Holiness, Godliness, Usefulness
02/04/2014, by John Kincaid
Lesson 137: Our Evil Desires
Indwelling sin works mainly through our desires. Since the original sin of Adam, people listen to their desires more than their reason. So the world appeals to our desires.
Heb.11:25 Moses chose to be mistreated with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Not all desire is wrong; we can desire God’s will.
Phil.3:10 Paul wanted to know him and the power of his resurrection, and to share his sufferings, and to become like him in his death.
Rom.10:1 my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Gal.4:19 my little children, for whom I am in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
But our own evil desires lead us into sin.
James 1:14 each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
We respond to external temptations. But even worse, our evil desires are constantly looking for tempting opportunities.
Puritan John Owen said that sin entangles our affections (desires) and pulls them away.
To resist sin, we have to direct our desires toward glorifying God, not satisfying our lusts.
About This Series
The goal of this series is to become more useful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, as an instrument in the Redeemer's hand. The theme verses for the series are Ephesians 4:22-24, Philemon 11, 2 Timothy 2:21
- to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
- and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.
- Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
