By Adeniyi Salau
Memory Verse: “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteous and godly, in this present world”-Titus 2;12 (NKJV),
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 2:22-25.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: Lust is any strong ungodly desire. Lust acted upon always leads to sin and death (James 1:15). Sin entered God’s perfect world through Lust (Gen, 2:16-17). David lusted after Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife) and when he acted upon that lust, it led to adultery, murder of Uriah and the death of his infant son that resulted from the sinful act (2 Sam. 11:2-4, 14,15; 2 Sam. 12:13-14). Lust can take various dimensions but God has empowered us to overcome lustful thoughts.
OUTLINES
Some Dimensions of Lust
Get Rid of Lustful Thoughts
Some Dimensions of Lust
Lust is not only a sexual nature (Matt. 5:28), Greed is lust for money or power (Prov. 15:27; 1 Timothy 6:10-11). Envy is lust for status or position someone else holds (Prov. 23:17). Covetousness is lust for anything we do not have (Ex. 20:17). Worldliness is lust for the mundane and ephemeral things of the world system (1 John 2:15-17).
Lust starts with a thought (Prov. 30:32). While we are not responsible for every thought that enters our heads, we are responsible for what we do with those thoughts (Ez. 38:10; Prov. 24:9). A lustful thought must be seen as an enemy and dealt with before it takes over our lives (James 1:14-15). The desire grows until it creates dissatisfaction with our current situation and imposes upon us the belief that happiness and contentment are impossible unless we have what we want (1 Timothy 6:18). Ungodly actions result from lustful thoughts, so, it is important that we get rid of such thoughts as soon as they arrive.
GET RID OF LUSTFUL THOUGHTS
To get rid of lustful thoughts, you must first define your areas of weakness and greatest temptation. The next fundamental step is to consciously replace lustful thoughts with thoughts that are true, honourable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8). We must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). We must repent of entertaining lustful thoughts and ask the Lord’s help in redirecting our thoughts (Ps. 19:14).
It’s the lustful thoughts we are trying to get rid of involving another person, we can defuse their power by turning those thoughts into prayers for the other person’s well-being. By bringing that person before the Lord, we weaken lust’s power to objectify them (Matt. 26:41). When we bring our will into an agreement with God’s will, we learn to see this person as He does, not as lust does.
Stopping lustful thoughts also requires filtering the information we are allowing into our minds through our senses (Prov. 4:23). If pornographic images have been burned into our minds through sinful viewing, we can ask the Lord to remove those images over time (Ps. 51:7,10). By refusing to look at things that incite lust, filtering our music or language that creates lustful thoughts, and banishing lustful memories from our catalogue, we can starve lustful thoughts until they have little to work with (2 Timothy 2:21).
Memorising and meditating on Scripture is also a good way to avoid lustful thoughts and renew our minds (Col. 3:16; Romans 12:1-2, Psalms 119:9, 11, 105). keeping worship music playing in our wars also focuses our minds on that which is good, pure and beautiful. As we daily surrender ourselves to the Lordship of Christ, He helps transform a sinful thought life into one that pursues Him. Taking authority over lustful thoughts, rejecting them before they take root, and seeking God’s help can give us victory.
Finally, you must resist the lust for things beyond what God has already given us(Numbers 11:4-6) and the lust of the devil (John 8:44). These include the lust for power, glory and prestige at all costs (Is. 14:13-14). You should rather long for righteousness (2 Timothy 2:22), avoid fake lives and lies (Exodus 23:1) or be dishonest (Deut. 25:14-16).
CONCLUSION: Do not give room for lust to thrive in your life.
ASSIGNMENT: Students should write five (5) areas of lust they are battling with and pray to God for victory over them (No mark).
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