WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.019 I know there's not a lot of children in here, but kids, if you happen to be listening, and especially young people, teenagers, young adults, this chapter, particularly for you young people, was explicitly written, spoken to young people. 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:23.039 That's the original audience. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:24.460 It applies to all of us. 00:00:24.699 --> 00:00:29.140 However, young people, this is as if it was custom made for you. 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:31.740 So listen very, very carefully. 00:00:31.899 --> 00:00:41.719 And kids, if you're listening, draw a picture, listen carefully, tell your mom and dad at least one thing that you learned from the sermon today. 00:00:42.140 --> 00:00:45.719 Let's pray together and ask God's blessing upon the preaching of his word. 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:53.859 You have exalted above all things your name and your word. 00:00:54.899 --> 00:00:58.200 Oh God, I'm so glad that verse is in my Bible. 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:05.859 Thank you that you have promised to exalt your name and your word above all things. 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:10.739 God, please do that today in our hearing. 00:01:11.659 --> 00:01:14.920 Exalt your name and your word in our minds and hearts. 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:17.200 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:23.780 Well, have you ever noticed that good things come in threes sometimes? 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:27.939 Red, blue, and yellow, primary colors. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:29.120 There's three of them. 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:34.280 Aramis, Athos, and Porthos, the three musketeers. 00:01:35.579 --> 00:01:38.280 Larry, Moe, and Curly, the three stooges. 00:01:39.739 --> 00:01:43.980 Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Martin Short, the three amigos. 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:47.700 Good things come in threes. 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:51.620 My grandmother had a rule of threes of her own. 00:01:53.039 --> 00:02:06.460 She, it was kind of her rule of thumb that if she heard something three times, about the same thing, about three times within the span of, you know, a couple of days or weeks, she's like, I think God's trying to get my attention. 00:02:06.459 --> 00:02:17.840 Regardless of how helpful that necessarily rule of thumb might be for our lives, three occurrences of something does sound like more than a coincidence, doesn't it? 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:30.580 Today's passage is not the first, not the second, but the third extended warning in the book of Proverbs against sexual immorality. 00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:35.000 And that's not even counting a little mini warning in chapter two. 00:02:36.540 --> 00:02:39.939 Now, if the Bible says something just once, we ought to pay attention. 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:47.500 But if it says something three times, with a lot of ink dedicated to it, we definitely ought to pay attention. 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:51.900 Now, let's remember why we're studying this book in the first place. 00:02:51.900 --> 00:03:00.120 Proverbs is a book dedicated to the training of God's people in the skill of living in a way that pleases God. 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:06.020 It is geared toward our concrete everyday lives. 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:13.240 It meets us in the kitchen, in the dining room, in the streets, in the sidewalks, in the grocery store, in the car. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:21.480 And one very, very important dimension of our daily concrete lives is our sexuality. 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:25.420 God made us sexual beings. 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:26.840 He likes it. 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:29.060 He's glad he made male and female. 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:31.040 He's glad he made sex. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:42.460 If it was a big deal to make sure you got sexuality right in Solomon's day, 900 years before Jesus, 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:48.040 then I think it's probably safe to say it might even be an even bigger deal for us today. 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:58.959 It doesn't really take a graduate degree in sociology to figure out that our society is obsessed with sexuality. 00:03:59.419 --> 00:04:04.659 It's in our music, our literature, our films, the celebrities we idolize, 00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:08.419 the abundantly available pornography that we manufacture, 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:19.180 and perhaps most concerningly the very flippant way that we feel that we can redefine our sexuality in whatever way suits our fancy. 00:04:20.139 --> 00:04:30.000 For the average ancient Israelites, there were limited ways where one could go astray from God's good design for sex, 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:40.139 which is supposed to be only in the confines of a heterosexual marriage, man, woman, together for life. 00:04:40.139 --> 00:04:45.939 But for the average 21st century American, the sky is the limit. 00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:53.399 It's kind of a choose-your-own-adventure book of how you want to find personal happiness through your sexuality. 00:04:54.479 --> 00:05:01.060 Now, please don't hear this as like some, you know, stuffy, puritanical guy bemoaning the good old days 00:05:01.060 --> 00:05:04.599 when it was easy to know what was right and wrong. 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:08.400 Just hear God's word this morning. 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:17.820 Hear an urgent plea from God's word for us to give heed to God's original design to be the creature he made you to be. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:23.620 He has a good and pleasing and satisfying path for us to walk in, 00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:28.580 and every other road that we would choose leads to self-destruction. 00:05:28.579 --> 00:05:38.039 That's why we must listen to the wisdom, the three-repeated wisdom that's in these God-breathed pages. 00:05:38.339 --> 00:05:43.659 So with that, let me give you just the main idea of this passage in Proverbs 7, 00:05:44.300 --> 00:05:46.919 which Tom just read for us, and then I'll unpack it from there. 00:05:47.039 --> 00:05:49.360 Here's what this passage is about today in a sentence. 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:55.740 Guarding God's wisdom will guard you from sexual self-destruction. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:06:08.199 In other words, if we diligently take God's word seriously, 00:06:08.840 --> 00:06:13.819 and we develop the skill of living well in the fear of the Lord in the world that he has made, 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:24.019 then that skill that's internalized within us will guard us from making decisions that are self-destructive sexually. 00:06:24.019 --> 00:06:33.419 And the way that this big idea gets communicated in this chapter is in the words of the wise father addressing his son. 00:06:34.359 --> 00:06:41.379 Now, the whole first half of the book of Proverbs is the father giving speeches one after another to his son, 00:06:41.419 --> 00:06:43.560 and this is actually the last one that we're going to hear. 00:06:44.039 --> 00:06:47.879 The next two chapters before we hit chapter 10 with all the different random Proverbs 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:53.240 are kind of a climactic celebration of wisdom. 00:06:53.420 --> 00:06:55.659 So this is his last speech to his son. 00:06:55.779 --> 00:06:57.199 That means we've got to listen really carefully. 00:06:57.980 --> 00:07:00.740 So there are three parts to his speech, three movements. 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:02.839 The first is the father's appeal. 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:05.079 That's in verses 1 to 5. 00:07:05.899 --> 00:07:09.139 Then the father's story, verses 6 to 23. 00:07:09.139 --> 00:07:13.579 And then the father's warning in verses 24 to 27. 00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:16.939 Let's first take a look at the father's appeal. 00:07:17.699 --> 00:07:19.560 And his appeal is very simple. 00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:22.300 Guard God's wisdom. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:24.779 Look at verses 1 to 5. 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:27.319 It's obvious that this is an appeal. 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:31.419 Notice the multiple commands the father gives his son. 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:32.740 Keep my words. 00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:34.159 Treasure up my commandments. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:35.159 Keep my commandments. 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:36.060 Keep my teaching. 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:37.199 Bind them on your fingers. 00:07:37.599 --> 00:07:38.879 Write them on the tablet of your heart. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:40.079 Say to wisdom this. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:41.819 Call insight that. 00:07:42.579 --> 00:07:45.819 This is a passionate paternal appeal. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:48.620 You can just feel the urgency in his voice. 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:49.959 Do this, son. 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:56.939 He's actively preparing his son for a temptation that is most certainly going to cross his path 00:07:56.939 --> 00:07:58.300 in the near future. 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:01.399 He's calling his son to urgent action. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:02.860 To train himself. 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:06.139 So that when the event comes upon him, he'll be ready. 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:09.279 But what training is he calling his son to? 00:08:09.479 --> 00:08:10.259 What kind of training? 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:16.379 Well, it's to guard his own words of wisdom, which are pointing the son to God's words. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:20.139 Notice that what the son is being urged to keep and guard. 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:23.120 My words, my commandments, and my teaching. 00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:30.159 Those last two words, commandments and teaching, are just basic synonyms for God's law in the 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:31.880 first five books of the Bible, the Torah. 00:08:33.560 --> 00:08:36.460 But how is the son supposed to do this? 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:40.920 How is he supposed to guard God's wisdom, the commandments and instruction? 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:42.240 Well, it's this. 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:46.899 He is to value and internalize God's word. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:51.040 He is to value and internalize God's word. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:51.740 Look at verse 2. 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:55.120 Keep my teaching as the apple of your eye. 00:08:55.379 --> 00:09:00.480 The apple of the eye refers to the pupil, which is the innermost part of the most tender 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:02.379 and precious organ of our body. 00:09:03.700 --> 00:09:05.480 I love to wrestle with my kids. 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:07.200 It's one of our most favorite pastimes. 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:09.100 It's getting increasingly more painful. 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:13.960 And they love wrestling with me because they see it's getting increasingly more painful. 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:18.879 One of my kids, who will remain nameless, goes right for my eyes. 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:21.560 The kid is just like zeroed in. 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:22.740 He knows my weak spot. 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:25.820 And so he just brings his nails to my eyes. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:26.460 And I go, wow. 00:09:26.680 --> 00:09:28.080 I close my eyes instinctively. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:32.240 I cover my face because I really want my eyes to be protected. 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:34.360 I can't let them get hurt. 00:09:35.280 --> 00:09:37.280 We always do that with our eyes. 00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:38.040 They're very precious. 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:45.939 And that's how passionately the father wants the son to guard God's wisdom as the most valuable 00:09:45.939 --> 00:09:47.039 thing in his heart. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:52.159 The most tender and precious thing has to be God's word in his heart. 00:09:52.299 --> 00:09:57.219 Just like we guard the apple of our eye, we want to guard God's words in our hearts. 00:09:57.299 --> 00:10:00.259 If we lose our eyes, we lose everything. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:04.659 If we lose God's words in our hearts, we lose everything. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:11.679 We must fight to learn the discipline of valuing God's word and putting it in the supreme place 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:13.459 of affection in our lives. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:18.259 And he also wants the son, therefore, to internalize God's word. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:21.179 When we value something, we bring it close. 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:22.039 We bring it in. 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:23.299 Look at verse 3. 00:10:23.719 --> 00:10:25.179 Bind them on your fingers. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:27.459 Write them on the tablet of your heart. 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:35.340 This speaks to the need to memorize and to digest God's word consistently, to get it in us, 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:39.340 to maintain a steady diet of God's truth and wisdom. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:43.900 The binding on the fingers just refers to the old practice, before we had smartphones to 00:10:43.900 --> 00:10:48.180 remind us of these things, of tying a string around your finger so you would remember to 00:10:48.180 --> 00:10:48.720 do something. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:54.940 It's to get a physical reminder in front of you of, oh yeah, God's word, it's right there. 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:55.840 It's right in front of me. 00:10:55.899 --> 00:10:59.200 It's a reminder to get God's word physically in front of you often. 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:06.100 And as he gets God's words and wisdom in front of him, the son will also, therefore, write 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:08.480 God's commands on the tablet of his heart. 00:11:08.560 --> 00:11:10.700 He'll internalize their truth. 00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:12.240 It will become a part of him. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:15.620 It will be infused into his very personality, his values. 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:20.560 And then the father says a funny thing to kind of cap it all off in verse four. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:23.279 Say to wisdom, you are my sister. 00:11:23.899 --> 00:11:25.639 Call insight your intimate friend. 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:32.899 This is how much the father wants the son to value and internalize his God's wisdom. 00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:35.679 He wants him to marry wisdom. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:42.659 Vatican biblical times, instead of calling your wife honey or dear, you could call her sister. 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:46.799 It was kind of like a term of endearment. 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:49.860 And that is what the father is proposing the son do. 00:11:50.299 --> 00:11:57.219 Get so close to God's way of living that if God's way of living were a girl, you could marry her. 00:11:58.419 --> 00:12:01.959 Get intimate with the skill of living well in God's world. 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:07.480 You've probably heard a child taunt another child on the playground who has just confessed 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:08.720 that they love ice cream. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:11.800 Oh yeah, if you love it so much, why don't you marry it? 00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:15.340 Well, I've heard that before. 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:17.860 That's basically what the father is saying. 00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:21.860 Son, I want you to love God's wisdom so much that if she were a woman, you'd marry her. 00:12:23.040 --> 00:12:23.779 But why? 00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.259 What's so much at stake? 00:12:25.420 --> 00:12:26.139 Look at verse five. 00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:31.899 To keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:33.700 Do you see the play on words there? 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:39.000 Keep God's commandments, and God's commandments will keep you from her. 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:43.060 Ah, now we see the urgency. 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:44.340 Now we see the reason. 00:12:45.020 --> 00:12:50.860 He sees a horrific danger looming very close in the young man's path that the young man doesn't see. 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:56.539 And he's saying he knows that nothing but God's internalized wisdom in the young man's heart, 00:12:56.800 --> 00:13:03.379 incorporated into his core of his personality, will prevent him from getting massacred in the path. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:11.860 And now, as he's appealed to him, now he switches gears to make his appeal come home. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:15.960 He uses a parent's most effective teaching tool. 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:17.460 This is for you, Mary Jo. 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:18.740 Storytelling. 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:21.120 He tells a story. 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:25.799 Stories are very effective, and this one is particularly effective to teach. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:29.759 So now let's turn to the father's story in verses six to twenty-three. 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:36.440 This story is the sad tale of sexual self-destruction. 00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:41.139 We're going to move quickly through three parts of this story. 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:47.220 There's a gullible guy, a treacherous temptress, and a frightful fate. 00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:49.840 I employed some alliteration just so you can remember it. 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:53.820 A gullible guy, a treacherous temptress, and a frightful fate. 00:13:53.920 --> 00:13:56.860 Look first at the gullible guy in verses six to nine. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:03.960 The father starts telling this story in verse six as if this is a situation he has just personally observed. 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:09.660 He was looking out his upstairs window one day, and he happened to see this whole scene unfold. 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:17.379 And what he sees is a young man who is among the other simple young men who was in the city, 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.800 and this young man was lacking sense. 00:14:20.019 --> 00:14:22.580 Literally, in Hebrew, he was lacking heart. 00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:24.080 Keep that in mind. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:28.780 In Proverbs, the simple, they aren't hardened fools. 00:14:28.920 --> 00:14:36.040 They're not desperately wicked, but they're in danger of making bad decisions because they have badly formed character. 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.700 They are in need of wisdom. 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:46.280 They're in need of writing God's commands on their hearts, binding his commands to their fingers. 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:49.080 When it comes to evil, they are gullible. 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:55.180 They are easily swayed to do wrong because they lack the right heart toward God. 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:57.360 So here we have this gullible guy. 00:14:57.639 --> 00:15:02.940 He's walking down the street, and that street just happens to be going by her house. 00:15:04.400 --> 00:15:09.040 In the text, there's no indication that the guy necessarily was going there on purpose. 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:13.860 It's possible, but the author's not trying to really direct our focus that way. 00:15:14.020 --> 00:15:16.640 He's just kind of minding his own business, wandering along his way. 00:15:17.520 --> 00:15:18.740 But it's dark. 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:19.920 Look at verse 9. 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.720 It's dusk. 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.420 It's in the twilight. 00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:26.540 Darkness and night are quickly closing in. 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:32.040 That is a literary way to say bad things be a coming. 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:36.940 It's also a way to say bad things are going to happen under the cover of darkness, 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:41.000 and this bad thing is going to really affect this guy very badly. 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:44.180 And now, who comes on the scene? 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:47.960 Verse 10, the treacherous temptress. 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:54.520 The word behold in verse 10 is meant to arrest our attention and focus us on this woman. 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:58.540 The father wants us to notice some particular things about her. 00:15:58.860 --> 00:16:02.980 First, she is perversely self-promoting. 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:08.560 She's calling attention to herself in her appearance and in her manner. 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:10.200 She's dressed as a prostitute. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:12.259 She initiates the meeting. 00:16:12.420 --> 00:16:13.700 She jumps out of the shadows. 00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:16.379 She accosts the gullible guy. 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:23.559 She is asserting herself, trying to entice him visually and with her words and with her manner. 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:29.779 Verse 13, she is very assertive to this gullible guy, grabs him and kisses him. 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:32.740 She boldly announces her presence and her intention. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.860 So she's perversely self-promoting. 00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:37.980 Secondly, she's got ulterior motives. 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:48.899 In verse 10, we see she's wily of heart, carrying hidden motives that this gullible guy can't see because all he sees is the flashy exterior. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.360 Look to it, verse 11 and verse 12. 00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.500 She's shifty. 00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:53.779 She moves here. 00:16:53.920 --> 00:16:54.620 She moves there. 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.899 She's offering herself on this corner. 00:16:56.899 --> 00:17:01.759 Now on the next, she's lurking around to snatch a gullible guy, any gullible guy. 00:17:02.699 --> 00:17:10.980 She's not content with her assigned role as a wife and a caretaker of a household, but she is driven by her selfish lust. 00:17:11.879 --> 00:17:14.720 She doesn't care about her husband being faithful to him. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:17.019 She doesn't care about the well-being of this young man. 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:19.879 She just wants to do what she wants to do. 00:17:20.879 --> 00:17:26.740 Third, she emphasizes the pleasure and downplays the consequences. 00:17:27.540 --> 00:17:30.759 She emphasizes the pleasure and downplays the consequences. 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:31.720 Look at verse 18. 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:37.580 She invites him to a feast of lovemaking, emphasizing how delightful it will be. 00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:44.740 And then, as if to head off any objection in his mind of getting caught by her husband, she says in verse 19, 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:45.500 Oh, my husband? 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.259 Oh, he's long gone. 00:17:47.560 --> 00:17:48.680 He's gone for a few weeks. 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.480 He's far away. 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.580 He'll never know. 00:17:50.860 --> 00:17:53.620 Nothing bad could ever come of this. 00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:57.779 So she emphasizes the pleasure, downplays the consequences. 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:00.599 And we don't really know if she's telling the truth or not. 00:18:01.679 --> 00:18:08.299 Lastly, and most deadly, her flattering speech appeals to his appetites and his pride. 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:21.119 Notice that the father gives just four verses to kind of describe her approach, and then seven verses of her own speech. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:24.399 That sounds very enticing to this gullible guy. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:27.959 That's what the father has warned the son about back in verse 5. 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:31.079 Her smooth words, her flattering speech. 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:34.240 And it's also what he says in verse 21. 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:36.839 It's what finally gets the guy in the end. 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:38.599 Her seductive speech. 00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:41.000 Sorry for giving away the end. 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.779 I figured you'd guess it by now. 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:47.819 She starts by laying out this banquet of sensual appeal. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:50.019 She's appealing to his appetite. 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:52.279 She starts with his literal appetite for food. 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:54.259 That's what verse 14 is about. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:57.679 She says, I've had to offer sacrifices. 00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:59.059 I've paid my vows today. 00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:01.179 We're like, what's that got to do with anything? 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:07.899 In the law, in the law of Moses, there were some food sacrifices for some offerings that you would make at the temple. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:09.460 And you offer it to the priest. 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:11.139 And then he offers it to God. 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:13.740 And then he returns part of it to you. 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:16.379 And it had to be consumed that very day. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:20.679 So basically, what she's saying is, hey, good looking. 00:19:20.919 --> 00:19:21.539 Are you hungry? 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:23.359 I got some food to eat. 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:25.000 And I need somebody to help me eat it. 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:27.139 So first is the appeal to his stomach. 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:32.000 But after the initial hook with food, she starts hinting at something more. 00:19:32.800 --> 00:19:33.820 Well, not just hinting. 00:19:34.280 --> 00:19:35.920 The soft coverings on the bed. 00:19:36.540 --> 00:19:38.740 The visual appeal of colored linens. 00:19:39.020 --> 00:19:41.759 The lavish aromas of spices on the sheets. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:48.480 She's inviting him to a feast for all of his senses, including his sexual appetite. 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:52.200 But her speech doesn't just snag his appetites. 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.920 It snags his ego. 00:19:55.019 --> 00:20:01.660 She's particularly good at appealing to the gullible guy's own sense of self and vanity. 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:09.120 Makes him think that she might put all this forethought into preparing an evening of pleasure for him and him alone. 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.360 Look at verse 15. 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.079 It's just sick. 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.799 She says you so many times. 00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:16.179 Now I've come out to meet you, you big strong guy. 00:20:16.399 --> 00:20:18.159 To seek you eagerly. 00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:19.839 And now I've found you. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:23.019 She's like, you're the one I've been looking at. 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:24.460 I've been spying you out for weeks. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.519 It appeals to his pride. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:33.699 But the father knows, as he's telling this story, he's seen her do this before. 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:38.799 Back up in verses 11 and 12, she's constantly on the lookout for any guy. 00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:40.299 It's not just him. 00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:44.160 He just happens to be the one because he's a poor sap who wandered by her door. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:46.660 And he's brainless enough to let her keep talking. 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:53.480 Finally, look at this gullible guy's frightful fate in verse 21 to 23. 00:20:54.580 --> 00:20:58.200 Just the sheer volume of her flattering speech has worn him down. 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:02.200 And this gullible guy is without heart and without moral strength. 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:07.080 It comes from internalizing God's wisdom, so he finally gives in. 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:13.900 And all of a sudden, as he follows her into the house, he doesn't realize, look at verse 22 and 23, 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:16.200 that his life is now over. 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:23.680 The ox doesn't realize its life is over when it happily trots toward the slaughterhouse. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:30.120 The stag doesn't realize that its life is over when it steps into a trap and a hunter releases the arrow. 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:35.460 The gullible guy is like the bird flying quickly and carefree into a snare. 00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:39.320 He doesn't realize it will cost him his life. 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.440 It's a powerful story. 00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:48.539 His observations of the situation, his understanding of the characters are profound. 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:50.000 It's very worthy of our attention. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:52.500 And it leaves us feeling sick. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:58.060 That this terrible fate would befall this poor guy. 00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:01.420 We're horrified at what is happening. 00:22:01.560 --> 00:22:07.680 And to be honest, we're slightly shameful because there's parts of us that are intrigued by what this woman is offering. 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:12.299 And then we realize what a horror that leads to if we say yes to it. 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:18.060 Well, let's listen as the father finishes up with his third movement of his speech. 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:21.960 Let's look at the father's warning in verses 24 to 27. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:24.240 Now, sons, listen to me. 00:22:24.620 --> 00:22:26.340 Be attentive to the words of my mouth. 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:28.660 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways. 00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:30.519 Do not stray into her paths. 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:32.660 For many a victim she has laid low. 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:35.220 And all her slain are a mighty throng. 00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:39.779 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:45.980 What's the warning the father wants us to listen to so importantly? 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:53.059 Don't let your heart, there's that word again, turn aside to her ways. 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:55.059 Don't stray into her paths. 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:59.200 If you haven't noticed, the heart plays an important role in this chapter. 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:02.000 Back up in verse 3, the father says, 00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:07.720 Son, make sure God's words, God's wisdom are inscribed on your heart. 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:09.680 They're written into the core of who you are. 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:13.160 Make sure that they are internalized. 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:18.799 And then back in verse 7, we're told that this gullible guy did not have that kind of heart. 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:22.100 Literally, he's not just lacking sense, he's lacking heart. 00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:28.000 He lacks a strong moral core that's reinforced by the rebar of God's wisdom. 00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:32.719 And therefore, he falls prey to the woman who has a wily heart. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:37.699 A crafty core that's driven by sinful motives. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:42.019 This warning of the father is directed to the core of who we are. 00:23:42.659 --> 00:23:43.500 To our hearts. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:47.719 Solomon's already warned us back in chapter 4, verse 23. 00:23:48.179 --> 00:23:49.799 Guard your heart. 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:53.559 Tend to your heart with all vigilance. 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:54.519 Why? 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:58.960 Because your heart is the control center of your life. 00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:04.960 It's the control tower where all the decisions get made based on what you love. 00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:07.859 Based on what you want. 00:24:08.379 --> 00:24:11.460 Based on what you desire and have affection for. 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:17.519 We must, we must pay diligent attention to our wants. 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:19.379 To our desires. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:21.619 To what is in our hearts. 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:26.920 The gullible guy made a decision in his control tower. 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.400 In his heart. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:32.500 Because the treacherous temptress won over his desire. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:35.960 And she hijacked his heart. 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:43.139 In other words, our hearts is the seat of all of our affection and desires. 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:46.820 James 1 has great insight on this. 00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:55.840 James says, each person is tempted when he is lured, just like the gullible guy was, and enticed by his own desire. 00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:59.540 Then desire, when it is conceived and gives birth to sin. 00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:04.059 And then sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:08.180 Parenting has given me a front row seat to this process. 00:25:09.399 --> 00:25:13.440 My son's attention gets focused on a toy that his sister has. 00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:17.899 And you can almost see, because kids aren't good at disguising their desires, 00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:23.839 you can almost see, jumping out of his heart, the desire, and it goes onto his face. 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:26.240 His eyebrows narrow, his mouth tightens. 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:31.480 That desire has already shifted from a want to a must-have. 00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:38.639 And the desire has now conceived, and it's giving birth to the sin of envy and covetousness. 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:42.019 And it's going to get grown up real fast into violent hate. 00:25:42.639 --> 00:25:45.199 It happens like that in a human heart. 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:48.899 And it kind of makes us smile, that story, because it's familiar to us. 00:25:48.959 --> 00:25:51.079 We see that happen in kids all the time. 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:55.639 But don't we also know that process in our own hearts? 00:25:56.819 --> 00:26:03.000 If we do not pay close attention to our wants, to our desires, to question them, 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:04.899 to assess them in the light of God's word, 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:08.259 then those desires quickly get directed to the wrong objects, 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:13.139 sin gets conceived, grows up, and gives birth to death-like consequences. 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:15.720 So here, the father warns his sons, 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:19.819 Watch your desires. 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:22.579 Guard your hearts. 00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:26.379 Make sure your heart is internalized God's wisdom, 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:29.059 so that you can ward off the defense, 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:35.000 or the seductions of lustful desire. 00:26:36.399 --> 00:26:38.200 And we see why in verse 27. 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:42.399 Her house is not the doorway to delight. 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:44.599 It is an entrance to hell. 00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:48.500 Her embrace does not bring ecstasy. 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.819 It brings agony. 00:26:51.219 --> 00:26:55.099 The treacherous temptress who promises life can only bring death. 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:57.299 And by the way, son, the father is telling his son, 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.500 you wouldn't be the first. 00:26:58.879 --> 00:27:02.599 History is littered with the corpses of those that she has brought low. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:05.459 It's telling that the very last word of this chapter 00:27:05.459 --> 00:27:08.639 is the doom of those who don't have enough heart to resist her. 00:27:09.139 --> 00:27:09.500 Death. 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:13.900 I didn't touch on it earlier, but look back to verse 2. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.619 We feel the full effect of this now. 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:18.279 The father's appeal is to guard God's wisdom. 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:18.819 Why? 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.700 Look at verse 2. 00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:22.640 Keep my commandments and live. 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:25.039 He doesn't want his son to die. 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.660 He wants his son to live. 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:32.800 And if we do not actively guard and protect and treasure and delight God's good words 00:27:32.800 --> 00:27:35.580 that bring freedom, our desires will bring us to death. 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.759 Let's hear this warning. 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:41.300 Let's listen to this appeal, brothers and sisters. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:43.380 It is life to us. 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:47.640 Guard God's wisdom in the central control tower of your life, 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.500 and you will live. 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:53.440 Now, how are we going to respond to this? 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:56.779 I'm guessing some of you might be thinking something like this. 00:27:57.320 --> 00:27:58.640 Well, Billy, this is really good, 00:27:58.779 --> 00:28:03.799 but I don't really get propositioned by wily adulteresses in the street every day. 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:07.539 So, it's good, I guess, to know in case that happens, 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:09.259 but what do I do with this? 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.240 Well, it's true. 00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:13.380 That doesn't happen to us every day or ever. 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:18.140 The wise father is actually less concerned about the temptress, 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:22.259 and he's more concerned about our temptable hearts. 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:30.279 The woman in this story is representative of a danger that lurks inside us, 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:34.460 that every single one of us faces daily, even hourly. 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:37.480 It is the danger of lustful desire. 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:42.180 From the look on my son's face when he wants a toy that his sister has, 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:47.640 or to a schoolboy or schoolgirl's ache 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:50.440 for longing to be popular or recognized, 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:53.600 to the hint of jealousy in your heart 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:56.299 when a co-worker gets the raise and you don't, 00:28:57.279 --> 00:29:00.160 or to the second look you give to an attractive body 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:02.799 you're seeing walk down the street or on a magazine cover, 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:06.700 the human heart is constantly flitting 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:10.080 between overgrown and misdirected desires 00:29:10.080 --> 00:29:11.440 that give birth to sin, 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:13.740 and if allowed, will grow into death itself. 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:18.059 And it all started back in the garden. 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:22.220 There's an extraordinary amount of similarity 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:25.319 between the treacherous temptress 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:27.779 and the seductive serpent in the garden. 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:29.680 When Satan confronted Eve, 00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:31.579 he too had ulterior motives. 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:34.940 He had terrible motives to cause as much destruction 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:37.759 to God's image bearers as he could for his own self-promotion. 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:40.700 He too emphasized the pleasure 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:42.700 and downplayed the consequences. 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:45.759 He said, you will not surely die, 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.220 downplay the consequences, 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:49.240 and emphasized the pleasure. 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:51.420 Rather, you will become like God, 00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:52.680 knowing good and evil. 00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:56.359 And he too used flattering speech 00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:59.579 to appeal to Eve's appetites and her pride. 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:03.539 She saw that the fruit was beautiful with her eyes, 00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:06.180 she anticipated its wondrous taste, 00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.840 and she saw in her heart 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:11.279 it was to be desired to make her wise. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.000 And then all of a sudden, 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.820 like an ox to the slaughterhouse, 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.600 like a stag in the trap, 00:30:17.060 --> 00:30:18.240 and like a bird in the snare, 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:19.400 she grabbed the fruit 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:21.500 and acted out of her desire 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.960 and gave birth to sin. 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:25.860 And she did not know it was going to cost her her life 00:30:25.860 --> 00:30:29.400 and lead to the death of billions of her children. 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:33.259 All because of lustful desire. 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:35.440 And it lurks within. 00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:37.900 You see, dear friends, 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:40.360 our hearts, the control towers of our lives, 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:41.720 have a fundamental flaw. 00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:46.660 We were originally made to find our greatest joy in God. 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:51.500 To be satisfied with him every moment of the day, 00:30:51.600 --> 00:30:53.620 who is our good creator, our ruler. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:55.980 He is our exceeding joy. 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:57.620 He is our highest good. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:00.200 He is our source of life and happiness 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:01.279 in every good gift. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:03.619 Every good thing you have experienced 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:05.000 since you woke up this morning 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:07.559 is a kind gift from the creator 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:09.220 and the father of lights. 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:12.899 But because of this horrible deed in the garden, 00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:16.259 our hearts follow the pattern of our ancestors 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:19.619 and they seek to find our own definition of good and evil 00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.799 apart from God. 00:31:21.139 --> 00:31:23.819 We believe that our greatest good is worshiping self, 00:31:23.899 --> 00:31:24.680 not God, 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:27.220 and placing self on the throne of our hearts, 00:31:27.379 --> 00:31:28.019 not God. 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:31.019 We hunger not for God's glory, 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.319 but for self-glory. 00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:33.379 And therefore, 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.619 the desires of our hearts 00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:36.900 naturally flow out of an orientation 00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:38.819 towards serving and glorifying self, 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.599 not serving and glorifying God. 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:42.759 And this is true for all desires. 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:45.519 All desires of the human heart, 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.160 in one sense, 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:47.339 are to be suspected, 00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:48.220 to be suspect, 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:50.680 because of this orientation of our hearts. 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.019 They get hijacked. 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.619 Hijacked. 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:55.259 What were originally meant to good 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.980 to become hijacked to serve self. 00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:59.799 But it's also particularly true 00:31:59.799 --> 00:32:00.879 of our sexual desires. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.480 We fundamentally believe 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:05.799 that our sexual desires should serve self 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:07.299 as acts of self-worship, 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:09.019 not a grateful gift 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:10.960 that we receive from our good creator, 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.039 who, by the way, 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:13.579 owns the copyright for sex. 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.660 It's his idea, 00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:15.440 and he loves it. 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:19.080 But the more delightful the gift is, 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:20.920 the more horrific the consequences 00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.900 of corrupting it. 00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:25.059 This is why unholy sexual desires 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.180 are so strong, 00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:28.460 and its consequences are so destructive, 00:32:28.860 --> 00:32:30.559 just as the Father warned the Son 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.160 in the chapter. 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:33.400 The internal shame and guilt, 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:35.539 the loss of reputation to others, 00:32:35.900 --> 00:32:37.620 the weakening of our moral resolve, 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:40.820 the potential loss of family or our jobs, 00:32:41.080 --> 00:32:42.360 all of these are on the table 00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:43.820 when it comes to saying yes 00:32:43.820 --> 00:32:44.779 to the forbidden woman. 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:47.559 And many of you know 00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:49.440 the death-like sting 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:52.140 of these consequences of sexual sin. 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:54.500 You felt them because of your own sin. 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:56.640 You felt them because of the sin of others. 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.380 And that sting is real 00:32:58.380 --> 00:33:00.860 because our sin is that bad. 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:02.420 Our unholy desires 00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:05.059 really do lead to self-destruction. 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:07.960 And that would be the end of the story, friends. 00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.640 That's where we would stay. 00:33:12.080 --> 00:33:12.860 We would be facing 00:33:12.860 --> 00:33:15.200 the death-like consequences of our sin 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:16.559 sexual or not. 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:21.160 If someone had not come 00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:25.900 whose desires were perfectly holy and right. 00:33:26.860 --> 00:33:28.500 Psalm 40 puts words 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:30.279 in the mouth of this someone. 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:32.120 Behold, I have come. 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.799 In the scroll of the book 00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.600 it is written of me, 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:36.759 I delight to do your will. 00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:38.319 Oh my God, listen. 00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:40.580 Your law is within my heart. 00:33:40.579 --> 00:33:42.679 When Jesus came, 00:33:42.899 --> 00:33:45.119 his heart was fully controlled 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:46.439 by a desire to delight 00:33:46.439 --> 00:33:48.220 in God's will above all else. 00:33:48.699 --> 00:33:50.159 He submitted his desires 00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:51.819 completely to the Father's will, 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:53.199 delighted in the Father, 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:55.399 obeying him and loving him, 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.919 being satisfied in him 00:33:56.919 --> 00:33:58.079 his entire life. 00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.859 And he delighted so much 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.720 in the Father's will 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:02.079 that he obeyed it 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:03.159 all the way to the cross. 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:06.920 He knew it would cost him 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:07.860 his life 00:34:07.860 --> 00:34:12.039 so that we could be forgiven 00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.200 and healed. 00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:16.440 We should be horrified 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:18.639 by the frightful fate 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.680 of the gullible guy 00:34:19.680 --> 00:34:21.619 because of his sexual sin. 00:34:21.720 --> 00:34:23.019 But we should be equally, 00:34:23.220 --> 00:34:24.400 if not more, horrified 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:26.019 by the frightful fate 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:28.039 of the morally perfect God-man, 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:28.840 Jesus Christ, 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:29.700 who was crucified 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:31.359 for our sexual sin. 00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:32.939 When I think 00:34:32.939 --> 00:34:34.859 how Jesus chose 00:34:34.859 --> 00:34:35.859 to endure 00:34:35.859 --> 00:34:37.119 the Father's burning wrath 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:38.759 for my perverse 00:34:38.759 --> 00:34:40.279 sexual desires, 00:34:40.399 --> 00:34:41.699 it makes me tremble 00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:42.639 at the horror 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.739 of my own sin 00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:45.119 and the tenacity 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.399 of his love for me. 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:49.819 Every time we say yes 00:34:49.819 --> 00:34:50.879 to the forbidden 00:34:50.879 --> 00:34:51.719 lustful desires 00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.319 of our hearts, 00:34:52.359 --> 00:34:53.099 it's an affront 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:54.379 to God. 00:34:54.919 --> 00:34:56.519 Every image we lust over, 00:34:56.919 --> 00:34:58.039 every sexual imagination 00:34:58.039 --> 00:34:58.819 we have 00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.480 with someone 00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:00.539 that we're not married to, 00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:02.059 every thought or act 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:02.760 that's calculated 00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:03.720 to get us noticed 00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.220 by someone 00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:05.200 who's not our spouse, 00:35:05.580 --> 00:35:06.860 it's relenting 00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.940 to the flattering speech 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:08.800 of the forbidden woman. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.740 And Christ died for all. 00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:17.000 He found a way. 00:35:17.720 --> 00:35:18.740 God, in his mercy 00:35:18.740 --> 00:35:19.400 and his grace, 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.559 found a way for us 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.340 to be forgiven, 00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:22.780 cleansed, 00:35:22.780 --> 00:35:23.580 and healed. 00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:26.260 So, dear friends, 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:28.240 hear the appeal 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:29.179 of wisdom today. 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.659 Here, there are three 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.539 brief ways 00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:33.000 I just want you 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:33.759 to consider acting 00:35:33.759 --> 00:35:34.559 on God's word today. 00:35:35.759 --> 00:35:36.239 First, 00:35:36.759 --> 00:35:37.879 hold your heart up 00:35:37.879 --> 00:35:38.339 to the light 00:35:38.339 --> 00:35:39.059 of God's word 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:40.399 and confess 00:35:40.399 --> 00:35:41.659 any lustful desires 00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.919 that you find there. 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:44.819 Pray like David did 00:35:44.819 --> 00:35:45.939 in Psalm 139. 00:35:46.459 --> 00:35:47.559 Search me, O God, 00:35:47.779 --> 00:35:49.459 know my heart. 00:35:50.439 --> 00:35:51.119 Try me 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:52.259 and know my thoughts. 00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:53.319 See if there's 00:35:53.319 --> 00:35:54.599 any grievous way in me 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.539 and lead me 00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:56.659 in the way everlasting. 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.019 Ask God 00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:58.920 to weigh your heart 00:35:58.920 --> 00:36:00.319 to give you godly sorrow 00:36:00.319 --> 00:36:01.659 over the lustful desires 00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:02.299 of your heart 00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:03.480 that lead you 00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:05.039 into self-destructive decisions. 00:36:05.819 --> 00:36:07.039 This is especially true 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.639 for unholy sexual desires, 00:36:08.799 --> 00:36:09.880 but it is also true 00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:10.860 of other desires 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:11.860 that you are allowing 00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:13.139 to have too much control 00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:14.199 over your heart. 00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.299 Secondly, 00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:16.559 if there is sin 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.019 to confess, 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:18.719 find someone else 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.559 to confess it to. 00:36:20.279 --> 00:36:21.519 Confess it to your spouse 00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:22.719 if you have sinned 00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:24.019 against him or her 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.059 by desiring 00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:26.900 someone else sexually 00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:28.300 or acting on that desire. 00:36:29.239 --> 00:36:30.280 Find another person 00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:31.300 in the church 00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:32.340 of the same gender 00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:34.079 to confess that to as well 00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:35.420 so as James says 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.780 that they may pray for you 00:36:36.780 --> 00:36:37.900 and you may be healed. 00:36:39.619 --> 00:36:40.679 We need each other 00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:42.639 to fight this fight together. 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:43.840 And speaking of the fight, 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.400 lastly, 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:47.059 fight lustful desire 00:36:47.059 --> 00:36:49.099 with Godward desire. 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:50.980 There's a pastor 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.920 named Eric Raymond 00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:52.719 out in Boston. 00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:54.219 He wrote a really helpful article 00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:56.059 called Fighting Lust with Lust. 00:36:56.759 --> 00:36:57.739 And what he means by that 00:36:57.739 --> 00:36:59.980 is fight unholy desire 00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:01.239 with holy desire. 00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:02.779 I posted it 00:37:02.779 --> 00:37:05.659 on the Facebook community board. 00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:07.339 If you're not on that, 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:08.759 then if you want to see it, 00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:09.339 email me. 00:37:09.699 --> 00:37:10.659 It's really, really helpful. 00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:12.619 And what he says is 00:37:12.619 --> 00:37:14.420 the only way you can effectively 00:37:14.420 --> 00:37:15.259 win a battle 00:37:15.259 --> 00:37:16.639 against unholy desires 00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:17.799 is by filling your heart 00:37:17.799 --> 00:37:18.619 with holy desire. 00:37:19.099 --> 00:37:21.480 You were built 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:22.420 to desire 00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:23.319 and be satisfied 00:37:23.319 --> 00:37:24.579 by God and God alone. 00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:27.259 And if that 00:37:27.259 --> 00:37:28.420 is present 00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:29.079 in your heart, 00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:30.259 at least in small measure, 00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:31.000 in growing, 00:37:31.819 --> 00:37:32.519 then your heart 00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:33.420 will be able 00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:34.099 to fight 00:37:34.099 --> 00:37:35.599 unholy desires 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:36.440 because you've tasted 00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:37.380 the true goodness 00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:38.719 of true delight 00:37:38.719 --> 00:37:39.779 in God himself. 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:43.279 The best way 00:37:43.279 --> 00:37:44.460 and most primary way 00:37:44.460 --> 00:37:44.860 to do this 00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:45.880 is by communing 00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:46.519 with your God 00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:47.679 in his word 00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.380 and in prayer. 00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:49.900 there's just no substitute 00:37:49.900 --> 00:37:51.079 for encountering 00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:52.200 the living God's 00:37:52.200 --> 00:37:53.059 love for you 00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:53.619 in Christ 00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:54.720 in the pages 00:37:54.720 --> 00:37:55.619 of his word 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.800 and then responding 00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:57.519 back to him 00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:58.200 in prayer. 00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:59.119 But there's another way 00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:00.340 that I want to encourage you 00:38:00.340 --> 00:38:01.720 to pursue. 00:38:01.960 --> 00:38:03.019 It's a daily thing 00:38:03.019 --> 00:38:04.000 and I'm learning 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:04.440 the discipline 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:05.119 of doing this. 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.500 It's to delight 00:38:06.500 --> 00:38:07.380 yourself in God 00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:08.059 in and through 00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:08.980 his good gifts 00:38:08.980 --> 00:38:09.800 that you receive 00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:10.619 from him every day. 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:12.739 every sip of coffee, 00:38:13.359 --> 00:38:14.519 every ray of sunlight 00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:15.679 coming through the trees, 00:38:16.279 --> 00:38:17.539 every song of a bird, 00:38:18.119 --> 00:38:19.299 every sound of laughter 00:38:19.299 --> 00:38:20.500 of friends or family, 00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:21.619 every meal. 00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:23.019 It's a channel 00:38:23.019 --> 00:38:24.839 that God has given you 00:38:24.839 --> 00:38:26.179 to give thanks to him 00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:27.000 and to enjoy him 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.839 for his good gifts. 00:38:28.339 --> 00:38:29.519 And by doing so, 00:38:29.579 --> 00:38:30.599 it weakens 00:38:30.599 --> 00:38:32.420 the unholy desires 00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:32.940 of your heart 00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.519 because you start 00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.299 to taste and see 00:38:34.299 --> 00:38:35.079 that the Lord himself 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:35.599 is good 00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:36.799 and the only thing 00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:37.519 that's good for you. 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:38.340 So find your heart 00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:39.400 satisfaction in him 00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:40.619 through your spouse, 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:41.960 through a good book, 00:38:42.380 --> 00:38:43.039 through a cold glass 00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:43.500 of water, 00:38:43.679 --> 00:38:44.380 through friends, 00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:45.579 through a fresh breeze 00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:46.239 on your face. 00:38:46.820 --> 00:38:47.340 We were made 00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:48.099 to delight in him 00:38:48.099 --> 00:38:48.900 at all times, 00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:49.820 even in our work. 00:38:51.239 --> 00:38:52.179 So keep your heart 00:38:52.179 --> 00:38:53.800 steadily gazing at him 00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:55.380 and you will live 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:56.739 and not die. 00:38:58.420 --> 00:38:59.340 Good things come 00:38:59.340 --> 00:38:59.840 in threes, 00:39:00.739 --> 00:39:01.659 so listen, 00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:02.980 give heed, 00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:04.300 and trust God's 00:39:04.300 --> 00:39:04.800 holy word, 00:39:05.360 --> 00:39:06.179 dear people of God. 00:39:06.179 --> 00:39:07.739 Let's pray. 00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:11.799 Thank you, Father, 00:39:11.879 --> 00:39:14.619 that you are good. 00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:16.440 You have exalted 00:39:16.440 --> 00:39:17.539 above all things 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:18.319 your name 00:39:18.319 --> 00:39:19.179 and your word 00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:21.319 because you are good. 00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:24.039 Lord, would you weaken 00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:25.519 in our hearts 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:27.899 unholy desires? 00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:30.659 Would you weaken 00:39:30.659 --> 00:39:32.379 those desires, Father, 00:39:32.519 --> 00:39:33.500 by showing us 00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:34.719 how truly good 00:39:34.719 --> 00:39:35.919 and satisfying you are 00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:36.599 through Jesus, 00:39:36.720 --> 00:39:37.119 our Lord. 00:39:37.800 --> 00:39:38.519 Help us to delight 00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:38.960 in you now 00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:39.500 as we sing 00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:40.240 and praise your name. 00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:41.420 In Jesus' name, 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:41.820 Amen. 00:39:41.820 --> 00:39:41.860 Amen. 00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:41.940 Amen.