Finding Freedom: Overcoming the Spirit of Lust
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to Harvest, everyone. We are a small expression of the body of Christ, committed to loving God, loving people, and serving the world as the hands and feet of Jesus. Our vision is to make, grow, and equip followers of Jesus to fulfill their God-given purpose through community, discipleship, and outreach. Today, we continue our series called "Free," based on Pastor Robert Morris's series "Truly Free." Our focus today is on overcoming the spirit of lust, a topic that may feel heavy but is crucial for our spiritual freedom.
We began by acknowledging that even as believers, we can still choose to walk in bondage. John 8:36 tells us, "For if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." Yet, we often open doors to the enemy, allowing him to steal, kill, and destroy aspects of our lives. Today, we specifically address the lust of the flesh, a struggle that many of us face. This isn't just a male issue; it's increasingly affecting women and teenagers as well.
We turned to Proverbs 7, where Solomon warns his son about the dangers of the immoral woman, a metaphor for the spirit of lust. Solomon describes how this spirit operates, leading people into bondage. He emphasizes the importance of keeping God's commands and treasuring His words to avoid falling into this trap. Solomon's story serves as a vivid illustration of how the spirit of lust can ensnare even the unsuspecting.
We also discussed the importance of deliverance and discipleship. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 teaches us that our weapons are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. This involves both rebuking the enemy and renewing our minds through the Word of God. Romans 12 reminds us that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. We need both freedom through the blood and discipleship through the Word to overcome the enemy.
Strongholds can be either good or bad. The Bible describes strongholds as fortresses, prisons, and tombs. When we face challenges, we often run to a stronghold. The question is, which stronghold are we running to? The enemy places trains of lustful thoughts in our minds, leading us toward destruction. Philippians 4:8 encourages us to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. These are the trains of thought we should board.
We concluded by inviting those who haven't surrendered their lives to Jesus to do so. The first step to freedom is recognizing our need for a Savior. Jesus' blood covers our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. If you're struggling with the lust of the flesh, we have a freedom ministry that would love to pray with you and guide you toward discipleship and accountability.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Reality of Bondage in Believers: Even as believers, we can choose to walk in bondage by opening doors to the enemy. John 8:36 tells us that if the Son sets us free, we are truly free. However, we often allow the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy aspects of our lives. Recognizing this reality is the first step toward seeking true freedom in Christ. [01:47]
2. The Spirit of Lust and Its Deception: The spirit of lust is a significant issue affecting both men and women. Proverbs 7 illustrates how this spirit operates, leading people into bondage. Solomon's warning to his son serves as a vivid illustration of how the spirit of lust can ensnare even the unsuspecting. Understanding this deception helps us guard our hearts and minds. [03:38]
3. Deliverance and Discipleship: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 teaches us that our weapons are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. This involves both rebuking the enemy and renewing our minds through the Word of God. Romans 12 reminds us that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. We need both freedom through the blood and discipleship through the Word to overcome the enemy. [38:56]
4. Choosing the Right Stronghold: Strongholds can be either good or bad. The Bible describes strongholds as fortresses, prisons, and tombs. When we face challenges, we often run to a stronghold. The question is, which stronghold are we running to? Philippians 4:8 encourages us to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. These are the trains of thought we should board. [41:15]
5. The Path to True Freedom: The first step to freedom is recognizing our need for a Savior. Jesus' blood covers our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. If you're struggling with the lust of the flesh, we have a freedom ministry that would love to pray with you and guide you toward discipleship and accountability. True freedom comes from surrendering our lives to Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill and empower us. [51:41]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:47] - The Reality of Bondage in Believers
[03:38] - The Spirit of Lust and Its Deception
[38:56] - Deliverance and Discipleship
[41:15] - Choosing the Right Stronghold
[51:41] - The Path to True Freedom
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 8:36 - "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
2. Proverbs 7:1-27 - Solomon's warning about the immoral woman, a metaphor for the spirit of lust.
3. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
### Observation Questions
1. According to John 8:36, what does Jesus promise to those He sets free? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual freedom discussed in the sermon? [01:47]
2. In Proverbs 7, what specific actions does Solomon advise his son to take to avoid falling into the trap of the immoral woman? [04:30]
3. How does 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 describe the nature of our spiritual weapons and their purpose? [38:56]
4. What are some of the characteristics of the spirit of lust as described in Proverbs 7? [05:45]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How can believers still find themselves in bondage even after being set free by Jesus, according to John 8:36 and the sermon? [01:47]
2. What does Solomon's warning in Proverbs 7 teach us about the subtlety and danger of the spirit of lust? How can this apply to both men and women today? [03:38]
3. How do the concepts of deliverance and discipleship work together to help believers overcome strongholds, as explained in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and the sermon? [38:56]
4. Why is it important to choose the right stronghold, and how does Philippians 4:8 guide us in making that choice? [41:15]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually bound even though you knew you were set free by Jesus. What steps did you take, or could you take, to walk in that freedom? [01:47]
2. Solomon advises his son to keep God's commands and treasure His words. What practical steps can you take to internalize and live out God's Word in your daily life? [04:30]
3. The sermon mentioned that the spirit of lust can affect anyone, regardless of gender or age. How can you create a supportive environment in your community to address and overcome this issue? [03:38]
4. Deliverance and discipleship are both crucial for overcoming strongholds. What specific actions can you take to seek deliverance and engage in discipleship this week? [38:56]
5. Philippians 4:8 encourages us to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. Identify one negative thought pattern you struggle with and a corresponding positive thought you can focus on instead. [41:15]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of recognizing our need for a Savior as the first step to freedom. How can you share this message of freedom with someone you know who is struggling with the lust of the flesh? [51:41]
7. Reflect on the strongholds you run to when faced with challenges. Are they leading you towards life or destruction? What changes can you make to ensure you are running to the right stronghold? [41:15]
Devotional
Day 1: The Reality of Bondage in Believers
Even as believers, we can choose to walk in bondage by opening doors to the enemy. John 8:36 tells us that if the Son sets us free, we are truly free. However, we often allow the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy aspects of our lives. Recognizing this reality is the first step toward seeking true freedom in Christ. [01:47]
"For if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36, ESV)
Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you feel you might be allowing the enemy to have a foothold? How can you begin to close those doors today?
Day 2: The Spirit of Lust and Its Deception
The spirit of lust is a significant issue affecting both men and women. Proverbs 7 illustrates how this spirit operates, leading people into bondage. Solomon's warning to his son serves as a vivid illustration of how the spirit of lust can ensnare even the unsuspecting. Understanding this deception helps us guard our hearts and minds. [03:38]
"For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword." (Proverbs 5:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Are there any influences in your life that might be leading you into the deception of lust? What steps can you take to guard your heart and mind against these influences?
Day 3: Deliverance and Discipleship
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 teaches us that our weapons are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. This involves both rebuking the enemy and renewing our minds through the Word of God. Romans 12 reminds us that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. We need both freedom through the blood and discipleship through the Word to overcome the enemy. [38:56]
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate both rebuking the enemy and renewing your mind through the Word of God into your daily routine? What specific steps will you take this week to start this practice?
Day 4: Choosing the Right Stronghold
Strongholds can be either good or bad. The Bible describes strongholds as fortresses, prisons, and tombs. When we face challenges, we often run to a stronghold. The question is, which stronghold are we running to? Philippians 4:8 encourages us to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. These are the trains of thought we should board. [41:15]
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10, ESV)
Reflection: When you face challenges, where do you typically run for refuge? How can you make a conscious effort to run to God as your stronghold instead?
Day 5: The Path to True Freedom
The first step to freedom is recognizing our need for a Savior. Jesus' blood covers our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. If you're struggling with the lust of the flesh, we have a freedom ministry that would love to pray with you and guide you toward discipleship and accountability. True freedom comes from surrendering our lives to Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill and empower us. [51:41]
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You will never get enough approval. It won't happen. Or you may be one of those people that always has to be in a relationship. You don't know what you would do if you were not in a relationship. And so you have a long history of broken relationships and you have a broken heart because you're fulfilling the lust of the flesh. God is more than enough." [49:33]
2. "If you haven't surrendered your life to Jesus, you've probably already come to the conclusion that you can't make it on your own. You've fallen on your face enough times. You've been hurt and wounded enough times. But you recognize down deep inside your need for a Savior. Listen, because of the sins of our you were born under a curse, but you don't have to stay under that curse." [51:41]
3. "Guys, we need freedom, we need deliverance, and we need discipleship in our life. Remember Romans chapter 12 says, we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the what? And the word of our testimony. Think about that. We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Guys, the word of God, the blood of the lamb, and the word of our testimony. Guys, we need freedom through the blood, and we need discipleship through the word. That's how we overcome the enemy." [38:56]
4. "How many of you know that God wants us to walk free? When Jesus went to that cross, we were declared free. When we said yes to the cross, we were declared free. When we said yes to him, we were declared free. But how many of you know that we still choose to walk in bondage sometimes? Some people don't believe they can walk in bondage as believers." [01:47]
5. "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit, guys, you can only do this by the Spirit. If you live by the Spirit, live according to the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of your body, and you will live. How many of you want to live? Guys, lust brings death. Love brings life." [34:23]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Guys, when you go down this road, there's always planning and preparation. She says, come, let us take our fill of love until morning. Y'all hear that? You saw Lionel Richie the other night, didn't y'all? All night long. Let's have our fill of love till morning. Sorry, that just came to me. Let us delight ourselves with love is what she says to him. Listen, lust always masquerades as love. It always masquerades as love. Listen, lust is not love. It's not love. It's not love. It's not love. Love is from heaven. Lust is from hell, right? They are two different things, but lust masquerades, lust masquerades as love." [15:19]
2. "So here's the next thing the spirit of lust says to us. He says you won't get caught. You're not going to get caught. That's what the spirit of lust was saying through this woman. We got it all worked out. It got it worked out with God, got it worked out with my have the home to ourselves, my husband's gone, you're not going to get caught. Come on in, you're not going to get caught. Come on in. By the way, you'd be the first person in the world to not get caught." [16:45]
3. "So here's what Solomon saw in verse 6. He said, for at the window of my house, I looked through my lattice, and I saw among the simple, among the common folk, I perceived among the youths a young man devoid of understanding. Now, is he putting down young people here? No, not at all. Not at all. He's, what he's doing, he's saying this guy's devoid of understanding. Why? Because he's about to be entrapped by the spirit. He's about to step into the trap, into the snare. You'll see that he, as we go on, that he purposefully goes to the wrong place." [05:45]
4. "And lust never, ever, ever, ever satisfies. It never satisfies. A man may think that he commits adultery for satisfaction, but he is in deception. Lust never satisfies. All it wants is more. And that's what it's saying here. It's saying don't do this. Don't go down this road. If it was for satisfaction, somebody might would excuse it. But there's no satisfaction. Lust never satisfies. That's a deception. You always want more." [31:04]
5. "Over and over again, we need to drive those thoughts out, renew our mind, get filled with His Word. Again, like I said, the word stronghold is neutral. It can go either way. So, there's three definitions the Bible gives for stronghold. Three things are described as strongholds in the Bible. So, the first one is pretty simple. You guys would agree. It would be a fortress. A fortress. A place where you try to get to to get relief or to be safe." [44:07]
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