Victory Over Lust

Good Day Dear Saints.

As you know, much of the worlds population is affected with issues of lust and pornography. I realize that there are so many people more and more that are asking for prayer concerning this serious addiction. As I was meditating on this and asking God about how I can help many people deal with this strong addictive behavior, I know that one thing is for sure, that our bodies can either be full of the Light of Christ, or it can be polluted with the darkness of adultery (lusting after others, possessions, coveting what others have and you want) simply by using our eyes to focus and give our attention to. Just like in the beginning when Eve continued to look at the one fruit that God commanded not to eat thereof. It started with simply looking, which soon after turned in to lust when she continued to focus on it. Had she not allowed herself to focus on the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve were both commanded not to eat, they could have focused on any fruit from any other tree that would not have allowed them to lust which is a form of wanting and coveting something that either does not belong to us, or we are not allowed to partake. You will notice that only the things that we don't own and others may have in any form of tangible items, this is what people lust after simply because they themselves don't have this particular item or they are not legally entitled to it. Lust is something that the humans crave to satisfy the selfish pleasures at the expense of others. More serious pornography of course is child pornography which is ultimately despicable because it ends up simply fulfilling the lust of many at the expense of these vulnerable little children. To begin with, it all starts through the use of our eyes. In Matthew 6:23 and Luke 11:34 they tell us that our bodies become either full of light or darkness simply by allowing our eyes to focus on whether good and pure or evil through lust. One of the three weapons of our enemy uses against us is lusting through the eyes (1 John 2:16). When I contemplate on helping people deal with this, I realize that it is an addiction that is hard to break, but we have a Saviour who is able to set us free, for God tells us in:
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
One of the things I realize that when we have found ourselves to do evil, it is not enough simply to stop doing evil, but we have to replace that by doing what is right.
In Matt 12:43-45 the Lord tells us: 43"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44Then he saith, `I will return into my house from whence I came out.' And when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation."

Therefore, the problem I see is that when we don't replace our bad habits with good habits, the condition of what a person has been delivered from becomes far worse if nothing is done about it. Therefore, I find it practical when people have developed bad habits through pornography or lust of any sort through the eyes, it is important to not only get rid of the pictures that are evil in Gods sight, but to replace pictures of pornography with other pictures that you may like. For myself, I love to travel, so I truly enjoy seeing pictures of many places I have been to that include mountains, valleys, fields of flowers, rugged coastlines, African villages, waterfalls, wildlife, etc. Others may like looking at different types of hobbies, gardening or whatever may suit your fancy. By replacing pictures of pornography with other suitable pictures, you are focusing your eyes that will no longer fill your body with spiritual darkness because light is what expels darkness. I recently sent an email for someone to pray with concerning pornography and included an attachment of several scenic pictures to give them an idea of what they should get and to start replacing what is evil to what is good and develop to replace bad habits with good habits. Especially when you can include Jesus. One of the pictures I sent was a beach along the pacific coast with the ocean on one side and the huge Douglas firs on the other side taken place on the west coast of Vancouver Island. As I look at that picture, I like to picture myself walking hand in hand with Jesus and imagining seeing one set of footprints as we may have seen in the past about Him carrying us. I truly believe with the Help of our dear Lord, we can take practical steps by not only trying to stop doing evil, but to be certain to replace any form of evil you may be doing, and replace it by doing good. For God tells us in Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Therefore, He is not only telling us to depart evil, but we need to replace that by doing good. When we finally use our eyes that is pleasing to the Lord, and we focus our thoughts on what is right, we are no longer becoming a slave to sin. No wonder God tells us in Phil 4:8 to set our minds on things that are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Perhaps you don't have this problem, but I can guarantee that there are people whom we know that do have this problem and with the Lords help, to be able to be used to minister to those in need. It is vital for people to know deep within that He is merciful, gracious towards us who wants so desperately and is able to deliver people from every evil (Luke 11:4). It is when we doubt that we do not allow the Lord to work most effectively in us (James 1:6-8).



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In the Matchless Name of Jesus
Richard
Associate Director
Answers2Prayer
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