reason one you are a new creation in Christ when you are born again you become a new creation in Christ this transformation changes your heart your desires and your outlook on life you now love what God loves and hate what he hates unlike those who remain in the world those who are in Christ experience an internal conflict when faced with sin particularly lust before salvation there was no struggle people indulged in lust without remorse however after becoming a new creation your spiritual nature Rebels against the desires of the flesh making lust a Battleground rather than
a pleasure this struggle is evidence of your new identity in Christ the world does not wrestle with lust because they see nothing wrong with it but the Chen an experience an inner conflict you may wonder why you feel so torn inside but that is the holy spirit convicting you reminding you that you belong to God this transformation does not make you immune to temptation but it does mean that you have the power to resist through Christ the battle is not a sign of failure it is a sign that you are truly alive in Christ reason
two your flesh remains unchanged although your spirit is born again your flesh is not your physical body still retains its sinful inclinations and memories of past indulgences the old man your former self loved lust and that craving does not automatically disappear at Salvation this is why the Bible in Galatians 5:16 to17 commands us to walk in the spirit walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the love of the flesh for the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary to one another so that you do not
do the things that you wish the Apostle Paul spoke of this very struggle in Romans 71 1520 highlighting the internal war between the spirit and the flesh many Christians mistakenly believe that struggling with lust means they are not saved but that is a Lie from Satan the struggle itself is evidence that the spirit of God is at work within you the flesh remembers the pleasures of sin and will continuously try to pull you back into Old Habits but the spirit within you is constantly working to lead you toward righteousness this battle does not end overnight
and it is one that every believer must fight daily reason three Satan specifically targets the chosen Luke 2231 through 32 records Jesus words to Peter Simon Simon Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat but I have prayed for you Simon that your faith may not fail this passage highlights an important truth Satan desires to attack those who are chosen by God the enemy does not waste time attacking those already under his control instead he strategically targets Those whom God has called why because he knows that if he can corrupt them he can
hinder their impact for the kingdom and bring shame to the name of Christ 1 Peter 58 warns be alert and of sober mind your enemy the devil prows around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour lust is one of the enemy's most effective weapons against the chosen he knows that by introducing Temptations whether through media relationships or memories of past sins he can cause a Believer to stumble the devil is Relentless in his pursuit to make the chosen fall and he will use every available means from suggestive advertisements to ungodly entertainment to lure
you into sin this is why it is critical to stay spiritually equipped just as a soldier would never go into battle without armor the chosen ones must put on the full arm Armor of God prayer fasting and daily devotion are not optional they are necessary defenses against the attacks of the enemy reason for the world's system is designed to tempt 1 John 2:16 States for everything in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life comes not from the father but from the world this verse reveals a
fundamental truth the entire system of this world is designed to appeal to the desires of the flesh enticing Humanity with temporary Pleasures that lead people away from God the enemy Satan is the prince of this world and he skillfully crafts a culture that normalizes sin making it appear not only acceptable but desirable from television shows to Blockbuster movies from social media trends to advertising campaigns the world relentlessly bombards Believers with images and messages that seek to awaken sinful desires these influences are not accidental they are calculated tools designed to stir up Temptation creating an environment
where sin flourishes while righteousness is mocked every day people are subtly conditioned to crave more of what pleases the flesh rather than what nourishes the spirit this constant exposure makes makes it increasingly difficult to remain spiritually pure unless one is intentional about guarding their heart and mind the chosen ones who have been set apart by God must be vigilant the battle against lust and worldliness is not a passive one it requires an active stance of resistance scripture teaches that what we consume with our eyes and ears directly impacts our spiritual strength Proverbs 4:23 three warns
Above All Else guard your heart for everything you do flows from it if a Believer allows ungodly influences to fill their mind their heart will be affected and the battle against sin will become even more challenging the more one feeds the flesh with worldly influences the stronger the grip of Temptation will be this is why Jesus emphasized The Importance of Being mindful of what enters the heart in Matthew 6:22 he said the eye is the lamp of the body if your eyes are healthy your whole body will be full of light the eyes serve as
the gateway to the soul and what we fix our gaze upon has the power to shape our thoughts desires and ultimately our actions when a person fixates on things that stir up lust greed or Pride they allow d Darkness to take root in their Spirit conversely when they fill their mind with what is pure lovely and righteous they cultivate A Heart That Remains sensitive to the voice of God today more than ever the world has made lust accessible at the click of a button the very devices that are meant to connect us to information and
loved ones are being used as portals for Temptation movies glorify immorality music promotes lustful ideologies and even seemingly harmless social media platforms have become breeding grounds for impurity many believers do not realize that every click every scroll and every moment spent entertaining ungodly content weakens their spiritual defenses the enemy is using these Avenues to normalize sin and desensitize people to its dangers this is why Believers must be intentional about what they consume remaining pure in a world filled with temptation requires deliberate action this means avoiding entertainment that glorifies immorality limiting time on social media to
prevent exposure to inappropriate content and setting firm boundaries in relationships to uphold God's standards of Holiness Paul instructed in Romans 1314 but put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires if a Believer knowingly places themselves in environments where temptation is strong they are giving the flesh an opportunity to overtake the spirit victory over the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life comes through discipline prayer and Devotion to God's word the more time a Believer spends in scripture the stronger their
resistance to Temptation becomes Psalm 11911 declares I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you a heart filled with the word of God becomes a fortified stronghold against the schemes of the enemy reason five the stronghold of Habitual sin Romans 6:12 commands therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you OB its evil desires lust is often a stronghold that has been built over time no other sin grips an individual as powerfully as lust the longer one indulges in lustful habits whether through pornography fornication or
impure thoughts the stronger the hold becomes like an addict drawn back to their Vice the flesh remembers the lifestyle once lived even after salvation the Mind must be renewed and deliverance may be necessary to break free lust is not just an action it is a battle of the Mind and Spirit overcoming it requires repentance self-discipline and Reliance on the Holy Spirit falling into habitual sin does not mean you are Beyond Redemption but it does mean you must be proactive in Breaking Free confession accountability and actively avoiding triggers are key components to overcoming lustful strongholds Jesus
said in Matthew 5:29 if your right eye causes you to stumble gouge it out and throw it away while this is not a literal command to harm oneself it is a powerful illustration of the necessity of radical measures to eliminate Sin from one's life struggling with lust does not mean you are not chosen or that you are not saved it is evidence of the battle between the spirit and the flesh as a new creation in Christ your spirit desires righteousness but your flesh resists Satan targets The Chosen because he knows their potential to impact God's
kingdom the world is designed to feed the desires of the flesh making the battle even more intense and finally habitual sin creates a stronghold that requires spiritual warfare to overcome Victory is possible but it requires a conscious effort to walk in the spirit daily stay rooted in in prayer be vigilant against Temptation and renew your mind with the word of God the struggle is real but so is the power of God to bring Deliverance 1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ if you are battling
with lust do not be discouraged continue to fight the good fight of faith knowing that Christ has already secured your victory keep pressing forward and never give up because God is faithful to complete the good work he has started in you [Music]
