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Introduction: Today we are discussing everyone’s favorite topic, LUST! Yay!

In his book, Sex in a Broken World, Pastor and author Paul David Tripp uses the following scenario to describe what's really going on every time a man chooses to lust (or anytime anyone chooses to sin):

A man is walking home from work and lusting after the woman approaching him on the sidewalk. He slows down his walk to get a longer look, and he turns around and watches as she passes. Think with me again about the godlike posture of this man. First, he is treating this moment as if it belongs to him. It's as if he is sovereign and she is on the sidewalk according to his will and for his pleasure. He's the self-appointed deity of the moment … The world has shrunk to the size of his desire, and he rules it for his pleasure. … He will have what he will have, even if it is the only the right to stare at body parts and imagine having them for his pleasure.

But there is more. For that moment he is stealing God's creation and taking it as his own. He has no right to this woman. She does not actually belong to him in any way, but he takes her with his mind and his eyes. … He's ripped this woman out of the hands of God and claimed her as his own for whatever momentary pleasure he can achieve … He has denied God's existence. He has set himself up as God.

What's the solution to this godlike delusion of lust? Tripp continues:

Recognition of and living for the community with God for which I was created keeps my sexual life pure. There is no other way. Heart-controlling love for God protects my heart from wandering to all the places it could wander in this sexually insane world.

The subject of Lust is a tough one to get through. Why? Because it is at the heart of so many people. It is a struggle for so many! I’m willing to bet that the majority of people in this very room right now struggle in this area. Take heart! It can be overcome. Lust does not have to be your identity. Let’s read together...

Read: Matthew 5:27-30

Explanation:

This is a very difficult passage. This is a passage that addresses Sexual impurity. If you think about this for a moment, this passage goes completely against all that the world tells us is normal. I’ve heard things like, “It’s ok to look,” or “looking never hurt anybody.” Maybe you have said these. Also, I would like to point out that this passage does not refer to men only, ladies struggle with this too. Jesus gets into some pretty weird things here. Cut out your eye, cut off your hand. These are not literal. Otherwise we would have a lot of one-eyed, one-handed people here this morning. This is Jesus telling us that we must deal with the sin and cut it out of our lives. We must defeat this sin. Before we can defeat it we must realize that Sexual Impurity begins with and in the...

Desires of the Heart

One thing we must realize here is that Jesus is not saying that the desires of lust are equal to the lustful deeds. Some people will use that as an excuse to go ahead and just commit adultery. Even though the desire and the deed are not identical, they are comparable, spiritually speaking.

What does the heart look like in the this moment? It starts with a look. This is not just a short glance. This look is meant to feed the lust of the heart without actually acting on it. This is intentionally staring and desiring. Now this is not just done out in public. This type of sexual impurity is through our private lives as well. This passage absolutely applies to pornography as well.

Porn is obviously America's favorite pastime. According to surveys, almost 80% of American men between the ages of 18 and 30 admit to watching porn regularly. Nearly 70% of men between 31 and 49 admit to it. Half of men from 50 to senior citizen age also confess to regular porn viewing. 30% of younger men say they watch porn every day. Porn viewership is not quite as common among women, but it's far more common today than it was 10 years ago. Remember, too, this is just what people will admit to doing.

It's no wonder that the porn industry is worth $97 billion, which is about 100 times higher than the $750 million it was worth 20 years ago. Today, porn grosses more in a year than Hollywood. It also brings in more money than the NFL, NBA, and MLB combined.

These are staggering! So, listen, if you have a problem, you need to get help.

It is possible for a man to look at a woman or a woman look at a man and appreciate beauty and but not actually lust after them. There can be real victory over lust. This is done by purifying the desires of our heart and discipling the actions of our bodies. This is what amounts to “spiritual surgery.” Consider what Paul writes in Romans 13:14

Romans 13:14 ESV

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

and in Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:5 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

We must be willing to let go and cut out the desires of our hearts that are not according to God’s will for us. We have to remember what John wrote in 1 John 2:16

1 John 2:16 ESV

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.

Conclusion: You can have victory today! You can overcome the sexual impurity of the heart. How bad do you want to leave that life behind? I’m reminded of Lukes words in Acts 8:22

Acts 8:22 ESV

Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

The same response is needed today! If you are struggling, repent! Turn away from the life of lust and align your heart with the heart of the savior! Come to Jesus and find forgiveness and grace.

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