthians 4:10 states, “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” Besides, we have an incredible promise in God to live for: NIV Galatians 6:8 “the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” So according to NIV Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” God bless you

Works Cited





The Holy Bible: King James Version Bible. (Holman Bible Publishers, 2000).

The Holy Bible: New International Version. (The International Bible Society, 1984).

The New American Standard Bible. (The Lockman Foundation, 1995).

The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible by James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D. (Nelson Reference, 1997).