Guarding the Heart: The Call to Purity
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound implications of the commandment "Do not commit adultery," found in Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18. We began with a personal story from my childhood, illustrating the dangers of playing with fire, both literally and metaphorically. This story served as a prelude to discussing the destructive nature of lust and sexual immorality, which the Bible often likens to a spreading fire.
We delved into Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, specifically Matthew 5:27-30, where He equates lustful thoughts with adultery of the heart. Jesus' hyperbolic statements about gouging out an eye or cutting off a hand emphasize the seriousness of dealing with sin decisively. The core message is that God is deeply concerned with the purity of our hearts, and we must take radical steps to avoid sin.
We also examined practical tools for maintaining purity of thought. First, we must recognize the danger of lust and acknowledge it as a problem. Second, we need to resolve to deal decisively with impure thoughts, understanding that Jesus' call for drastic measures is about taking bold action against sin. Third, we should remove anything that feeds our lustful desires, whether it be certain media, social interactions, or other triggers. Fourth, we must replace ungodly thoughts with godly ones, focusing on what is true, honorable, and pure. Finally, we must rely on the Holy Spirit's power to overcome these temptations, recognizing that we cannot do it alone.
In conclusion, the call to purity is not just about avoiding outward acts of sin but about cultivating a heart that seeks to honor God in all things. This requires ongoing vigilance, practical steps, and reliance on God's grace and the Holy Spirit.
### Key Takeaways
1. Recognize the Danger of Lust: Lust is not a trivial issue but a significant spiritual danger that can spread like fire and cause immense destruction. Acknowledging its seriousness is the first step toward dealing with it effectively. Jesus' teachings make it clear that even harboring lustful thoughts is akin to committing adultery in the heart, which underscores the gravity of this sin. [44:24]
2. Deal Decisively with Sin: Jesus' hyperbolic statements about gouging out an eye or cutting off a hand are meant to illustrate the need for radical action against sin. This means taking bold and decisive steps to remove anything that leads us into temptation, whether it be certain media, social interactions, or other triggers. [51:15]
3. Remove Sources of Temptation: To combat lust, we must identify and eliminate the sources that feed our sinful desires. This could include avoiding certain websites, social media, or even specific relationships that lead us into temptation. By removing these sources, we can better control our thoughts and actions. [55:52]
4. Replace Ungodly Thoughts with Godly Ones: Simply trying to stop thinking impure thoughts is not enough. We must actively replace them with thoughts that are true, honorable, and pure. Memorizing Scripture and focusing on godly attributes can help us redirect our minds and hearts toward what pleases God. [59:04]
5. Rely on the Holy Spirit: Overcoming lust and maintaining purity is not something we can achieve on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to change our desires and give us the strength to do what is right. By walking in step with the Spirit, we can resist the desires of the flesh and live in a way that honors God. [01:01:51]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:02] - Childhood Story: Playing with Fire
[38:21] - Introduction to the Commandment
[39:55] - Jesus' Teaching on Lust
[41:56] - Sermon on the Mount: Adultery of the Heart
[44:24] - Recognize the Danger of Lust
[51:15] - Deal Decisively with Sin
[55:52] - Remove Sources of Temptation
[59:04] - Replace Ungodly Thoughts with Godly Ones
[01:01:51] - Rely on the Holy Spirit
[01:06:13] - Practical Steps and Conclusion
[01:07:15] - Receive Forgiveness and Move Forward
[01:08:11] - Closing Prayer and Farewell
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 20:14 - "You shall not commit adultery."
2. Matthew 5:27-30 - "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
3. Proverbs 6:27-28 - "Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?"
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus equate with committing adultery in Matthew 5:27-30?
2. According to Proverbs 6:27-28, what metaphor is used to describe the consequences of engaging in lustful behavior?
3. In the sermon, what personal story did the pastor use to illustrate the dangers of playing with fire, both literally and metaphorically? [35:02]
4. What are the five practical tools mentioned in the sermon for maintaining purity of thought? [44:01]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus use such extreme language (gouging out an eye, cutting off a hand) to address the issue of lust in Matthew 5:27-30? [42:21]
2. How does the metaphor of fire in Proverbs 6:27-28 help us understand the destructive nature of lust and sexual immorality?
3. What does it mean to "deal decisively with sin," and how can this be applied in practical terms according to the sermon? [51:15]
4. How does relying on the Holy Spirit help in overcoming temptations related to lust, as discussed in the sermon? [01:01:51]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "fires" you are playing with that could lead to destructive behavior? How can you take steps to extinguish them? [35:02]
2. Jesus emphasizes the importance of purity of heart. What are some practical steps you can take this week to guard your heart against lustful thoughts? [42:21]
3. Identify any sources of temptation in your life. What specific actions can you take to remove these sources and prevent them from feeding your lustful desires? [55:52]
4. How can you actively replace ungodly thoughts with godly ones? Consider memorizing a specific Bible verse that you can meditate on when tempted. [59:04]
5. Discuss a time when you relied on the Holy Spirit to overcome a temptation. How did that experience strengthen your faith and resolve? [01:01:51]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of receiving forgiveness when we fail. How can you practice receiving God's forgiveness and moving forward in purity? [01:07:15]
7. Think about your daily media consumption. Are there any changes you need to make to ensure that what you watch, read, or listen to aligns with godly principles? [56:49]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognize the Danger of Lust
Lust is not a trivial issue but a significant spiritual danger that can spread like fire and cause immense destruction. Acknowledging its seriousness is the first step toward dealing with it effectively. Jesus' teachings make it clear that even harboring lustful thoughts is akin to committing adultery in the heart, which underscores the gravity of this sin. [44:24]
James 1:14-15 (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."
Reflection: Think about a time when a seemingly small desire led to bigger consequences in your life. How can you be more vigilant in recognizing and addressing these desires early on?
Day 2: Deal Decisively with Sin
Jesus' hyperbolic statements about gouging out an eye or cutting off a hand are meant to illustrate the need for radical action against sin. This means taking bold and decisive steps to remove anything that leads us into temptation, whether it be certain media, social interactions, or other triggers. [51:15]
Colossians 3:5 (ESV): "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."
Reflection: Identify one specific area in your life where you need to take radical action to avoid sin. What practical steps can you take today to address this?
Day 3: Remove Sources of Temptation
To combat lust, we must identify and eliminate the sources that feed our sinful desires. This could include avoiding certain websites, social media, or even specific relationships that lead us into temptation. By removing these sources, we can better control our thoughts and actions. [55:52]
Proverbs 4:23-27 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."
Reflection: What are the specific sources of temptation in your life? How can you begin to remove or distance yourself from these sources starting today?
Day 4: Replace Ungodly Thoughts with Godly Ones
Simply trying to stop thinking impure thoughts is not enough. We must actively replace them with thoughts that are true, honorable, and pure. Memorizing Scripture and focusing on godly attributes can help us redirect our minds and hearts toward what pleases God. [59:04]
Philippians 4:8 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What are some specific godly thoughts or Scriptures you can focus on to replace impure thoughts? How can you incorporate these into your daily routine?
Day 5: Rely on the Holy Spirit
Overcoming lust and maintaining purity is not something we can achieve on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to change our desires and give us the strength to do what is right. By walking in step with the Spirit, we can resist the desires of the flesh and live in a way that honors God. [01:01:51]
Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
Reflection: In what ways can you be more intentional about relying on the Holy Spirit in your daily life? How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Him to help you overcome temptation?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You've heard the expression before, don't play with fire. We recognize that fire, of course, is not a toy. Fire is not a toy. It's not a game. It's not something you really play with but there's an alert to it, of course. There's something about fire. You know, if you've sat around a campfire or something, there's just something that gravitates you toward that flame or whatever but we recognize it's kind of a dangerous thing." [38:21] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus is interested in changing us from the inside out and cleansing us completely. God is interested in setting apart a holy people to himself. And Jesus was trying to root out these things that are in our hearts." [42:58] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The first step to solving certain things is to admit, I have a problem. But with this particular one, guys especially don't see it as a problem. It's like, why is it wrong if I'm to have a desire in my heart for this person or that? No one can maybe read my thoughts or whatever. And yet Jesus said it was. It was an issue. This thing, lust in the heart is kind of a big deal." [44:24] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When I would like to entertain certain lustful thoughts that I would find enjoyable and I say, no, Lord, I know you see that. I'm not going to go that direction. It's an act of worship to God. I say, Lord, I'm saying yes to you and no to that. It's also, though, an act of fidelity, an opportunity for us to show fidelity to our spouse." [55:08] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you know Christ, the Spirit of God lives in you, the Holy Spirit, and He's there specifically to change your desires and to give you the power to do what's right. Well, He's there to will and to work for God's good pleasure. He's inside of you to give you the desire, the will, and to work for God's desire or God's pleasure." [01:02:09] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Jesus talked about the fact that if you despise someone in your heart, if you hate someone in your heart, you're guilty of murder of the heart. It's not the same thing as carrying it out in reality but you're guilty of murder in the heart and God sees that. Well, the same thing is true in this particular area and throughout the pages of the Bible, the area of lust or sexual desire, whatever, is likened to a fire that spreads and it can be a problem, it can destroy." [39:55] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The point is, take bold and decisive action against whatever it is that's leading you into sin. D.A. Carson explains it this way, cutting off the eye cutting off or gouging out the offending part is a way of saying that Jesus' disciples must deal radically with sin." [52:52] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We get our direction all the way back to God. It's like in Genesis where it says, leave your father and your mother and cling to one another. Become one flesh. That's God's design. All these other things that people are doing are misusing the fire. But the spirit of God lives within us. And so, in Galatians 5, 16, after listing all these things that are true of our human nature, Paul wrote, I say to you, walk by the spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." [01:03:33] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 10, 13. He said, no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity, to all of us. God is faithful. You can count on him. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you're able. But with the temptation, he will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it." [01:04:56] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Receive the forgiveness when you fail. 2 Peter makes it very clear that we stop making spiritual progress when we forget that God forgives sin. When you fail in various areas, if you come back to the cross, come back to Christ and say, I know I failed in this way but I thank you that your blood has cleansed me from all sin and you know that you're forgiven. It causes in your heart because you've been cleansed again a desire to keep moving in the right direction." [01:07:15] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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