"The entrance of thy words giveth light (Psalm 119:130)."
Sexual Abuse
This article discusses sexual abuse in regard to both victims and perpetrators.
In order to benefit from this article, it is necessary to first get saved.
First, sexual abuse survivors.
Feelings of sexual pleasure, during a sexual assault, cannot be avoided. Bodily sensations are not under our control. Self-condemnation, for this reason, is unreasonable. It should be viewed as a spiritual attack, and resisted, as such.
Sexual abuse is never your fault.
If you've been abused, it's helpful to talk about it with someone you can trust. This can be a friend, family member or counselor. It can also be at a support group. Many churches have support groups that can help. Online support groups are also available.
As with any abuse issue, demons will tailor their spiritual attacks to where they perceive you are the most vulnerable.
In order to break free of the pain, it is necessary for victims of sexual abuse to forgive those who have wronged them, forgive themselves and use Scripture to successfully counter spiritual attacks.
Even women and girls who have been repeatedly abused can break free of unforgiveness footholds and live successful Christian lives. The same is true for men and boys.
Refer to my article entitled: How to Forgive.
An additional link is provided at the end of the article.
Sexual abuse, in and of itself, does not cause anxiety or depression. These occur when the person's reaction to the abuse involves feelings of shame, humiliation, guilt, fear and/or resentment. In other words, when the abuse results in a spiritual foothold.
I remember one client who was repeatedly touched inappropriately, as a child, by her older brother. This did result in her becoming promiscuous at an early age. But it did not result in her experiencing damaging emotions. Her reaction: something like: "That's just kid stuff." Her brother was bothered a lot more than she was—even into adulthood.
Second, sexual abuse perpetrators and for those tempted to commit a sexual offense.
First, this is not a mental illness that requires treatment by a mental health professional. It is a temptation that is 'common to man.'
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." {1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV}
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" {Jeremiah 17:9 KJV}
When I worked at a social service agency, just about every woman I talked to had experienced some type of sexual abuse. This is much more common than most people realize.
If you're unsaved, you are fighting a losing battle. First, get saved. This is your first, and most important, step.
Once you're saved, you need to stop viewing pornography and do your best to avoid masturbation. It is also necessary to counter aberrant thoughts and aberrant self-talk. These give power to the devil.
Refer to my article entitled Masturbation & Pornography. Another link is below.
Masturbation and pornography result in a desire for sexual experiences that are unrealistic and that can become increasingly perverse. These are damaging to your Christian life. And the reality is that these can result in you committing a sexual assault.
If you do masturbate, make an effort to keep sexual fantasies within acceptable limits as much as you can.
There is a jumping-off point that results from repetitive aberrant sexual fantasies. These result in a spiritual foothold that results in demonic pressure to commit a sexual offense in real life.
Make a decision, in advance, that you will NOT give into temptations to engage in sexual sins in real life—even when the temptation is intense. This will happen.
If you've committed a sexual offense in the past, make the decision that you will never do so again in the future.
Fear God: The fear of God will cause you to flee sexual sin instead of flirting with it.
The use of some illegal drugs can lead to you committing a sexual assault when, otherwise, you would not do so. I also worked in a jail ministry—and learned a lot there as well.
Other mental health issues, especially resentment and guilt, also make you more spiritually vulnerable.
These are addressed in my articles entitled How to Forgive and Dealing With Guilt. Links are below.
Many churches have support groups that deal with issues regarding sexual abuse, pornography and masturbation. And online support groups are also available. These can be helpful in a variety of ways.
Finally, if you've been sexually abused, have abused someone, or both, or are struggling with any type of sexual transgression, I recommend the following articles:
- A Quick Start Guide.
- Masturbation & Pornography.
- How to Forgive.
- Dealing With Guilt.
- Overcoming Shame.
- Stopping Spiritual Attacks.
- Relapse Prevention. {Drug abuse}
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