Understanding the Deceptive Process of Lust
I. WAGING THE WAR AGAINST LUST
11 I beg you as…pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul… (1 Peter 2:11)
A. The Christian life is a cooperation with God’s grace. God will not do our part and we cannot do His part. If we do not
do our part, then God withholds some of the blessing He wants to give us. Our part includes making quality decisions to
deny ourselves (say no to sin), to feed our spirit on the Word, to ask for God’s help through prayer with fasting, and to
embrace godly activities (serving) and relationships (fellowshipping, confessing our sins), etc. God’s part is to release
supernatural influences on our heart (power, wisdom, desires), on our body (healing) and on our circumstances
(provision, protection, direction) and relationships (favor).
B. We are in a spiritual conflict that has two battle fronts which includes both a war inside our heart (our personal
battle with sinful desires for pleasure) and a war outside our heart (seeking the release of God’s justice: in healing the
sick, righteousness in government, winning the lost, etc.). While many acknowledge the war on the inside, they do not
attack it with prayer.
22 I delight in the law (Word) of God…23 But I see another law (principle) in my members, warring against…
my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin … (Romans 7:22-23)
1 Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? (James 4:1)
C. Scripture speaks of lust warring in our “members” (includes our mind, emotions and physical appetites). Lust has
many expressions including pride (most common), anger, covetousness, thefts, slander, bitterness, jealousies, immorality,
pornography, drunkenness, over-indulgence with food or entertainment, plus legal and illegal addictions, etc. (Mark 7:22;
Galatians 5:19-20).
D. Our war with lust is difficult as we discard its “proud and sinful baggage” that we may enter the narrow gate as the
way to experience the Kingdom. The gate to “life in the Spirit” is difficult.
14 Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way…to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:14)
E. Our yoke of intimacy with Jesus is easy in that God freely provides what we could never earn or produce. He gives
us forgiveness, strength to live and rewards now and in the age-to-come that far outweigh what we deserve
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18). We receive His favor forever as we rule the universe with Him. God treats us with gentleness and
does not give us what we deserve. We receive far more from God than we give Him. We are far ahead of where we should be.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)
F. Denying our lustful desires is the theatre God chose for us to express our love to Him. Each of us has a different
struggle according to our personality and circumstances. Thus, we each have a different “assignment” from which we offer
our gift of love to God. Saying, “no” provides us an opportunity to express love to God. He takes it personal as we resist
sin because we love Him.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me… (John 14:21)
II. GOD WILL JUDGE ALL WHO REFUSE TO REPENT FROM IMMORALITY
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification (purity): that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion
of lust…6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is
the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified…8 He who rejects this does not reject man,
but God, who has also given us His Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you…that a man has his father's wife! 2 And
you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from
among you…4 In the name of our Lord Jesus…5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,
that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)
20 I have a few things against you (Church of Thyatira), because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls
herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality…21 I gave her time to
repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those
who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her
children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. I will
give to each one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:20-23)
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual
immorality sins against his own body (opens the door to sexual addiction and judgment). (1 Corinthians 6:18)
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man…has any inheritance in the
Kingdom of Christ. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God
comes upon the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:5-6)
9 Do not be deceived...neither fornicators...nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves...
nor drunkards...will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
8 The cowardly, unbelieving…sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the
lake which burns with fire and brimstone… (Revelation 21:8)
III. SPIRIT OF IMMORALITY: OPERATES IN THE MIND AS IT IS FUELED BY SIGHT
27 You have heard that it was said..., 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks
at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)
A. Jesus exposed how the operation of the spirit of immorality operates. It is rooted first in the mind (sexual imaginations)
and is fueled by sight or “looking with lust” (in person or by the media). We operate in the spirit of immorality with thoughts.
The spirit of immorality originates from words and thoughts fueled by sight until it defiles the body by giving Satan legal
access to enter, making us a “carrier” of demonic activity.
18 Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and defile a man. 19 For out of the heart
proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications... (Matthew 15:18-19)
B. We must act in the opposite spirit which involves a comprehensive lifestyle (thought, word and deed). To do this
involves establishing inward boundaries in making a covenant with our eyes, and outward boundaries in refusing to be in
situations which inflame lust and then embracing the reality of the need for denying ourselves the freedom to walk out
lustful urges. This is not a comprehensive path to sexual freedom, but a focus on the area that is most commonly
neglected: stepping over necessary boundaries especially in neglecting to make a covenant with our eyes. Principle:
sexual purity and control is established first in area of the eyes.
1 I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman? 9 If my heart has
been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door... (Job 31:1, 9)
C. The progression of adultery: eye adultery leads to heart-adultery which leads to circumstances that lead to physical
adultery. Jesus wants us to understand the role of the eye gate as the primary battle front for stopping the operation of
the spirit of immorality. It is much easier to close the eye gate than to try to put out the raging fires of immoral passions.
A proactive means of waging an effective war against the spirit of immorality is in establishing a covenant with our eye
gate. David affirmed the eye gate as the battle front to walk perfect (mature) before God (Matthew 5:48)
2 I will behave wisely in a perfect (spiritually mature) way ...I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes… (Psalm 101:2-3)
IV. ESTABLISHING BOUNDARIES – NOT SPARING WHAT IS MOST VALUABLE TO US
A. To act in the opposite spirit of immorality in a comprehensive way involves establishing inward boundaries
13 Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness (open doors giving legal access to
Satan)...19 For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness...leading to more lawlessness,
so now present your members as slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:13, 19)
B. By lacking spiritual discernment, many too easily put themselves in seemingly “innocent or harmless” situations that
surprise them when they act out in various expressions of immorality. We are much too easy on ourselves in believing we
are okay (without needing clear boundaries).
C. Every believer must make hard decisions to break off relationships or refuse to go to places that inflame immorality
in them. Jesus taught that regardless how costly it is, it is a much lower price than losing out in our relationship with God or
in aspects of our eternal inheritance. The cost of non-discipleship is far higher than the cost of discipleship.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that
one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 If your right hand causes you
to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for
your whole body to be cast into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30)
D. Be ruthlessly honest in refusing to stir lust by identifying it as “innocent touching.”
1 It is good for a man not to touch a woman. (1 Corinthians 7:1)
V. UNDERSTANDING THE SIX STAGES OF TEMPTATION
12 Blessed is the man who endures (perseveres) temptation; for when he has been approved (found
consistent), he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him…14 Each
one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 When desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:12-15)
A. We will receive the “crown of life” as our reward of enduring or persevering in obedience in our war with lust. This is
a crown of authority in the age-to-come that God gives only to those who overcome. God approves those who are
consistent to persevere in warring against temptation.
B. Stage #1: Being drawn away by lustful desire occurs as our imagination is stirred up as we begin to casually think
on the possibility of walking out lustful actions (pride, anger, covetousness, immorality, pornography, drunkenness,
indulgence). Satan wants our fleeting thoughts of lust to become sustained thoughts (fantasy). There is a big difference
between a momentary wrong thought and being captured by it. Stage one is the easiest stage to resist the power of lust.
C. Stage #2: Being enticed with lust occurs when we become set or entrenched in lustful thinking. Our momentary
fleeting lustful thoughts have escalated to sustained thoughts as we are captured in fantasy by continuing to think on an
activity involving lust. Our imagination is energized by demonic power since we have further opened the door. We are
now in the “storm of temptation.”
D. Stage #3: Lustful desire is conceived as it becomes settled in our heart when we have decided to walk out sinful
actions. James uses the analogy of a baby in its mother’s womb. The decision to act out our lust is “alive” within us at this
stage. As a baby is alive in the womb at conception, yet is not seen by others, so a newly conceived act of sin is “alive” yet it is
unseen by others.
E. Stage #4: Lustful desire gives birth to sin when we act out our lustful desires. At the time of birth, a baby comes
forth so that its features can clearly be seen. So also, when lust gives birth to action, the specific features of our lust are now
openly manifest. When we act out sin, we give Satan a legal door of entry into our lives that he might work in a greater way
in us.
F. Stage #5: Sin becomes full-grown (sin grows up) in us as we become addicted to various lusts (slander, immorality,
etc). Our lust never just stops with one act or conversation, but continues to grow up until it is full-grown (Ephesians 4:22).
Whatever lust we walk out causes our capacity for it to be enlarged (addictions). Full grown sin is less satisfying and
becomes more depressing. It leaves us with worse consequences that bring shame and pain. Our conscience is wounded,
weakened and dulled by sinful actions as we get more comfortable in our sin (1 Timothy 4:2).
G. Stage #6: Sin brings forth full death (loss). It progressively destroys life as it quenches and dulls our spirit. It
injures our family, ministry, relationships, finances and a part of our destiny in God. We only have two choices, either we
die voluntarily to its lustful lure in righteousness or we die involuntarily because we yielded to it and now reap its shame
and painful consequences. If we die voluntarily to sin by denying it then we receive a great reward (Matthew 16:24-27;
John 12:24)