Transforming Hearts: Jesus' Call to Righteousness

Devotional

Day 1: True Righteousness Begins in the Heart

True righteousness is not merely about external actions but the condition of our hearts. Jesus teaches that even lustful thoughts are as sinful as the act of adultery because they reveal a heart that is not aligned with God's standards. This teaching challenges us to strive for internal purity, recognizing that our thoughts and desires must reflect God's righteousness. In a world that often focuses on outward appearances and actions, Jesus calls us to a deeper, heart-level transformation.

Jesus' words in Matthew 5:20-30 remind us that true righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. It is not enough to simply avoid sinful actions; we must also guard our hearts against sinful thoughts. This internal purity is essential for living a life that truly honors God and reflects His love to others. By seeking to align our hearts with God's standards, we can experience the fullness of His righteousness in our lives. [04:17]

Matthew 5:27-28 (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."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to guard your heart against sinful thoughts and align your desires with God's standards?

Day 2: Lust Devalues and Objectifies Others

Lust reduces people to mere objects for our gratification, stripping them of their God-given dignity and worth. This is contrary to God's design, which sees every person as fearfully and wonderfully made. We must learn to see others through God's eyes, recognizing their inherent value and purpose. In a culture saturated with sexual imagery and messages, it is crucial to remember that every person is created in God's image and deserves to be treated with respect and honor.

By viewing others through the lens of lust, we fail to acknowledge their true worth and the unique purpose God has for their lives. Lustful thoughts and actions dehumanize individuals, reducing them to objects for our pleasure rather than recognizing them as beloved children of God. To combat this, we must intentionally cultivate a mindset that honors and values others, seeing them as God sees them. [15:28]

Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV): "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Reflection: How can you intentionally honor and value the people you encounter today, seeing them as fearfully and wonderfully made by God?

Day 3: Radical Action Against Sin

Jesus uses extreme language to emphasize the seriousness of dealing with sin. While not meant to be taken literally, His words call for radical action to combat sinful desires. This includes practical steps like self-discipline and seeking accountability to avoid falling into sin. Jesus' teaching challenges us to take sin seriously and to be proactive in removing anything from our lives that leads us away from God.

The Apostle Paul echoes this by advocating for self-discipline and practical measures to avoid sin, whether through abstinence for singles or mutual fulfillment in marriage. By taking radical action against sin, we demonstrate our commitment to living a life that honors God and reflects His holiness. This may involve setting boundaries, seeking accountability partners, or making difficult choices to remove sources of temptation from our lives. [26:18]

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: What radical action can you take today to remove a source of temptation from your life and pursue holiness?

Day 4: The Role of the Holy Spirit

Overcoming lust and other sinful desires requires a transformation of the heart, which only the Holy Spirit can provide. The Holy Spirit acts as a spiritual pacemaker, helping us stay in rhythm with God's will and producing the fruit of righteousness in our lives. By relying on the Holy Spirit, we can experience true heart transformation and live in a way that reflects God's love and righteousness.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome sinful desires and to live according to God's standards. This transformation is not something we can achieve on our own; it requires a daily dependence on the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength. As we seek a new heart and a new spirit, the Holy Spirit works within us to produce the fruit of righteousness, enabling us to live in a way that honors God and reflects His love to others. [34:26]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform your heart and guide you in living according to God's will today?

Day 5: Living by God's Standard

The world often distorts our understanding of identity and self-worth, but Jesus calls us to a higher standard. Our identity should not be anchored in our sexuality but in our relationship with God. By living according to God's design and seeking His help, we can experience true freedom and fulfillment. This involves rejecting the world's messages about identity and self-worth and embracing the truth of who we are in Christ.

Living by God's standard means aligning our lives with His design and purpose. It requires us to reject the lies of the world and to find our true identity in our relationship with God. As we seek to live according to God's standards, we can experience the freedom and fulfillment that comes from knowing and following Him. This involves daily surrender to God's will and a commitment to living in a way that reflects His love and righteousness. [12:28]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: In what ways can you anchor your identity in your relationship with God rather than in the world's messages about identity and self-worth?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today's message focuses on Jesus' teachings about lust and adultery as found in Matthew 5:20-30. Jesus challenges us to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, emphasizing that true righteousness is not just about outward actions but the condition of our hearts. He redefines adultery, stating that even looking at someone with lustful intent is equivalent to committing adultery in the heart. This teaching underscores the importance of internal purity and the need to align our thoughts and desires with God's standards.

We live in a culture saturated with sexual imagery and messages that often distort our understanding of identity and self-worth. The world tells us that expressing lust is a form of self-expression, but Jesus calls us to a higher standard. Lust devalues and objectifies others, reducing them to mere tools for our gratification. This is contrary to God's design, which sees every person as fearfully and wonderfully made in His image.

Jesus uses extreme language, like plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand, to illustrate the seriousness of dealing with sin. While He doesn't mean this literally, He emphasizes the need for radical action to combat sinful desires. The Apostle Paul echoes this by advocating for self-discipline and practical steps to avoid falling into sin, whether through abstinence for singles or mutual fulfillment in marriage.

Ultimately, overcoming lust requires a transformation of the heart, which only God can provide. We need the Holy Spirit to act as a spiritual pacemaker, keeping our hearts in rhythm with God's will. By seeking a new heart and a new spirit, we can live in a way that reflects God's love and righteousness, thereby qualifying for the kingdom of heaven.

###

Key Takeaways

1. given dignity and worth. This is contrary to God's design, which sees every person as fearfully and wonderfully made. We must learn to see others through God's eyes, recognizing their inherent value and purpose. [15:28]
3. Radical Action Against Sin: Jesus uses extreme language to emphasize the seriousness of dealing with sin. While not meant to be taken literally, His words call for radical action to combat sinful desires. This includes practical steps like self-discipline and seeking accountability to avoid falling into sin.

4. The Role of the Holy Spirit: Overcoming lust and other sinful desires requires a transformation of the heart, which only the Holy Spirit can provide. The Holy Spirit acts as a spiritual pacemaker, helping us stay in rhythm with God's will and producing the fruit of righteousness in our lives.

5. Living by God's Standard: The world often distorts our understanding of identity and self-worth, but Jesus calls us to a higher standard. Our identity should not be anchored in our sexuality but in our relationship with God. By living according to God's design and seeking His help, we can experience true freedom and fulfillment.

### [15:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:32] - Introduction: Jesus on Lust
[02:49] - Cultural Views on Adultery
[04:17] - Jesus' Standard of Righteousness
[05:33] - Sermon on the Mount Context
[06:54] - The Danger of Anger
[08:13] - The Impact of Sexual Messaging
[09:46] - Cultural Identity and Sexuality
[11:11] - Detaching from God's Moral Standard
[12:28] - The Rise of Modern Self
[13:58] - God's Standard of Perfection
[15:28] - Understanding Lust (Epithumia)
[17:01] - Objectifying Personas
[18:23] - The Problem with Pornography
[19:45] - Sinful Desires and Death
[20:58] - The Deception of Sin
[22:21] - The Consequences of Lust
[23:38] - The Message of Love
[24:53] - Three Ways to Overcome Lust
[26:18] - Put to Death Sinful Desires
[27:38] - Practical Advice for Singles and Married Couples
[29:01] - Fulfilling Marital Needs
[30:27] - See People as God Sees Them
[31:43] - The Importance of Recognition
[33:09] - Humanizing Others
[34:26] - Come to God for a New Heart
[35:47] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[37:22] - Practical Steps to Discipline
[38:55] - Guarding Your Heart
[40:21] - The Need for a Heart Transplant
[41:31] - Reflecting God's Love
[43:00] - Exceeding the Righteousness of the Pharisees
[44:46] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jesus say about the righteousness required to enter the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 5:20? How does this compare to the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees?
According to Matthew 5:27-28, how does Jesus redefine adultery? What does He say about lustful intent?
In Matthew 5:29-30, Jesus uses extreme language about plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand. What is the purpose of this hyperbole? [26:18]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize that true righteousness begins in the heart rather than just outward actions? How does this challenge common perceptions of righteousness? [04:17]
How does the cultural view of lust and self-expression conflict with Jesus' teachings on lust and adultery? What are the implications of this conflict for Christians today? [09:46]
What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping believers overcome lust and other sinful desires? How does the concept of the Holy Spirit as a "spiritual pacemaker" resonate with you? [34:26]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own thoughts and desires. Are there areas where you struggle with internal purity? What steps can you take to align your heart with God's standards? [04:17]
How do you typically view others in your daily interactions? Do you see them as fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image, or do you sometimes objectify them? How can you change your perspective to see others through God's eyes? [15:28]
Jesus calls for radical action against sin. What practical steps can you take to discipline yourself and avoid falling into sinful desires? Consider specific actions like accountability partners or avoiding certain media. [26:18]
The sermon mentioned the importance of mutual fulfillment in marriage to combat lust. If you are married, how can you and your spouse work together to meet each other's needs and maintain a healthy relationship? [27:38]
How can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform your heart and help you stay in rhythm with God's will? What practices can you incorporate into your daily life to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance? [34:26]
The world often distorts our understanding of identity and self-worth. How can you anchor your identity in your relationship with God rather than in cultural messages about sexuality? [12:28]
Think about a time when you felt the Holy Spirit's guidance in overcoming a temptation. How did that experience strengthen your faith, and how can you seek similar guidance in future struggles? [40:21]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The truth is, is that we're living in a time that there is literally no end to the barrage of sexual messaging, right? I mean, whether it's a billboard, social media, TV commercials, movies, I mean, markers have the idea. What is a marketer's job? They're to get your attention. So what do they do? They say, something like sex sells." [08:13] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God deserves our worship. God deserves to be loved. God loved us and created us for love and lust robs us of our identity. It robs us of love because it's exchanging. The right or right desire for something else. Bible calls us to a different standard. And we're that, you know what that standard is? It's ridiculous. It's, it's to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect." [12:28] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The message that Jesus came to preach is a message of love. Think about it. God is love. The whole message is about God's love for us, right? For God so loved the world. Isn't that one of our most important messages? Isn't that one of our most important scriptures? It's all this whole message from front to back is about a God who loved his people, who loved his creation and his creation didn't always love them back." [23:38] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We need the Holy Spirit to work in us, to produce the life of God in us, to receive God's promises, to receive his nature. And as Peter says, to escape the corruption that's in the world through lust. And the more we practice these things, the more we'll walk in love and not lust, the more we'll be empowered in times of temptation. Ultimately, when we do this, we'll stand out as real disciples of Jesus." [41:31] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "What would happen if we were that people? What happened if we decided to love like God loved, to walk as much as we possibly could in the ways of Jesus, so that everybody we came in contact to felt something different, experienced something different. And all they could say is, I don't understand. And they come to you and you say, listen, it's because of God. It's the love of God has been shed abroad in my heart through Jesus." [43:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "The problem is that many of us have a similar kind of approach to scripture. We have views on the Bible we have that you heard it said but often what we believe about the scripture and about hard topics we don't go all the way to what Jesus says we don't align ourselves to the whole counsel of God we kind of pull pieces out and pull parts out and develop whole ideas about topics and issues that fit our narrative." [04:17] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The Bible tells us that desire is never satisfied. And even further says in the end times that people are going to be lovers of pleasure more than they're lovers of God. And this is the world that we're living in. And this is why, uh, uh, you know, movies will often insert a scene so they can go from a rated PG 13 to rated R. Why? Because they know more people will watch a rated R movie." [08:13] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Epithumia is not referring to the first look, but to the second. The first look may be simple attraction, but the second look is leering. Lust does not value the person, but mere body parts. Epithumia is way more an attraction. It's sexual desire for the sake of gratification. It's the opposite of love. It devalues and degrades a person. Think about it. They're no longer a person that is fearfully and wonderfully made." [15:28] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The apostle Paul explained it in the context of self-discipline. He said we need discipline. He used the illustration of, and Olympics are coming up, he used the illustration of an athlete. And he said, listen, I want to run like an athlete does to win. He says, so when it comes to following Jesus, I train like an athlete does. He says, I discipline my body. Matter of fact, he uses the picture of a boxer and he says, I'm not shadow boxing. I'm not just punching the air. I'm trying to hit stuff." [26:18] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When you look at other people as objects to satisfy your desire you don't see them they're not humans to you anymore they're not people anymore but when you see them as fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of god it changes everything that's god's son that's god's daughter that's a human being who's been through things when you see them that way you see their value you see their potential you see their worth their sons their daughters their brothers their sisters their mothers their fathers they are men and women of purpose." [33:09] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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