Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Recently 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.