The Heart of God Overcomes

Matthew 5:27-30

The New Revised Standard Version Concerning Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

Just reading this passage is uncomfortable for most people. Right?

I mean the hyperbole of this passage is down right terrifying. If our eyes wander rip them out if our hand causes us to sin cut it off…for it is better to go to eternity without a member of our body than it is to let it lead us to sin.

If that were not terrifying enough this passage goes on to confront the taboo issue of sexual sin.

This is an issue we are taught keep private as if even to utter the words would lead us to actually commit what has become (Pause) in the modern church the worst possible sin to commit.

Because of the giant stigma the church has placed on the mere mention of Adultery or sexual immorality these actions seem to overshadow what may just be the most important take away in this passage.

Jesus was teaching about unhealthy desires or lust not simply unhealthy sinful actions.

Or in others words Jesus wants to help us eradicate the attitudes or Lust that lead us to unhealthy behaviors we often call sin.

The root of the greek term for Lust is connected to the word “covet,” which is a strong, sinful desire to have something that does not belong to you—and often the willingness to do whatever it takes to get it.

This is one of the top Ten so to say found in the Ten commandments

Exodus 20:17 NRSV

17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Or to put it another thou shalt not lust after the life others have, sex, power, wealth, or ambition.

So many times we turn things or specific actions like....sex, power, wealth, or ambition into sin when the truth is that these things in themselves are not sin.

Sin is actually born out of unhealthy desires or lust not the actions or attitudes themselves.

In fact man of these attitudes and actions when practiced properly are not in themselves evil.

The problem comes when any of these things become the single focus of our life.

When people are willing to do anything to get more of any of these things they are creating an idol of them…thus lusting after the creation instead of loving the creator.

In a world that focuses on sin being an action Jesus is trying to get us to see that sin is actually born out of the condition of our hearts.

Jesus is not calling us to stop doing a certain thing…He is calling us to a complete heart transplant.

This requires a radical transformation of the heart not just behaviour modification. Ezekiel 36:26 tells us this:

Ezekiel 36:26 NRSV

26 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

As many of you know a heart transplant is an operation in which a diseased, failing heart is replaced with a healthier donor heart.

A Heart transplant is a treatment that's usually reserved for people whose condition hasn't improved enough with medications or other surgeries.

While a heart transplant is a major operation, your chance of survival is good with appropriate follow-up care.

Once God transforms your heart there is the incredible thing that takes palce inside of us…

We feel like we have purpose, we feel freer, we have an assurance of the awesome presence of God in our body that comes from the new heart we have recieved.

However just like a physical heart transplant takes intentional care to maintain its health

Our spiritual heart also takes intentional and extensive follow up care to remain healthy.

Let me illustrate it this way.....While it’s not a heart transplant by dad had a bypass surgery when I was a Junior in High School.

When he came home things were great. He had more energy and felt better overall. At first he did everything the doctor said he quit smoking, changed his diet and exercised…

As time went on dad started to continue some of the same bad habits that had led him to his first heart attack.

This led to more bypass surgeries until at his last one he was warned that he had no more options for veins for a future bypass.

Had my dad continued to take care of himself and not given in to his desires to smoke, and eat unhealthy food the results would have likely been much different....

The same is true for the heart of flesh that God want to give you and I.

God wants to give us a heart that leads to life, love, happiness, and joy but it requires us to practice healthy spiritual exercises to keep a healthy Spiritual heart.

We do this by beginning to allow the Holy Spirit to reign and rule in our hearts so freely that we are able to choose what is satisfying instead of what is distracting.

During the season of lent we have an incredible time to undergo that open heart surgery that God wants to do in our lives by taking time to examen our hearts…

Let’s take a few moments to examen our hearts from the past week…I am going to walk you though a guided time of prayer and ask that you allow the Holy Spirit to search your hearts desire from the past week.

Let’s start by inviting God’s presence now so the Holy Spirit can point our where he was present during the week. (Come Holy Spirit we Need you)

Look back on the events of the past week and allow the Holy Spirit to show you how you have lived in obedience and ways you need to improve.

Even if your day/week seems to be a blur, a jumble, a muddle, ask the Holy Spirit to bring specific moments to mind where God was obviously leading you…

60 seconds

Give God thanks for the times you were in the spirit this week.Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walkthrough your week and note the joys and delights. Focus on the week’s gifts.

Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details.

60 seconds

Pay attention to your emotions. Our emotions are key ways are able to detect the presence of the Divine during our week. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?

60 seconds

You may be shown and remember some ways that you fell short. Make note of these times, but look deeply for other implications.

Does a feeling of frustration perhaps mean that God wants you consider a new direction in some area of your work? Are you concerned about a friend? Perhaps you should reach out in some way.

60 seconds

Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Divine to direct you to something during the day that is particularly important.

It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace.

Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

60 seconds

Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges.

Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation?

Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. Ask for help and understanding. Pray for hope.

60 seconds

Communion

Now that we have examined our hearts from the week let us not come to the Table with a heart of flesh.

Will those who are going to help this morning come forward.

The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return.

The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ.

All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit.

In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And so we pray: The Lords Prayer together....

Come To the table and receive the Broken Body and Shed Blood of Christ…return to your place and we will partake together.

Benediction:

Shape us and transform us by your grace, that we may grow in wisdom and in confidence, never faltering until we have done all that you desire to bring your realm of shalom to fulfillment......In Jesus Name Amen.