Redirecting Lust: Embracing Holiness and Redemption
Summary
In this season of Lent, we reflect on the shadows within our souls, particularly focusing on the seven deadly sins. Today, we delve into the shadow of lust, a pervasive issue in our increasingly sexualized culture. Our society often presents two extreme responses to sexuality: repression and indulgence. Repression, often seen in the purity culture movement, can lead to shame and a misunderstanding of God's view on sex. Indulgence, on the other hand, reduces sex to mere physical pleasure, leaving individuals disillusioned and unfulfilled. Neither approach offers a compelling way forward.
The Christian story, however, provides a better alternative. It offers a vision of sexuality that is a gift from God, an invitation to union, and for the good of the world. Sexuality is not something to be repressed or indulged in recklessly but is to be directed in ways that honor God and others. Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, urges believers to avoid sexual immorality and to control their bodies in a holy and honorable way. This is not about repression but about redirecting our desires towards God’s design for sexuality.
Lust, when left unchecked, deforms our view of others, our sexual appetites, our sense of commitment, and our sense of self. It reduces others to objects and distorts our understanding of relationships. However, God’s call to holiness is not about achieving perfect purity but about setting our lives apart for Him. Holiness is about reordering our lives and loves towards God and His kingdom.
No matter our past mistakes or current struggles, holiness and redemption are available now. Our sexual desires can be a compass leading us back to God, reminding us that our deepest longing is to be united with Him. In our journey, we must find allies and confessional friendships that offer grace and support. As we confess our struggles and receive God’s forgiveness, we are reminded of His radical goodness and love.
Key Takeaways:
1. Repression vs. Indulgence: The two common responses to our sexualized culture—repression and indulgence—are insufficient. Repression often leads to shame and a misunderstanding of God's view on sex, while indulgence reduces sex to mere physical pleasure, leaving individuals unfulfilled. The Christian story offers a better alternative, inviting us to direct our sexuality in ways that honor God and others. [07:27]
2. Sexuality as a Gift: Sexuality is a gift from God, meant to further human flourishing. It is not something to be repressed or indulged in recklessly but is to be directed in ways that honor God. Paul urges believers to control their bodies in a holy and honorable way, not as a form of repression but as a way to use God's gift responsibly. [16:50]
3. Lust's Deforming Effects: Lust deforms our view of others, our sexual appetites, our sense of commitment, and our sense of self. It reduces others to objects and distorts our understanding of relationships. However, God’s call to holiness invites us to redirect our desires towards His design for sexuality. [28:09]
4. Holiness and Redemption: Holiness is not about achieving perfect purity but about setting our lives apart for God. No matter our past mistakes or current struggles, holiness and redemption are available now. Our sexual desires can be a compass leading us back to God, reminding us that our deepest longing is to be united with Him. [36:59]
5. Confessional Friendships: In our journey, we must find allies and confessional friendships that offer grace and support. As we confess our struggles and receive God’s forgiveness, we are reminded of His radical goodness and love. These friendships are vital in helping us resist the shadow of lust and live out our call to holiness. [42:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:02] - The Shadow of Lust
- [07:27] - Repression vs. Indulgence
- [09:54] - A Better Alternative
- [12:40] - Paul's Letter to the Thessalonians
- [16:50] - God's Will: Sanctification
- [20:11] - Sexuality as a Gift
- [24:43] - Misuse of Sexuality
- [28:09] - Lust's Deforming Effects
- [31:21] - Deformed Appetites and Commitment
- [34:06] - God's Justice and Redemption
- [36:59] - Holiness and Redemption
- [39:23] - Redirecting Desires
- [42:09] - Confessional Friendships
- [44:49] - Prayer of Confession
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1 Thessalonians 4:1-7
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the two common responses to our sexualized culture mentioned in the sermon, and how do they fall short of offering a compelling way forward? [07:27]
2. According to the sermon, how does Paul instruct the Thessalonians to handle their sexual desires, and what is the broader vision of sexuality he presents? [16:50]
3. What are the four ways in which lust deforms us, as mentioned in the sermon? [28:09]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of confessional friendships in resisting the shadow of lust? [42:09]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that the Christian story offers a better alternative to the cultural responses of repression and indulgence? [09:54]
2. In what ways does the sermon propose that our sexual desires can act as a compass leading us back to God? [39:23]
3. How does the sermon define holiness, and how does this definition challenge common misconceptions about purity and sexual ethics? [36:59]
4. What role does the sermon suggest that community and confessional friendships play in the journey towards holiness and redemption? [42:09]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own experiences with the cultural responses of repression and indulgence. How have these approaches impacted your understanding of sexuality, and how might the Christian story offer a more fulfilling perspective? [07:27]
2. Consider the ways in which lust might have deformed your view of others or your sense of self. What steps can you take to begin redirecting your desires towards God's design for sexuality? [28:09]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of confessional friendships. Do you have someone in your life with whom you can share your struggles and receive grace? If not, what steps can you take to cultivate such a relationship? [42:09]
4. How can you actively participate in reordering your life and loves towards God and His kingdom, especially in the area of sexuality? What practical changes can you make this week to align more closely with this vision? [36:59]
5. The sermon suggests that our sexual desires can be a homing beacon leading us back to God. How can you begin to view your desires in this way, and what practices can help you redirect them towards a deeper relationship with God? [39:23]
6. Reflect on the concept of holiness as being set apart for God. How does this understanding challenge or affirm your current approach to living out your faith, particularly in the area of sexual ethics? [36:59]
7. The sermon mentions the importance of acknowledging our powerlessness over certain vices. What is one area of your life where you feel powerless, and how can you seek support and accountability in your community to address it? [42:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Navigating Between Repression and Indulgence
In our sexualized culture, we often encounter two extreme responses: repression and indulgence. Repression, often associated with purity culture, can lead to feelings of shame and a distorted understanding of God's view on sexuality. On the other hand, indulgence reduces sex to mere physical pleasure, leaving individuals feeling empty and unfulfilled. The Christian narrative offers a more balanced approach, inviting us to direct our sexuality in ways that honor God and others. This approach encourages us to see sexuality as a gift that should be stewarded responsibly, rather than something to be repressed or indulged recklessly. [07:27]
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you experienced or witnessed the extremes of repression or indulgence in your life or community? How can you begin to embrace a more balanced, God-honoring view of sexuality today?
Day 2: Embracing Sexuality as a Divine Gift
Sexuality is a divine gift meant to enhance human flourishing. It is not something to be repressed or indulged in recklessly but is to be directed in ways that honor God. The Apostle Paul urges believers to control their bodies in a holy and honorable way, not as a form of repression but as a way to use God's gift responsibly. This perspective encourages us to view sexuality as an integral part of our humanity, designed to foster connection and intimacy within the boundaries set by God. [16:50]
"Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." (Hebrews 13:4, ESV)
Reflection: How do you currently view your sexuality? What steps can you take to align your understanding and actions with the idea of sexuality as a gift from God?
Day 3: Recognizing Lust's Deforming Effects
Lust, when left unchecked, can distort our view of others, our sexual appetites, our sense of commitment, and our sense of self. It reduces others to mere objects and distorts our understanding of relationships. However, God’s call to holiness invites us to redirect our desires towards His design for sexuality. This redirection is not about achieving perfect purity but about setting our lives apart for God and reordering our loves towards His kingdom. [28:09]
"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways has lust distorted your view of relationships or yourself? How can you begin to redirect your desires towards God's design for sexuality?
Day 4: Pursuing Holiness and Redemption
Holiness is not about achieving perfect purity but about setting our lives apart for God. No matter our past mistakes or current struggles, holiness and redemption are available now. Our sexual desires can be a compass leading us back to God, reminding us that our deepest longing is to be united with Him. This journey towards holiness involves acknowledging our brokenness and embracing God's grace and forgiveness, allowing us to live in the freedom of His love. [36:59]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: What past mistakes or current struggles do you need to bring before God today? How can you embrace His grace and pursue holiness in your life?
Day 5: Building Confessional Friendships
In our journey towards holiness, it is vital to find allies and confessional friendships that offer grace and support. As we confess our struggles and receive God’s forgiveness, we are reminded of His radical goodness and love. These friendships are essential in helping us resist the shadow of lust and live out our call to holiness. They provide a safe space for vulnerability and accountability, encouraging us to grow in our faith and commitment to God’s design for our lives. [42:09]
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you trust to be a confessional friend? How can you cultivate a relationship with them that encourages mutual support and accountability in your spiritual journey?
Quotes
"However, to its detriment, there's a whole generation of teenagers that grew up believing that don't was all Christianity had to offer on the subject of sex. It produced a generation who feared their own desires and bodies. It produces shame in those who failed to uphold its one rule. It perpetuates unhelpful expectations of women and misogynistic tendencies in its men. It has nothing to offer those who came to faith after a promiscuous life, or after divorce, or after a sexual assault." [00:06:09] (42 seconds)
"Where the repressive approach leaves us in shame, the indulgent approach leaves us disillusioned, leaves us deformed. Ask any hedonist who has had their fill of sexual debauchery and realizes there is no sexual experience that will fill the longing of the human soul to be known and loved. Unfortunately, I am intimately aware of how insufficient both responses are." [00:08:14] (35 seconds)
"Paul's instruction to control one's body is instruction to use God's gift responsibly. It's an invitation to see it as something good and lovely and not to throw it away. And in Thessalonians' case, not to throw it away at temple prostitution. Second, sex is an invitation to union. Now, I want to be both generous and humble in approaching this because incredibly brilliant, thoughtful, and faithful believers disagree with me on this point." [00:20:01] (43 seconds)
"Our sexual desire is not simply hormones and social conditioning. It is a compass that continues to lead us back to God. But this is a deeply uncomfortable subject for us because we've often processed our sexuality with a myriad of emotions, primarily curiosity and secondarily shame. And so when the Bible speaks of a bride and groom and Christ coming from his church, you're like, there's some undertones I'm uncomfortable with." [00:22:21] (39 seconds)
"When we allow lust to shape our sexual identity, our souls and our sexuality are distorted in painful and unimaginable ways. In his book, Fighting Shadows, John Tyson mentions four ways in which lust deforms us. I want to go through each of those just briefly. He says, first, lust gives us a deformed view of others, particularly women. When we practice lust, we reduce others to objects of sexual pleasure, stripping them of agency, consent, and dignity." [00:28:23] (38 seconds)
"Giving into lust always does something to us. It deforms our view of others. It deforms our sexual appetites. It deforms our understanding of commitment, and it deforms our sense of self. Frederick Buechner writes this. Adultery, promiscuity, either heterosexual or homosexual, masturbation. One appealing view is that anything goes as long as no one gets hurt." [00:32:46] (30 seconds)
"No matter your sexual history or lust-filled mistake, even if it was last night, holiness is available now. Relationship with God is available now. Redemption is available now. Forgiveness is available now. Lust in all of its forms is our misguided search for love and meaning. We search for acceptance on websites. We search for companionship on dating apps. We use each other hoping that the next sexual experience will satisfy." [00:37:38] (40 seconds)
"Friends, the only way to conquer the evil of lust is to have confessional friendships. Someone who you can actually tell your darkest regret and pain, who will actually meet you not with disgust or a lecture, but with grace. Throughout my life, I've had quite a few of these confessional friendships, and they are one of the most extraordinary encounters with the gospel you can imagine." [00:42:49] (33 seconds)
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