“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28 NLT
Lust:
Intense sexual desire or appetite, uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; a passionate or overmastering desire or craving. (Dictionary.com)
A passion and desire for something that is not yours and or is forbidden.
How Does Jesus Define God’s Plan for Sex and Sexual Fulfillment?
“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And He said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” Matthew 19:4-6 NLT
“The inventor of the human being was telling us that its two halves, the male and the female, were made to be combined together in pairs, not simply on the sexual level, but totally combined. The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (Sexual) from all the other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and make up the total union. The Christian attitude does not mean that there is anything wrong with sexual pleasure, any more than it means about the pleasure of eating. It means that you must not isolate that pleasure and try to get it by itself, any more than you ought to try to get the pleasures of taste without swallowing and digesting, by chewing things and spitting them out again.” CS Lewis (Mere Christianity)Slide only
“Flee sexual immorality (Greek word PORNEIA)…” 1 Corinthians 6:18 NIV (Anything outside the circle)
Pornography = Viewing sexual immorality
What Is the Problem with Lust? (2 Samuel 13)
- It distorts reality
- It dishonors and dehumanizes others
- It disappoints because it is never satisfied
How Do You Overcome Lust in Your Life?
Kill lust withlove
“What is the most important commandment?” Jesus answered, “The most important one says: ‘People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ The second most important commandment says: ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is more important than these.” Mark 12:28-31 CEV
- Love Godby trusting and obeying His design and plan for sex and sexual fulfillment
“If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” John 14:15 GNT
“God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 NLT
- Love peopleby seeing them as brothers and sisters and image bearers of God
“and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:6-8 NIV
“Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2 NIV
“Treat others as you want them to treat you.” Luke 6:31 GNT
- Love yourselfby magnifying the consequences of lust and sexual sin
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7 NIV