*Understand that lust has many different forms (sex, pornography, homosexuality, impure thoughts, masturbation, etc.)
- Acceptable. Just watching television for five minutes you’ll see that everything God says is wrong the world says its alright. Using homosexuality for example, every believer knows (or should know) that this is wrong but the world has painted it as normal and natural. People say things like they were born gay or God accepts me just as I am. (No you weren’t and God accepts you not your sin.) What used to be taboo is now accepted and embraced, even more than Christianity. I was listening to the radio this morning and there is a group home worker who took their kids to the beach and while at the beach there were different bands or music being played and there was some Christian music played in the mix. The group home worker was suspended without pay because she exposed the children to Christian music! He/she in no way tried to convert the children, they were just exposed to it! But all the music talking about sex, guns, and drugs is acceptable….
- Accessible. It has never been easier to gain access to pornography or even sex for that matter. I was on youtube one time and typed the title of a Christian song and found the song. Then out of curiosity of how far I could go I began to click on different videos in the “suggested videos” box and before long I was at X-rated videos! There are so many free pornographic websites with no way to keep us out. It’s like putting a fat kid in a candy store and say everything is free but you can’t have any. Disaster waiting to happen! I was talking to a college student tonight and he was telling me how easy it is to find someone to have sex with, it’s scary.
- Attractive. The world has glorified sex outside of marriage. It’s almost taboo to say, “I’m saving myself for marriage.” Looking at music, movies, even commercials they all promote lustful things and make them look soo good. It’s not hard to say no to something that isn’t attractive, but when it looks good, smells good, feels good, its not so easy.
So how do we combat this enemy……leave your response before my next post
4 comments:
We have to allow God's spirit of truth to expose the lust we have in our hearts, mind, habits, mannerisms, conversations... in all that we are and do. This requires humility... a dealing with the heart. One has to be in a humble or lowly position to be teachable. They have to recognize they have an issue or problem that needs to be solved, and they don't have the answers to solve it. They have to admit THEY, by themselves, can't do anything. They have to want to, in their inner will, the desire change... to hate the things that God hates. Where does this come from? They have to receive the grace and love of God through a real relationship with Him. In their lowly, humble place of submission to HIS will... their hearts will be ready to begin the battle against lust. God needs us to break-up with our counterfeit lovers and husbands and fall in love/marry our first and eternal Husband.
I agree that lust can be a serious problem and is a sin but I think this is over analytical. You turn on the TV and anytime you see a man and woman in a commercial, they have on wedding rings ESPECIALLY if they are in bed. This caters to the conservative crowd. As far as accepting and embracing homosexuality, this all started for the sake of fair treatment for those that chose to be gay (I don't believe they are born that way). As Christians we should not judge them or treat them badly as they are still human. We should try to help them out of their lifestyle.
I also disagree that knowing you sexual self causes problems with your future spouse. Just like you don't want to marry a moocher if you are an ambitious, hard working person, if you know you have a certain sex drive you want someone on the same level. If you choose to deny yourself that then who's fault is it when you are unhappy in your marriage? If God has it planned for you to marry, then the right person is there and so is the dedication it takes for a marriage to work. Everything won't be perfect in any marriage. One person can be a neat freak and the other a slob. Doesn't mean that because you didn't have chores as a child that you are going to have serious issues.
Lust and the ways of the world are serious threats to Christians who are not trying to do battle the right way, but I think you are thinking too hard about it.
Lust as you know has been with us from the days of Adam and Eve. Eve lusted after the fruit...she had a desire based on a thought placed in her mind by the enemy. As a result we are subject to it but don't have to be dominated by it. I agree with and love the 3 A's of lust in your blog.
I will also add three other pitfalls that contribute to the lust that may arise. They are: Lies, Thought Life, and Language!
1. Lies - For far too long we have bought the lies of media and society such as "once you have sex you can't stop" or "teaching abstinance and holiness is unrealistic" A person is born with the freedom of choice and free will. What we accept as truth helps formulate the choices we make and what we "Will" to do.
2. Thought Life - What do you think on? If you think on the glamour of the perverted sex storylines and lust of the media or stories told by people you know, you are more inclined to support those thougths for yoruself. So the bottom line is think on those things that are pure, true, and lovely.
3. Language - What are you speaking each day? Are you telling yourself "I'm worth the wait?" "I deserve to live a life of wholeness" "I love to obey God's way of doing things?" The point: You've got to speak positive affirmations daily to stay on the course for your life's purpose and to be an example that living above lust is possible. You can always know where your heart is by identifying what you are talking about most of the time. Are your words postively impacting your life or leading you toward thoughts and actions of lust?
What a time to tackle this problem in the Body of Christ. PLEASE keep talking about it out loud, in church services, Sunday school, on the job, etc. It must be confronted and exposed. Believers NEED to come clean first and allow the Blood of Christ cleanse them and go through a deliverance session. they need to have someone hold them accountable at all times. When you REALLY love God you will do what it takes to stay free--right?
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