Free From Lust
Lust can feel private, but the effects of it rarely stay that way.
What we allow into our lives can begin to affect our peace, our relationships, our confidence, and the way we show up for the people around us. That’s why Pastor Kap Chatfield used the picture of a leak in a house to show how lust can begin as something hidden but eventually spread into other areas of our lives: a leak may begin as a small, hidden problem, but if it is ignored, it can spread through the walls and cause damage far beyond the place where it started.
The question is not just, “Is this hurting me right now?” It’s also, “What is this opening the door to?”
What We Leave Open Matters
In Job 1, Satan points to the hedge of protection around Job, his family, and everything he has. Pastor Kap connected that picture to Ephesians 4:27, where Paul warns believers not to give the enemy a foothold.
The point is not to live afraid. It’s to be honest about what we are allowing in. A small compromise can become a pattern. Something that feels manageable at first can slowly begin to take more from us than we expected.
That’s why holiness is not about God trying to take something away. It’s about protecting what matters.
“We don’t preach holiness to take anything from you. We preach holiness to protect what God wants to give you.”
Desire Isn’t the Enemy
Attraction and lust are not the same thing. Desire itself is not something to be ashamed of. God created us with desire. The question is what we do with it.
Pastor Kap described lust as taking a God-given desire and directing it somewhere it was never meant to go. The goal is not to pretend the desire is not there. It’s learning how to handle it in a healthy way instead of letting it control us.
Genesis 2 gives us a picture of intimacy without shame. That was part of God’s design from the beginning. But when desire moves outside of healthy boundaries, something meant for connection can become a source of secrecy, shame, or hurt.
And for anyone whose experience with sex or intimacy has been shaped by pain or trauma, healing may take time. You are not alone, and you do not have to rush the process. There is grace for where you are right now, and you can keep inviting Jesus into your healing one gentle step at a time.
Decide Before the Moment Comes
Job 31:1 says:
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.”
A covenant is more than a good intention. It is a decision made ahead of time. That matters because the middle of temptation is rarely the best time to decide what your boundaries are.
If you already know where you tend to struggle, decide now what you are willing to change. Put the boundary in place before you need it.
Jesus uses strong language in Matthew 5 when talking about removing the things that cause us to stumble. The point is not physical harm. The point is taking seriously the things that keep pulling us somewhere we do not want to go.
Sometimes change takes more than hoping we will make a better choice next time.
Make It Practical
For some people, that may mean putting accountability software on a phone. For someone else, it may mean keeping the phone out of the bedroom, setting boundaries before traveling, or finally talking honestly with someone they trust.
The exact step will look different for everyone.
But bringing something into the light gives you somewhere to start.
You do not have to tell everyone what you are walking through. But having someone who can pray with you, be honest with you, and help you follow through can make a real difference.
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For
This message isn’t meant to make you feel ashamed. It’s about being honest about the places in our lives that may need attention and remembering that we don’t have to stay stuck there.
Whatever this looks like for you, you don’t have to hide it. You can bring it into the light, ask for help, and take small steps toward healthier boundaries. And as you do, you can trust that God will meet you along the way.
Freedom may not happen all at once, but you can start moving toward it today.
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