Chapter 19: Myth—Sexuality Doesn’t Matter

Page 147

Reason Does Bridle All Of Our Body’s Impulses!

“For the emotions of the appetites are restrained, checked by the temperate mind [having a knowledge of God], and all the impulses of the body are bridled by reason.”

“And why is it amazing that the desires of the mind for the enjoyment of beauty are rendered powerless? It is for this reason, certainly, that the temperate Joseph is praised, because by mental effort he overcame sexual desire. For

when he was young and in his prime for intercourse, by his reason he nullified the frenzy of the passions. Not only is reason proved to rule over the frenzied urge of sexual desire, but also over every desire.” 4 Macc. 1:35-2:4

The Pharaoh’s wife demanded Joseph have sex with her. However, in the 4th Book of Maccabees, the Bible teaches us that by mental effort Joseph “overcame sexual desire” even though he was in his “prime for intercourse.”

Clearly reason rules whenever we engage our brains. Ironically, when we engage our brains, we also engage the sympathetic nervous system, which opposes the autonomic parasympathetic system that stimulates our arousal cycle. In other words, sexual immorality becomes impossible for anyone

who “mentally” considers God as part of his or her thought processes.

Engage Your Brain To Stop Sexual Immorality!

Do you want to stop your sexual immorality? Then just start using

your brain. It might be that easy. And we know that a brain equipped with the word of God and His wisdom — will surely get the job done. The lesson of Joseph and the Pharaoh’s wife is proof positive from the Bible that we do not have to succumb to base body instincts. God’s body design with its

P.N.S. and S.N.S. involuntary functions correlates perfectly with this Bible teaching. If God’s will is considered, the brain just shuts down the sexual urge and arousal cycle with the S.N.S. Only when you ignore God can your P.N.S. then take over. Think about it!