The Seventh Commandment: Am I Really Faithful?

INTRODUCTION “I'M GOOD ON THIS ONE”

Exodus 20:14 KJV 1900

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE CAME BACK,

Last week I showed that we are all guilty of murder,

this week we are going to talk about these five words.

Its pretty straightforward.

And if we're honest, this is probably another commandment where some of us think:

Well, Pastor, I've got this one covered.

We've gotten through murder.

We've gotten through coveting.

We've gotten through idolatry.

And now we get to adultery.

And if we define adultery as simply **physically cheating on your spouse**, some of us immediately think:

“I'm good.”

But that's the problem.

We have a tendency to SHRINK God's commandments until we can fit ourselves inside them. And that's what we've been doing throughout this series.

The Ten Commandments aren't a ladder we're climbing to prove how good we are. They're a wall we keep crashing into until we finally admit: “I NEED GRACE”

As I have said each week jesus always shows us that the commandments are always deeper then we think they are.

I. JESUS TAKES THE COMMANDMENT DEEPER

Matthew 5:27–28 KJV 1900

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Last week Jesus told us that murder isn't merely about the hand. It's about the heart.

This week Jesus tells us adultery isn't merely about the body. It's about the heart.

The Pharisee says:

“I haven't committed adultery.”

Jesus says:

“Let's talk about your heart.”

Proverbs 4:23 KJV 1900

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

Mark 7:21–23 KJV 1900

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries...”

That's important.

Jesus doesn't say the problem begins with the eyes.

It begins in the heart.

And that means you can be physically faithful to your spouse while your heart is wandering.

Where we are faithless, Jesus is faithful.

II. THE COMMANDMENT EXPOSES MORE THAN SEXUAL UNFAITHFULNESS

“Now Pastor Cook, are you telling me that wanting to be loved is wrong?” No.

“Is it wrong to want approval?” No.

“Is it wrong to want my marriage to be good?” No.

“Is it wrong to have dreams?” No.

The problem isn't wanting good things.

The problem is believing those good things can give you

what **only God can give you.**

Jeremiah 2:13 KJV 1900

13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

That's the picture.

God says:

“I am the fountain.”

But we keep digging our own little wells.

We look for:

love

acceptance

approval

significance

pleasure

security

success

attention

And we think:

“If I can just get that,

I'll finally be satisfied.”

But nothing created can carry the weight of what only the Creator can provide.

Romans 1:25 KJV 1900

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Idolatry says:

“I want something more than God.

Adultery says:

“I want someone or something else to give me what only God can ultimately give me.”

Illustration:

Imagine you’re stranded in a desert, desperately thirsty. You come across a small, cracked well. You try to draw water, but the water is filthy and useless it’s broken and can’t quench your thirst. You keep trying to find water, but no matter how hard you dig or how many broken wells you find, none of them can satisfy you.

Then, a rescue team arrives and offers you a fresh, clear glass of water, pure, nourishing, and life-giving.

When you drink it, you realize that your efforts to find satisfaction elsewhere were futile only the water from the rescue team can truly quench your thirst.

Application:

How often do we settle for broken things that cannot truly satisfy?

Rather than going to the source of living water, which is Christ.

How pointless is it to find satisfaction in worldly things, Rather then finding satisfaction in things that point us to the true satisfaction found in God alone.

Where we are faithless, Jesus is faithful.

III. THE LAW ELIMINATES THE “US AND THEM”

“The Ten Commandments doesn’t give us an US -vs- THEM distinction. They give us an US-vs- HIM distinction.”

It’s Not:

“He's a murderer. I'm not.”

It’s Not:

“She's an adulterer. I'm not.”

But Rather It’s:

“I'm a sinner.

You're a sinner.

He's the Savior.”

Romans 3:10 KJV 1900

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

James 2:10 KJV 1900

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

This is exactly why the law is a wall, NOT a ladder.

The purpose isn't:

“Look how good I am.”

The purpose is:

“Look how desperately I need Jesus.

Where we are faithless, Jesus is faithful.

IV. HOSEA SHOWS US WHAT OUR UNFAITHFULNESS LOOKS LIKE

Hosea 1:2 KJV 1900

2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.

Hosea 3:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

And then verse 2:

Hosea 3:1–2 KJV 1900

2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

Explain it conversationally.

God is giving Israel a living picture.

Hosea is faithful.

Gomer {HIS WIFE} is unfaithful.

And God says:

“That's what My people have done to Me.”

“The shocking part of Hosea isn't that HIS WIFE was unfaithful.” Pause. “The shocking part is that Hosea kept loving her.”

“But that's exactly the point.”

We are the Gomers.

We wander.

We chase other things.

We look for satisfaction somewhere else.

We give our hearts to things that cannot satisfy.

And yet...

God remains faithful.

Where we are faithless, Jesus is faithful.

V. OUR UNFAITHFULNESS HIGHLIGHTS CHRIST'S FAITHFULNESS

2 Timothy 2:13 KJV 1900

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

We are faithless. BUT He remains faithful.

Matthew 4:1–11 KJV 1900

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Jesus was tempted where Adam failed.

Jesus was faithful where Israel failed.

Jesus was faithful where **we fail.**

AND You could say:

“Where we were faithless, Jesus was faithful.”

We worship what is smaller than God.

Jesus refused to worship Satan.

We take our needs into our own hands.

Jesus trusted His Father.

We chase satisfaction.

Jesus remained satisfied in the Father's will.

And ultimately:

Philippians 2:8 KJV 1900

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus didn't merely teach faithfulness.

Jesus lived perfect faithfulness for us.

Where we are faithless, Jesus is faithful.

VI. JESUS GIVES US THE FAITHFULNESS WE COULD NEVER PRODUCE

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Our record is stained.

His record is perfect.

And the Gospel says:

He takes our sin

We receive His righteousness.

Matthew 3:17 KJV 1900

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

God's pleasure in Christ becomes the foundation of our acceptance before God.

Not:

“Because I was faithful enough.”

But:

“Because Christ was faithful for me.”

“The only reason I can stand before God isn't because I have a perfect record. It's because I am standing in somebody else's perfect record.”

Where we are faithless, Jesus is faithful.

VII. WHAT DO I DO WITH MY UNFAITHFUL HEART?

Today I want you to answer this one question,

Where have I been looking for something only God can give me?

Maybe it's another person.

Maybe it's money.

Maybe it's success.

Maybe it's your career.

Maybe it's your children.

Maybe it's attention.

Maybe it's pornography.

Maybe it's approval.

Maybe it's pleasure.

Maybe it's your reputation.

Maybe it's your marriage.

Maybe it's your own ability to control everything.

The question isn't simply, Have I cheated? The question is, Where has my heart wandered?

Psalm 139:23–24 KJV 1900

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Where we are faithless, Jesus is faithful.

VIII. THE GOSPEL SAYS: COME HOME

The picture isn't:

“Clean yourself up and then come back.”

It's:

“Come home because God is faithful.”

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Notice that word:

FAITHFUL.

Not:

If we confess, maybe He'll forgive.

Not:

If you've been good enough.

Not:

If you haven't messed up too badly.

He is faithful.

THE BIG IDEA TO REPEAT THROUGHOUT

CONCLUSION

Maybe you've never physically committed adultery.

Pause.

But if Jesus is right

and He is

then this commandment has exposed every one of us.

Then:

And maybe that's uncomfortable.

Maybe it's supposed to be.

Because the purpose of this series isn't to leave us thinking we're good people.

The purpose is to leave us amazed that Jesus is a good Savior.

“We are Gomer.”

“We wander.”

“We are unfaithful.”

“We look for love in all the wrong places.”

“But God remains faithful.”

2 Timothy 2:13 KJV 1900

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

So if you're carrying guilt this morning, don't run from Jesus.”

“Run to Jesus.”

“If you've failed...”

“If you've wandered...”

“If you've been unfaithful...”

“Come home.”

Because the Gospel isn't:

“Be faithful enough and maybe God will love you.”

The Gospel is:

“Christ has been faithful for you.”

I close with this, and it maybe the BEST example of Godly love that I have ever herd.

While driving home the other day I asked my wife about her dad. She told me that she had 2 dads. Both passed away to cancer, But one was there when she NEEDED him.

I wasnt sure what she ment, she explained to me that her first dad she thought he was a good guy, but as she got older she relized he was actually wasn’t.

But her second dad was always sort of THAT GUY… He was never her dad because alexis was an adult by the time her mom married again.

So I asked when did he stop being THAT GUY… and when did he become your DAD.

She explained to me that there was a point in her life that she messed up pretty bad and basically everyone walked away from her, and when everyone had given up on her He stepped up and SHOWED Alexis what a real father was like.

With tears in her eyes she said Victor was alway WHAT I NEEDED… WHEN I NEEDED IT. HE WAS THE PERFECT FATHER.

Application

This is the perfect example of our heavenly Father He is exactly what we need when we need it. He meets us where we are.

We don’t need to fix ourselves We don’t need to straighten our lives out OUR FATHER IS JUST WAITING FOR US TO COME HOME.

The seventh commandment doesn't leave us staring at our unfaithfulness. It leaves us staring at His faithfulness.

Altar Call Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

We come before You this morning with humble hearts. Lord, Your Word has reminded us today that none of us can stand before You and say, “I’m good on this one.”

We have all fallen short.

We have all wandered.

We have all placed our trust,

our attention,

our desires, and

our hearts in places where only You belong.

Lord, Search our hearts, O God.

Show us where we have wandered.

Show us the things we have allowed to take Your place.

Show us where we have looked for

love,

satisfaction,

security,

approval, or

fulfillment in something other than You.

Lord, we don't want to run from You because of our failures.

We want to run to You.

We want to Thank You

Thank You that when we are faithless, You remain faithful.

Thank You that we don't have to clean ourselves up before coming home.

Thank You that Jesus has already done what we could never do for ourselves.

He lived faithfully.

He obeyed perfectly.

He took our sin upon Himself.

And through Him, we can be

forgiven,

cleansed, and

made righteous before You.

Lord, there may be someone here today who needs to come to You for the very first time.

Give them the courage to say, 

“Jesus, I need You. I surrender my life to You.”

And there may be Christians here today who have wandered.

Maybe something else has slowly taken the place that belongs to You.

Maybe it's a relationship.

Maybe it's pleasure.

Maybe it's pornography.

Maybe it's money.

Maybe it's approval.

Maybe it's control.

Maybe it's fear.

Whatever it is, Lord,

Help us to lay it down.

Help us to come home.

And remind us today that

We don't come home to a God who is waiting to condemn us.

We come home to a Father who has remained faithful.

Where we are faithless, Jesus you are faithful.

THE ALTER IS OPEN

Dismissal Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for allowing us to gather together today and hear Your Word.

Thank You for reminding us that even when we are faithless, You remain faithful.

As we leave this place,

help us to carry that truth with us.

Help us to keep our hearts focused on You,

to walk in obedience, and

to trust You in every area of our lives.

Bring us back safely next week, and use us throughout this week to be a light and a testimony for You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.