(see Eph 4:17-24 for Parts 1&2)

1Pt 2:11  Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul  (mind, will, emotions)

{Our story: For Christ to be the Head ruling over a unified Body, He must be the Lord/Boss of what each individual part thinks, feels/values, & does.}

I. Dead = Dominionless (What is a deadhead?)

Death is a lack of power or ability to exercise control over anything 
Death is a condition that needs to be undone by God's power in enlivening, raising and seating
Adam lost the ability to live forever, an unhindered relationship with God in holiness, and the right to rule over the earth

Dt 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways/commandments…that you may live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it for He is your life 19 I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: 20 That you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey his voice, and that you may cleave to Him

Rm 8:5 those who live acc to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live acc to the Spirit,~ the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if you by the Spirit mortify/put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. 1Tim 5:6 lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
Gal 6:8 (not deceived)...sows to his flesh...reap corruption...sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Eph 5:14; Rev 3:1)
U R dead

II. Deceived = Dumb (Why are there deadheads?) 

Eph 2:3 Among whom we all had our manner of life in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind
trespasses (stepping on the grass - commission) and sins (missing the mark - omission)
walking according to the course/age of this world (fashionable, societal values)
walking according to Satan's will for our lives (power {security/significance}, pleasure, & possessions here and now, independent of God)
fulfilling the desires of our flesh (desire for the temporal)
fulfilling the desires of our minds (ego gratification; self-centered)

III.  Destiny = Doomed or Delivered (Where are deadheads headed?) 

Wrath or Wealth (Romans 2; Eph 5:6)

Eph 4:17-19 Deadly Desires    Part I: A Subway Named Desire

I. Don't Walk Like the Gentiles Do - How Do the Gentiles Live?

should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk

A. 17c Empty headed empty lives (fruitless, faulty; vain thoughts = empty headed) in the futility/vanity of their mind
18a Why?...they're in the dark (their understanding/ability to discern is darkened)  having their understanding darkened,
18b How so?...unconnected-unplugged (alienated from the life of God) being alienated from the life of God
18c Why missing life?...knuckleheads (ignorance that is in them; they can't see it) because of the ignorance that is in them
18d Why knuckleheads?...hardhearted (insensitive to God - callous/beyond pangs of conscience) because of the blindness of their heart

B. 19 Consequence of callous conscience?...up to their eyebrows, but they can't get enough to satisfy
19b They've sold their soul to sensuality (given selves over to desire/lust/laciviousness) have given themselves over to lewdness
19a The reason they've sold out?...they've routinely become insensitive to warning signs and prompts of HS  who, being past feeling
19c The purpose of selling their soul?...to play in the manure pile (work all uncleanness) to work all uncleanness
19d How do they play?...they can't get enough, it doesn't satisfy (greediness = have more) with greediness

C. The Ten Commandments condemn both evil acts and evil desires. HS heart surgery cleans out arteries clogged with worldly desires
Mk 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.

D.  Those who Win the War purify their desires, keep their actions pure, and stand in unity with like-minded saints
Rom 13:10  Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed 12  let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.[1Thess5:8 ].13  Let us walk honorably, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in bedding and unrestrained caprice/desire, not in strife and envy. 14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.  
Lk 11:35  take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 2Tim 2:26 Satan takes one captive  to do his (rather than God’s) will
2Pt 2:18 w/ words of emptiness, they allure thru the lusts of the flesh, thru lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

E. The Battle starts in the mind and requires suffering for a worthy cause 1Pt 4:1 Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin 2  that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles-when we walked in caprice, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 
3 For we've had enough time to have engaged in the desires of the Gentiles, when we lived without self-denial, always desiring more, craving champagne dreams, late night partying, getting high, and unscriptural service of God-substitutes. 2Cor  5:9-10 all must appear…bema

II. God’s desire is that we dependently delight ourselves in Him, because He alone can truly satisfy

A. God created us with desires for Power (security & significance), Pleasure, and Possessions (which He will fulfill) Gen 3:6
Dt 14:26 bestow that money for whatever your soul desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul desires: and you shall eat there before the LORD thy God, and you shall rejoice, you, and your household, Dt 12:15 Ps 21:2

B. Satan's Desire for our lives is to Fulfill our Desires apart from God Provision and Timing (now vs then)   Gen 3:5
C. God Desire is for us to Master our Desires so He can satisfy us with what is best, in His perfect timing.
Ps 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Gen 3:16 To the woman he said...you desire 08669 shall be to your husband, but he shall rule over you.
Gen 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not…sin lies at the door. And its desire 08669 is for you, but you should rule over it
Job 22:22 Receive...the law...in thy heart...23  return...put away iniquity...26 For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty...

T or F "...it is lust, since the thought of satisfaction gives pleasure, of non-satisfaction, pain" III:171
T or F "The inability, in obedience to God, to renounce what may be in themselves natural and legitimate desires is called sin"  "Desire is the chief of all sins. The will of God can be expressed in a single formula: not to desire." (cx Dt 5:5 love-whole heart) TDNT III:169

Eph 4:20-24 Deadly Desires Part II: The Exit Named Delight of Denial

I. Temporal Desire is Futile and Fatal...resulting in:

Unfruitfulness Mr 4:19 cares this world, deceitfulness of riches, desire for other things enter in, choke the word, which becomes unfruitful; Lk 8:14 choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Ignorance Eph 4:17; Slavery Titus 3:1-3; Inner war I Pt 1:11; Following Satan Jn 8:44; Uncleaness & Dishonor Rom 1:24 
Unanswered prayer Js 4:3; Mocking God 2Pt 3:3 Jd 1:18; Disharmony Js 4:1; Dissatisfied grumbling & complaining Jude 1:16; 
Proneness to sin 2Pt 2:18...they allure through the lusts of the flesh 2Ti 3:6; 2Ti 4:3; 2Pe 2:10 
Abandonment by God Ps 81:12 I gave them up to their own hearts' desire: they walked in their own counsels. (cf Ro 1:24)
Wrath Eph 2:3...in lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath
Death Js 1:15; Waste of life 1Ti 6:9 lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Loss of Reward/Inheritance Gal 5:19 Now the outworkings of the desire for the temporal are obvious: self-centered gratification of needs and wants, random indulgence of impure and sexual thoughts, being unfit for approaching and serving God, self-indulgent pleasure craving, 20 doing what comes naturally to get what you want, seeking power and control (security and significance) apart from God's provision, friction and hostility caused by exercising personal preferences, harassing or nagging until you get what you want, resenting someone because they have what you want, getting angry or irritable or in a bad temper when things don't go your way, self-promotion at the expense of others, being quick to contend with others particularly in taking sides, choosing what you want independent of Christ and His Body, 21 being discontent because you don't have something you think would contribute to your happiness, depriving others of their rights in order to reach your objectives, escaping responsibility or reality by dulling your senses, deriving greater delight and satisfaction from things that are created rather than from the Creator, and any other self-seeking rather than God-glorifying attitudes and actions, of which I tell you, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. {This has been a paraphrase of the fruits of the flesh vs the Fruit of the Spirit}

II. Our Temporal Desire Must be Replaced with God's Perfect Eternal Desire (Romans 12:1-2)

A. TAKE IT OFF 22 put off concerning the former manner of life the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Repent 2Co 12:21  sinned & have not repented of the uncleanness and immorality and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Crucify Desires Ga 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and desires/lusts.
Kill it don’t feed it Col 3:5 Mortify the temporal...immorality, uncleanness, affection, evil desire/lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Erase & Don't Embrace Jas 1:14...tempted...drawn away by his own lust...enticed 15...desire is embraced/conceived...sin...death.
Dethrone Desire Ro 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in its lusts. (cf Rom 13:12)
Abstain like a Backpacker 1Pe 2:11...as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul (Heb 12:3)

B. BE RENEWING/CLEANED UP 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Transplant the desire of our Father 1Jo 2:16 all in the world, lust of the flesh... eyes...pride...not from the Father...passes...abides
Be Controlled by the Word of the Spirit Gal 5:16 Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Know God 1Th 4:3 this is the will of God, your sanctification, that ye should abstain from immorality: 4 That each one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification & honor; 5 Not in the lust of passion, as the Gentiles who know not God
Desire the Word Ps 19:10 More to be desired 02530 than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

C. PUT IT ON 24 And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Flee, Follow & Fellowship 2Tim 2:22 Flee lusts...follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them...call on the Lord...pure heart.
Pursue the Promises 2Pt 1:4...exceeding great and precious promises...partakers of the divine...escaped the corruption thru lust.
Embrace the Grace Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts...live soberly, righteously, and godly...
Don't Plan  Rom 13:14 put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the lusts of flesh.
Be mentally tough, objective driven, reward motivated, obedient, smart, self-remade, & different  {=paraphrase of:} 1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15...be holy
Mentally Arm Yourself with Love then SUFFER (self-sacrifice for another's best) 1Pe 4:1...

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:
1. Can you give an example of how your desires have changed? What prompted and what was the process of change?
2. Why don't people buy the deadliness of desire? Is darkness a choice? What could help someone see and believe?
3. What helps you keep your new clothes on when your old desires pound on your door? Do you suffer?
4. Name three desires that you've taken through the process of "Take off, Be Renewed, Put on." What motivated you to do it?
5. What desires are still lingering around and causing you to get bogged down? What are you going to do about them?