The First Point of Attack
I want to draw your attention to a peculiar word found in the New Testament. It's probably not a word you've heard very often. In fact, it took me a long time just to learn how to say it, much less find out what it meant. But it's a crucial part of the devil's battle plan, and you need to learn something about it.

The word is "lasciviousness." Some translations call it "licentiousness" and, scripturally speaking, it keeps very bad company. In Mark 7:20-23, for example, Jesus includes it along with adultery, fornication, murder and a number of other sins as one of the things that defiles a man. In Galatians 5, it's listed between "uncleanness" and "idolatry" as one of the works of the flesh.

The actual meaning of lasciviousness is "no restraint or unrestrained." The reason I believe it's such an important word is that it's the devil's first and most important point of attack on the life of a believer. If he can conquer you there, he's got it made.

You see, he knows that if you're going to live a godly life, you'll have to restrain the desires and appetites of your flesh. You'll have to put your spirit in charge and make your flesh yield to and come under the authority of the Holy Spirit within you.

Satan's goal, of course, is to stop you from doing that. So, through lasciviousness, he starts applying pressure to your flesh, causing its appetites to grow stronger. He starts trying to talk you into letting go of your restraint here and there.

Not much at first, of course. Just a little now and again. Until suddenly, almost before you know it, your flesh begins to take control. It starts dominating your spirit.

You find yourself doing things you really don't want to do. Giving in to the weaknesses of your flesh. If food is your greatest weakness, for example, that's where the cycle will begin. Food is the physical ground for more human failure and lasciviousness than any other item.

Satan used it to successfully tempt Adam and Eve. Then he tried to use it again against Jesus by coming to Him when He was hungry and telling Him to turn stones into bread.

The desire for food is a powerful, powerful thing. But if you'll get some insight into lasciviousness and refuse to let that desire control you, many of you can start right now and get rid of about two-thirds of that fat you've been carrying around.

That's what happened to me. I got rid of about 100 pounds of my body weight. But I didn't do it by just going on a diet. I had to stop lasciviousness in my life and the weight took care of itself.

Regardless of whether your weakness is for food or something else, however, the signs of lasciviousness are always the same. Little by little, you find yourself starting to lose control.

Eating too much. Eating things you know not to eat, drinking too much. Gossiping now and then. Inside, you're miserable. Oh my, I need to stop this, you think. But somehow you just can't seem to do it. The restraints have been removed and your flesh has taken charge.

That's how lasciviousness works, and though it get far less publicity than things like adultery and murder, in the end it is just as devastating.

Keep an eye on lasciviousness, because it's much quieter than the others sins. Since it doesn't get much attention, it's easy to miss. Don't make the mistake of not seeing it!