Preaching on Lust: A Sin Against the Holiness of God
A subtle yet devastating sin that wages war against the purity of our hearts and the holiness of God: lust. It is a desire that, when unchecked, can lead to profound spiritual decay and separation from the very source of life and righteousness. Let us examine the scriptures and understand the gravity of this transgression.
1. Lust provokes God's wrath and leads to destruction (Numbers 25:6)
"And, behold, a man of the children of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his brothers in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, as they were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." The context of this passage reveals the tragic consequences of the Israelites' lust for the Moabite women. Their unchecked desires led to idolatry and ultimately provoked God's righteous judgment, resulting in a plague that swept through the camp. Lust, therefore, is not a trivial matter but a sin that can incur divine wrath and lead to destruction.
2. Lust publicly exposes sin and challenges holiness (John 8:3)
"And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and they set her in the midst." While the focus of this passage is on the hypocrisy of the accusers and the mercy of Jesus, the act of adultery itself, fueled by lust, brought public shame and exposed sin before both God and men. A life driven by lust often leads to actions that are brought into the light, challenging the very notion of holiness within individuals and communities.
3. Lust is the fruit of deviation from God's natural plan (Romans 1:27)
"And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet." Paul's words in Romans highlight how lust can distort God's created order and lead to unnatural desires and actions. It is presented as a consequence of turning away from God's intended design for human relationships, resulting in a "recompense of their error" – a natural consequence of deviating from His holy plan.
4. Lust corrupts even the interior of the Church (1 Corinthians 5:1)
"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one should violate his father's wife." Paul's dismay over the sin within the Corinthian church demonstrates that lust is not an external issue but can infiltrate and corrupt the very heart of the believing community. The church, called to be holy, must take the sin of lust among its members with the utmost seriousness, addressing it with truth and love to maintain its purity and witness.
5. Lust is a cause for regret for true spiritual leaders (2 Corinthians 12:21)
"That when I come again, my God may humble me toward you, and that I may mourn over many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lewdness which they have committed." Paul's heartfelt concern and potential sorrow over unrepentant sin, including acts fueled by lust ("uncleanness and fornication and lewdness"), reveal the burden that spiritual leaders carry for the holiness of their flock. True shepherds grieve over sin that separates believers from God.
6. Lust hardens the heart and leads to increasing impurity (Ephesians 4:19)
"Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Paul describes a dangerous progression where unchecked lust leads to a hardening of the heart, a loss of sensitivity to sin, and a descent into ever-increasing impurity and greediness for more unholy experiences. Lust, when indulged, does not satisfy but rather enslaves and corrupts.
7. Lust was one of the sins that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 1:7)
"Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal 1 fire." Jude points to the catastrophic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as a stark example of the consequences of unbridled lust and sexual perversion. Their fate serves as a solemn warning about the eternal judgment that awaits those who persist in such sin.
8. Lust begins with a covetous look (Proverbs 6:25)
"Do not desire her beauty in your heart, nor be captivated by her eyes." The wise counsel of Proverbs reveals that the path to lust often begins with a lingering, covetous gaze. It is in allowing our eyes to fixate on that which stirs impure desires that the seed of lust is planted in the fertile ground of our hearts.
9. The lust of the heart is already adultery before God (Matthew 5:28)
"But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Jesus cuts to the core of the issue, revealing that lust is not merely an external act but a sin of the heart. Even a fleeting glance, when fueled by lustful intent, constitutes spiritual adultery in God's eyes, defiling the inner sanctuary of our being.
10. Walking in the Spirit is the antidote to the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)
"But I say, Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Paul provides the divine antidote to the desires of the flesh: walking in the Spirit. When we yield ourselves to the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, our natural inclinations towards lust lose their dominion over us. The Spirit empowers us to resist temptation and cultivate self-control.
11. Concupiscence must be mortified by the Christian (Colossians 3:5)
"Therefore put to death your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." Paul calls for a radical act of spiritual surgery: the "putting to death" or mortification of our earthly desires, including lust. This is not a passive process but an active and ongoing commitment to resist and subdue these sinful inclinations.
12. A Christian should not live dominated by carnal desires (1 Thessalonians 4:5)
"Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God." Paul distinguishes the lifestyle of believers from that of those who do not know God, emphasizing that Christians should not be driven by the uncontrolled passions of lust. Our lives are to be governed by the Spirit, not by the fleeting and destructive desires of our flesh.
13. The young man must flee from youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22)
"Flee youthful lusts; and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Paul specifically instructs Timothy, and by extension all believers, to actively "flee" from youthful lusts. This implies a need for decisive action, turning away from temptations and instead pursuing godly virtues in the company of fellow believers.
14. Lust brings forth sin, and sin brings forth death (James 1:15)
"Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." James outlines the destructive cycle of lust. It begins as a desire, and when allowed to conceive and grow, it inevitably leads to sinful actions, which ultimately result in spiritual death and separation from God.
15. Lusts war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11)
"Beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." Peter describes fleshly lusts as enemies that wage war against our very souls. These desires are not harmless impulses but destructive forces that seek to defile, enslave, and ultimately destroy our spiritual well-being.
16. David's example shows the destructive power of lust (2 Samuel 11:2-4)
"Now it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and was walking on the roof of the king's house. From the roof he saw a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look at. And David sent and inquired about the woman, and they said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" So David sent messengers and had her brought; and she came, and he lay with her." The tragic account of King David's sin with Bathsheba serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from unchecked lust. It led to adultery, deception, and ultimately the murder of an innocent man.
17. A pact with the eyes helps to avoid lust (Job 31:1)
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then should I look upon a virgin?" Job's proactive approach to avoiding lust involved making a conscious "covenant" with his eyes, choosing to control what he looked upon. This demonstrates the importance of setting boundaries and taking personal responsibility in the battle against lust.
18. Lust is part of the world system that opposes God (1 John 2:16)
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world." 1 John identifies "the lust of the flesh" and "the lust of the eyes" as key components of the worldly system that stands in opposition to God. Indulging in lust aligns us with the values of the world rather than the holiness of God.
Conclusion
Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us recognize lust for what it is: a dangerous and destructive sin that offends the holiness of God, corrupts our hearts, and can lead to devastating consequences. Let us diligently guard our hearts and minds, seeking the power of the Holy Spirit to resist temptation and cultivate a life of purity and holiness that honors our Lord. Amen.
