KNEE TO KNEE

Lust and Temptation

Big Idea: The Bible doesn’t shame desire—but it doesn’t let it rule us either. What we normalize today can sabotage who we’re becoming tomorrow.

Key Points:

Temptation Begins in the Heart

[James 1:14-15] “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

• Desire isn’t the enemy—but when it rules us, it becomes one.

[Galatians 5:17] “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.”

[Proverbs 14:12] “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

[Matthew 5:28] “Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

• We often confuse what’s natural with what’s right.
• Sin doesn’t start in the body—it starts in the mind and heart.

“What we entertain in our hearts, will eventually shape what people see in our lives.”

Temptation Requires Daily Resistance

[Galatians 5:16] “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

[1 Corinthians 10:13] “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.”

[Romans 13:14] “Don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”

• You won’t drift into holiness. It takes intentional, daily resistance.
• That promise from God doesn’t absolve you of responsibility.

“You don’t win fights by watching them happen, you engage with effort.”

“You can’t just starve temptation—you must feed your soul.”

Temptation Needs Guardrails

[Matthew 5:29-30] “If your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away…”

[Proverbs 4:23] “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

[1 Timothy 5:2] “Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.”

• We don’t stumble into purity—we build it.
• Guardrails keep us from getting too close to the edge.

Practical Guardrails:

• Set a personal curfew
• Take a “third wheel” or double date
• Don’t take your phone into the bathroom
• Keep your computer in a public part of the house

“If you wouldn’t do it with your sister, you shouldn’t be doing it with your girlfriend.”

“Accountability is not a sign of weakness—it’s a strategy for strength.”

Key Takeaway:

[2 Corinthians 5:17] “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

Next Steps:

Ask Yourself:

• Am I minimizing what’s going on in my heart?
• Have I invited anyone to help me resist temptation?
• Have I set clear boundaries—or just vague intentions?

Take Action:

1. Confess what’s hidden—don’t fight alone
2. Connect to community—resistance is stronger with others
3. Commit to guardrails—before the next temptation hits

“You’re not alone. You’re not stuck. And you’re not beyond restoration.”

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