The Seven Deadly Sins - Lust

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Design for Marriage and Sex: Covenant Before Intimacy

God’s design for marriage is a covenant relationship where self-giving love, sacrifice, and spiritual leadership are foundational, and sexual intimacy is a beautiful gift reserved for that committed bond. In this relationship, both husband and wife are called to serve, encourage, and bring each other closer to Christ, reflecting the love that Jesus has for His church. This order—leaving, cleaving, and weaving—creates a unique, purified relationship that stands as a witness to the world, showing the beauty of God’s intentions for marriage. When we honor this design, we experience the fullness and security that God intended, rather than the emptiness that comes from seeking intimacy without commitment. [32:53]

Ephesians 5:25-33 (ESV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Reflection: If you are married or hope to be, how can you intentionally reflect Christ’s self-giving love in your relationship today—especially in the small, daily choices to serve and encourage your spouse or future spouse?

Day 2: The Consequences of Lust: Emptiness and Regret

Lust promises pleasure and excitement, but ultimately leaves the soul empty, hungry, and unsatisfied, much like preparing a delicious meal only to spit out every bite before swallowing. What seems sweet and alluring at first quickly turns bitter, leading to pain, regret, and spiritual emptiness. Scripture warns that pursuing lust is like carrying fire close to your chest—you will get burned. The consequences are not just physical but deeply spiritual, as lust can cost a person their peace, their sense of self, and even their faith, leaving behind scars that are not easily healed. [42:52]

Proverbs 5:3-5 (ESV)
3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil,
4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol;

Reflection: Is there a temptation in your life that looks sweet on the surface but you know leads to emptiness or regret? What step can you take today to turn away from it and seek God’s lasting satisfaction?

Day 3: Faith and Lust Cannot Coexist

Lust and faith are at odds—when one grows, the other fades. You cannot be fully engaged in lustful thoughts or sexual immorality and expect your faith to thrive; instead, it creates a wall between you and God, stunting spiritual growth and leading to a fading of your relationship with Him. God’s will is for His people to live holy lives, controlling their bodies in honor and not in passionate lust, because to reject this is not just to break a rule, but to reject God Himself. The call is to pursue holiness, knowing that God’s commands are for our good and that true intimacy with Him requires putting lust to death in our hearts. [45:45]

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (ESV)
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Reflection: Are there areas where you have allowed lust to dull your faith or distance you from God? What practical action can you take today to pursue holiness and restore intimacy with Him?

Day 4: Renewal and Freedom Are Possible

No matter how stuck you feel or how many times you’ve failed, God has made your mind capable of renewal and transformation. Through intentional steps—confession, accountability, replacing old habits, seeking counseling, and joining godly community—you can break free from the cycle of lust and experience real change. God’s Word promises that you are not defined by your past, and that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you can walk in newness of life, leaving shame behind and embracing the freedom Christ offers. [51:33]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: What is one specific step you can take today—whether it’s reaching out for accountability, starting a new habit, or joining a small group—to begin renewing your mind and breaking free from old patterns?

Day 5: God Redeems All Things and Makes You New

Your past mistakes, no matter how deep or hidden, do not define you—God can redeem every part of your story and use it for good. In Christ, you are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. God works all things, even your regrets and failures, together for your good when you love Him. Today is an opportunity to put a stake in the ground, trust in His forgiveness, and walk forward in hope, knowing that shame has no power over you and that God’s love and grace are greater than your past. [52:55]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Reflection: What is one area of your past that you need to surrender to God’s redeeming love today, trusting that He can make you new and use your story for His glory?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we gathered to reflect on one of the most challenging and often misunderstood struggles in our lives: lust. Using the image of a bonfire, I illustrated how something that begins with a small spark can quickly grow out of control, much like lust when left unchecked. Just as a fire is safe and beautiful within its boundaries, so too is sex when it remains within the boundaries God designed—within the covenant of marriage. God’s design for marriage is rooted in self-giving love, modeled after Christ’s sacrificial love for the church. This love is not about self-gratification, but about serving, sacrificing, and leading one another closer to God.

We explored Ephesians 5, where Paul draws a parallel between Christ’s love for the church and the love a husband should have for his wife. This love is daily, sacrificial, and purifying. It’s a call for men to lead spiritually, for women to seek partners who will encourage their faith, and for all of us to honor the sanctity of marriage. The world’s approach to sex and relationships often reverses God’s order, seeking pleasure without commitment and avoiding the maturity that true love requires. Lust, in contrast to love, is impatient and self-serving, always seeking the thrill without the weight of responsibility.

Unchecked, lust grows and leads to deeper entanglements—pornography, broken relationships, and emotional baggage that eventually must be unpacked. Scripture is clear: sexual immorality in all its forms is destructive, not just physically but spiritually. It promises satisfaction but leaves us empty, like a meal we can never truly enjoy. Sex outside of marriage is a counterfeit connection, offering the illusion of intimacy without the security of covenant.

Yet, there is hope. God’s grace is greater than our past mistakes. Our minds can be renewed, our habits changed, and our stories redeemed. Practical steps—accountability, replacing old habits, seeking counseling, and living in community—help us walk in freedom. Shame has no power in Christ; we are not defined by our failures but by the new creation we become in Him. Today is an opportunity to put a stake in the ground, to choose God’s way, and to trust that He can work all things—even our deepest regrets—for good.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Boundaries Bring True Freedom God’s design for sex within marriage is not restrictive, but protective and life-giving. Like a fire in a pit, passion is beautiful and safe within boundaries, but destructive when it escapes them. Embracing God’s boundaries leads to deeper intimacy, trust, and joy, while ignoring them brings pain and emptiness. [39:14]
2. Lust Promises Pleasure, Delivers Emptiness Lust entices with the promise of immediate gratification, but ultimately leaves the soul unsatisfied and hungry for more. It is a counterfeit that cannot fill the deeper longing for connection and meaning. True fulfillment comes from self-giving love, not self-indulgence. [41:00]
3. Spiritual Growth Requires Commitment, Not Convenience Love matures us by calling us into commitment, sacrifice, and daily selflessness. Lust, on the other hand, seeks to avoid the hard work of growth, preferring convenience over covenant. Only through embracing God’s design do we become the people He intends us to be. [34:30]
4. Renewal and Redemption Are Always Possible No matter our past, God offers renewal and a fresh start. Our minds can be transformed, our habits changed, and our stories redeemed. Shame loses its power when we bring our struggles into the light and trust God’s promise to work all things for good. [52:30]
5. Community and Accountability Break the Cycle Freedom from lust and sexual sin is found not in isolation, but in honest community and accountability. Confession, support, and godly relationships are essential for healing and growth. We are called to walk together, bearing one another’s burdens and encouraging each other toward holiness. [49:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:13] - Community Outreach Update
[24:39] - Upcoming Nativity Festivity
[24:53] - Introduction to Lust
[25:18] - The Bonfire Analogy
[26:24] - Playing with Fire: The Danger of Lust
[27:22] - God’s Design for Marriage and Sex
[28:39] - Christ’s Love and Marital Love
[31:11] - Purity and Spiritual Leadership
[32:17] - The Order of God’s Design
[33:22] - The World’s Approach vs. God’s Way
[34:30] - Lust Avoids Maturity and Growth
[35:45] - The Progression and Consequences of Lust
[39:14] - Boundaries: Fire and Sexuality
[41:00] - Lust’s Emptiness and Pain
[44:12] - Lust and the Fading of Faith
[47:55] - Steps to Freedom and Renewal
[51:11] - Shame Has No Power
[52:30] - God Redeems All Things
[53:15] - Testimony of Hope
[64:54] - Responding to God’s Grace
[70:22] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:25-28 (ESV) — > Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Proverbs 5:3-5 (ESV) — > 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. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) — > Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 5, what kind of love are husbands called to have for their wives, and how is it compared to Christ’s love for the church? ([28:39])
In the sermon, what analogy was used to describe the difference between passion within God’s boundaries and passion outside of them? ([39:14])
What does Proverbs 5 say about the end result of following after lust? ([41:00])
What practical steps did the pastor mention for breaking free from the cycle of lust and sexual sin? ([49:13])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul use the relationship between Christ and the church as a model for marriage? What does this say about the purpose of marriage and love? ([28:39])
The sermon described lust as “impatient and self-serving.” How does this contrast with the biblical definition of love found in Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 13? ([34:49])
The pastor said that “lust promises pleasure, but leaves the soul empty.” Why do you think lust is so deceptive, and why does it fail to satisfy? ([41:00])
The sermon emphasized that “renewal and redemption are always possible.” How does Romans 12:2 encourage believers who feel stuck in old patterns? ([48:22])

Application Questions

The pastor compared lust to a fire that is beautiful and safe within boundaries, but destructive when it escapes. Are there any “fires” in your life that need boundaries? What would it look like to put those boundaries in place this week? ([39:14])
Ephesians 5 calls for sacrificial, self-giving love in marriage. If you are married, what is one specific way you can serve your spouse this week? If you are single, how can you practice self-giving love in your relationships or friendships? ([28:39])
The sermon mentioned that the world often seeks pleasure without commitment. In what ways have you seen this mindset in your own life or in our culture? How can you choose commitment over convenience in your relationships? ([33:22])
The pastor talked about the progression of lust leading to deeper entanglements and emotional baggage. Are there any habits or patterns you need to bring into the light and seek help for? What is one step you can take toward accountability this week? ([49:13])
Romans 12:2 says our minds can be renewed. Is there a specific thought pattern or habit you want God to transform? What practical step can you take to start that renewal process? ([48:22])
The sermon said, “Shame has no power in Christ.” Is there an area of your life where you feel stuck in shame? What would it look like to bring that into the light with a trusted friend or mentor? ([51:11])
The pastor encouraged everyone to get into community and not walk alone. What is one way you can be more honest and open with your small group or Christian friends about your struggles? ([50:38])

Sermon Clips

It's meant to be in the confines of marriage with vows, a very holy and special thing that is an act of self-donation to one another. But the world has said, no, sex is all about me, and it's about my self-expression. It avoids commitment. Lust avoids commitment. And why would we want to do that? Because let's be honest, we don't want to grow up. And marriage forces us to grow up. Because you put two sinful people in the same household, and all of a sudden, things get a little bit toxic because, well, there's sin there. [00:33:40] (33 seconds) #GrowThroughMarriage

If we let lust persist in our minds, what happens? It grows. It grows. Because any sin that's unaddressed is going to continue to grow. And lust is really the gateway to a lot of other things. Because what comes after that? Pornography. And then we start looking at pornography. And then that doesn't satisfy. That doesn't become enough. And so then we've got to do something else on top of that. And then we pursue relationships that we shouldn't be pursuing. And we're going for convenience. We're giving into just our flesh. We have no self-control, no self-discipline. [00:35:29] (40 seconds) #ProtectYourHeart

Lust leads to a fading of our faith. Like, you can't be fully engaged in lustful thoughts and sexual immorality and think your faith is going to grow and it's going to be good. Like, it's kind of like one of those things, you just run it into a wall over and over again. And so it's one of those issues that has to be addressed in our hearts. [00:44:08] (22 seconds) #HonorGodsDesign

And the fleshly part of us always wants to push against that and say, no, I know better than God. I can do this. I can do this my way. I'll figure it out. It's going to be fine. And it never is, is it? And so when God is telling us all these things, we're talking about his design for marriage, saying stay away from sexual immorality. What he's saying is, I want you to have a good and full life. And it's done in the way that I designed for you to be together. [00:46:51] (30 seconds) #GetAccountable

Secondly, get accountable. Tell somebody. Like, if you're stuck in this, tell somebody. It is so freeing when the words come out of your mouth and say, here's what I have done. And we think that it's going to be, like, shameful. And we're going to be embarrassed and all those kinds of things. But when we actually say what's going on and confess, like, there's power in that. There is power in that. And you can get free real fast by getting that out. [00:48:44] (28 seconds) #FindCommunity

``We know that for those who love God, He works, what, all things, some things, a few things, all things. All things work together for good. So here's the deal. All things means all things. It means the things that you're happy about and you want to share about. It means the things you're embarrassed about. It means the thing that you hope nobody ever finds out about. God can take that and use it for good. [00:52:14] (35 seconds)

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