Today, I want us to put a spotlight on lust.
This is another vice we must explore in our series on the seven deadly sins.
Lust is such a sneaky and destructive sin.
Every single one of us a can relate to it and for many, this sin has grown to create serious damage in relationships.
This deceptive vice has entangled many believers and non-believers to the extent that they have become blind to its effects on their lives.
Perhaps too, lust is relegated to a specific category of depravity that some of its victims are convinced they are not guilty of.
So, while one set of people can truthfully claim to be free of something as overt as pornography, they still entertain lustful thoughts and openly betray these thought patterns in their gossip sessions with their peers.
Married women post steamy photos of Adonis-like studs with rock-solid abs, oiled up like they have been lathered in cooking oil.
Married men on the other hand, unabashedly follow and like photos of every sexy social media influencer they can lay their eyes on.
And perhaps worst than all that, both post provocative photos of themselves (ironically veiled with deep captions to add that extra-special touch mind you) adding to the already lust-driven algorithm that feeds the devil’s agenda.
The Pervasive Nature of Lust
It is undeniable that we live in a sin-ravaged, sex-saturated world today.
The seventh commandment (like several others) have been smashed to smithereens making what Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28 almost inconsequential.
Christians are just as susceptible to the venom of lust as the unsaved and that is beyond tragic.
Church leaders can attest to the damage that sexual immorality plays within their congregations and this flows from the top all the way through to attendants.
With headline after headline of pastors being caught in shameful sex acts with minors to married pastors being exposed with cheating scandals, the christian world cannot deny being super entangled in this sin.
Studies show that 40 percent of pastors admit to having consumed pornographic content, with 21 percent acknowledging that this occurs habitually.
It has been reported too that approximately 90 percent of youths with internet access have viewed pornographic content.
This is hardly surprising.
Sadly, the sexually pure teen is the unicorn of our day.
One could logically submit that Sodom and Gomorrah has nothing on us.
Tackling the Lust Monster
Lust is a much more mammoth issue than many are willing to own.
That we must shine a light on it and keep the discussion open is a given if you ask me.
You see, un-surrendered lust becomes a stronghold.
Lust provides a window for the enemy to enter through.
He uses it to move in to our hearts and thoughts and root himself in our lives.
We cannot afford to leave our lustful thoughts unchecked.
Every marriage struggling through infidelity can be traced back to an initial lustful thought that festered into full-fledged adultery.
Sexless and romance-starved marriages often suffer due to the invisible fantasies held by at least one member of the union.
Lust is simply too far-reaching and dangerous for us to not submit to God.
We cannot fool ourselves into thinking that we can defeat this monster in our own strength.
Nope!
We need to yield to the Word for this one and we must allow Holy Spirit to clean up our hearts and minds like only He can.
25 Bible Verses That Put a Spotlight on Lust
Here are 25 scriptures that speak to God’s heart on this issue.
Note there are plenty more on this topic but for today, let us focus on these.
Use them as prayer points.
Use them for reflection and quiet time with God.
Chew on each slowly and let God’s Word pierce through, convicting you unto righteousness.
1 John 2:16
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
2 Timothy 2:22
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
1 Thessalonians 4:4-5
4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Matthew 5:27-28
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Ephesians 4:22
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
James 1:14-15
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Colossians 3:5
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Romans 8:6
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
1 Thessalonians 4:3
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Galatians 5:16
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Proverbs 6:32
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense;
he who does it destroys himself.
Romans 1:24-25
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Proverbs 6:25
25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;
Romans 8:12
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
1 Corinthians 6:15
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 6:9
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
Proverbs 5:20
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman
and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?
Ephesians 5:3
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
2 Peter 1:4
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Colossians 3:2
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
1 Thessalonians 4:7
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
1 Corinthians 6:13
13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
Galatians 6:7-8
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
There is Hope Against Lust
Lust is not your portion.
It is just another vice that you will defeat.
Know today that Jesus hung on that bloodied cross to purchase freedom for us.
He lived untainted by lust, showing us that it is possible.
Never forget the powerful and liberating truth that as Jesus is, so are we in this world! [1 John 4:17]
Choose to address it head on and trust that Holy Spirit will not leave you to languish in what you turn over to Him.