The term “lust” refers to an intense desire to obtain pleasure. In most of the biblical verses where we find that word, its use is related to letting ourselves be carried away by the sinful nature in some area of our life.
Many associate concupiscence with sexual pleasure and that is one of the main areas in which it manifests itself. But it can also be an inordinate desire for riches and earthly pleasures, or the inclination to indulge in uncontrolled desires.
How good to know that in Christ we are already free from the power of sin! The children of God do not have to live enslaved by our desires and passions, since by the grace of God we are free from his power (Romans 6:11-23). To the cling to god we receive the necessary strength to leave sin behind and live a holy and pleasing life to God that glorifies him in everything.
What does it mean to be free in Christ?
How is concupiscence manifested?
Our thoughts
We can identify lust by examining our deepest thoughts and longings. In Romans 8:5-6 we read:
Those who live according to the sinful nature fix their minds on the desires of that nature; Instead, those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the desires of the Spirit. The sinful mindset is death, while the mindset that comes from the Spirit is life and peace.
(Romans 8:5-6)
We must pay attention to our thoughts because that is where the battle begins. For example, if we think that we will be happier with more money and luxuries or with another person (apart from our spouse) who supplies our sexual or emotional needs, we will allow ourselves to be carried away by those thoughts, consciously or unconsciously.
We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day! Let us learn to discern his voice and his move to be attentive and cast out any thought or longing that does not come from the Lord. If we want to live full lives, bathed in the peace of the Lord, we will guard our minds and our hearts.
Our speaking – out loud and in our hearts
In the book of James, chapter 1, we read something interesting about temptations.
Let no one, when tempted, say: “It is God who tempts me.” Because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. On the contrary, each one is tempted when his own evil desires drag and seduce him. Then, when desire has conceived, it begets sin; and sin, once it has been consummated, gives birth to death.
(James 1:13-15)
One of the traps of the enemy is to make us think that this “opportunity” comes from God. We call it that (opportunity) because if we recognize that it is a temptation, we alert our spirit that it is a trick of the devil. Let’s call things by his name! Greed is greed. Lust is lust. Temptation is temptation. Sin is sin! And sin leads us to live outside the will of God.
But, as James rightly says, sin is not being tempted. That is part of human nature and the fallen world we live in. Now, when we entertain that temptation in our thoughts, allowing ourselves to be seduced and decide to take action, then we are sinning.
We have to exercise our spiritual authority about thoughts that do not come from God. We cast them out in the name of Jesus and wear the armor that God has given us to stand up to the wiles of the evil one.
To what or to whom do we give our love?
In 1 John 2:15-17 we find some very wise advice: our love should belong to God alone. Do we have the love of the Father? So our love belongs to him, not to the world or the things we find in it. We will be tempted by carnal desires, by greed or by feeling important in life. But if our heart is where it needs to be, in God, we will overcome temptation and not go astray. We will continue to love and serve our heavenly Father.
Do not love the world or anything in it. If someone loves the world, he does not have the love of the Father. Because nothing in the world—the evil desires of the body, the greed of the eyes, and the arrogance of life—comes from the Father, but from the world. The world ends with the evil desires of it, but he who does the will of God remains forever.
(1 John 2:15-17)
God is the only eternal. Everything on earth will end. Why put so much effort into satisfying our physical desires? The right path, the one we should seek, is the path of obedience to God because “he who does the will of God lives forever.”
Look at 15 verses with blessings from God for those who obey him
overcoming concupiscence
Meditate on the following Bible verses and try to memorize them. Fill your mind and your heart with the Word of God. Remember how Jesus overcame temptation: speaking the Word (Matthew 4:1-11). Follow his example and live the victorious life that he already obtained for you.
- Remember that you belong to Christ
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature, with its passions and desires.
(Galatians 5:24)
take good care of your heart
Above all things take care of your heart, because life flows from it.
(Proverbs 4:23)
Have the attitude of Jesus: deny yourself and do the will of God
Therefore, since Christ suffered in the body, you also assume the same attitude; because he who has suffered in the body has broken with sin, to live the rest of his earthly life not satisfying his human passions, but fulfilling the will of God.
(1 Peter 4:1-2)
Reject everything mundane
In truth, God has manifested his grace to all humanity, which brings salvation and teaches us to reject impiety and worldly passions. So we can live in this world with justice, mercy and self-control.
(Titus 2:11-12)
Ask God to show you the way out, resist and obey
You have not suffered any temptation that is not common to mankind. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. Rather, when temptation comes, he will also give you a way out so that you can resist.
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
Live the abundant life that God gives you
The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
(John 10:10)
Fill yourself each day with the Holy Spirit
So I say to you: Live by the Spirit, and you will not follow the desires of the sinful nature.
(Galatians 5:16)
Guard your mind: Submit your thoughts to God
for although we live in the world, we do not fight battles as the world does. The weapons with which we fight are not of the world, but have divine power to bring down strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to submit to Christ.
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Hold on to God’s promises
Thus God has given us his precious and magnificent promises so that you, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world due to evil desires, may come to have a part in the divine nature.
(2 Peter 1:4)