Lust involves an uncontrollable illicit sexual desire. Lust is sin and leads to many other sins like pornography, adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex and masturbation. Reasons why Christians should avoid lust…

 

-Job 36:11 reads "If they hear and serve God, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures”. Pleasures, prosperity and peace are often the end result of obedience to God. God’s word talks against lust. When we obey God by not lusting, He rewards us and provides as with the desires of our hearts.

 

-Lustful thinking and sexual immorality can cost you heaven. Jesus warns in Matthew 5:28-29. The sexually immoral would not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 also reads “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” Mark 9:47 admonishes, “And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell”.

 

-Lustful thinking really affects our relationship with God. God is Holy and calls us to be Holy. In the bible, the city of Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed due to their sexual immorality. God’s righteousness cannot stand lust. Many blessings come our way when we leave holy lives. Lust prevents us from leading holy lives and receiving certain blessings. Do not let your focus be on things that can cause you to lust, there are times you have to pretend us if you have not seen certain things.

 

Is very possible to avoid lust…

 

For instance Job made a covenant with his eyes… Job 31:1 reads “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? Not stealing glances at indecently dressed or attractive women is very possible.The battle of lust begins in the mind. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Avoid entertaining lustful thoughts. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure . . . think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). Walk in the Spirit at all times to help flee from sexual immorality and lust. Galatians 5:16 reads, “walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”. Romans 13:14 but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

 

Pray in advance about leading a pure life. Matthew 26:41a admonishes "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation”. Pray so that you would not fall into temptation. The Holy Spirit is our helper.

 

There is always an escape route when sexually tempted. No matter how strong a lustful temptation is remember you have the power to overcome it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 reads, “every temptation that has come your way is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist; at the time you are tempted he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out”. This means we have no excuse to sin.

 

Be fully aware of your tendency to sin and do not place yourself in ‘tight’ corners that can lead you to sin. James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

 

In times of sexual temptation, immediately flee like Joseph did in the bible. There is always a way out when tempted sexually, no sexual temptation is too strong and out of your control. Remember God gave you self-control. Lust is the opposite of self control. Controlling lust is also a matter of will.