Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Yesterday I was doing my regular daily Bible reading. I was reading in James 1. I took the following scripture and examined myself.
14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James 1
The first thing I did is to look at the meaning of the word "lust"...Basically it means, "strong desire".
So I began examining myself ... Do I have any strong desires?
In the wilderness, the people lusted after meat. They grew to hate the manna given them by God. They wanted meat. So God gave them over to their desire. God rained quail down upon them. They could eat as much as they wanted. Then we see what happen as a result of being turned over to your own lust.
Psalm 78
And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. 19Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 20Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? 21Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; 22Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: 23Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 25Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full. 26He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. 27He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: 28And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. 29So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; 30They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, 31The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. 32For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. 33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
If I have a specific lust (strong desire) ... how do I overcome.
Of course, we always begin with prayer ... asking God for help.
Then: 14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Rom. 13
First: Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is THE WORD. So first, we put on the word, dressing ourselves in the Word. Take the last word spoken to you by the Spirit of God and meditate day and night in that word, doing as it instructs. Or read the Bible and when a scripture "jumps out at you" and you get hung up and can't seem to go on reading because you are thinking of that one scripture, stop and meditate upon that specific scripture, doing as it instructs.
Then: Make not provision for the flesh in the area of the strong desire. If you lust after a new house. You would refrain from Home and Garden TV shows ... You would refrain from magazines that show decorating and such... You wouldn't go to open house showing new homes ... Put away from you all things that have to do with the lust area. Focus on scripture such as: 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. II Tim. 6
And especially meditate upon any scripture brought to your mind by the Spirit of God, applying it to your own life in a proper way.
If you do these things, in time you will overcome that lust.