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WHAT CONSTITUTES

LUSTLUSTAND HOW CAN WE

DISCOURAGE IT?DISCOURAGE IT?

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONThe Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners defined lustlust as a strange craving or desire for something with the aim of deriving sensuous satisfaction from it. Every ungodly lust is of Satan. It is a device discreetly crafted by Satan to draw children of God from Him.Jesus noted in John 8:44 “44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you

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want to do....”In 1 John 2:16, the apostle observed “ 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”If anything is not of the Father – it is of course, that of Satan.

Under what circumstances then can we imagine Paul using this warning in II Corinthians 2:11 – “11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we

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are not ignorant of his devices.”

It follows therefore that every undesirable lust has its source in Satan.

Lust is a disease of the heart inflicted by Lust is a disease of the heart inflicted by Satan on its victims.Satan on its victims.

TYPES OF TYPES OF LUSTLUSTThe Bible is awashed with many types of lust and they are in no way limited to the following:

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Psalm 78:18,30 – “18 And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. 30 They were not deprived of their craving; But while their food was still in their mouths”

Prov. 6:25 “25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids.”

Lust For Meat Lust For Meat (Fish)(Fish)

Lust For Lust For WomenWomen

Matt. 5:28 – “28 But I say to you that whoever

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looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

I Cor. 10:6 “6 Now these things became our

Lust For Lust For HomosexualityHomosexuality

Lust After Evil Lust After Evil ThingsThings

Rom. 1:27 “27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”

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examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.”

Lust Of The Lust Of The FleshFleshGal. 5:16-21 “16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident,

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Rom. 13:14 – “14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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Eph. 2:3 – “3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

Gal. 5:25 “25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

In James 1:14-15, the apostle affirmed that lust gives birth to sin – “14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and

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Also in 1 John 2:16, the “...the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life....” are spotted as gateway to sin.

enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin....”

As already mentioned lust is a disease of the heart - Matthew 15:19 – “19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

No wonder the word of God enjoins us all to

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Impure thinking - Matthew 5:27-28 – “27You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery. 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”

“23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” - Proverbs 4:23.

Jesus affirmed the Jewish teaching that the physical act of adultery was sinful (Verse 27).

It was sinful under the Law of Moses and it is

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Jesus then took the command further...sinful under the Law of Christ.

While the Jewish Rabbis stopped with teaching against the physical act - Jesus said that the thought preceding it is also sinful (Verse 28).This sin like all others must be stopped at its source.A lustful look can lead to a lustful act.This is clearly driven home by the illicit affair of King David and Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife).

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II Sam. 11:2, 4 – “2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.”

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Commenting on the statement of Jesus in Matt. 5 – the prolific writer, Jack P. Lewis wrote:“It is not the natural desire of man for woman which is here condemned but the lustful desire for the woman to whom one has no right.”Since the issue is such a serious matter – how can we therefore prevent mental adultery?Jesus answer was to tear out the lustful eye and throw it away

Matthew 5:29-30 . “29If your right eye causes

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you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Jesus was not speaking literally; however, He was using hyperbole or exaggeration to make a strong point.He was commanding medical surgery (Verse 29(Verse 29

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– – 30)30) but He was emphasizing that we must rid our lives of sin.

Later, Jesus said that all sins originate in the heart - Matthew 15:18-20 “18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to

THE THE HEARTHEART

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eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

It is not an eye problem but a heart problem.It is not an eye problem but a heart problem.

Examination of Jesus’ remarks in Matthew 5:28 will prove that it is not just looking upon a woman that is the problem.

The lustful gaze does not create the sin but the sins already in the heart causes the lustful look.

If we were to take Jesus’ statement literally, it would make more sense to cut off the head rather than merely plucking out the eye or

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cutting off the hand.The brain controls the eye and the hand. If our eyes or hands cause us to stumble then we must order our brains to stop wrong thinking and evil desires.

Just as our dirt and dust are thoroughly Just as our dirt and dust are thoroughly removed from floors and surfaces so that our removed from floors and surfaces so that our homes can become a healthier, brighter and homes can become a healthier, brighter and more attractive place for our families so our more attractive place for our families so our hearts needs a thorough cleansing from lusts.hearts needs a thorough cleansing from lusts.

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To do this, we need to:

Take time to reflect on our relationship with God. Identify areas we need some cleansing out.

EvaluatEvaluatee

Decide on the things (habit, attitude or behaviour) we need to repair or discard altogetherLamentations 3:40 – “40 Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD.”

2 Corinthians 13:5 -“5 Examine yourselves as to

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whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” DecluttDecluttererTo achieve a thorough cleansing of undesirable lusts we need to remove anything cluttering our spiritual life.Get rid of things, activities or even people that are stifling our relationship with God.

Psalm 101:3,6 “3 I will set nothing wicked before

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my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. 6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me.”

Need For The Word Need For The Word Of GodOf GodThe all encompassing cleansing tool for cleansing the soul of lust is readily available – It is the word of God

Ephesians 5:26 “26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.”

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Hebrews 4:12 “12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”An Iron An Iron WillWillStrong determination and the unshaken will to keep all undesirable lusts at bay should be our watchword. Proverbs 10:4 “4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

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We must believe without a shadow of doubt that God will help us succeed in our effort to get rid of sinful lusts from our lifestyle.

Having gathered together all that is needed for cleansing of the soul of all undesirable lust, it is only wise that we get to work immediately.

Implicit Faith In Implicit Faith In GodGod

Get To Get To WorkWork

No need to procrastinate – Satan can use our procrastination to keep us in the habit.

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AREAS THAT AREAS THAT REQUIRE REQUIRE SPECIAL ATTENTIONSPECIAL ATTENTION

The heart is the fountain our powerhouse of our whole being.

No wonder God looks at the heart of man instead of the physical body.Any stain there will reflect on other areas of our lives.

Our Our HeartsHearts

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A spiritually healthy heart makes for a A spiritually healthy heart makes for a healthy Christian lifehealthy Christian lifePsalm 51:10 – “10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Matthew 15:18-19 - “18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”

James 4:8 – “8 Draw near to God and He will

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draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

With your heart cleansed, you language should be the next.

Luke 6:45 “45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an

Our Our MouthsMouths

All filthy, frivolous and faithless talks must be permanently purged out and barred.

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evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Ephesians 4:29 “29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Ephesians 5:4 “4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”

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Sweep out all negative, bitter and faithless thoughts from the mind.

Romans 12:2 “2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Our Minds Our Minds (Thoughts)(Thoughts)

Ephesians 4:23 “23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind”

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONOnce you are done with the plan to do away with the life of sinful lusts, open up, and commune more with God.Let the fresh breeze of heaven flow into your soul.Then watch as peace unfathomable, strength unlimited, grace unrestricted and joy increasing permeate your entire being as the presence and glory of God rests on you forever more – amen.

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Questions &

Answers