Willpower (Lust)

Opening Remarks and Introduction

Last week we started a new sermon series on willpower and looked at how anger can enter our lives. Tonight, we’ll continue our sermon series with a topic that seems to be a problem for many. It’s probably a problem for everyone. But, before we get to that, let me ask you this question about willpower.

Has anyone here worked really, really hard to accomplish something that tested your willpower, something so hard, you weren’t sure if you wanted to continue? For me, I’ve struggled with losing weight. Anyone else have that problem? For the past few years, I’ve had to work really hard to keep my weight down. For me, the temptation of food, especially ice cream, has really gotten the better of me. My favorite is Rocky Road, but I’ll run to anything that has chocolate in it. Sometimes, my willpower is not as strong as it should be. Sometimes my self-control is lacking. Sometimes, I don’t do what I’m supposed to do, and I end up gaining a few unwanted pounds.

That’s kind-of what this sermon series is all about. How does our self-control affect the decisions that we make? How can we avoid the bad things, and cling to the good?

We’re going to continue our look at willpower tonight with a look at LUST.

1. What is lust?

2. Where does lust come from?

3. How can we fight the temptation of lust?

1. What is lust?

Before we can have a conversation on how willpower applies to lust, we probably should understand what this temptation is, and what it isn’t.

Related to lust, a discussion of a love might be helpful. One of the Greek words for love is ???? (éros). Eros is where we get the word erotic. In love, or éros, we can have God-given sexual desire for our spouse. Within the bounds of marriage, this is a blessing from God. Acts of intimacy can bring a couple together and allow them to express affection that can’t happen in any other way. Éros is not a bad word… until self-centered sin enters the conversation. Outside of a loving, committed relationship, when self-serving erotic feelings of pleasure take over, we enter a place where lust is a sin.

So what is lust? Webster defines lust as a pleasure, gratification, and sexual desire, especially of a violent

self-indulgent character. It’s strong sexual desire, without the component of love.

Society seems to neglect love while focusing on the selfish desires of the flesh. We continually see a push to show more skin and glorify lustful thoughts. The images are all around us. These temptations are not the cause of lust, but they certainly are a symptom of the disease of sin.

Lust focuses on pleasure without a relationship. It looks for satisfaction without a commitment. It really turns another person into an object of desire, rather than someone who should be treated with honor and respect.

Where the world around us seems to glorify lust with sexual imagery, God has a much different view. John wrote,

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16, ESV)

Lust is an action centered on the love of the world, not the love of another person. It’s a focus on self, aiming to satisfy with physical pleasure.

John wasn’t the only one that spoke about lust. Jesus put lust equal to adultery. Jesus said:

“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt 5:28, ESV)

In these words, Jesus described lust as an offence against the 7th Commandment, not to commit adultery. But it’s also against the 10th Commandment where we are told to be content and not to covet someone who is not our spouse. Lust is breaking God’s law, not once, but twice. It’s important that we gain control of our willpower to follow God’s direction for us, rather than our sinful desires.

2. What is the source of LUST?

With a better understanding of what lust is, where does it come from? Understanding the source of lust will help us learn how to deal with temptation.

Where do you think lust comes from? Does it come from the movies, romance novels, songs on the radio or pornography? All of these can certainly temp us, but they don’t cause lust. They’re not the source of the problem.

It isn’t the senses that trigger lust. It’s the heart that allows temptation to take root. Jesus said,

“For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” (Mark 7:21-23, NLT)