I. THE GATES OF LUST: DIAGNOSIS & COUNTERMEASURE

1. Void / Emptiness

Diagnosis: An inner emptiness that seeks to be filled by anything other than God. This is the prime ground for Lust, as it promises fulfillment.

Scriptural Anchor: "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." (Psalm 107:9)

Countermeasure: Intentional filling with the presence of God through prayer, worship, and meditation on His Word. The void is a God-shaped vacuum; only He can fill it.

2. Lack of Trust (in God)

Diagnosis: Distrust in God's goodness, timing, or provision leads to taking matters into one's own hands, often through illicit desires.

Scriptural Anchor: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)

Countermeasure:* Cultivate trust by recalling God's past faithfulness and His promises. Keep a journal of His providences.

3. Lack of Identity (Eve: "What am I without a man?")

Diagnosis: Basing one's worth on a relationship or another person, rather than on being made in God's image and redeemed by Christ.

Scriptural Anchor: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27)

Countermeasure:* Meditate on scriptures that define identity in Christ (e.g., Ephesians 1:3-14). You are first a child of God, then a spouse, etc.

4. Being Non-Confrontational (Joseph's brothers)

Diagnosis: Avoiding necessary conflict leads to resentment and passive-aggressive behavior, which can manifest as lustful escapism or envy.

Scriptural Anchor: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone." (Matthew 18:15)

Countermeasure:* Practice righteous confrontation in love. Set boundaries and address issues directly, rather than letting them fester.

5. People-Pleasing (Samson)

Diagnosis: Living to please others rather than God leads to compromise. Samson's desire to please Delilah led to his downfall.

Scriptural Anchor: "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10)

Countermeasure:* Shift your focus to pleasing God

6. Not Cross-Examining Those We Love (Samson)

Diagnosis: Failing to test the words and actions of loved ones against truth, due to emotional attachment. Samson did not test Delilah's motives.

Scriptural Anchor: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God." (1 John 4:1)

Countermeasure:* Apply discernment even in close relationships. Love does not mean naivety, it rejoices in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6).

7. Sensitive to Beauty, Easily Impressed

Diagnosis: Being overly swayed by external beauty (physical, intellectual, emotional) without discerning the heart.

Scriptural Anchor: "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature... For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Countermeasure:* Cultivate a heart-discernment. Look for the fruit of the Spirit in others, not just external appeal.

8. Family Wound ("You can't be a wife if you don't want to be his sister first")

Diagnosis: Dysfunctional family dynamics (e.g., incestuous patterns, blurred boundaries) distort one's view of healthy relationships and create open doors for lust.

Scriptural Anchor: "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

Countermeasure:* Seek healing for family wounds through counseling and prayer. Establish clear, healthy boundaries according to biblical roles.

9. Lack of Moral Compass (Absalom)

Diagnosis: Absalom's ambition and lack of moral restraint led to destructive behavior, including sexual sin (2 Samuel 16:22).

Scriptural Anchor: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

Countermeasure:* Ground yourself in the moral absolutes of Scripture. Regular study of God's Word to shape conscience and decisions.

10. Bitterness of Life, Need for Self-Sacrificing Love (David)

Diagnosis: David's season of bitterness and feeling unloved made him vulnerable to Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). He sought comfort in the wrong place.

Scriptural Anchor: "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble." (Hebrews 12:15)

Countermeasure:* Practice gratitude and embrace God's sacrificial love. Keep a gratitude journal. Remind yourself of Christ's love that fills all needs.

11. Lack of Resilience

Diagnosis: Inability to endure hardship or delay gratification leads to seeking quick, often sinful, comforts.

Scriptural Anchor: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3)

Countermeasure:* Build spiritual endurance through trials. View challenges as opportunities to grow in dependence on God.

III. THE BETTER ADAM'S POSTURE

The Better Adam (Christ) shows us how to guard every gate:

He was filled with the Spirit (no void).

He trusted the Father completely.

He knew His identity as the Beloved Son.

He confronted hypocrisy and sin directly.

He pleased the Father, not people.

He tested the words of others (e.g., the Pharisees).

He was not impressed by outward appearances.

He established a new, holy family (those who do God's will).

He lived by every word from the Father.

He forgave and loved sacrificially, without bitterness.

He endured the cross, despising its shame, for the joy set before Him (resilience).

Share your journey with Jesus. A parent or partner wants to feel needed, and when you willingly include them, so much is shared. There is deep meaning to be found, and laughter and tears to be experienced together.