CONQUERING LUST OF THE FLESH

 CONQUERING LUST OF THE FLESH

1 Peter 2:11

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the

soul.

I. THE ANATOMY OF LUST

1. Lust in the Garden

Gen 3:1-7

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD

God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not

eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2  And the woman said to the serpent, “We may

eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3  but of the fruit of the tree which is in the

midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest

you die.’ ” 4  Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5  For

God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be

like God, knowing good and evil.” 6  So when the woman saw that the tree was

good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one

wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he

ate. 7  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were

naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings

We are tempted to lust in the areas we have natural needs and desires

i. Basic Human needs (food, water, shelter etc.)

ii. Need to be “Moved” (fascinated, affected, swept etc.

Ex. Woman Romance men activity. Thrill adrenaline etc.

iii. To be Something (Great, to matter, to count, Have Substance etc.)

iv. Something cool or worth while to give yourselves to – yield to

Ex. That’s why they yielded to the Serpent He seemed to know more than

God

2. All Lust starts when we don’t believe what God has apportioned to us is

enough

3. Lust is internal. ADD THIS PLEASE JUST THE TITLE THE SCRIPTURE IS ALREADY

THERE

James 1:14-17 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is

finished, bringeth forth death. 16  Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17  Every good

gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of

lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

a. Lust comes from within.

b. Lust will draw you away toward enticement

c. Lust is a seed that will grow.

d. The fruit of lust is sin and death

Trouble comes when we don’t realize how intimately involved God is in our lives.

Trouble and difficulty makes us feel this way.

Exo 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s

wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything

that belongs to your neighbor.”

4. Lust is Deceitful

Eph 4:22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt

according to the deceitful lusts

ADD THESE PLEASE

Dopamine is a dominant neurotransmitter sought after Lust

A dopamine rush doesn’t create happiness itself but alerts the brain to the

possibility of feeling good motivating people to pursue more of that feeling.

Dopamine triggers anticipation in the brain but never creates satisfaction. A

lifetime of lust will never be enough. Lust will always seek for more. It’s

insatiable.

Eccl 1:8 All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with

seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing

5. Lust is Satan’s Doorway. DELETE THIS SECTION PLEASE

1 Tim 6:9-10

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish

and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love

of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered

away from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s.

6. Lust Chokes the Word of God in Our Hearts

Mark 4:19 (KJV) And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of

other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

II. SIGNS OF LUST

1 Cor 10:5-11

But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in

the wilderness. 6  Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we

should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7  And do not become idolaters as

were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose

up to play.” 8  Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one

day twenty-three thousand fell; 9  nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also

tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10  nor complain, as some of them also

complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11  Now all these things happened

to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the

ends of the ages have come

1. Perpetual Overthrow despite Promises (v.5) – “with many of them God was not

well pleased for they were overthrown in the wilderness.”

2. Idolatry – Excessive Worship of Something other than God. ,” The people sat

down to eat and drink, and rose up to play”

Ex. Golden Calf in Wilderness

God’s that allow unrestrained behavior are more popular

3. Immorality –

4. Presuming upon God’s Grace – Tempting Christ

5. Constant Murmuring and Unhappiness

III. HOW TO DEAL WITH LUST

1. Dial Down and get rid of too much personal ambition

Matthew 18:1-5

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the

kingdom of heaven?” 2  Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst

of them, 3  and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become

as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4  Therefore

whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of

heaven. 5  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Psalm 131:1-3

O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in

great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. 2 Surely I have composed and

quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a

weaned child within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the LORD FROM this time forth and

forever.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light

2. Embrace Contentment

CONTENTMENT — a state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot

whatever it may be

1 Tim. 6:6

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7  For we brought nothing into this

world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out

. It is opposed to envy (James 3:16), avarice (Heb. 13:5), ambition (Prov. 13:10)

and anxiety (Matt. 6:25, 34). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the

offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of of divine providence

(Ps. 96:1, 2; 145), the greatness of the divine promises (2 Pet. 1:4), and our own

unworthiness (Gen. 32:10) – Easton’s Bible Dictionary.

JIREH

I'll never be more loved than I am right now

Wasn't holding You up

So there's nothing I can do to let You down

It doesn't take a trophy to make You proud

I'll never be more loved than I am right now, oh

Going through a storm but I won't go down

I hear Your voice

Carried in the rhythm of the wind to call me out

You would cross an ocean so I wouldn't drown

You've never been closer than You are right now

(Let's sing it loud y'all)

You are Jireh, You are enough

Jireh, You are enough

And I will be content in every circumstance

You are Jireh, You are enough

Forever enough

Always enough

More than enough

Forever enough

Always enough

More than enough

3. Make your body your obedient slave. DELETE THIS SECTION PLEASE

1 Cor 9:27

but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to

others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is

faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but

with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able

to endure it.

Galatians 5:16-17 (KJV)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17]

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these

are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye

would.

4. Crucify the flesh. DELETE THIS SECTION PLEASE

Galatians 5:24 (KJV) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and

lusts.

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12  teaching us

that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,

and godly in the present age

1 Peter 1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your

ignorance

1 John 2:16 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

5. Revell in Superior Pleasures

a. The Pleasure of Self-Denial (Discipline)

Ex. Athletes do it all the time

Luke 9:23-24 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny

himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24  For whoever desires to

save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Gal 5:16 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.

b. The Pleasure of Pleasing Jesus

John 8:29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I

always do those things that please Him.”

Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence

toward God, and toward men.

c. The Pleasure of Jesus’ Presence

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fullness of joy; At thy

right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 27:4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the

house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty