Lust - Don't Fall For It!!!

Have you ever been so hungry that you wanted to eat everything that you could see, and then you overeat? That decision to overeat does not end well does it?

Your mind will tell you to do one thing, eat and keep eating; what you need is to be full, and the result is gorging on food.

This is where greed (lust) comes in, but greed has many ways that it presents itself. Here are some areas that Lust (greed) will present itself: Sex, Money, Attention, Power; anything that goes beyond what is a natural limit, or makes you do shameful/devious things to get it.

(NOTE): Although this post is discouraging greed, we are in no way suggesting that it is a sin to be wealthy, to build your finances, or set goals to prosper, just do it honestly. God loves us all, regardless of our financial standing.

LUST OF SEX

The definition of Lust (greed): Lust is a strong craving for sex. It also can mean a hunger for anything, like lust for power. -(vocabulary.com)

Proverbs 27:20 (amp): Sheol (The place of the dead) and Abaddon (the place of destruction) are never satisfied; so [the lust of] the eyes of man is never satisfied.

With the lust of the flesh, some men and women are never satisfied because the next person is built better, provides an emotional escape; or has more than the last man/woman...and it goes on and on, creating multiple ungodly soul ties to all the people you have sex with, unless you turn from your ways, repent and reject the spirit of lust, denying your flesh of it's wicked desires.

1 Corinthians 7:1-3 (NKJV): Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

1 Corinthians 7:5 (NKJV): Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Genesis 34:1-5; v 11:15; (NKJV): Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivit, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her. His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman. So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get me this young woman as a wife." And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came. (v11-15): Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, "let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife." But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister. And they said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us. But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, "then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. (v24-27): And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city. Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob; Simeone and Levi, Dina's brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males. And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem's house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.

2 Samuel 13:1-20; v28-29 (NKJV): After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin, and it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her. But Amnon had a friend whose name was Johadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man. And he said to him, "Why are you, the king's son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me? Amnon said to him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." So Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, "Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand." And David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Now go to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him." So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. The Amnon said, "Have everyone go out from me." And they all went out from him. Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom. Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister." but she answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! "And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you." However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Arise, be gone!" so she said to him, "No, indeed!" This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me." But he would not listen to her. Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, "Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her." Now she had on a robe of many colors, for the king's virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her. Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly. And Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart." So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheep shearers in baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited the king's sons. (v28-29) Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying "Watch now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon!" then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant." So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.

Judges 16:1;(v)4-6; (v)15-7; (v) 19-20; (v)30 (NKJV): Now Samson whet to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. (v 4-6): Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and everyone of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver." so Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you." (v15-19): then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies." And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death, that he told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man." (v19-20): Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. (v30): Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.

These various scriptures were shared to show you how the spirit of lust can grab a hold of anyone, if you allow it to. We all have choices to make, each of these people represented in the above scriptures, all had a choice to make...follow through with the lust in their hearts, or choose the higher rode, and walk in integrity and obedience. Sampson chose to lay with Delilah an enemy of his people, even to the point of falling in love with her, all the while she was using his lust for her to ultimately, utterly destroy him. Entertaining lust, whether you are married or single, has the possibility to lead to some kind of loss in your life, even death, and you WILL always lose spiritually.

Many of our kids think they know it all, and some will not take heed to our words that will keep them out of trouble. Instead, they do what feels good, and not what is right; which leads to consequences for them to deal with later. It's the same with us (adults), and God, He tells us what is right to do, but we do not always want to obey Him, because we think our feelings are right, and not God, which leads to consequences. In life, doing the right thing does not always feel good. (i.e.) working out, eating right, obeying God, showing love to your spouse, when you are not happy with them, keeping your vows when the opportunity/temptation to cheat is made available to you, or being single and another single person wants to have sexual relations with you; but when you choose right, your life will reflect your obedience, and so will your relationship with God.

Everything that God created he said that it was good. Most of all, God knows all the things that could and can happen to us, which is why he gave us His Son Jesus and His word (the bible), so that He could help us out of trouble sent by satan, and for us to do God's will.

LUST OF MONEY

1 Timothy 6:6-11 (NKJV): Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Mark 8:35-38 (AMP): For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [in the eternal kingdom of God]?

Mark 4:18-19 (NKJV): Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word," and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Ephesians 4:17-28 (NKJV): This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin" do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

2 Kings 5:1 (NKJV): Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. (v9-10): Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. and Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." (v14) So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, "Indeed, now therefore, please take a gift from your servant." But he (Elisha) said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing." And he urged him to take it, but he refused. (v20): But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him." So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all well?" And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me, saying, 'Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.' "So Naaman said, "Please, take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and they carried them on ahead of him. (v25-27): Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, "Where did you go, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant did not go anywhere." Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? "Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.

For those who are greedy for money, remember that you can't take it with you, stealing and deceiving others will not profit you in the end. Doing the right thing in business transactions, and dealing honestly with other people may not always feel good, but it WILL profit you in this life time and in eternity to come. Don't be deceived into thinking that you can live a life of greed and deception and you never reap a reward for your bad decisions and behavior...remember "consequences will show up eventually."

A lot of people want, what they want, NOW, but in life some things may take time, but when it's done right, it will last. Sometimes we just need to be patient because there are things that need to be lined up in order to get what you have been asking God for. For example, when we pray and it takes some time, maybe God had to move and work out situations with other people, in order for you to get the job, house, husband, wife, etc. The other thing is that God is not ONLY making ways for you, but everyone attached to what you have been asking for. Someone may get promoted, so that you can now have the position you've been praying for, or maybe someone decides to retire. You're a construction contractor believing for more contracts. While you are praying, God is moving on an investors heart to buy a building and have it gutted and remolded by your company. Just remember that in all things there are processes that we can't always see, so we have to remain patient, obedient, humble and honest.

In the end, there will be greatness, when we make the right choices and live in obedience to God's word. Deny yourself the indulgence of sexual lust, and monetary greed because we have a far greater promise, which is eternity with God in His Kingdom, with His son Jesus, which surpasses anything this decaying world could ever give us.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV): But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.