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- Feb 9, 2004
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Men and women tend to look at sex differently. It is a rather well known fact that men have a stronger desire for sex than [most] women. GOD teaches us to be sexually pure. How easy is it to lust? How serious is GOD about adultery? Fornication?
Legend:
red lettering = verses spoken directly from Jesus Christ
green lettering = my input
Matthew 5:28
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
As you can see above, this makes it clear how serious even thoughts are. They are labeled by Christ as equivilent to adultery.
Mark 7:21-23
21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
It all begins with our hearts. It is sinful [beginning initiation of sin] to dwell on evil thoughts including lust as this thread discusses.
Acts 15:28-29
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Do not give the devil a foothold, therefore it begins with your heart. Do not dwell on evil thoughts or else sin will eventually lead to death [ultimately]. Sin grows like a disease.
Romans 13:12-13
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one.
The above explains to us to refrain association [fellowship] even with Christians alike who are committing adultery or any other lustful acts as mentioned in the verses. By assocating with such people they become stumbling blocks in our lives to us, therefore hindering us in our walk with GOD.
1 Corinthians 6:13,18
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
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body
Verse 13 makes it clear who owns our bodies. GOD does, for He is our Creator and expects us to serve Him in a holy manner, keeping ourselves pure from wordly filth [sin].
Galatians 5:16,19
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality
Walk in Spirit. We are not of this world [John 15:19] but temporary residents. Because we are not of this world but GOD's children we are to walk in Spirit [Christ dwells in us]. GOD is Spirit, so we believers walk in Spirit.
Ephesians 5:3-4
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving
You can sense the degree of seriousness in the above. "...not even be named among you". In other words, no hints, zero allowed in our lives. Clearly, GOD hates these things.
Colossians 3:5-6
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5,7
For this is the will of God, your sanctification that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness
Hebrews 12:15-16
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality
Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
The price of sin and ultimate consequence if one does not repent is reflected in the above Scripture. Jesus clarifies how serious this matter is. We must repent and lean on Christ for strength alone.
How does lust begin?
- lustful attitudes, thoughts
- associating with those who are stumbling blocks (1 Corinthians 5:11)
- feeding the sin [feeding the 'demon' per se] with more lust and no repentance
God expects us to be pure!
- no hints of impurity, adultery, fornication, lust
- refrain from any assocation leading to lust [people and things]
- repent, prayer, dwell on the Word. Walk in Sprit not in flesh (Galatians 5:16)
Put on the armour of GOD and walk in Spirit, one day at a time. Remember, not by your strength but by His [Jesus Christ].
Ephesians 6:10-18
[ARMOUR OF GOD]
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints
Legend:
red lettering = verses spoken directly from Jesus Christ
green lettering = my input
Matthew 5:28
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
As you can see above, this makes it clear how serious even thoughts are. They are labeled by Christ as equivilent to adultery.
Mark 7:21-23
21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
It all begins with our hearts. It is sinful [beginning initiation of sin] to dwell on evil thoughts including lust as this thread discusses.
Acts 15:28-29
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Do not give the devil a foothold, therefore it begins with your heart. Do not dwell on evil thoughts or else sin will eventually lead to death [ultimately]. Sin grows like a disease.
Romans 13:12-13
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one.
The above explains to us to refrain association [fellowship] even with Christians alike who are committing adultery or any other lustful acts as mentioned in the verses. By assocating with such people they become stumbling blocks in our lives to us, therefore hindering us in our walk with GOD.
1 Corinthians 6:13,18
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
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body
Verse 13 makes it clear who owns our bodies. GOD does, for He is our Creator and expects us to serve Him in a holy manner, keeping ourselves pure from wordly filth [sin].
Galatians 5:16,19
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality
Walk in Spirit. We are not of this world [John 15:19] but temporary residents. Because we are not of this world but GOD's children we are to walk in Spirit [Christ dwells in us]. GOD is Spirit, so we believers walk in Spirit.
Ephesians 5:3-4
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving
You can sense the degree of seriousness in the above. "...not even be named among you". In other words, no hints, zero allowed in our lives. Clearly, GOD hates these things.
Colossians 3:5-6
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5,7
For this is the will of God, your sanctification that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness
Hebrews 12:15-16
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.
Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality
Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
The price of sin and ultimate consequence if one does not repent is reflected in the above Scripture. Jesus clarifies how serious this matter is. We must repent and lean on Christ for strength alone.
How does lust begin?
- lustful attitudes, thoughts
- associating with those who are stumbling blocks (1 Corinthians 5:11)
- feeding the sin [feeding the 'demon' per se] with more lust and no repentance
God expects us to be pure!
- no hints of impurity, adultery, fornication, lust
- refrain from any assocation leading to lust [people and things]
- repent, prayer, dwell on the Word. Walk in Sprit not in flesh (Galatians 5:16)
Put on the armour of GOD and walk in Spirit, one day at a time. Remember, not by your strength but by His [Jesus Christ].
Ephesians 6:10-18
[ARMOUR OF GOD]
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints