The "Demon" of Lust?

Hey guys I know that its been a while but I have been super busy. Today's topic is something that most people in the world battle with every single day of our lives. To some its the lust of the flesh, to others its the lust of the eyes. I hope this article from the Daily Encounter helps at least one person struggling with lust.

"If you are angry, don't sin by nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun go down with you still angry—get over it quickly; for when you are angry you give a mighty foothold to the devil."1

A Daily Encounter reader writes, "I have been fighting with a lust demon for years. I have asked GOD to relieve me of this demon but I keep slipping back and doing the same thing all over again. I have just rededicated my life to God and am on my church's outreach team. I want this demon of Satan out of my body never to return. Will you pray for me?"

Hello, Jim (name changed), Thank you for being honest and sharing your struggle with lust. To resolve any problem it is imperative to understand the root cause of the problem. Let me assure you that lust, as with anger, is NOT a demon.

If I am wrongfully angry, that is my problem and when I fail to resolve it, I give the foothold to the enemy. It's the same with lust. Lust is a struggle most red-blooded men struggle with at one time or another. Severe lust, however, is usually a symptom of repressed love or unmet love needs.

As long as you blame the problem on anything outside of yourself, you will never overcome it because lust is a problem within. I don't know who told you it was a demon but I challenge this person to find anywhere in the Bible where it says there is "a demon of lust."

Sure, Satan is the originator of all sin and does tempt us, but most of us don't need the devil or a demon to make, or even cause, us to lust. We can do it all by ourselves because we are all sinners.So how do you overcome? First and foremost, you need not only confess your lust to God, but also ask him to confront you with the real cause of your lust … to show you the root cause of the problem … and then to lead you to the help you need to overcome. Only by facing the truth will you be set free.

Remember too, as David wrote in the Psalms, "The Lord is near to all who call on him; to all who call on him in truth."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, whenever I have any problem that I can't resolve, please help me to see the root cause of it and help me to find the support I need to overcome. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Ephesians 4:26-27 (TLB).
2. Psalm 145:18 (NIV).

Credit:Daily Encounter

Chased by Hounds

King David, the Psalmist wrote: "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed."1

A. C. Dixon wrote, "A dear friend of mine who was quite a lover of the chase, told me the following story: 'Rising early one morning,' he said, 'I heard the baying of a score of deer hounds in pursuit of their quarry. Looking away to a broad, open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making its way across, and giving signs, moreover, that its race was well-nigh run. Reaching the rails of the enclosure, it leaped over and crouched within ten feet from where I stood.

A moment later, two of the hounds came over, and the fawn ran in my direction and pushed its head between my legs. I lifted the little thing to my breast, and, swinging round and round, fought off the dogs. I felt, just then, that all the dogs in the West could not, and should not capture that fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength.'

"So is it, when human helplessness appeals to Almighty God. Well do I remember when the hounds of sin were after my soul, until, at last, I ran into the arms of Almighty God."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that when I am afraid of falling and being consumed by temptation and call out to you for help, you always come to my rescue and save me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen."

1. Psalm 57:1 (NIV).
2. A. C. DIXON as quoted in E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer. Source: Today's Wit & Wisdom Devotional, http://net153.com.

Resting on One's Laurels

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish."1

In an article in Leadership magazine, J. David Bianchin used the analogy of a basketball game. In "the 1987 NCAA Regional Finals, Louisiana State University was leading Indiana by eight points with only a few minutes left in the game. As is often the case with a team in the lead, LSU began playing a different ball game. The television announcer pointed out that the LSU players were beginning to watch the clock rather than wholeheartedly play the game. As a result of this shift in focus, Indiana closed the gap, won the game by one point, and eventually went on to become NCAA champions."

At the human level, as we have been so graphically reminded by the events of 9-11 and more recent atrocities around the world, we dare not sit on our laurels or base our security on past victories. "Eternal vigilance is [still] the price of freedom." And how much greater is the need for eternal vigilance in the work of the Kingdom of God.

As God's Word says, "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith."2 "For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms."3

May we, Like the Apostle Paul, say, "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."4

This, by the grace of God, we can do because, as David the Psalmist wrote, "The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?"5

For further help read the article, "Political Correctness Oxymoron" at: ttp://tinyurl.com/ysvo4h

Suggested prayer: "Gracious God, thank you for your great salvation in the gift of your Son, Jesus, and for all the unfathomable blessings you have in store for your children, both in the here-and-now and in the hereafter. However, help me not to rest on my laurels, but to keep my eye on the goal and serve you faithfully all the days of my life. So help me God. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT).
2. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT).
3. Ephesians 6:12 (NLT).
4. Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV).
5. Psalm 27:1 (NIV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Why confess?

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsake them shall have mercy"- Proverbs 28:13

In the offence of a person, friend, or neighbour, you must admit your wrong and it becomes their duty to forgive you.
You are then free to seek God's forgiveness.

Why? Because the individual wronged is a creation of God and in injuring him/her you have sinned against the Creator.
A sin against man is a sin against God!



[Taken from 'Steps to Christ']

Abide in Christ!

How am I to abide in Christ?

In the same way you received him at first.

"As ye have therefore received Christ, Jesus the Lord,so walk ye in Him."
"The just shall live by faith." (Colossians 2:6; Hebrews 10:38.)

You gave yourself to God, to be His wholly, to serve and obey Him, and you took Christ as your Saviour.
You could not yourself atone for your sins or change your heart; but having given yourself to God, you believe that He for Christ's sake did all this for you.

By faith you became Christ's, and by faith you are to grow up in Him -by giving and taking.

You are to give all, -your heart, your will, your service,- give yourself to Him to obey all His requirements; and you must take all, -Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to abide in your heart, to be your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper, -to give you power to obey.

[Source: Steps to Christ p47]