Submitted and unsubmitted appetites pt 1; SEX AND THE SOUL

Scripture References:

JUDGES 13:3-5

Judges 13:24-25

Judges 14:1-4-

Judges 16:1-5–

JUDGES 16:15-21

JUDGES 16:18-21

JUDGES 16:22

1 COR 6:12-20

HOW TO DEVELOP WITHIN YOUR HEAD, HEART, AND HABITS A HEALTHY SEXUAL WORLDVIEW

1-WITH YOUR MIND YOU MUST Develop a Theology of Covenant Understanding… Sex was never designed by God as merely a physical act. From the beginning, it was created as a covenant act that joins two lives into one. MEANING THE ACT IS ACTUALLY A CHOICE OF DO I WANT THIS LIFE ATTACHED TO MINE FOREVER?... Samson viewed relationships through the lens of appetite, saying, “Get her for me, for she looks good to me,” rather than through the lens of purpose and covenant. What we believe about sex will ultimately shape how we practice sex. If we see it as consumption, we will use people; if we see it as covenant, we will honor people and God will be faithful to provide for you the intimacy your soul searches for.

2- WITH YOUR HEART YOU MUST Train Your Soul to Desire the Right Things… SEXUALITY IS NOT THE PROBLEM… THE PROBLEM IS AN inability to govern OUR SEXUAL IMPULSES. Every person has appetites, but healthy people learn to submit those appetites to God’s design rather than allowing them to rule their lives. If we only fight behavior without addressing the hunger underneath it, we will continue to struggle. A submitted heart asks not merely, “What do I want?” but “What does God want for me?”.. A surrendered heart recognizes sex is about intimacy, and it's either healthy intimacy for my personhood, or unhealthy, toxic and deadly intimacy my flesh craves.

3- IN YOUR EVERYDAY HABITS WE MUST Train our Bodies to encounter the intimacy of the Holy Spirit… Spiritual maturity is built through repeated acts of submission. Samson developed a pattern of immediately pursuing whatever he desired, and over time that pattern became bondage. Every habit is forming someone, either strengthening your spirit or strengthening your appetite. Habits of Prayer, fasting, confession, accountability, and healthy boundaries are not restrictions; they are training grounds for freedom. When you're living out holiness it's easy to tell what is unholy, ‘no’… when we live out of rhythm with holiness.. It is easy to struggle with that which is unholy.