I am sorry to read of the serious issues you are having. We must call some of those issues what they are; they are SINS. You called them “infirmities” but an infirmity is a “weakness” and not a sin. The Apostle Paul spoke of this in 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10, “And He (Jesus) said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in WEAKNESS.’ Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my INFIRMITIES, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am WEAK, then I am STRONG” (NKJV). Paul would never have boasted about the things you mentioned but he could boast about his weaknesses/infirmities, which, in this case, was some “physical or mental affliction” that was given to him to prevent pride. “And that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted” (verse 7…DARBY).

 In the first part of your question, you speak of “continual lust” but then you go on to say, “I sin every now and then.” If you truly are experiencing “continual lust” then you are living “a defeated life continually.” What you need is “victory over sin” and I’m happy to say that it lies within your reach. God has given you all the resources you need to conquer lusting after evil things. The greatest resource He has given every believer is the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 1:13 and Romans 8:9-10). We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, but we must allow Him to control us. We see this truth in Galatians 5:16, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” In Romans 8:12-14 we are taught that the believer should be characterized as one who is gaining the victory over sin, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if BY THE SPIRIT YOU PUT TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” So, what you need to do, dear friend, is submit your life to the Spirit of God at the beginning of every day. Let Him control you, as we see in Ephesians 5:18, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.” If you yield your life to Him, He will fill you with all the power you need to gain the victory over lust and He will give you “love for those who persecute you,” as we are exhorted to do in Matthew 5:44, “But I (Jesus) say to you, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” In Galatians 5:22 we read, “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE….” Again, your place is to yield to Him. As you open the scriptures ask the Father to guide you into all truth through the Holy Spirit (see John 14:25-26 and 16:13-14). He will occupy your heart with Christ through the scriptures and you will be transformed into the image of Christ (see 2nd Corinthians 3:18).

In closing, if you do not gain the victory over sin through the indwelling Spirit, the Lord will have to “set you aside” and replace you with another believer who is living a disciplined life in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul spoke of the possibility of being set aside in 1st Corinthians 9:26-27, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I DISCIPLINE MY BODY AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION, LEST, when I have preached to others, I MYSELF SHOULD BECOME DISQUALIFIED.” May you judge your sin, dear fellow-believer, and avail yourself of the power of the Holy Spirit to give you the victory. If you do, “you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (as we saw in Galatian 5:16) and God can accomplish His purpose in your life of service to Him.  (DO)  (492.1)