Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus teaches about lust, "You have heard it said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I say to you that anyone who looks upon a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
What is the difference of admiring and lusting? Admiring is having RESPECT, to consider worthy and VIRTUOUS. You have respect when you admire. Lusting is having a sinful, deliberate desire which has already effected the heart, and leads to the actions that effects in four different ways: 1. It causes people to excuse rather than stop sinning. 2. It destroys marriages. 3. It is deliberate rebellion against GOD's Word. 4. It always hurts someone else in addition to the sinner. If left unchecked, lust will result in wrong actions and turns people from GOD.
This thin line also includes Judgment and Discernment. Judging deals with man's intellect which can easily side step GOD. Whereas, Discerning is led by the Holy Spirit. However, we are told, "Judge not lest you be judged." (Matthew 7:1) In many cases people will judge against others for the very same thing they themselves are doing! Discerning has the leading of the Holy Spirit to not sin. Judgement depends upon known facts of actions. Discernment depends upon the Holy Spirit conviction by His Word and His infilling.
Do you have the leading, guiding, directing of the LORD's Holy Spirit? You can. In His Word Jesus says, "I Am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) By accepting Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit will enter you. "They prayed and were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of GOD boldly." (Acts 4:31)
No comments:
Post a Comment