Killing Lust - A.S.A.P.! (continued)

I've been talking about how we can slay the dragon of sexual lust. Given our sex-saturated society, this is not an easy thing to do. It will require all the spiritual strength and spiritual energy we can muster. And it demands that we lean heavily on the Everlasting Arms of our Father in Heaven. But just because this is a hard thing to do ... to say "no!" to sexual temptation, it is not impossible. Remember, "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).

Now in addition to the first two steps I mentioned last week (see posting of last Friday) here are two more for your consideration (and I trust, PRACTICE!):

Apply the Philippians 4:8 Test to your thought life!  In Philippians 4:8, we read these words: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Via the pen of the Apostle Paul, God gives us the criteria of healthy thoughts. And if the thoughts that fill our minds fit the criteria given here (i.e. they are true, noble, pure, etc.) - then we are to allow those thought to fill our minds. But if the thoughts don't measure up to this list, Paul implies that we are to get rid of them. Now, let me ask you this: do lustful thoughts fit these criteria for the kind of thoughts that are to fill our minds? Some men have tried to defend their pursuit of porn by telling me that God made women's bodies beautiful. So they are just admiring God's handiwork as they look at pornography. Hmm. That sounds like a lame rationalization for sin if I ever heard one!  I encourage you to memorize ... and then apply Philippians 4:8 to your thought life. It will help you overcome the sin of lust!


Pursue a life of good works! Good works will never save anyone. But good works should follow everyone who is saved. In Ephesians 2:8-10, the Apostle Paul spells this out for us very clearly: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  God is busy shaping His followers to do the good works he has laid out for us to do. And as we get busy doing these good works, we won't have time to pursue those things which will arouse our lust. John Piper puts it this way, "Lust grows fast in the garden of leisure." 

There you have it, friends. Kill lust --- before it kills you ... your marriage ... your children ... your soul!

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj