Lust

kills.

As I make my way through the entire bible a second time, I am reminded of how destructive the spirit of lust is. The story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife is a blaring example of how lust not only blurs the truth but it has the ability to destroy one’s life.

Joseph refused the advances of Potiphars wife, not just once or twice but daily.

“No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9

Joseph understood fully and without hesitation that sleeping with another mans wife is not only morally wrong but a grave sin towards the Lord of the body.

Joseph cared about Potiphar’s wife, more than she wouldve ever known.

Joseph saw her humanity.

Joseph saw her as exactly as God did,

An image bearer, the Imago Dei

For many years I never looked at lusts numerous knocks on my heart as a force to contend with, a force to not only resist but to flee from.

All throughout the bible we find stories of lust not only destroying entire families but often resulting in death

David and Uriah

The rape of Dinah and the murder of the Shechemites

The gang rape and assault of the Levites mistress

Sodom and Gomorrah

Solomon and his many wives and the wave of idol worship that would go on to destroy countless lives

The rape of Tamar and the murder of Amnon

Kingdoms divided, Exile and war

The list goes on and on and

on

Lust is a wrestless evil and it’s all encompassing. It lurks late, arrives early and doesnt sleep.

But what ive come to realize, the same as Joseph, is that the spirit of lust is a liar. Potiphar’s wife begins to weave a tale, presumably angry at Joseph for refusing to sin against her (lust blinds), she lies on Joseph landing him in prison.

“One day he (Joseph) went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. Then she told him this story […]”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For many of us, this would seem like defeat. However, God finds Joseph in prison, God watches over him and grants him favor even in the belly of the most difficult beast.

Once again, Gods love is far greater and far stronger than any strategy and/or spirit birthed from the pits of hell.

I once use to dine with lust, I use to allow it to take up residence in my heart and mind, However it no longer knows me by name. It may still know my street but it no longer has my house number and the more I walk with God, I know it will no longer be a familiar song. My heart will grow deaf to its tune.

Lust has the potential to kill

Lust has the potential to maim

It can and will rob you of everything you worked hard for and everyone you ever loved

but ONLY, if you let it.

Lust is a liar, word to Potiphar but I know of someone who defeated a liar a long time ago, this someone, clothed in humanity, came so that you and I would no longer have to be burdened by a yoke of slavery no matter the form

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” – Galatians 5:1

Jesus F R E E S

Jesus S A V E S

Jesus L O V E triumphs over prison and the grave

The story doesnt end with Joseph dying in prison. Nah, God goes on to bless him in more ways than one.

Gods love and provision wins again! Proving life, freedom and abundance oftentimes begins at

No

I declare victory over the spirit of lust for you and I on this day.

May God perfect your No in this season and spiritually open your eyes to seeing people as he sees them,

Royaly Divine

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” Romans 8:6

🕊️

Wishing you peace always and in all ways

In Jesus name

Amen.