Don’t Let Lust Get the Better of You

FILING INFORMATION:

2001050

Subject: sermon on the mount; lust; adultery

Preached Originally: 09/09/01 – Rapid City, SD

 

Introduction:

A.    Jesus condemned the shallow morality and superficial religion of the Pharisees. 

1.    People thought of the Pharisees as the ultimate religious standard. 

a)    you just couldn’t do better than a Pharisee!

b)    Jesus explains that those who serve Him must step up to the next level in order to be pleasing to Him.

2.    Christianity involves s change of heart – which will help the actions be changed for the better.

B.    5:27-28 – the verses we will study in depth today. 

1.    Pharisees thought that as long as they didn’t commit the act itself they were OK.  That the commandment had no bearing/no message for them.

a)    command from Ex. 20:14. 

b)    Probably felt innocent and pious.

2.    Did not carefully read the commandments – did not study them honestly and openly.

a)    Ex 20:17 – shall not covet.

b)    Not to covet neighbor’s house; wife; anything….

c)    Even this shows that lusting after another man’s wife is sinful – whether guilty of the sinful act or not.

C.   Today’s lesson, I believe, is extremely relevant to our time & and to each one of us.

1.    Lust = weakness of many.

2.    Warned numerous times to control fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

3.    Society filled with all kinds of lust/sleaze.  Turned on TV lately?

4.    Must work on controlling it – b/c it can/will destroy not only our life – but our soul as well!

 

I.  5:27 – a close up of this verse:

A.     This command still binding upon Christians – b/c it restated in law of Christ.

1.    Rom. 13:9 – thou shall not commit adultery.

2.    1 Cor. 6:18 – flee fornication.

3.    1 Cor. 6:9-10 – shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

B.     Who gave the command?

1.    God….through the HS – who gave it to Paul.

2.    OT – God directly to Moses.

3.    Who would argue that God doesn’t know best in this matter?

C.    Let’s define adultery.

1.    Command in Ex. 20:14/Rom. 13:9 – simple declarative sentence. 

2.    impossible to misunderstand – adultery is defined:

a)    Vines:  unlawful sexual relations w/the spouse of another.

b)    Thayer:  Gk. Wd in 5:28 – “moicheuo.”  It = verb meaning to commit adultery with, to have unlawful intercourse with another’s wife.

3.    Sexual activity w/one who not marriage partner = serious sin!

D.    Just how serious?

1.    OT – Deut 22:22-29 – death!

a)  exception:  violation of a virgin – not engaged – man required to marry her and had no option of divorce.  22:28-29

2.    NT – spiritual death!

a)    Gal. 5:19; Heb. 13:4; Rev. 21:8

E.     Always regarded as serious or black sin.

1.    sin against God.

2.    sin against self; partner; spouse; community.

F.     it’s consequences can be extreme:

1.    religiously:  violation of God’s law.

2.    morally:  akin to theft – taking what belongs to another.

3.    legally:  violation of the law

4.    physically:  unwanted pregnancy; disease.

5.    emotionally: overwhelming sense of guilt.

a)    worthlessness

b)    can cause one to go toward 2 extremes:

1)    w/drawal from society.

2)    Total abandonment of principles – promiscuity.

 

II.  Understand:  Sex is not evil.

A.    God made man a sexual creature.

1.    As soon as created – man told to use sexuality.

a)    Gen. 1:28 – be fruitful.

b)    Not evil behavior – but divine!

c)    It has been said:  the abuse of it has brought about the ugliness.

B.    God has made the physical love between man/wife

1.    pure; beautiful; uplifting.

2.    But he has put stipulation on it.  Only in marriage.

3.    everywhere else:  sexual indulgence is sinful and hurtful.

 

III.  A close-up of 5:28.

A.    Lust – in this text – unregulated; unrestrained; sensuous desire.

1.    sexual desire as a degrading passion.

B.    Vines:  “evil desires which are ready to express themselves in bodily activity.”

C.   Must put away lust.

1.    Rom. 13:14; Gal. 5:16

2.    Col. 3:5; 1 Pet. 2:11

 

IV.  We must look for ways to avoid generating lust in ourselves & others.

A.    Television/movies.

1.              seen the previews for upcoming season of TV.  Raunchy/revealing.  TV pushing the limit all the time!

2.              Hardly go to movie now w/o gross profanity or explicit sex scenes or both!

3.              Watching things like this will cause us to lust!  Must guard against such!

B.    Pornography.

1.              internet fastest/easiest way to get it.

2.              Can come up innocently – horror stories of accessing what thought to be legitimate site – but really porn site.

3.              old standby – magazines, etc.

4.              easily accessible – must guard against it.  We can become desensitized if not careful.

5.              J. Edgar Hoover:  never been sexual crime where pornography was not found somewhere in connection w/the offender.

C.   What we wear.

1.              2 Sam. 11:2-5 – Bathsheba/David.

a)    what if Bathsheba had been more careful about where she bathed?

b)    Sure David guilty of adultery….but if all started from lust – what he saw w/his eyes.

2.              How are we adorning ourselves?

a)    Christian to dress w/modest apparel.

b)    1 Tim. 2:9 – application for both sexes – even though women specifically mentioned.

 

Conclusion:

A.    How is your heart?

1.    Phil. 4:8

2.    How is your attitude?  Don’t be puffed up and say “This is not a problem for me.” 

3.    If you’re human – lust has probably been something you’ve had to deal with – esp. guys….

B.    Nothing that can’t be overcome.

1.    Phil. 4:13 – spiritually speaking.

2.    Eph. 3:20 – nothing impossible w/the help of God.

3.    work on making your life more holy & righteous.

C.   Not a Christian?  Desire to wash yourself of your sin?

1.    Lord is merciful to those wanting to change.

2.    Psa. 103:17.

3.    obey the gospel today!

D.  I N V I T A T I O N