Confronting Lust: A Heartfelt Call to Holiness

Devotional

Day 1: Lust Begins in the Heart

Lust is not just an external action but a condition of the heart. Jesus, in Matthew 5:27-30, equates looking at someone with lustful intent to committing adultery in one's heart. This teaching emphasizes the importance of addressing the internal condition of our hearts, as sin originates from within. It calls for deep introspection and a commitment to purity in thought and action. Recognizing lust as a heart issue challenges us to examine our desires and intentions, understanding that true transformation begins internally. [12:11]

"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." (Mark 7:21-23, ESV)

Reflection: What thoughts or desires have you allowed to take root in your heart that need to be surrendered to God today?

Day 2: Taking Drastic Steps to Combat Sin

Jesus uses hyperbolic language about removing an eye or a hand to illustrate the seriousness with which we should address sin in our lives. This is not a call to physical harm but a metaphor for the drastic steps we must take to rid ourselves of sin. It challenges us to evaluate what we prioritize and to be willing to sacrifice for the sake of holiness. This radical approach to sin requires us to identify and remove anything that leads us into temptation, demonstrating our commitment to living a life that honors God. [27:17]

"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." (Matthew 5:29, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific thing in your life that leads you into sin, and what drastic step can you take today to remove it?

Day 3: Living in the Tension of the Kingdom

As believers, we live in the tension of the kingdom of God being present in our hearts but not yet fully realized. This dual reality calls us to live as kingdom citizens now, reflecting its values in a world that often opposes them. We are called to embody the principles of the kingdom, such as love, peace, and righteousness, even when the world around us celebrates sin. This requires vigilance and a proactive approach to living out our faith, knowing that our ultimate hope is in the full realization of God's kingdom. [06:38]

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally reflect the values of God's kingdom in your daily interactions and decisions today?

Day 4: The Importance of Community and Accountability

We are not alone in our struggles with sin. The church community is essential for support, encouragement, and accountability. We are called to bear one another's burdens and to help each other pursue holiness. This communal aspect of faith reminds us that we are part of a larger body, and we have a responsibility to support and uplift each other. By fostering an environment of love and accountability, we can collectively strive towards holiness and reflect the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [50:49]

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to for support and accountability in your spiritual journey today?

Day 5: Counting the Cost of Discipleship

Following Christ requires a willingness to deny ourselves and take up our cross. This means being serious about sin and willing to make sacrifices for the sake of our relationship with Christ. It is a call to live authentically as followers of Jesus, recognizing the cost of discipleship. While we cannot earn our salvation, our lives should reflect the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. By counting the cost, we acknowledge the sacrifices involved in following Christ and commit to living a life that honors Him. [40:23]

"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:38-39, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to deny yourself and take up your cross to follow Jesus more closely today?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we delved into the challenging topic of lust, as part of our ongoing exploration of the Sermon on the Mount. Our focus was on Matthew 5:27-30, where Jesus addresses the issue of lust and adultery, emphasizing that these are matters of the heart. Jesus teaches that even looking at someone with lustful intent is akin to committing adultery in one's heart. This underscores the profound truth that sin is not merely about external actions but about the internal condition of our hearts.

We are reminded that lust, like anger and hatred, is a heart issue that requires serious attention and action. Jesus calls for radical measures to combat sin, using hyperbolic language about removing an eye or a hand to illustrate the seriousness with which we should address sin in our lives. This is not a call to physical harm but a metaphor for the drastic steps we must take to rid ourselves of sin.

The message also highlighted the dual nature of the kingdom of God—already present in the hearts of believers but not yet fully realized. As citizens of this kingdom, we are called to live in a way that reflects its values, even in a world that often celebrates sin. This requires us to be vigilant and proactive in dealing with sin, recognizing that we are not alone in this struggle. The church community is a vital support system, encouraging and holding each other accountable in love.

Ultimately, the message is a call to take sin seriously, to recognize the cost of discipleship, and to live in a way that honors Christ. It is a reminder that while we cannot earn our salvation, our lives should reflect the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. We are encouraged to seek help and accountability, knowing that victory over sin is possible through Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Xw3gIZiQI&t=731s'>[12:11]
2. Radical Measures Against Sin: Jesus uses strong language to emphasize the need for drastic action against sin. This is not about physical harm but about taking serious steps to remove anything that leads us into sin. It challenges us to evaluate what we prioritize and to be willing to sacrifice for the sake of holiness.

3. The Already and Not Yet Kingdom: As believers, we live in the tension of the kingdom of God being present in our hearts but not yet fully realized. This dual reality calls us to live as kingdom citizens now, reflecting its values in a world that often opposes them.

4. Community and Accountability: We are not alone in our struggles with sin. The church community is essential for support, encouragement, and accountability. We are called to bear one another's burdens and to help each other pursue holiness.

5. Counting the Cost of Discipleship: Following Christ requires a willingness to deny ourselves and take up our cross. This means being serious about sin and willing to make sacrifices for the sake of our relationship with Christ. It is a call to live authentically as followers of Jesus.

** [12:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:31] - Introduction to the Topic
[03:08] - Prayer for Peace and Conviction
[05:11] - Context of the Sermon on the Mount
[06:38] - Kingdom Living in a Fallen World
[08:37] - The Challenge of Kingdom Principles
[10:22] - Treasures in Heaven
[12:11] - Lust as a Heart Issue
[14:02] - Understanding Adultery and Lust
[15:37] - Universality of the Struggle
[17:18] - The Seriousness of Lust
[18:50] - Lust Beyond Sexual Intent
[20:25] - The Heart's Role in Sin
[22:07] - Responsibility in Lust
[23:53] - Cultural and Personal Implications
[25:33] - Image of God and Human Dignity
[27:17] - Radical Removal of Sin
[29:01] - Historical Attempts to Combat Sin
[30:47] - The Importance of Eternity
[32:29] - Salvation and Sin
[34:21] - Easy Believism and True Faith
[36:07] - The Cost of Discipleship
[37:36] - Community Support and Accountability
[38:57] - Denying Self and Following Christ
[40:23] - Counting the Cost
[41:45] - The Seriousness of Sin
[43:35] - Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
[45:06] - Practical Atheism in Christian Life
[47:07] - Taking Action Against Lust
[49:03] - Statistics and the Church
[50:49] - Bearing One Another's Burdens
[52:27] - Willingness to Sacrifice
[54:10] - Closing and Prayer

Sermon Clips

1) "We live in this world as citizens of a kingdom yet to come, recognizing that Christ will make all things right. He will bring perfect justice. He will bring perfect judgment. He will bring perfect peace. He will bring perfection in all things. We live as believers in Christ, as followers of Christ, as people who are anticipating what is not here physically, but already exists in our hearts. And Jesus, Jesus is speaking to his followers and he's saying, this is what it looks like to live out this kingdom as my people." [08:37] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "Man cannot do this alone, period. We can put on a good outer face, we can put on a good show, but without Christ, our hearts will never be changed. And so this is why Christ begins to speak the way he does. As we looked at verses 17 to 20, Jesus established himself as the only one who can rightly interpret and apply the law, and now he will deal with adultery and with lust. He is calling us to kingdom living. He is showing us that we are establishing habits now in our lives, or we should be establishing habits now in our lives that are in line with what the norm and absolutes will be in his coming kingdom." [08:37] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Lust is an issue of the heart. Just as anger, hatred, and murder are an issue of the heart. Lust is an issue of the heart versus 27 to 28. Jesus talks about adultery versus intent, adultery versus intent. You have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery. Remember, remember, Jesus has established himself as the one who's interpreting the law, the one who has the ability to interpret and apply the law. Remember this. 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." [12:11] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "This has to do with a, with a biological function that God has created as good within every man and woman in this room, in this earth, who has ever lived. And he created bounds for it to be used within. And whenever it is used outside of those bounds, it reaches what Christ is talking about here. And so do not begin to think I'm okay. Because if you're currently dealing with this, you're not okay. And if you've dealt with this in the past, you also realize I'm not okay. And this is why I talk about, I said that in the beginning, and we're going to get to it at the end. You are not alone. None of us are alone." [15:37] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Jesus recommends, no, he doesn't just recommend, he demands a radical removal of whatever is causing this. Tear it out. Cut it off. Your eye causes you to sin. Tear it out. Your hand causes you to sin. Cut it off. That's what he says. Now, through church history, there are people who have gone to this extreme. And the thing they've learned is that doesn't work because it's an issue of the heart. There was a early Christian in the, well, early-ish, I believe it was in the 700s in Egypt. He decided that he was going to remove himself from society. He was going to remove himself from all temptations, remove himself from sin and problems. And so for 35 years, he went and lived in a cave in the deserts around Egypt. And towards the end of his life, he wrote about his time there. And he said, this solved none of my problems because Satan could still find me in the desert." [27:17] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "True followers of Christ will seek to repent through the power and ability of the Holy Spirit within us and they will do whatever it takes to deal with sin and this is hard and it is painful and as he says here it oftentimes needs to be drastic and dramatic but if we know Christ if we love Christ we will be led prompted and given the ability to do this going back to remembering we are not alone as brothers and sisters in Christ we are called to love one another to encourage one another to support one another to hold one another uh in line with God's word not so we can beat you up with it but so that we can so that we can encourage and push towards Christ we need one another in this we need one another." [36:07] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Jesus alone makes us worthy for the kingdom. His death on the cross secured us paying for our sin, paying our debt so that we could be reconciled to the Father through belief in him. But he says, count the cost. And if we are unwilling, if we are unwilling, he says, this is a salvation issue. Do you? Do you really know him? Do you really believe him? There's a phrase that's been coined for much of what Western Christianity is. It's called moralistic therapeutic deism. Makes me feel good, gives me some directions of life, but you know, whatever. We were talking at home last night about how so many of us, so many Christians today, so many Western Christians today live as practical atheists. We show up to Sunday morning and yeah, we'll sing. We believe, we believe. And then we go home, put our Bible on the counter and never pick it up again." [43:35] (73 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "Lust does not have to win in our lives. Lust does not have to have the victory because Christ has already accomplished the victory. So are we willing to follow him? Are we willing to take this seriously in our lives? Are you willing? Are we as individuals willing to be obedient? It's this simple, but it's this hard. Willing to sacrifice whatever it costs, whatever he calls you to, in order to be obedient and follow him. If we aren't willing to lose our lives for the sake of Christ, we will not keep it in eternity. That's what he says. So let's do the hard things now as we prepare for his coming kingdom. Lust is an issue of the heart. This is an issue of the heart. Are we willing to deal with it?" [52:27] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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