How To Beat Lust

Matthew 5:27-30

Introduction

Last week in our study of the Sermon on the Mount we looked at anger - its causes, its effects, and some strategies for managing it.

Today we continue that study - but I want to point out something. You'll notice a pattern in what Jesus says - He quotes a portion of the law, then goes deeper. The Pharisees thought that because they didn't murder then they hadn't broken the law - but anger in their hearts was just as bad as murder.

For us, we think that because on the surface we seem to be following the Lord that it is enough. But God is after our hearts - that real person that hides behind the mask. He is interested in what's going on in your mind - your attitudes, your values.

Just appearing close to God on the surface doesn't equate to loving God underneath - and that's the person the Lord is interested in changing.

Today we begin in verse 27 - where Jesus continues a list of attitudes all around a central theme, really - relationships. You see - God's character is really summed up in just two simple statements - Love God - Love People. That's the Law and the Prophets, and that's the heart of God in a nutshell. It sounds simple but is tremendously complicated when we realize just how far from God we are - that sin has separated us from Him - and now self gets in the way of loving others.

After anger, Jesus talks about lust - which is really self-love. Let's read verse 27 and 28.

Lust

27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Interestingly - acts & attitudes involving sexual intimacy often lead the list of ways that we fail to reflect the character of God in the Bible.

It goes way way back - to before the flood, where women had sex with demons and created a race of giants (Nephilim).

To the children of Israel at Mt Sinai - to King David - to the priests of Israel - to the church at Corinth - and to today - when there are in excess of 40,000 web sites devoted to pornography and sexual immorality is rampant and accepted in most parts of our culture.

Jesus here hits it head on - its not just what you do with regards to sexual intimacy, it is what you think that counts just as much.

Why is this a problem? The need for intimacy is something we are born with - and later in life hormonal changes make us long for a physical intimacy with the opposite sex.

That union - called marriage - is a beautiful thing. So beautiful in fact that Jesus uses it as a model for the relationship between Him and the church.

We know that there won't be sexual relations in heaven - but there will be intimacy. Marriage is but a shadow of the reality of heaven.

We as Christians do not avail ourselves of the intimacy with God that we can experience though worship right now - but we should, and that is one of the reasons why we emphasize deep worship because being intimate with God is the highest form of relationship that exists.

But it's no wonder that Satan has introduced a counterfeit - something that takes advantage of a natural physical and spiritual longing - but draws our focus away from the true source of intimacy - to something fake, temporary, harmful.

Jesus is saying - if you let lust rule, then you might as well have had physical intimacy - there really isn't any difference. - That's pretty powerful - so what can we do? Let's read on:

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

So after we end today we're going to have an eye gouging service - is that what Jesus is saying? No. He's saying - if you could avoid hell, and permanent separation from God by cutting off your hand that sins or your eye that sins - then it would be worth it - but you can't.

The only way to be free from sin is to join the kingdom Jesus is preaching - let Him put ALL of you to death, then raise you up in Him.

But there is also a model here - Paul said: Flee youthful lust. He also said:

Romans 13:13-14
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

The King James says "Make no provision for the flesh" - the idea is forethought, preparation. It's how sin works - first there is temptation, then there is a giving in to the idea, then an enticement to action, then the actual sin itself.

We need to stop these kinds of thoughts in their tracks - and not let even the forethought take place. How?

2 Cor 10:5-6
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

If you belong to Christ, then in His name you have the power to take your own thoughts captive - to arrest them and send them packing.

So - some tips: (The ABCD's)

1) Avoid contact with that which makes you fall
2) Be aware of when the enemy is trying to tempt you
3) Call on the power of the Spirit to arrest the thoughts
4) Dedicate your mind to focus on Him instead - remember Philippians 4:8
8 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.

Beyond Sexual Lust

I want to broaden our discussion a little bit - Jesus specifically talks about sexual intimacy and lust - which I defined earlier as being motivated by self-love.

We can lust about more than just intimacy - we can lust after possessions, money, power, popularity, intelligence, honor - even spirituality.

Here's the key - when we want something to satisfy ourselves solely - it can be lust. You can't really lust after something for someone else - "I'm really lusting for that new Corvette for you to have in your driveway!"

New Unger's Biblical Dictionary defines lust this way: "lust is used to express sinful desire-sinful either in being directed toward forbidden objects or in being so violent as to overcome self-control and to engross the mind with earthly, carnal, and perishable things --- every natural appetite may be perverted by sin into lust."

So, for example: having intelligence is good, if that is directed at understanding God and His creation more in order to glorify Him - but intelligence used to make yourself independent from God, or more important in the eyes of others is not good - so the strong desire to gain intelligence for those ends could be considered lust.

Desire becomes lust when the desire leads to sin.

So - as you feel desire - do a self-check.

1) Will it bring glory to God or glory to me?
2) Does it lead to sin?

Conclusion

There is a place for strong desire - are you ready for this? It's not called LUST - but ZEAL.

Nelson's Bible Dictionary defines zeal as:

Enthusiastic devotion; eager desire; single-minded allegiance

The Psalmist wrote: "Zeal for your house has eaten me up." (Psalm 69:9)

Do you have enthusiastic devotion to God - an eager desire for His courts - a single-minded allegiance that forsakes all self and temptations?

It's something that none of us have attained to, but all of us need.

Try the next time you feel the desire to lust - either sexually or otherwise - tear off the part that tempts you - and graft in a zeal for the Lord.

Practically that might mean worshiping hard, or praying fervently, or forcing yourself to chew on the Word, or calling a brother or sister and asking them to fellowship with you.

Try replacing lust of the flesh, with zeal for the Lord.