biblicalthought.com

The word lust or epithumeo in the Greek, first appears in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28
What can be said of society today? It is lust driven! Where can we go and escape from looking at billboards, bus stops, novelty shops, internet sites, book shops, that are not riddled with lust driven visuals?

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived it gives birth to sin; and sin when accomplished, it brings forth death. do not be deceived my beloved brethren.” James 1:13-16

“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:1-2

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17

Lust is everywhere and inescapable one might say, but meditate on this last verse:
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us his precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control, and to your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.” 2 Peter 1:2-7

Consider this thought in closing. There are many “Christian” men in ministry “keeping” man made rules in public; not watching “R” movies, going to the liquor store, having a beer. If you do these you are ok. While these men wash the cup on the outside, inside they are corrupt and rotting away. While they smile at church and say “praise God brother,” they are each hooked to their own besetting sins! To be blunt, they could very well be hanging out at the strip joint, the porn shop, or plastered to the internet watching porn! All this because they have not known the way of righteousness. They trust in their own works and have forgotten what the Scripture says in Colossians 2; “These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement adn severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”

It is far better to understand the fact that we must leave the elementary priciples and move on to maturity. This will happen when we examine ourselves, and understand what Peter is saying when he says “true knowledge.” Knowledge is power in our battle against this destroyer (lust). We have been given all things in Messiah. It is time to stop “faking the funk.” Are we pretending to be holy? For what reason? To please man? We must realize our true spiritual condition. If Christ is not doing the work of grace in us, we will not do it apart from Him. For this reason we must examine ourselves and see if we are really in this great faith! “For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour, not in lustful passion, like the gentiles, who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we told you before and solemnly warned you.” 1 Thess 4:3-6