Welcome back. Same place you were before, that singular lust that does not continuously hound you, is no longer constant, in the forefront of your mind, but never really seems to disappear, rears its head often enough to remind you that you are not holy, you are not without sin.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1st John 1:8)
There are people who believe thoughts are not sinful, and there are those who will not believe they have been born-again because of thoughts, specifically reoccurring thoughts of lustful desires. If the flesh draws us to a point where those thoughts become actions, yet hindered before completion by the mind that serves Christ, but not recognized as such, these thoughts will cause one to doubt their salvation.
And when the assurance of our salvation is questioned, many can begin a downward spiral of despair and continuous repentance.
You have two options here to contemplate, one or both could be true. You must either come to the realization that this battle with your flesh in that area is and will be never-ending until you are glorified, or that as 1st Samuel 16:14 speaks of, you have an enemy.
“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.”
Not something that most people care to consider in these days of so-called technological and spiritual enlightenment.
If you have been noticed, if your heart is sincere in your desire to live for Christ, permission will be asked, and it may be granted, and all your prayers and supplications in this regard will not be answered, for some of us need to be taught the truth of 2nd Corinthians 12:9. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
You are well aware of what is being brought before you here in this short letter, whether it be of sex, that drink you have not had for many years, getting high, getting stoned, name the past pleasure of your flesh that still occasionally is desired by your old sinful nature, and then add upon it one who, as it is said, whispers in your ear, causes in some form the ability for that sin to be accomplished if you will just give into it, and now you have a battle on your hands my friends.
“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1st Peter 1:16)
Does the Almighty still do this, does He send on occasion an evil spirit to vex us, to tempt us more than we are tempted by our old nature?
Why wouldn’t He?
Not to make us fall, of course not, but to reveal to us our need for Him, for His grace and mercy, to cause us to realize the truth of John 15:5.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Now, do not start getting the idea that the reason you occasionally succumb to that lust is because that evil spirit has tempted you above what you are able to withstand, you are always accountable for yourself, there is never anyone to blame, but yourself. And to that bruised reed or smoking flax this will never happen, but to those who have had their faith exercised by reason of use, who have set their face like a flint to seek His face for His glory, it may.
And in these cases, the Most High will give you more than you can bear so that you have no place to turn to but to Him.
“Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.” (Psalm 71:3)
The thoughts will return, action in some cases may, at least in part, follow, that does not mean you are not saved, it means that when you are weak, He is strong.
Abide in Him, trust in Him, as they always have, those temptations will pass, and you will find your strength in Him.
