THE LUST OF THE FLESH – by Dr.
Neil Anderson
1 John 2:16
The lust of the flesh . . . is
not from the Father, but is from the world
Satan first approached Eve
through the channel of the lust of the flesh. He planted a doubt in her mind
about the fruit of the tree when he said: "Has God said, 'You shall not
eat from any tree of the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1). Eve answered, "God
has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it'" (verse 3). But Satan
had piqued her appetite for the forbidden fruit, and she "saw that the
tree was good for food" (verse 6). Yielding to the lust of the flesh
contributed to Adam and Eve's downfall.
Satan also challenged Jesus
through the channel of the lust of the flesh. Our lord had been fasting for 40
days when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness at the point of His apparent
vulnerability: "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones
become bread" (Matthew 4:3). Satan is not omniscient, but he's not blind either.
He learned about Jesus' apparent vulnerability to physical temptation by
watching Him go without food for 40 days. He's watching you too, looking for
soft spots of vulnerability in your appetites for food, rest, comfort and sex.
Temptation is greatest when hunger, fatigue and loneliness are acute.
The temptation of the lust of
the flesh is designed to draw us away from the will of God to serve the flesh
(Galatians 5:16, 17). When Satan tempts you through the channel of the lust of
the flesh, he will invite you to fulfill your needs in ways that are outside
the boundary of God's will. Whenever you feel enticed to meet a legitimate need
by acting independently of God, you are being tempted through the lust of the
flesh.
When you resist the temptations
of the lust of the flesh, you are declaring your dependence on God for your
needs. As such you are remaining "in the vine," tapping into the
resources Jesus referred to in John 15:5. But when you yield to temptation in
this area, your fruitfulness as a Christian will suffer because apart from
Christ you can do nothing.
Prayer: You
are a strong, fruit vine, Lord, and I will not wither as long as I remain in
You. Strengthen me today to resist the temptation to meet my needs apart from
You.
Sid Stewart
Executive Director
864 226-6193
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