Tag Archives: lust

Lust: A Working Definition

Lust is the heart-hunger in me that denies and disavows those made in the image of God, whether it’s another man or another woman, and reduces them to what I can get out of them to feed (and fill) my hungry heart right now. This means that by nature, our lusts twist, devour, consume, and use others for our own benefit. This is true whether we’re viewing a computer screen or watching an illicit DVD, whether we are in real time, in cyber time, in a chat room–or just in our hearts and heads in our own fantasies.

– John Freeman, “Hide or Seek”

True or False: My Problems are Too Much To Handle

false

6. How does the Holy Spirit help you face and deal with your problems? List at least three scriptural references to support your explanation.

There are two choices when facing problems in life. The first employs our own thoughts, feelings, and desires–which lead to more problems. The second option, however, is to live by the Spirit, which gives us new passions and desires which are in line with God’s pure goodness rather than our perception of what we think is good. The outcome of the Spirit’s influence on a person’s life– love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control – is entirely different than the natural passions that people pursue in life– the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, will teach you all things remind you of everything I said. John 14:26

 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:1-17

 

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. The sinful nature desires what is contrary, in the spirit was country later. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you were led by the Spirit, you Are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, actions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I want you as it did before, that those who live like This will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the spirit. Galatians 5:16-25