Robert Morris — Fighting For Your Life
So the title of this message is, "Fighting For Your Life". And we're going to talk about overcoming the spirit of lust, and if you don't know, some of you know because you've been here for awhile, but this spirit had a huge stronghold in me. This was the major stronghold in my life, before I became a believer, and even in the first few years of my life as a believer, until I learned about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, freedom ministry, and things like that. And it still took awhile to tear this stronghold down. So I'm sharing from the scripture, but also from a place of a person who understands what it's like to be in bondage to this. Alright?
So Proverbs 7, look at Proverbs 7:1. This is Solomon speaking now. "My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live," remember again, the title is "Fighting For Your Life". "Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart". We could say memorize 'em. "Say to wisdom, 'You're my sister,' And call understanding your nearest kin, That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words".
Now, before we go on, I'm going to stop and make comments throughout this passage. We're now about to see something that Solomon actually witnessed, something that happened. But when he says that the Word of God will keep you from the immoral woman, I don't think he's simply speaking of a woman, but I think he's speaking of the spirit of lust. So I want you to think about it in that way, alright? Proverbs 7:6. "For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice," now, this is something that Solomon actually witnessed. "And I saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding," now, look at me just for a moment. He's not putting down young people here. He's saying he's devoid of understanding, because he already has been entrapped by this spirit. Because you'll see that he purposefully goes to the wrong place.
So he's saying the reason he's devoid of understanding is because he's already gone into bondage to this spirit. This spirit robs you of wisdom and understanding. That's what he's trying to tell us here. Alright? Let's keep going, Proverbs 7:8. "Passing along the street near her corner. And he took the path to her house," notice, he did it. He went directly there. He took the path to her house: "In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night". Okay. Let me make a comment. A spirit of lust will lead you to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's what it does.
The spirit of lust will so take hold of you that you will begin to plan when you can be there and how you can be there and where you can be there, where you can operate in this spirit of lust. That's what this guy does. He's in the wrong place at the wrong time, because the spirit of lust has now taken him into bondage. Proverbs 7:10. "And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart".
Now, again, I'm going to be very sobering during this message, okay? But I want to say something here very strongly. It says she had the attire of a harlot. I'm not trying to be judgmental in any way. I'm just trying to help maybe you understand something. Ladies, there is no reason for you to dress in a way that accentuates your body. It does not help this issue in a man's life in any way, fashion, or form. It causes this spirit in men to take them more into bondage. Alright?
Proverbs 7:11. "She was loud and rebellious," again, I don't think it's talking about a personality of a woman. I think it's talking about the spirit. The spirit of lust in our society is loud and rebellious, would you agree with that? It's very loud and very rebellious. "Her feet would not stay at home. At times she was outside, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner". That's the spirit. "So she caught him and kissed him". Now, look at me just for a moment, 'cause this is something really good. The enemy always uncovers his hand. Always.
Let me tell you something that the Bible tells us something about the spirit of lust that will help us tremendously. There's always a shock. There's always a surprise. In other words, she catches this young man, and she kisses him, just like that. Please hear me. When you get shocked, you need to turn and run. See, this is what the spirit of lust does. There's always something we see in a movie, something on television, something on the internet, something is said in the office. A man says something to you or a woman says something to you, and it shocks you. Listen. This is a sign from God, when you get shocked, turn around and leave. When you're shocked, run.
So she kissed him, she caught him and kissed him: "With an impudent face," or a hard, rebellious type of face, fervent face. "She said to him", now, this is very shocking. "I have peace offerings with me. Today I have paid my vows". Now, let me explain to you what that means. Today, I've paid my vows. I have peace offerings with me. Here's what that means. Here's what she's saying. I went to church today. I've already paid my tithes. I've already paid my offerings. And I have — I got some peace offerings, some offerings from the temple, so that after we sin, we can offer these peace offerings together. That's what she's saying.
Now, here's what so bothers me about this. The divorce rate is the same in the church as it is in the world. This spirit is as rampant in the church, unfortunately, as it is in the world. It's rampant in the pew, and it's rampant in the pulpit. And we have to be shocked by this, and we have to change this. We have to do something about this. And she says, here it is, right here in the Bible. Here's what she says. I've already been to church. And I brought some offerings, so that when we sin, we can take care of it. Listen, here's the lie of the enemy. You can repent after. We know it's wrong, we're believers, but we'll repent after.
I actually talked to a man who was in an affair, and this is what he said to me. He said, "We pray together". And I said to him, "That is the height of deception". There's no higher deception than what you just said. That you believe that you could go into the holy of holies with a woman you're committing adultery with. You're deceived. She said, "I have peace offerings with me. I've paid my vows".
Proverbs 7:15. "So I came out to meet you," this is the spirit. It pursues you. "Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored covering of Egyptian linen". In other words, there's always preparation when you go down this road. "I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until morning. Let us delight ourselves with love".
Listen to me carefully. Lust always masquerades as love. Lust is not love. Love is from heaven, lust is from hell. Lust masquerades as love. As a matter of fact, the world calls it making love. Making love is not a one-night stand. Making love is spending your life, 33 years, with the same woman who's had three of your children. That's making love. That's love. That is not lust. Lust is from hell. Love is from heaven, and the world, and this spirit calls it love. It is not love.
Proverbs 7:19. "For my husband is not at home. He has gone on a long journey. He has taken a bag of money with him, and will come on the appointed day". Look at me. Here's what else the spirit of lust says to you. You won't get caught. See? I'm telling you. This spirit, working through this woman, has it all worked out. I've already taken care of it with God. Everything's taken care of. And guess what? I've got it taken care of where we won't get caught. You won't get caught. Now, listen. This is what the spirit of lust says. You'll be the first person in human history that hasn't gotten caught. Let me say it another way. Maybe it's "not uncovered" to friends and family, but if you think that that means that you don't get caught by God, that's also the height of deception.
Let me say it another way. You won't suffer any consequences. That's what the spirit says. You can do this, and it won't affect you. We're going to see later how it does affect us. Proverbs 7:21. "With her enticing speech," that's the spirit of lust: "She caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter," it's fighting for your life: "As a fool to the correction of the stocks, till an arrow struck his liver". That means death. "As a bird hastens to the snare," watch this phrase, "He did not know it would cost his life". "He did not know it would cost his life".
Here's the reason he didn't know. He was doing it at night, and he didn't think anyone saw, but the king was watching through the window. Now, listen to me very carefully. If you go down this road, you may think that you're covering it up, but the King is watching. There's one person you can't hide from. And he's watching.
Proverbs 7:24. "Now therefore, listen to me, my children. Pay attention to the words of my mouth: Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths. For she has cast down many wounded," watch this, "And all," I love this word, all. "All who were slain by her were strong men". I've seen — what is amazing to me, is the men that I've seen that have fallen to this, have actually been very successful many times in business and career. They're very strong men, and this spirit targets 'em. They fall to this. "Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death".
I do believe the blood of Jesus covers our sins. I do believe that. I also believe that believers can be in bondage, but listen careful to me. If this is a sin that you continue in, you need to check out your salvation. You really do. There is a possibility, if you are going to persist in this sin, that God has never given you a new heart. He's never changed your heart. Now, if you want to get free, we can help you get free. But if you're going to persist in this, this is the path to hell. That's what the scripture says.
So let me give you a few words here to help you to describe the spirit of lust, alright? To you, alright? I'm going to give you three words to describe it, and then I'll give you a fourth point of how we get free from it. Here's number one, desire. Desire. The word lust actually means desire. As a matter of fact, many times, the Hebrew word and the Greek word for the New Testament is translated desire, instead of lust. Sometimes, the Greek word translated desire instead of lust.
Let me tell you something about this word. In the Greek, it's epithumeo, but what it is, it's a neutral word. It means it can go either way. It can be good or bad. I'll show you a verse that will absolutely shock you. This is the exact same Greek word that's translated many times, lust. Luke 22:15. This is Jesus talking. "Then he said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer". Okay. That word could've been translated lust. Now, I'm not saying, obviously, Jesus didn't have evil lust. But what he's saying is fervent desire.
Listen. God gave us a good, healthy, natural desire for sex, that can be fulfilled in a godly way, but it can never be fulfilled in a lustful way. The Bible then begins to describe lust, and use some other words. The Bible calls it worldly lust. The Bible calls it deceitful lust. The Bible calls it evil desire. Again, the desire is this same word. The Bible is trying to tell us that God gave us a pure desire, and Satan turns it into an evil desire. And when it turns into that desire, if we get on that road and begin going down that road, that's when we go into bondage.
Let me give you a few scriptures. Galatians 5:16-17. "Walk in the Spirit," that's why it's very important to understand the relationship with the Holy Spirit. "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh". Notice, the evil lust goes against the Spirit, but the good desires go against those evil desires. "And these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish".
Now, every time we see that phrase, "You do not do the things you wish," we see it in a negative way. Listen to me. It can be a positive, also. You can be so in love with Jesus and so want to do and desire what God wants you to do, that you don't do the other things. That's what it's trying to say. That we can also be subject to the Spirit, instead of just the flesh.
Romans 6:19. "I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members," this is the members of your bodies, "As slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness," it always leads to more sin, "So now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness". Romans 8:5-6. "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh," we're going to talk later, this is part of the answer, what you think on. "But those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death," remember, "Fighting For Your Life" is the name of the message. "But to be spiritually minded is life and peace".
Romans 13:14. "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts". This is a scripture I memorized when I was battling this myself. "Make no provision for the flesh," because the flesh will tell you how to plan to fulfill lust. But you have to make no provision for it. So number one word I want you to understand about lust is desire. It's a neutral word. You can have good desires or bad desires.
Here's number two, deception. Deception. I want to show you a passage, again, on immorality, that in the middle of it, has a scripture that we don't know, I don't think, why it's in there, but I'll explain to you why it's in there. Proverbs 6:23. Says, "For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, To keep you from the evil woman," again, I think it refers to the spirit of lust. "From the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her," same word, desire. "Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids". Now, watch how strong this is. "For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread. And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life".
You're fighting for your life. "Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared"? In other words, you think you can get close to this, and it's not going to affect you? "So is he who goes into his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her shall not be innocent". Now, watch this little verse here, it's in the middle of this phrase, 'cause it's going to go back. Middle of this topic, here, and we'll explain it. "People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold".
Now, I want you to think about this in terms of adultery. Watch the next phrase. "He may have to give up all the substance of his house". And then, notice again, the context. Proverbs 6:32. "Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding. He who does so destroys his own soul". Now, look at me. Here, it's talking about immorality, and right in the middle, it says, you know, people don't despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.
Here's what you need to understand. Lust is a deception, and lust never satisfies. A man never commits adultery for satisfaction. Because lust doesn't satisfy, and that's what it's saying here. It's saying, don't do this. Don't go down this road, and it's saying, you know, if it was for satisfaction, someone might excuse him. But it's not satisfaction, because lust never satisfies. Here's the deception of lust. It never satisfies you. You always want more. In a godly, pure marriage/relationship, you can be satisfied. But in an impure relationship, if you watch pornography, if you get involved with someone, if you do that, you want more. The cravings get worse. You go more and more into bondage. You are never, ever satisfied. Lust is a deceiver. It does not satisfy you. Only love satisfies you.
Let me read you some verses. Proverbs 27:20. "Hell and destruction are never full. So the eyes of a man are never satisfied". Habakkuk 2:5. Speaking of an evil man, watch, "Indeed, because he transgresses by wine, he is a proud man, He does not stay at home". That's a direct reference to adultery. "Because he enlarges his desire," this is the same word as lust, "As hell, he is like death," now, watch this, "And he cannot be satisfied". He cannot be satisfied.
Ezekiel 28. "You also played the harlot with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable". In other words, unsatisfiable. Insatiable. "Indeed, you played the harlot with them, and still were not satisfied". Lust is an empty promise, and many of us have had this difficulty before. It never satisfies us. It actually just causes more of a desire, and an impure desire.
Now, here's the third word. I told you desire, deception, and here's the third word I want you to remember, death. James 1:14 says: "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires," this is the Greek epithumeo, which means lust. When he's drawn away — matter of fact, some versions, you may have a version that says lust here. "When he's drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then, when desire," or lust, "Has conceived," now, watch what the Bible says: "It gives birth to sin. And sin, when it is full-grown," in other words, when you remain in this, "Brings forth death".
Remember, we read Proverbs 7, said he did not know it would cost his life. Let me read you another one. Romans 8:12-13. "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh". Now, watch this, how careful — watch how clear this is. "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit," and you can only do it by the Holy Spirit: "You put to death the deeds of the body, you will live". Love always bring life. Lust always brings death.
Now, let's talk about death, just for a moment. 'Cause I'm telling you, it always brings death. Maybe it's not immediate, physical death. But if you remember, God said to Adam and Eve, "You eat that tree, you're going to die". They did not die physically, immediately, but they died spiritually. How many people die spiritually because of lust? Their spiritual passion for God. Their spiritual hunger for God. Their spiritual desire for God. Because lust is desire. And instead of having a desire for the good things, all of a sudden now, their desire and their passion is going another way. When we talk about death, listen, think about this. How many marriages have died? The love in the marriage. I don't love her anymore. Your passion died, because your passion goes another way.
How many families have been sacrificed on this altar? Okay, I'll tell you something that many men don't even think about. How many businesses die because of this spirit? How many promotions and raises have you not received because of this spirit? Because instead of having a mind that's full of godly things, so that it could be creative and innovative and come up with new ideas, you're thinking about these things. Satan's a thief. He's robbing you. This spirit is robbing you. If you don't believe this, listen, you're sadly deceived. I'm telling you. If you're in bondage to the spirit of lust, it's affected your finances. It's affected your health. It's affected your joy. That's what this spirit does, and it brings death.
So what's the solution? Well, here's point number four. By the way, there's two words here on this point. They both begin with D, because I'm gifted. The reason I do this, I've told you before, is to help you remember the points, so you can remember the truth. Alright? Here's number four, here's the answer, deliverance and discipleship. Deliverance and discipleship. Remember, we started this series, and I gave you a quote by Dr. Jack Hayford. "You can't cast out the flesh, and you can't disciple a demon". "You can't cast out the flesh, and you can't disciple a demon".
What he's referring to is that many churches believe one or the other is the only answer. You just need deliverance, you just need deliverance. Okay. Listen. After you get deliverance, and you do need deliverance, but after you get deliverance, you need discipleship. You need to be discipled, because you need to re-train the way you think. But there are others who simply try to discipline the flesh, and they ignore the demonic and the spiritual world out there, and they try to discipline the flesh. And you can't disciple a demon. If you're in bondage, you need the spirit cast out, and Jesus spent a third of his ministry casting demons out, and told the disciples to do the same thing. Preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons. So you do need the demonic spirit cast out.
So, now, go to 2 Corinthians 10, and I'll show you this passage that brings deliverance and discipleship together in one verse. 2 Corinthians 10:3. Says, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds," talking about deliverance. "Casting down arguments," discipleship, "And every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ". We need deliverance and discipleship. If you remember, Revelation 12 says, "We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony". I want you to think about this. We overcome by the blood and the word. The blood and the word. Let me say it another way. We need deliverance and discipleship. That's how we overcome the enemy.
I want to encourage you, if you're in bondage in this area, don't despair. You are fighting for your life, but Jesus is on your side. Get with someone, get with a pastor. Confess it, bring it out in the light, because Satan works in darkness. And God can set you free, in this area. I promise you. You can be free, indeed.