Our culture is very familiar with the bloody battle of either giving in to or combatting lust. Simply stated, lust can be defined as “having an insatiable desire for something outside of what God says is good and/or right.” Lust can reveal itself in a number of ways ranging from sexual lust, material lust, or emotional lust. The original sin in the garden of Eden originated in Adam and Eve lusting after something not rightfully belonging to them. They lusted after having knowledge to know what God knows. Look forward to today, Satan continues to drive culture to pressure you to attempt and fulfill different desires that go against what God commands in His Word. Satan began with tempting Adam and Eve to disbelieve and disobey God’s spoken commands and he continues that work in our lives today because he comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
Read Romans 13:13-14
Discuss: What do these verses call Christians to do in regard to lust?
Confess the sin
In what way(s) does lust tend to manifest itself in your life?
Greed for power?
Seeking the acceptance of others at the cost of compromising your integrity?
Lingering eyes/thoughts on the body of someone other than your spouse?
Identify the lie
In what situations do you tend to fall prey to lust?
What is the primary trigger that may cause you to spiral into regular thought patterns of lust?
Replace the lie with truth
Read the following passages:
Matthew 6:21-23
Colossians 3:5-8
Hebrews 13:4
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
From reading these passages, what does the Bible say is the root of lust?
What do these passages say tends to be the access point for lust in our lives?
Apply grace to respond
As a Christ follower called to no longer be conformed to the passion of lust like the Gentiles (1 Thessalonians 4:5), how does having a renewed mind (Romans 12:2) give you the ability and/or courage to combat lust?
In what ways can you immediately begin to combat lust in your life?
What safeguards need to be put in your life to keep you out of having the opportunity to lust?
Memory verse
Romans 13:13-14