A New Path--Lust

Tonight we’re going to be continuing our series on God’s new path for us

We’ve gone over Anger, how God calls us to be totally different from the world, but tonight we’re talking about sin.

What is sin?

The bottom of sin, the root of all sinning, is such a heart — a heart that prefers anything above God, a heart that does not treasure God over all other person and all other things.

Matthew 5:27–30 ESV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

A Call for Loving God

A Simple Command

Jesus starts out with a “You have heard it said” phrase.

he’s perfecting the law right here

You shall not commit adultery=Jesus affirming God’s law of purity

God called for sanctity within marriage. Multiple wives was against His law

God calls for purity in marriage—we should love God then our spouse more than anyone else

A Radical Clarification

Jesus goes one step further.

Don’t just have the right actions, but also have the right heart

The original law (like every other law) was to reveal the sinfulness of the human heart

Jesus says in this verse, sexual impurity begins in the desires of the heart.

Jesus is concerned with the heart in a culture that isn’t.

Jesus is concerned with our hearts now

We need to be fighting sin whenever it creeps around

this is what john piper says sin is

It is the glory of God not honored.—he is before and above all The holiness of God not reverenced.—He needs to be separated from the world The greatness of God not admired.— The power of God not praised.—We trust in other things before HIm The truth of God not sought.—We try to find answers elsewehere The wisdom of God not esteemed.— We think we know more or better than HIm The beauty of God not treasured.— We run to others for satisfaction The goodness of God not savored. — The faithfulness of God not trusted.— We forget that He always has a good end for us The commandments of God not obeyed. — Choosing other things over Him The justice of God not respected. — Not trusting in Him as the just judge The wrath of God not feared. — The grace of God not cherished. The presence of God not prized. The person of God not loved. That is sin.”

Lust, like any sin, starts in the mind, then to the heart, then to actions.

James 1:14-17

James 1:14–17 ESV

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Although Jesus is NOT saying these sins are identical, He is saying they are equivalent.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: The King’s Principles: True Righteousness (Matthew 5)

Sexual impurity begins in the desires of the heart. Again, Jesus is not saying that lustful desires are identical to lustful deeds, and therefore a person might just as well go ahead and commit adultery. The desire and the deed are not identical, but, spiritually speaking, they are equivalent.

READ THIS!!!!

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: The King’s Principles: True Righteousness (Matthew 5)

The “look” that Jesus mentioned was not a casual glance, but a constant stare with the purpose of lusting. It is possible for a man to glance at a beautiful woman and know that she is beautiful, but not lust after her. The man Jesus described looked at the woman for the purpose of feeding his inner sensual appetites as a substitute for the act. It was not accidental; it was planned.

But the constant stare with the purpose of lusting

How to get victory in a battle till the death

WATCH VODIE BACCHUM VIDEO

Purify the desires of the heart

Philippians 4:6–9 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Discipline the actions of the body

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Spiritual surgery

Jesus isn’t saying go mutilate yourself, he’s saying deal immediately and decisively with sin.

Don’t taper off---Don’t ween off— Cut off

Spiritual surgery is more imporant than literal surgery. Sins of the body lead to eternal judgment

The man Jesus is describing looked at the woman for the purpose of feeding his inner sensual appetites as a substitue