The Anatomy of Seduction
Jack Hayford identifies seduction as anything that pulls us away from the light of God and His intended purpose for our lives. In society today, we are surrounded by temptation in its countless forms-from carnality, pornography and marital infidelity to cultural trends in the media and immoral lifestyle choices. The Anatomy of Seduction is the biblical guide with real-world solutions for protecting our spiritual integrity. With its anatomy defined, temptation’s destructive venom loses its potency.
The outline of the seduction process is a simple and direct one. The first stage is opportunity, This is the stage where we become mentally preoccupied about another person and develop an unusual desire to be near or around them. From there we find ourselves willing to flatter and compliment and finally flirt with the person.
The next state is where people seek opportunities for exploration. At this stage there is a curiousity about what each person thinks and feels about the other. It is at this stage that Hayford says “That one opens the door to that area where demonic intrusion finds entrance.” In the exploration stage, our heart begins to fragment from our spouses to others.
The final stage is “Deception that Leads to Bondage.” Once we have given full bloom to the fragmentation of our hearts, we are easy prey for the demonic spirits to lead us astray. First, we allow our minds to be deceived and then our bodies.
One of the ideas that I found interesting to consider is the idea that pornography is “Ministered” by a spirt–a part of the spiritual hosts of wickedness–or the imaginations mentioned in II Cor. 10:5. The books spends no little amount of time explaining the Biblical basis for understanding the demonic aspects of adultry.
For one caught in the seduction cyle, Hayford outlines four liberating keys: Repentance, Renunciation, Recitation and Release. Repentance is turning away form the destruction. renunciation involves a decisive declaration that makes no defense of any aspect of the sin we have been doing. Recitation is the specific confession of sins. Release is the willingness to open ourselves to God’s work and obey its teachings.
Pastor Hayford offers some practical advice for Defending one’s heart for God.
1. Don’t be alone with any woman but your wife.
2. Don’t indulge an attraction by giving compliments.
3. Don’t accept a protective role for any woman but your wife.
4. Tell a strong trustworthy brother in the Lord what you’re dealing with.
5. Pray for protection.
Jack Hayford’s The Anatomy of Seduction is a very small book but packed with provocative ideas and practical advice. The book is easily read–a little more than 100 pages. In closing I am going to include Pastor Hayfords Prayer for Renouncing Sex Sin and Inviting Deliverance.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Name of Jesus. I come
with repentance and humility to receive the cleansing I need.
I believe the Blood of Jesus cleanses me from all sin. Holy God,
I desire cleansing and freedom from all sexual sin and impurity
and all unholy soul ties. I confess and repent of my own
sexual sins and the sexual sins of my former generations.
I specifically confess as sin and I repent of giving place to
sexual lust: lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, impure thoughts
and all sexual fantasies.
I repent for all involvement with any kind of pornography.
I specifically repent of the viewing of pornographic
photos, books or magazines, pornographic movies, computer
pornography, and Internet chat rooms.
I repent of all involvement in the sins of fornication, adultery,
infidelity and prostitution. I repent of all involvement in
perverted sex, including homosexuality, sodomy, sadism, orgies,
group sex and sexual activity with animals.
Heavenly Father, I specifically repent of all attitudes and all
words or actions forcing or requiring my spouse to participate
or take part in any sexual act which to them are degrading and
distasteful or which violate their conscience before God.
I repent of sexual self-gratification and self-indulgence, including
masturbation, exhibitionism, and Internet or
telephone sex. I also repent of all attitudes, actions and spirits
associated with sexual pride, sexual power, sexual conquest,
enticement and seduction.
And now, Father God, I renounce *** all these sexual sins: all
sexual immorality, fornication and adultery, lust of the flesh,
perversion, pornography, sexual abuse, selfishness and
manipulation. I renounce all unclean spirits behind these sins.
I renounce all unholy ties. I want nothing more than to do with
them or with any sexual sin, in the Name of Jesus.
In the Name of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit,
I break the yoke of bondage from all sexual sins. I choose from
this moment on to walk sexually pure before my God.
