There is this battle that takes place everyday. It is the greatest battle we all face in our lives - the battle within. It's a constant battle between the flesh and the spirit. The battle between light and darkness.
My people, the struggle is real o!
This Lust Thing
This thing that opposes the Spirit of God within our hearts is soooo real. Most times, the Bible uses “flesh” to describe this thing that keeps fighting within us. I want us to deal with it today, literally.
Thank God for the Holy Spirit who helps us to divide lusts into three distinct categories:
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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."
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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 2:15-16
- the lust of the flesh,
- the lust of the eyes, and
- the pride of life.
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are in one BIG collabo to lead us away from the path to following our dreams, to take us back into darkness, to keep us from trusting God’s Word, and to fall for the schemes of the devil.
I hope we all come to understand how this lust thing works today. Let's take them one by one.
Lust Of The Eyes
The “lust of the eyes” is when your eyes is telling you "take it. Take it". It is when you are captivated by an outward show of materialism. See a new car, you want to have it. See a new phone, you want to have it. See a dress, you want to have it. See a fine girl/guy, you want to have her/him. See a position, you want to have it. You keep wanting to have everything you see.
Let's do a throwback to the first sin that was ever committed . . . Eve had the lust of the eyes.
Genesis 3:6 says, “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”
Despite the fact that God warned them. She SAW that the tree was “desirable to make one wise,” and she ate. Eve also SAW that the tree was “good for food,” meaning that it looked like it would taste good and be satisfying and enjoyable to eat. She fell for it.
Eve also SAW that the tree was a “delight to the eyes,” for it was a beautiful creation of God. Sin is beautiful sha. It does not always appear to be ugly, dirty, and destructive, for even the devil masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). The fruit that God told Eve not to eat was extremely enticing and attractive in its appearance.
Sometimes I don't blame Eve. You know why? I've been there many times myself. I wanted to share a personal story about how I struggled with the lust of the eyes but I feel restrained because the battle is not over yet. :(
Ever seen something you like, and insanely craved for it? That feeling! That struggle!
Don't get me wrong. These things - Cars, clothes, houses, positions, etc., are actually good to enjoy. They are not sinful in themselves. But the problem is the inappropriate desire to have what we see. An inappropriate desire to have and want to keep having is sin. Hmm. . .
Lust Of The Flesh
The lust of the flesh is when your body is telling you "I want. I want." It is when your body wants to be fed by all means. Our bodies have needs for food, for drink, for touch, for intimacy, for rest, for healing, etc. These things are good. The problem is when the body wants what is forbidden, or when it wants the right thing at the wrong time.
You love your body. I love my body too. I like to treat it right and decorate it beautifully. However, lust is different from love. Love can fall prey to lusting for these wants and needs.
Lust is a craving for what is forbidden rather than for what is allowed. Love is a wholesome desire, whereas lust is a perverted one. Lust seeks sex outside of marriage, food in excess, oversleeping, healing through evil device, etc.
When we try to meet the desires of the body through the wrong channels and for the wrong reasons, it becomes lust. This is what the devil tricks us into doing.
When we try to meet the desires of the body through the wrong channels and for the wrong reasons, it becomes lust. This is what the devil tricks us into doing.
I hope you are getting the gist?
Pride Of Life
Finally, there is the boastful pride of life. Pride is what's behind every sin, whether we are aware of them or not. The temptation to want “to be somebody” or to “do something our own way” is all about pride. Pride is an arrogant willingness to believe that we don’t need God, that we can thwart God, that we can do better than what God has ordained for us, and that we can be a better god of our own lives. Pride is also when we think we are better than everybody else. Read my pride story with Cynthia.
I am having issues with this one. And I'm working on it. Glory to God.
Sin takes root in our hearts, we can be sure that pride is the foundation of sin. It was pride that made Adam and Eve fall in the first place. They had the desire to "be wise like God" - craving for position. Choi.
What is your pride? Which of these these things give God glory? Everything you desire to have, to enjoy, or to pride yourself upon, is the “pride of life.”
Join me do a #HeartCheck ---➡ HERE.Finally, there is the boastful pride of life. Pride is what's behind every sin, whether we are aware of them or not. The temptation to want “to be somebody” or to “do something our own way” is all about pride. Pride is an arrogant willingness to believe that we don’t need God, that we can thwart God, that we can do better than what God has ordained for us, and that we can be a better god of our own lives. Pride is also when we think we are better than everybody else. Read my pride story with Cynthia.
I am having issues with this one. And I'm working on it. Glory to God.
Sin takes root in our hearts, we can be sure that pride is the foundation of sin. It was pride that made Adam and Eve fall in the first place. They had the desire to "be wise like God" - craving for position. Choi.
What is your pride? Which of these these things give God glory? Everything you desire to have, to enjoy, or to pride yourself upon, is the “pride of life.”
Conclusion
Will this matter ever have a conclusion? Duh! We'd keep fighting and fighting and fighting. When you've stopped fighting, then it means you have totally surrendered to your lustful desires. Sweetie, don't surrender. Keep fighting. Keep wrestling.
The battle is so real.
Satan knows how to deceive us, but now we have his playbook. He uses our senses to tempt us. The lust of the eyes is seeing. The lust of the flesh includes tasting, touching, smelling, and hearing. The pride of life is thinking you are special because of who you are, what you have, what you know, or what you look like.
Will this matter ever have a conclusion? Duh! We'd keep fighting and fighting and fighting. When you've stopped fighting, then it means you have totally surrendered to your lustful desires. Sweetie, don't surrender. Keep fighting. Keep wrestling.
The battle is so real.
Satan knows how to deceive us, but now we have his playbook. He uses our senses to tempt us. The lust of the eyes is seeing. The lust of the flesh includes tasting, touching, smelling, and hearing. The pride of life is thinking you are special because of who you are, what you have, what you know, or what you look like.
May God help us.
I pray again, may God help us!
*sighs* *looks up* *shakes head* God help me!
I pray again, may God help us!
*sighs* *looks up* *shakes head* God help me!
image source: G+
The battle is not easy. But the choice is really simple . . . if only we could remember this in the heat of the battle. We will overcome!
Are you struggling with fornication? Read how to overcome it here. Are you feeling a sense of condemnation? There is a way out for you here.
Are you struggling with fornication? Read how to overcome it here. Are you feeling a sense of condemnation? There is a way out for you here.
Stay positive.
Stay inspired.
Stay lovely.
Happy New Week Sweethearts!
You will win!
Amen!
You will win!
Amen!
Follow me on Twitter: @Amakamedia
Follow me on Instagram: @amakamedia
Email: amakamedia@yahoo.com
Bloglovin: Amakamedia
Heart Rays . . . giving out the light.
