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The sin of lust has been mostly categorized with sexual immorality, but there are many other expressions of lust that go unaddressed. The inward curvature of lust’s direction to serve “the self” is evident wherever sins are causing abuse to the desires that God originally made good.
Definitions:
Lust is the distortion of the good acted upon to serve the self, the issuer of your personal license for permission to relinquish self-control, and the soil that stimulates a lack of trust in God
- Pornea – Any sexual activity or desire that departs from God’s holy design for sex
- Gluttony – The excess of desire and indulgence that turns food from a gift to an idol that abuses the body and soul
- Greed – Unrestrained desire that seeks for self above all, blinds the soul to contentment, and steals away a spirit of gratitude
- Gossip – The intentional spreading of unnecessary, confidential, or hurtful words without accountability, permission, or love
Observations & Conclusions:
- Lust lures you into a trap
- Lust lives in your heart
- Lust lies
- Lust leads you towards self-satisfaction that results in death
Application:
- Receive God’s transforming Grace, then create rather than consume
- Readjust your conscience according to God’s commands
- Raise your children by both wisdom and grace
- Rely on Jesus Christ alone for controlling your satisfaction
— Augustine
“Lust is not merely the desire for the pleasures of the flesh, but the love of any good which is turned away from God.”
— Thomas Aquinas
“Lust is disordered desire for venereal pleasure”
— Martin Luther
“Our nature is so deeply curved in on itself that it seeks all things, even God, for its own sake.”
— John Calvin
“Lust is not confined to fornication, but extends to all desires that exceed the rule of love.”
— John Wesley
“Lust is desire running before or beyond reason, seeking its own indulgence rather than the will of God.”
— C.S. Lewis
“Lust is a poor, weak, whimpering, whispering thing compared with that richness and energy of desire which will arise when lust has been killed.”
James 1:13-15
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Proverbs 7:6-23
“At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love! My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.” With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.”
2 Timothy 3:1-4
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Matthew 15:19
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
Job 31:1
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.”
Matthew 5:29
“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”
1 John 2:16–17
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
HALT: Four Key Triggers of Temptation
H – Hungry Physical hunger can weaken your resolve
A – Angry Anger clouds judgment and can lead to impulsive decisions
L – Lonely Isolation makes temptation more appealing
T – Tired Fatigue lowers your defenses
Proverbs 7:24-27
“Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.”