WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:07.140 Well, we have an epidemic plaguing the American evangelical church. 00:00:09.419 --> 00:00:16.320 I'm not sure if you're too familiar with the statistics regarding pornography among brothers 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:23.100 and sisters in the evangelical church, but it is wreaking havoc. 00:00:23.780 --> 00:00:29.440 Some statistics say that 80% of Christian men regularly dabble in pornography. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.179 That 50% of Christian men are actually addicted to sexual sin. 00:00:36.460 --> 00:00:40.700 20% of Christian women are struggling with pornography. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:46.879 64% of Christian families have an acute porn problem in their home. 00:00:46.879 --> 00:00:53.420 And 40% of Christian pastors regularly consume pornography. 00:00:54.620 --> 00:00:56.799 If these are true, we've got a problem. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:08.219 I was recently at a pastor's conference, and we get this alarming statistic that of those 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:15.799 pastors staying in hotels, there was this amazing renting of explicit sexual videos among these 00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:16.039 men. 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:22.160 Do you know why pornography is such a problem? 00:01:24.080 --> 00:01:27.140 It's true, pornography is widespread. 00:01:27.600 --> 00:01:28.840 It is easily available. 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:31.020 You just have to click, and it's there. 00:01:32.939 --> 00:01:40.940 The real reason why pornography is causing such a problem within the church is this. 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:45.819 We have an appetite for it. 00:01:47.420 --> 00:01:54.340 There's something within us that craves pornography. 00:01:55.079 --> 00:01:59.640 That craves what God forbids sexually. 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:06.280 There's a reason why pornography is so prolific. 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:13.099 It's because within the human heart, there is a radical problem. 00:02:15.500 --> 00:02:19.580 Sexual lust is deeply entrenched in the human heart. 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:26.520 And what Jesus will tell us this morning is, a radical problem requires radical action. 00:02:30.020 --> 00:02:35.040 Brothers and sisters, if it's not pornography, it's something else sexually that you may be 00:02:35.040 --> 00:02:37.280 experiencing the devastating effects of. 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:43.860 But praise be to God, He addresses this. 00:02:45.300 --> 00:02:47.200 He has grace for you. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.899 He's not intimidated by this. 00:02:51.819 --> 00:02:54.659 In fact, He wants to deliver. 00:02:55.539 --> 00:02:56.759 He wants to transform. 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:03.159 And so let's turn back to Matthew 5, verses 27-30. 00:03:03.259 --> 00:03:05.759 And I'd just like to read through this passage one more time. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:11.639 You've heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery. 00:03:11.699 --> 00:03:15.159 Remember, this is Jesus at His inaugural address. 00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:19.280 You've heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery. 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:30.340 But I say, I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:36.259 But if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:40.659 For it is better that you lose one of your members than your whole body be thrown into hell. 00:03:41.539 --> 00:03:45.480 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. 00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:52.539 For it's better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. 00:03:52.539 --> 00:03:59.159 This morning, what Jesus is telling us, if I just sum it up in one sentence, it would be this. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:08.479 Our sexual lust, your sexual lust, my sexual lust is a radical problem requiring radical action. 00:04:10.139 --> 00:04:12.500 And if what Jesus is saying is true, 00:04:12.500 --> 00:04:17.500 then the majority of us in this room are adulterers at heart. 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:21.860 He gets right at it. 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:26.620 This morning, I want to make four points. 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:30.959 The first point and the fourth point are pastoral. 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:32.379 It's my love for you. 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:36.920 And then the second point and the third point are right from the text. 00:04:36.920 --> 00:04:38.740 So the first point is this. 00:04:38.840 --> 00:04:44.860 I want to give you kind of a big sweep of your Bible to kind of frame our sexual desires. 00:04:45.740 --> 00:04:48.860 And then we'll go right to the text and see what Jesus has to say. 00:04:49.200 --> 00:04:52.120 And he says, sexual lust is a radical problem. 00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:53.980 That's the second point. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:58.259 The third point is sexual lust requires radical action. 00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:01.360 And then the fourth point is, 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:04.160 I'm going to make a plea this morning. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:06.860 A pastoral plea to you. 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:13.759 So let's dig into this first point. 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:15.699 It's pastoral in nature. 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:18.100 It's the big sweep of Scripture. 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:23.000 I want you to know that your sexuality is good. 00:05:24.300 --> 00:05:29.360 God created sexuality as a good gift. 00:05:29.520 --> 00:05:30.639 And for us to see that, 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:32.879 you've got to go way back to Genesis 1. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:35.220 If you turn back on your Bibles, 00:05:35.220 --> 00:05:37.060 Genesis 1, 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:42.320 we read this in verse 26 and 27. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:48.899 Then God said, let us make man in our own image. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:50.199 And then down to 27. 00:05:50.339 --> 00:05:52.480 So God created man in his own image. 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:54.519 In the image of God, he created him. 00:05:55.100 --> 00:05:58.379 Male and female, he created them. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:05:59.939 And God blessed them. 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:00.980 And God said to them, 00:06:00.980 --> 00:06:03.120 be fruitful and multiply. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:06.040 Fill the earth and subdue it. 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:08.939 And so, when we do this sweep of the Bible, 00:06:09.140 --> 00:06:10.980 I want to show you three things. 00:06:11.460 --> 00:06:13.120 God created your sexuality. 00:06:13.780 --> 00:06:15.280 Sin distorts your sexuality. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:18.620 But Christ came to redeem your sexuality. 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:21.300 So God created it. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:28.300 In Genesis 1.27, we read that God made male and female in his own image. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:33.439 And then he tells Adam and Eve to go, be fruitful and multiply. 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:34.759 You've got to realize, 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:39.560 God didn't make a mistake in the formation of the male body in the female body. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:44.060 God designed our bodies the way they are, 00:06:44.280 --> 00:06:45.800 both male and female. 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:48.579 And what I just want to make explicit is, 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:51.280 God formed us male and female. 00:06:52.100 --> 00:06:54.460 And he doesn't value one over the other. 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:58.040 He doesn't think that the male body is better than the female body. 00:06:58.120 --> 00:06:59.600 The female body is better than the male body. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:03.580 Both male and female were created in the image of God. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:06.819 Therefore, we have equal value in God's eyes. 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:10.019 But as we all know, 00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:11.900 there are some major differences between men and women. 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:15.319 And in this point, 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:18.039 I just want to show you that our bodies, 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:19.899 the male body and the female body, 00:07:20.239 --> 00:07:22.359 are intentionally designed, 00:07:22.859 --> 00:07:25.839 and God created us as sexual beings. 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:28.000 It's not a mistake. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.639 He designed us this way. 00:07:32.419 --> 00:07:34.859 And that we're both image bearers of God. 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:37.339 And so by the end of the sixth day, 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:38.899 God looks at Adam and Eve, 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:39.819 what He's created. 00:07:39.819 --> 00:07:40.680 Do you remember what He says? 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:42.719 That's good! 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:47.079 He's not embarrassed by our sexuality. 00:07:47.579 --> 00:07:48.819 He designed our sexuality. 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:51.879 It's a gift to us all. 00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:55.600 And later in Genesis 2, 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:59.620 God provides the only context 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:05.019 for human beings to enjoy sexual fulfillment, 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:07.939 and it is called marriage. 00:08:08.659 --> 00:08:09.979 Remember Genesis 2? 00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:12.479 God says to Adam, 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:13.779 it's not good to be alone. 00:08:14.359 --> 00:08:15.500 He puts him in a deep sea, 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:16.419 pulls out a rib, 00:08:16.579 --> 00:08:17.759 forms Eve, 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:20.219 and then in the first wedding ceremony, 00:08:20.659 --> 00:08:23.979 God brings Eve to Adam, 00:08:24.419 --> 00:08:26.919 and He hands her over to him. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:29.439 It's like a dad walking a bride 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:31.599 down this aisle to the groom, 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:35.360 and God hands this bride over to Adam, 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:36.300 the first groom, 00:08:36.560 --> 00:08:37.340 and He says, 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:38.620 she's yours. 00:08:39.060 --> 00:08:39.960 You enjoy. 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:43.019 And it's in Genesis 1, 00:08:43.680 --> 00:08:45.120 verses 24, 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:49.000 that we read the institution of marriage. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:50.540 Chapter 2, verse 24. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:53.480 Adam receives the woman from God, 00:08:53.980 --> 00:08:55.420 and God flips around, 00:08:55.540 --> 00:08:56.940 and He's the first pastor, 00:08:57.139 --> 00:08:58.279 marrying the first couple. 00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:00.100 And He's saying, 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:02.459 what I have joined together, 00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:04.639 let not man separate. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:07.159 This is good. 00:09:09.019 --> 00:09:10.399 And so we read in 2.24, 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:12.339 therefore man shall leave his father 00:09:12.339 --> 00:09:12.919 and his mother, 00:09:13.100 --> 00:09:14.699 and hold fast to his wife, 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:17.600 and they shall become one flesh. 00:09:18.699 --> 00:09:20.360 God has given humankind 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:22.159 the institution of marriage 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:25.519 as the exclusive place 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.879 to enjoy sexual fulfillment. 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:33.199 And just to clarify what marriage is, 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:37.339 we need to be circling back 00:09:37.339 --> 00:09:38.860 to this regularly in our culture. 00:09:40.539 --> 00:09:41.439 Biblically speaking, 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:43.259 marriage is an exclusive, 00:09:44.079 --> 00:09:46.439 lifelong union 00:09:46.439 --> 00:09:49.699 between one man and one woman 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:51.540 for life. 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:53.960 And it's all before God. 00:09:54.040 --> 00:09:55.240 An exclusive union 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:56.860 between one man and one woman 00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:58.259 for life 00:09:58.259 --> 00:10:00.860 before God. 00:10:01.520 --> 00:10:03.900 And it's in that context of marriage, 00:10:04.020 --> 00:10:06.100 in that relationship alone, 00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:07.020 God says, 00:10:07.700 --> 00:10:10.100 enjoy this good gift 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:10.940 I've given you 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:12.400 called sexuality. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:16.899 What I want you to see 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:18.120 from Genesis 1 and 2 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:20.100 is that from the beginning, 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:23.259 God designed sexuality 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:25.720 to be something to enjoy 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:27.539 and something that served 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:28.779 a wonderful purpose, 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:31.759 and God said it was good. 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:33.799 And He provided marriage 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:34.779 to enjoy it. 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:40.079 But we're all wondering 00:10:40.079 --> 00:10:41.460 what went wrong. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:43.980 What happened? 00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:46.600 Why is there pornography? 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:49.759 Why is there sexual exploitation 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:51.259 of various kinds? 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:53.179 Why is there rape? 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:56.519 What went wrong? 00:10:57.959 --> 00:11:00.159 Well, God created sexuality, 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:04.399 but sin distorted our sexuality. 00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:08.299 When Adam and Eve sinned, 00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:09.860 Genesis chapter 3, 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:13.519 they ushered into the human experience 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:14.840 sin. 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:17.800 And it infiltrated every aspect 00:11:17.800 --> 00:11:19.080 of the human experience. 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.779 It didn't make us as bad 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:22.060 as we possibly can be, 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:24.220 but it affected everything 00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:25.000 that we do 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:26.220 and everything that we think, 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:28.860 including our sexuality. 00:11:29.659 --> 00:11:30.759 So here's what happens. 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.860 When someone, a sinner, 00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:34.039 rejects God, 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:34.899 they're going to want 00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:35.879 to live for something. 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:37.919 And oftentimes what happens 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:39.740 is this good thing called sex 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:41.519 takes the place of God 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:42.519 in somebody's life. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:47.279 And so in Romans 1, verse 24, 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:49.980 when God hands people over 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:51.860 to the desires of their flesh, 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:53.700 that's what happens. 00:11:54.059 --> 00:11:54.919 God is rejected. 00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:56.740 Something else will be worshipped. 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:58.620 And something that is enjoyable 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:00.259 is often worshipped. 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:03.819 And so you see this distortion 00:12:03.819 --> 00:12:05.340 of God's good gift 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:07.799 that sin brings about 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:08.960 on our sexuality. 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:19.980 This is why there are things 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:20.840 like pornography. 00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:22.799 This is why there are 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:25.480 this deep lust in our hearts 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:27.620 to want things that are forbidden 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:29.700 by us, by God for us. 00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:32.879 Sin is in our experience. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:34.840 It's ushered in. 00:12:34.939 --> 00:12:38.000 This is why we have to fight. 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:40.879 That's not the end of the story, 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:41.639 biblically speaking. 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:44.460 God created our sexuality. 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.980 Sin distorts our sexuality 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:48.439 with devastating effects. 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:52.139 But Christ came to redeem it. 00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:56.080 Jesus came not only to forgive 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:58.139 the penalty of our sin, 00:12:58.139 --> 00:13:00.919 but to rescue sinners 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:02.960 from the power of sin. 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:05.740 To transform them. 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:08.860 To transform a sexuality 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:11.080 that was lived for sin 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:14.759 and now to exercise a sexuality 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:16.799 lived for the glory of God. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:23.000 If you want a really good place 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.620 in your Bible to go, 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:26.979 Romans chapter 6 00:13:26.979 --> 00:13:29.059 is a wonderful treatment 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:33.759 of how we are to fight sin now 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:35.539 as believers. 00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:38.980 But what I want to do 00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:40.339 just with this little step 00:13:40.339 --> 00:13:42.099 is to help you to think 00:13:42.099 --> 00:13:43.620 about your sexuality. 00:13:44.439 --> 00:13:45.360 As a Christian, 00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:49.079 your sexuality is a good gift from God, 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:51.059 but your sin distorts it. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:53.860 But your Savior is looking to redeem it. 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.539 And so every Christian in the room, 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.639 you can count on it, 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:01.500 God is looking to sanctify your sexuality. 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:05.059 He wants to make you more and more holy 00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:06.620 in your sexuality. 00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:08.659 And as you get more and more holy 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:09.500 in your sexuality, 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:11.059 there's more and more joy. 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:14.000 You experience God's goodness 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.360 in greater and greater measure. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:22.000 So that is the first point 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:22.879 I wanted to make. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:23.500 The big sweep. 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.940 Your sexuality is made by God, 00:14:27.059 --> 00:14:28.039 distorted by sin, 00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:30.279 and being redeemed by Jesus. 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.379 But now, 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:33.539 let's hear what Jesus has to say 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:35.379 about sexual lust. 00:14:35.959 --> 00:14:36.899 Would you look at 00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:39.059 Matthew chapter 5, 00:14:39.459 --> 00:14:41.720 verses 27 through 28. 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.679 You've heard that it was said, 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:47.879 you shall not commit adultery. 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:49.299 But I say to you 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:50.839 that everyone who looks at a woman 00:14:50.839 --> 00:14:51.759 with lustful intent 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:53.139 has already committed adultery 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.019 with her in his heart. 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:56.759 He's preaching the Sermon on the Mount. 00:14:56.939 --> 00:14:58.459 This is his inaugural address. 00:14:58.460 --> 00:15:00.220 And if you remember, 00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:02.240 chapter 5, verse 17 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:04.160 is the main point of the sermon. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:04.900 And he's saying, 00:15:05.160 --> 00:15:06.700 I came not to abolish the law 00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:07.240 and the prophets, 00:15:07.540 --> 00:15:08.800 but to fulfill them. 00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:11.100 The Old Testament's about me. 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:13.540 And I came to make sense of it all. 00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:15.200 And he goes on to say 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.440 in chapter 5, verse 20, 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:20.200 he calls his followers 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.500 to live a righteousness 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:25.120 that exceeds that of the scribes 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.100 and Pharisees. 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:29.000 And what follows 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:31.659 is what that looks like. 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:32.919 What that looks like 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:33.960 when it comes to murder. 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:35.360 And this morning, 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:36.480 what that looks like 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.720 when it comes to adultery. 00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.480 And so last week, 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:40.279 he talked about 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.820 the sixth commandment. 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:42.879 This week, 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:44.000 he's addressing 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:46.460 the seventh commandment. 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:48.700 And the seventh commandment is, 00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:52.039 you shall not commit adultery. 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:53.740 And Jesus, 00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:55.719 as in his messianic role, 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:57.019 is saying this to us, 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:59.620 let me clarify for you 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:02.039 this adultery thing. 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:06.659 What we're going to see here 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.719 is that Jesus 00:16:07.719 --> 00:16:10.799 is going to say 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:12.279 that the seventh commandment 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:13.759 not only forbids 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.799 the physical act of adultery, 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:18.980 but it forbids 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:20.719 the sexual lust 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:22.920 at the root of adultery. 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:25.680 The seventh commandment 00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:28.879 addresses the radical problem 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.660 of sexual lust. 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:32.220 And so we see that 00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:33.779 in verses 27 and 28. 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:38.060 Jesus making a huge clarification. 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:41.279 Jesus even correcting 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:43.340 the teachers of the day. 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:45.920 The Jewish teachers of the day 00:16:45.920 --> 00:16:47.399 were limiting the scope 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.519 of the seventh commandment 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:50.340 to just the physical act of adultery. 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.340 It was what they were doing 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.360 with murder as well, 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:53.759 just limiting it 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.940 to the shedding of blood. 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:58.300 And Jesus came to knock 00:16:58.300 --> 00:16:59.560 down the walls 00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:00.580 that were built up 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.800 around that commandment. 00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:04.079 And so what Jesus says here, 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.759 he's not denying 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.079 the sinfulness 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.579 of the physical act 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.299 of adultery. 00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:11.100 That's wrong. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.140 And by the way, 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.299 what makes adultery, 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.519 the sinful act, 00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.840 the physical act sinful, 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:18.220 is that it breaks 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:19.259 the marriage covenant 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.559 between a man and a woman. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.519 It breaks that exclusive 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:26.179 lifelong union 00:17:26.179 --> 00:17:27.399 between one man 00:17:27.399 --> 00:17:28.259 and one woman. 00:17:28.419 --> 00:17:29.139 So when a husband 00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:31.259 seeks sexual gratification 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.139 with someone other 00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:32.859 than his wife, 00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:34.179 he separates 00:17:34.179 --> 00:17:35.720 what God has joined together. 00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:37.939 He breaks the exclusive union 00:17:37.939 --> 00:17:40.019 between one man 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.939 and one woman 00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:42.279 before God. 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.660 And so Jesus isn't denying 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.460 the seriousness 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.759 of the physical act. 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:50.680 He's actually upholding that. 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:52.639 What he's doing is 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:54.460 he's taking his 10-pound 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:56.319 messianic sledgehammer 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:58.779 and he's smashing down the walls 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.180 people build up around it 00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:02.519 to say this only applies 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:04.200 to the physical act of adultery. 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.460 He's saying no, it doesn't. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.139 The seventh commandment 00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:10.319 gets at the root cause 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.519 of adultery. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.000 It's much, 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.619 it goes much deeper. 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:16.139 But I say, 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.980 whoever looks at a woman 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.079 with lustful intent 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:20.460 has committed adultery 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:22.000 with her in his heart. 00:18:23.859 --> 00:18:24.779 Jesus is shining 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:26.339 the piercing light 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.779 of the seventh commandment 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:30.619 into the deep depths 00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:31.619 of our hearts, 00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:34.399 even into our imaginations. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:39.419 So if you're following Jesus here, 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.400 what he's doing is this. 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.380 He's locating 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:42.460 the root cause 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.400 of adultery 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:45.900 not outside of us, 00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:47.720 but inside of us. 00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:49.100 He's exposing 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:51.180 our sexually explicit 00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.620 and sinful thoughts. 00:18:53.580 --> 00:18:54.640 He's exposing 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.920 our imaginations. 00:18:57.820 --> 00:18:59.120 When Jesus says, 00:18:59.820 --> 00:19:01.039 whoever looks at a woman 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:02.220 with lustful intent, 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:04.740 he's locating sin 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.720 within us, 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.180 in our desires. 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:10.560 in our hearts. 00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:13.100 Now remember, 00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.460 a Jew living 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.779 in the ancient Near East 00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:18.580 thought of one's heart 00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:20.299 as the seat 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:22.320 of your emotions 00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:23.560 and your thinking 00:19:23.560 --> 00:19:24.519 and your will. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:26.000 It was the control center 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.920 of your life. 00:19:27.560 --> 00:19:29.160 And so for Jesus 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.519 to say these words, 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.080 the heart includes 00:19:32.080 --> 00:19:33.180 your imagination. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.660 We tend to think 00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:35.420 of our imagination 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:36.500 between our ears. 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.400 Jesus would locate it 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.480 in the heart. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:43.519 So the lustful intent 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:46.180 that Jesus is talking about 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:48.140 is an outworking 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:49.800 of your heart. 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:52.120 It includes 00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:54.100 your imagination. 00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:55.500 The lustful intent 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.860 Jesus is speaking of 00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:59.680 is sexual lust. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:02.740 And when you sexually lust 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.660 after someone 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:05.140 not your spouse, 00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:07.120 you commit adultery 00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:09.600 with your imagination 00:20:09.600 --> 00:20:11.580 in your heart. 00:20:15.580 --> 00:20:16.400 Years ago, 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:18.200 I gave a talk 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:20.200 on this subject 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.000 at a church. 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.759 And after the service, 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:23.640 I had a man 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:24.940 in his mid-80s 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.680 come up to me. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:28.580 And he was unable 00:20:28.580 --> 00:20:29.840 to physically enjoy 00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:30.940 sex with his wife. 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:33.180 But he came up to me 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:33.820 and he said, 00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:34.840 do you know what 00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:35.779 the most powerful 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.820 sexual organ 00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:38.799 of the human being is? 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.220 And I was like, 00:20:40.580 --> 00:20:40.940 what? 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:44.640 He said, 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.460 the imagination. 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.600 Your heart. 00:20:48.600 --> 00:20:48.660 Your heart. 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:53.900 Let me make a couple 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:54.660 clarifications. 00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:58.860 Sexual lust 00:20:58.860 --> 00:20:59.860 is not simply 00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:00.480 attraction, 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:01.940 being attracted 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.480 to someone. 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:04.920 It's very possible 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:06.519 to be attracted 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.420 to someone else 00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.440 without lusting 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.300 after them. 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.840 That's not what 00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:11.880 Jesus is talking about. 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.620 Another clarification 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:15.279 is this, 00:21:15.360 --> 00:21:16.040 and this is something 00:21:16.040 --> 00:21:17.860 you've got to cut 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:18.619 finally. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.419 Sexual lust 00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:23.299 is not 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.459 the temptation 00:21:24.459 --> 00:21:25.759 to lust. 00:21:27.219 --> 00:21:28.379 Let me talk about it 00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:28.839 in terms of 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.939 taking a second look. 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:31.759 Have you ever been 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.159 somewhere 00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:33.479 and someone 00:21:33.479 --> 00:21:34.539 catches your eye 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.279 and you're kind of like, 00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:36.679 if I look again, 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:38.439 it's not going to go well. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:39.559 And so, 00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:40.500 you're being tempted 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.899 to take a second look 00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:42.839 and you're being 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:44.939 tempted to engage 00:21:44.939 --> 00:21:46.299 someone with 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.379 your imagination 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:49.100 and bring them 00:21:49.100 --> 00:21:50.320 to yourself sexually. 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:50.780 You know what I'm 00:21:50.780 --> 00:21:51.320 talking about? 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.200 Taking the second look? 00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:54.540 There is a difference 00:21:54.540 --> 00:21:56.220 between being 00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:56.940 tempted 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:58.580 to take a second look. 00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.780 That's not lust. 00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:01.360 And then actually 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:03.560 taking the second look. 00:22:04.020 --> 00:22:05.080 That is lust. 00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:06.240 You see the difference? 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.240 Sexual lust 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.680 is conceived 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.840 in your heart 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.799 when you 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.959 yield your 00:22:15.959 --> 00:22:17.099 imagination 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:18.379 over to 00:22:18.379 --> 00:22:19.379 gratify 00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:20.240 your sinful 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.539 sexual desires. 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.179 That's when 00:22:23.179 --> 00:22:24.079 lust takes place. 00:22:25.939 --> 00:22:27.339 And if you're like me, 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.139 you're thinking, 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:31.359 that happens 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.659 much more 00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:33.639 than I care to admit. 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:38.480 So Jesus is saying 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.440 that if there's a guy 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.780 who takes a second look 00:22:40.780 --> 00:22:41.960 because he wants 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:43.100 to sexually engage 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:43.800 a woman with his 00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:44.480 imagination, 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:46.380 that guy has just 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.380 committed adultery 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.240 in his heart 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.340 and he may be 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:49.980 on the highway. 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:51.960 He may be walking 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.200 out of Menards. 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.920 He may be walking 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.759 with his wife 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.120 into a restaurant. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.740 It takes place 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:01.020 in the heart. 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:04.759 Are you 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:06.299 picking up 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.839 on the radical 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.740 nature 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.900 of what Jesus 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:10.599 is saying? 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.460 Are you feeling 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:12.819 this? 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.619 The word radical 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.879 comes from a Latin 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:18.180 word which literally 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.599 means 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:19.839 the root 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.559 of something. 00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:24.180 The root cause, 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:24.779 the essential 00:23:24.779 --> 00:23:25.920 nature of something. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.680 And what Jesus 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.720 is saying here 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:29.000 is that 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:31.220 the essential 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:32.720 nature of adultery 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:35.079 is sexual lust 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:35.839 which resides 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.599 in the heart 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.380 of men and women. 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.640 Your imagination 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:44.680 generates 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:46.500 your imagination. 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.579 You need 00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.420 to be careful 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.619 of what you set 00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:52.839 your imagination on. 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.559 Because not only 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.180 are you aware 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:57.980 of your imagination, 00:23:57.980 --> 00:24:00.920 your God 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.339 is aware 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:02.000 of your imagination. 00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.839 So let me 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.539 say it this way. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.960 Proverbs 5.21 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:08.980 For a man's 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.839 ways 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.880 are before 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:12.019 the eyes 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.440 of the Lord. 00:24:14.120 --> 00:24:15.259 For a man's 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:15.660 ways 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.839 both externally 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:18.220 and internally 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:20.200 are before 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.319 the eyes 00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:22.160 of the Lord. 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.140 God 00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:23.860 sees 00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:24.440 everything. 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.240 So think about 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:25.799 it this way. 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.180 At this moment, 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:30.220 our God 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.039 is completely 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.940 aware of 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:33.320 every thought 00:24:33.320 --> 00:24:35.000 of every heart 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.160 of the 7.4 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.779 billion people 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.600 on the planet 00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:39.440 right now. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.360 He doesn't have 00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:41.880 a hard time 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:42.960 processing things. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.320 He's fully aware 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:44.580 of it. 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.720 He's fully cognizant 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.100 of it 00:24:46.100 --> 00:24:47.960 right now. 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:48.779 He knows 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.460 the thoughts 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.720 of your heart. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.759 And so what Jesus 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.160 is doing, 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:52.640 he's making 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.299 an extraordinary 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.920 claim. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:54.940 He's saying 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:55.600 even 00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:57.700 your thoughts 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:59.440 you will be 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.060 held accountable 00:25:00.060 --> 00:25:00.519 for 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.580 before God. 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.779 Your imagination 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:06.300 will be held 00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:06.759 accountable 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.580 on that day. 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:12.079 He knows 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.619 the ways 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.279 of your heart. 00:25:15.439 --> 00:25:16.199 But here's 00:25:16.199 --> 00:25:16.839 the good news. 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.919 He's in it 00:25:19.919 --> 00:25:20.579 to purify 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.079 your heart. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.419 Blessed are 00:25:23.419 --> 00:25:23.759 the pure 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.059 of heart. 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:26.199 He wants 00:25:26.199 --> 00:25:27.019 to purify 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.500 your heart. 00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:29.980 And so 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.939 far 00:25:30.939 --> 00:25:32.000 we just 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.859 looked at 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:34.259 sexual 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:34.599 lust 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:34.960 as a 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.279 radical 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.799 problem. 00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.480 It's deep 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.200 within you. 00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:38.399 Jesus is 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:40.019 exploring 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.460 our 00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.399 imaginations. 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.339 But now 00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:44.740 let's turn 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.059 to verses 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.960 29 and 30 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.419 where we 00:25:46.419 --> 00:25:46.839 see 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:48.180 sexual 00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:48.639 lust 00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.619 requires 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:50.960 radical 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.440 action. 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.579 It's a 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:52.859 radical 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.519 problem 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.299 and it 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.980 requires 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.819 radical 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.460 action. 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:57.899 Look at 00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.599 verses 29 00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.139 and 30. 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.319 If your 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.119 right eye 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:03.379 causes you 00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:03.899 to sin 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.779 tear it 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.039 out and 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.359 throw it 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:05.599 away. 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:06.240 That's 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:06.440 pretty 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:06.819 extreme 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.019 don't 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.119 you 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:07.319 think? 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.599 Look at 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.079 verse 30. 00:26:10.659 --> 00:26:10.879 And if 00:26:10.879 --> 00:26:11.240 your right 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:11.539 hand 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.119 causes you 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.519 to sin 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.099 cut it 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:13.480 off and 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:13.819 throw it 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.079 away. 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:14.659 That's 00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:14.859 pretty 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.200 extreme 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:15.419 don't 00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:15.519 you 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:15.720 think? 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.059 Is 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.399 Jesus 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.159 actually 00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:18.680 calling 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:18.940 his 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.399 followers 00:26:19.399 --> 00:26:19.720 to 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.019 self 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.599 mutilation? 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.480 No. 00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.639 But he 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.539 is using 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.079 extreme 00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.539 language 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.519 to make 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.159 a really 00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:29.859 important 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.419 point. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.279 And we 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:31.879 cannot 00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:32.859 miss 00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.220 that 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:33.680 important 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.119 point. 00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:34.899 And so 00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:35.519 what Jesus 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.079 is using 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:36.639 with this 00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:37.939 very extreme 00:26:37.939 --> 00:26:38.639 language, 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:39.559 these radical 00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:40.239 commands, 00:26:40.239 --> 00:26:42.759 is that he's 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.939 saying do 00:26:43.939 --> 00:26:44.699 whatever you 00:26:44.699 --> 00:26:45.839 got to do 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:47.839 in order to 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:49.479 deny sexual 00:26:49.479 --> 00:26:50.679 lust from 00:26:50.679 --> 00:26:51.539 taking root 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.459 in your heart. 00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.439 Do whatever 00:26:53.439 --> 00:26:54.000 you have to 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.299 do. 00:26:54.719 --> 00:26:55.219 And so that's 00:26:55.219 --> 00:26:55.819 the cut off 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.139 language. 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.599 That's the 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.099 gouted out 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.399 language. 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:57.879 That's the 00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:58.439 throw away 00:26:58.439 --> 00:26:58.859 language. 00:26:58.859 --> 00:27:00.219 Do whatever 00:27:00.219 --> 00:27:01.159 you need 00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:01.939 to do 00:27:01.939 --> 00:27:02.979 to keep 00:27:02.979 --> 00:27:03.740 your heart 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.659 from 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.719 sexually 00:27:05.719 --> 00:27:06.659 lusting. 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:07.399 From 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.219 breaking the 00:27:08.219 --> 00:27:08.559 seventh 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:09.259 commandment. 00:27:11.979 --> 00:27:12.959 This is 00:27:12.959 --> 00:27:13.619 radical 00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.899 and extreme. 00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:18.859 The key 00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:19.619 phrase here 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.139 is 00:27:20.139 --> 00:27:22.259 cause you 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.779 to sin. 00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:23.359 You see 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:23.639 that in 00:27:23.639 --> 00:27:24.219 verse 29? 00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:24.979 If your 00:27:24.979 --> 00:27:25.459 right eye 00:27:25.459 --> 00:27:26.219 causes you 00:27:26.219 --> 00:27:26.699 to sin. 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.619 Verse 30, 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.099 and if your 00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:28.639 right hand 00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:29.839 causes you 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.299 to sin. 00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:31.459 That word 00:27:31.459 --> 00:27:32.019 cause you 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.399 to sin. 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.299 We get the 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.199 word scandal 00:27:34.199 --> 00:27:34.919 from that 00:27:34.919 --> 00:27:35.319 word. 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:36.899 Scandalized. 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.119 Scandalous. 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:38.879 And its 00:27:38.879 --> 00:27:39.699 original meaning 00:27:39.699 --> 00:27:40.819 was a 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.519 trigger to 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.179 a trap. 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:42.899 That's what 00:27:42.899 --> 00:27:43.459 a scandal 00:27:43.459 --> 00:27:44.019 was. 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.059 The trigger 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.839 of a trap. 00:27:46.739 --> 00:27:47.179 And so what 00:27:47.179 --> 00:27:48.059 Jesus is saying 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:49.219 here is don't 00:27:49.219 --> 00:27:49.979 let your 00:27:49.979 --> 00:27:50.959 right eye 00:27:50.959 --> 00:27:52.159 trigger the 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:52.979 trap of lust 00:27:52.979 --> 00:27:53.279 in your 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.539 heart. 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.519 Don't let 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.199 your right 00:27:55.199 --> 00:27:56.259 hand trigger 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.939 the trap of 00:27:56.939 --> 00:27:57.599 lust in your 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.259 heart. 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.639 Do whatever 00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.079 you need to 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.139 do to keep 00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:02.579 that from 00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:03.039 happening. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.199 The extreme 00:28:05.199 --> 00:28:06.639 problem requires 00:28:06.639 --> 00:28:07.899 extreme action. 00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.559 Jesus is 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.179 saying don't 00:28:12.179 --> 00:28:12.740 look at or 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.419 touch what 00:28:13.419 --> 00:28:14.019 will cause you 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.500 to sin in 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:14.879 your heart. 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:15.719 In fact, 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.259 you've got to 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.539 get rid of 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:17.719 it. 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:20.059 He's soberly 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:21.059 recognizing how 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.959 our eyes and 00:28:21.959 --> 00:28:22.819 our hands can 00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.899 provide opportunities 00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.939 for our hearts 00:28:24.939 --> 00:28:25.679 to lust. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:25.779 lust. 00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.100 So let me 00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:28.519 give you some 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:28.960 examples. 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.519 Let me help 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:29.920 start you 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:30.660 think, okay, 00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:31.720 where this 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.340 might show up 00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:32.820 in your life. 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.120 And I'm 00:28:34.120 --> 00:28:34.560 going to ask 00:28:34.560 --> 00:28:35.000 you to a 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.799 humble honesty 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.320 right now. 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:37.799 Be as 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.740 honest with 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.519 yourself as 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.039 you can. 00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.400 Because that 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.460 is a poverty 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.180 of spirit. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.400 It will result 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:45.060 in you mourning, 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:46.500 but you will 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.180 be comforted. 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:52.660 Have you 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:52.860 ever 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:54.120 thumbed 00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.680 through and 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.299 looked at a 00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.080 magazine or 00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:57.759 a book that 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:59.120 is sexually 00:28:59.120 --> 00:29:01.180 explicit, that 00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:03.060 turns your 00:29:03.060 --> 00:29:03.720 heart to 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.180 lust? 00:29:05.580 --> 00:29:06.380 What Jesus 00:29:06.380 --> 00:29:06.980 is saying is 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.980 get rid of 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.140 it. 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:09.900 Don't put 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.600 your hand on 00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:10.720 it. 00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:11.220 Don't put 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:11.860 your eyes on 00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:11.960 it. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:13.140 Get rid 00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:13.440 of it. 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:16.920 Are you 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.600 pressing the 00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:18.640 remote control 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.559 to go to 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.580 channels to 00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:21.600 set your eyes 00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:22.460 on things that 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.640 God forbids 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:24.900 and will just 00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:27.259 entice you to 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.299 lust sexually 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:29.120 in your heart? 00:29:30.080 --> 00:29:30.799 What are you 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.299 watching on 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:31.960 demand? 00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:32.400 What are you 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:32.900 watching on 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.259 Netflix? 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.559 You got cable? 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.120 What are you 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.440 doing? 00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.059 Where are you 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.380 going? 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.400 Get rid of 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:38.559 it. 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.100 If it's 00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:41.299 causing you 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:42.100 to stumble, 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.599 get rid of 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:43.740 it. 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.719 That's what 00:29:44.719 --> 00:29:45.179 Jesus is 00:29:45.179 --> 00:29:45.439 saying. 00:29:49.199 --> 00:29:49.859 Are you 00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:51.019 clicking on 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:52.359 websites or 00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:54.240 apps that 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:55.000 are pornographic 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.079 in nature or 00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:57.000 that tempt you 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.659 to lust? 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.139 You know, it 00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:58.719 might not be 00:29:58.719 --> 00:29:59.240 explicitly 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.319 pornographic, 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.179 but you're 00:30:01.179 --> 00:30:02.000 there and 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.439 when you're 00:30:02.439 --> 00:30:03.279 there, it 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.259 stirs lust in 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.719 your heart. 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.639 Get rid of 00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:05.819 it. 00:30:05.959 --> 00:30:06.639 Be honest. 00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.379 Get rid of 00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:07.599 it. 00:30:09.659 --> 00:30:10.399 What Jesus 00:30:10.399 --> 00:30:11.240 is getting at 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.519 is this whole 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.180 idea of 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.279 starving out 00:30:14.279 --> 00:30:15.160 sin from 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:15.740 your life. 00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:17.380 Don't feed 00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:17.579 it. 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:18.460 Don't give 00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:18.759 it an 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.700 opportunity to 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.359 flourish. 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.819 Don't fuel 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.200 it. 00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.660 Starve it. 00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:24.759 And so if 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.460 these are 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:26.259 areas or 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:26.859 other areas 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.220 that you 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.759 know of, 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.319 you're going 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:28.779 to with 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.259 your eyes 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.519 in your 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.779 hand and 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.380 are fueling 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:31.759 lust, 00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:33.039 get rid of 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.120 it. 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.640 This is 00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:34.440 the radical 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:35.220 repentance 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:36.160 Jesus is 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.880 calling his 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:38.160 citizens to. 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.539 So starve 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.019 it out. 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:45.960 But there's 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.700 another thing, 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:48.279 another radical 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.160 act that I 00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:49.740 want to point 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.339 you to right 00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:50.960 now that has 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:52.000 another effect. 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.220 There's one 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.599 thing to 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.640 starve sin 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.120 out. 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.019 There's 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.759 another thing 00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:58.500 to crowd 00:30:58.500 --> 00:31:00.180 sin out 00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:01.039 because your 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.960 heart is 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:03.099 delighting in 00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:04.460 something wonderful. 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.200 And when you 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:06.759 delight in 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.759 something wonderful, 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.599 you start to 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.459 limit the 00:31:10.459 --> 00:31:11.619 space for 00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:12.379 lust to 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.179 take root. 00:31:14.439 --> 00:31:14.819 And so in 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.679 order to help 00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:16.299 you not only 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:17.379 starve sin 00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:18.759 out, but to 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.919 crowd sin 00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:21.399 out, I want 00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:22.139 to point you 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:23.359 to another 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:25.279 radical action 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.619 that was done 00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:28.219 for you. 00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:32.279 If you think 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.900 gouging out 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.740 your eye or 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.339 cutting off 00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.160 your hand is 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:38.039 extreme, how 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:38.860 about this for 00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.299 extreme? 00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.299 How about this 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:40.920 for radical? 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.500 The sinless 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.299 son of God 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:45.299 going to the 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:47.680 cross to bear 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.440 the penalty and 00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:51.519 power of your 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.519 sin. 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.559 How's that for 00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:53.960 extreme? 00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.480 How's that for 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:55.839 radical? 00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:56.899 That the 00:31:56.899 --> 00:31:57.720 holy God of 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.299 the universe 00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.059 would take on 00:31:59.059 --> 00:32:00.079 human flesh and 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:00.659 die in your 00:32:00.659 --> 00:32:02.439 place to set 00:32:02.439 --> 00:32:03.019 you free. 00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:03.959 That is an 00:32:03.959 --> 00:32:05.179 extreme radical 00:32:05.179 --> 00:32:05.939 kind of love. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.159 In fact, that 00:32:07.159 --> 00:32:08.099 is a radical 00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:09.699 power unleashed 00:32:09.699 --> 00:32:11.480 for people. 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:15.139 You may have 00:32:15.139 --> 00:32:15.500 been sitting 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:15.919 here for the 00:32:15.919 --> 00:32:16.379 last 30 00:32:16.379 --> 00:32:17.039 minutes thinking, 00:32:17.919 --> 00:32:19.619 Jesus, if 00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:20.659 this is true, 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.339 if this is true, 00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:23.179 what you're saying 00:32:23.179 --> 00:32:23.959 about the nature 00:32:23.959 --> 00:32:25.000 of sinful lust, 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:26.039 if this is true, 00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:28.119 I'm undone. 00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:32.480 I'm shown to be 00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:33.059 what I am. 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.099 I'm an adulterer 00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:34.940 at heart. 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.900 If that's you, 00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.559 if you're 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.339 realizing this, 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.220 that even your 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.220 imagination 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.279 condemns you, 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.519 you need to hear 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:46.900 this. 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:48.819 Jesus died 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:50.039 for you. 00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:52.460 Jesus went to 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.680 the cross and 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.779 he suffered all 00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.579 of God's wrath 00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.599 for all of your 00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:57.339 sexual sin. 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.119 All of it. 00:32:58.920 --> 00:32:59.519 And then he was 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:00.240 raised from the 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.519 dead to give you 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.579 the power to 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:03.960 overcome sexual 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.859 sin in your 00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.220 life. 00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:08.099 That is a 00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:09.579 radical love 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:10.099 and it's a 00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:11.019 radical power 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:12.799 unleashed by the 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.659 living God at 00:33:13.659 --> 00:33:14.259 the cross. 00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:15.680 His extreme 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.960 act of grace 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:18.180 on your behalf 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:19.500 enables you 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.440 to live 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.080 an extreme 00:33:21.080 --> 00:33:22.279 life for 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.360 his namesake 00:33:23.360 --> 00:33:25.640 regarding your 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:26.220 sexuality. 00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:31.240 So in light of 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.799 this extreme 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.259 grace, 00:33:32.900 --> 00:33:33.420 God has shown 00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:34.080 us in Christ, 00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:35.880 when you think 00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:36.560 about giving up 00:33:36.560 --> 00:33:37.620 cable or Netflix 00:33:37.620 --> 00:33:38.880 or romantic novels 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.640 or seductive 00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:40.120 clothing, 00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.640 you start realizing 00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.539 that's nothing. 00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:44.819 If this means 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.940 walking in holiness 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:46.519 with Jesus, 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:47.079 getting rid of 00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:47.659 that stuff is 00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:47.980 nothing. 00:33:49.139 --> 00:33:50.460 Get rid of it 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:51.639 and experience 00:33:51.639 --> 00:33:52.240 the sweetness 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.000 and joy of 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.519 walking with 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:53.920 your Savior. 00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:55.779 So we've 00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.159 looked at the 00:33:56.159 --> 00:33:56.680 problem, 00:33:56.899 --> 00:33:57.420 the radical 00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:57.960 problem, 00:33:58.379 --> 00:33:59.019 we've looked at 00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.680 the radical 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.579 action that we 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.299 must take but 00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:02.200 what our God 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:02.799 took on our 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.279 behalf, 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.139 and now a 00:34:05.139 --> 00:34:05.859 pastoral plea. 00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:09.699 I know you're 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.159 out there. 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:12.779 I know you're 00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:13.199 out there. 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.980 I know you're 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.599 out there 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:17.259 struggling with 00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:17.559 sin, 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.259 struggling with 00:34:19.259 --> 00:34:19.559 lust. 00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.119 I know. 00:34:21.879 --> 00:34:22.960 I know you 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.599 are feeling 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.339 distant from 00:34:24.339 --> 00:34:24.839 your God. 00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.359 That's the 00:34:26.359 --> 00:34:27.559 fallout of 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:28.259 this kind of 00:34:28.259 --> 00:34:28.539 sin. 00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.599 I know that 00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:31.099 you're afraid 00:34:31.099 --> 00:34:31.960 of your spouse, 00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:33.599 that you don't 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.039 know what to 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.799 say, that you 00:34:34.799 --> 00:34:35.719 fear the worst. 00:34:35.859 --> 00:34:36.299 I know. 00:34:37.299 --> 00:34:38.199 I know that 00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:38.699 if you have 00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:39.139 children, 00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:40.960 that this 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.539 area of 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.339 sexual sin 00:34:42.339 --> 00:34:42.619 in your 00:34:42.619 --> 00:34:43.960 life just 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:45.139 deflates you. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.859 It limits 00:34:47.859 --> 00:34:48.619 your influence 00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:49.299 in your home. 00:34:49.759 --> 00:34:50.319 You're like a 00:34:50.319 --> 00:34:51.000 dog walking 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.579 around with a 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.179 tail between 00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.659 your legs, 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:53.239 or you're 00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:53.920 just grouchy 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.519 all the time. 00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:56.739 I know. 00:34:58.259 --> 00:34:59.179 And I also 00:34:59.179 --> 00:34:59.779 know this, 00:35:00.819 --> 00:35:02.279 that you tend 00:35:02.279 --> 00:35:02.859 to live on the 00:35:02.859 --> 00:35:03.639 periphery of the 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:03.980 church, 00:35:04.779 --> 00:35:05.639 that you tend 00:35:05.639 --> 00:35:06.779 to not get 00:35:06.779 --> 00:35:07.920 involved because 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.639 you don't want 00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:09.179 to be fully 00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:09.559 known. 00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:11.519 I also know 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.579 this, you're 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:12.980 miserable. 00:35:14.779 --> 00:35:15.900 You're isolated. 00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:17.879 You're ashamed. 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:19.819 And here's the 00:35:19.819 --> 00:35:20.259 nub of it. 00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.819 You're afraid. 00:35:25.299 --> 00:35:26.099 You're afraid 00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:26.819 that if people 00:35:26.819 --> 00:35:27.879 find out who 00:35:27.879 --> 00:35:28.759 you really are 00:35:28.759 --> 00:35:29.219 and what you've 00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:29.940 really been doing, 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:30.920 you're going to 00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:31.619 be shunned. 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.019 You're going to 00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:33.900 be cast out. 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:37.940 You don't think 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:38.940 that people will 00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:40.019 love you and 00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:41.220 accept you if 00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:42.300 they know the 00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:43.599 full truth about 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:43.920 you. 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:45.720 It's not true. 00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:50.920 God doesn't 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.539 love us this 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:51.800 way. 00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:53.920 And God 00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.940 calls us, 00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:55.880 His followers, 00:35:56.240 --> 00:35:56.940 to love each 00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:58.039 other with the 00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:59.160 same extreme 00:35:59.160 --> 00:36:00.039 kind of love. 00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:00.119 love. 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:04.259 We've been 00:36:04.259 --> 00:36:04.779 talking as 00:36:04.779 --> 00:36:05.300 elders about 00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:05.739 this for the 00:36:05.739 --> 00:36:06.119 last couple 00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:06.500 days. 00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:08.320 And I just 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:09.079 want to let 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.480 you guys, 00:36:09.779 --> 00:36:10.320 everyone know 00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:10.960 on behalf of 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.199 them, 00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.619 there are no 00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:14.320 stones to be 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:14.579 thrown. 00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:17.400 We want 00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:18.239 those struggling 00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:18.920 with sexual 00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:20.300 sin to be 00:36:20.300 --> 00:36:21.940 released from 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:22.639 their sexual 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:23.039 sin. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:24.779 To find 00:36:24.779 --> 00:36:25.699 freedom in 00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:26.179 Christ. 00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:26.259 Christ. 00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:30.799 So if 00:36:30.799 --> 00:36:31.179 you're feeling 00:36:31.179 --> 00:36:32.139 isolated because 00:36:32.139 --> 00:36:32.899 of your sexual 00:36:32.899 --> 00:36:34.859 sin, if 00:36:34.859 --> 00:36:35.339 you're hiding 00:36:35.339 --> 00:36:35.879 because of 00:36:35.879 --> 00:36:36.440 your sexual 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:37.619 sin, if 00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:37.859 you've been 00:36:37.859 --> 00:36:38.379 living in the 00:36:38.379 --> 00:36:39.199 shadows because 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:39.879 of your sexual 00:36:39.879 --> 00:36:40.559 sin, if 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:41.000 you've just 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.699 grown to 00:36:41.699 --> 00:36:42.319 live with the 00:36:42.319 --> 00:36:42.899 fear of being 00:36:42.899 --> 00:36:43.519 found out 00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.019 because of 00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:44.519 your sexual 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:46.219 sin, think 00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:46.659 about it this 00:36:46.659 --> 00:36:46.839 way. 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:47.519 Jesus is 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:48.339 calling you 00:36:48.339 --> 00:36:50.279 today to 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:50.960 say, come 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:51.299 into the 00:36:51.299 --> 00:36:51.519 light. 00:36:52.599 --> 00:36:53.079 Come out of 00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:53.460 the darkness. 00:36:54.179 --> 00:36:54.519 Come out of 00:36:54.519 --> 00:36:54.899 the shadows. 00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:56.400 come into 00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:56.760 the light. 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.420 Let me 00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.260 free you. 00:36:59.420 --> 00:36:59.920 Let me 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:00.619 deliver you. 00:37:02.360 --> 00:37:03.500 Come, be 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:04.460 honest and 00:37:04.460 --> 00:37:05.639 find and be 00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:06.519 met with 00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:08.220 grace and 00:37:08.220 --> 00:37:09.039 kindness. 00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:11.840 There's a 00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:12.539 proverb that 00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:13.200 has served me 00:37:13.200 --> 00:37:13.880 so well. 00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:16.460 Proverbs 28, 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.280 13 says, 00:37:17.380 --> 00:37:18.320 whoever conceals 00:37:18.320 --> 00:37:19.340 his transgressions 00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:19.980 will not 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:21.300 prosper, but 00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:22.099 he who 00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:23.059 confesses and 00:37:23.059 --> 00:37:23.860 forsakes them 00:37:23.860 --> 00:37:24.619 will obtain 00:37:24.619 --> 00:37:25.420 mercy. 00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:28.679 Brother or 00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:29.839 sister, if 00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:30.460 you have 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:31.839 been hiding 00:37:31.839 --> 00:37:33.199 because of 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:34.480 sexual sin in 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.380 the darkness, 00:37:36.179 --> 00:37:37.440 come into 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.019 the light 00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:40.279 and find 00:37:40.279 --> 00:37:40.679 mercy. 00:37:43.019 --> 00:37:43.819 We're going 00:37:43.819 --> 00:37:44.359 to close 00:37:44.359 --> 00:37:45.179 this morning 00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:46.059 by singing 00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:46.920 two songs. 00:37:48.599 --> 00:37:49.420 And during 00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:49.859 these two 00:37:49.859 --> 00:37:50.339 songs, I'm 00:37:50.339 --> 00:37:50.679 going to ask 00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:51.319 the elders to 00:37:51.319 --> 00:37:51.900 come forward. 00:37:51.900 --> 00:37:53.480 Dave Barnard 00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:53.860 is out of 00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:54.099 town. 00:37:54.180 --> 00:37:54.380 He and 00:37:54.380 --> 00:37:54.780 Leslie are 00:37:54.780 --> 00:37:54.940 out of 00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:55.139 town. 00:37:55.240 --> 00:37:55.440 But I'm 00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:55.559 going to 00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:56.680 invite Lou 00:37:56.680 --> 00:37:57.440 and Bev 00:37:57.440 --> 00:37:58.860 as well as 00:37:58.860 --> 00:37:59.320 Rick and 00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:00.619 Jasmine to 00:38:00.619 --> 00:38:01.019 come on 00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:01.360 down. 00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:02.519 Jenny and me 00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:03.079 will be down 00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:03.440 here. 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:04.980 Matt Sear and 00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:05.380 his wife 00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:06.059 Elise will be 00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:06.680 down here. 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:07.680 Billy and I 00:38:07.680 --> 00:38:08.460 and Jess will 00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:09.240 be down here. 00:38:09.619 --> 00:38:10.300 And we're here to 00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:10.579 pray. 00:38:11.139 --> 00:38:11.599 We're here to 00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:12.180 welcome you. 00:38:12.720 --> 00:38:13.420 And so as we're 00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:14.340 singing, if you 00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:15.559 are feeling God's 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.559 convicting work in 00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:17.360 your life, that's 00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:17.920 good. 00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:19.500 So come on down. 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:20.619 We'll pray with 00:38:20.619 --> 00:38:20.739 you. 00:38:20.799 --> 00:38:21.199 We're here to 00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:21.699 help you. 00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.659 But I also know 00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:24.000 this. 00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:26.019 If there's just too 00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:26.739 many eyes this 00:38:26.739 --> 00:38:28.619 morning, if it's 00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:29.380 too much for you 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:32.179 this morning, email 00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:32.579 me. 00:38:33.199 --> 00:38:33.699 Andy, do we 00:38:33.699 --> 00:38:34.420 have my email 00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:34.900 set up? 00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:36.359 This is my email 00:38:36.359 --> 00:38:36.859 address. 00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:38.579 Email me. 00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:40.880 Take the first 00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:42.900 radical step by 00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:44.179 emailing me and 00:38:44.179 --> 00:38:44.900 put on the subject 00:38:44.900 --> 00:38:45.799 line, help. 00:38:46.179 --> 00:38:46.880 I'm ashamed. 00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:48.099 I'm sick of this. 00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:49.839 I want to walk in 00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:50.440 the light. 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:52.660 We're going to 00:38:52.660 --> 00:38:53.440 meet you with 00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:53.860 help. 00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:54.700 We're going to 00:38:54.700 --> 00:38:55.220 meet you with 00:38:55.220 --> 00:38:55.720 love. 00:38:56.300 --> 00:38:57.200 We'll walk through 00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:58.000 whatever we need to 00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:58.400 walk through 00:38:58.400 --> 00:38:58.860 together. 00:38:59.800 --> 00:39:00.680 But I just want to 00:39:00.680 --> 00:39:01.480 make sure you know 00:39:01.480 --> 00:39:03.220 we love you. 00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:04.900 We are glad you're 00:39:04.900 --> 00:39:05.079 here. 00:39:05.160 --> 00:39:05.760 We want to help. 00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:07.740 So let me just 00:39:07.740 --> 00:39:09.059 close by saying 00:39:09.059 --> 00:39:09.260 this. 00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:09.500 I'm going to 00:39:09.500 --> 00:39:10.240 invite Matt and 00:39:10.240 --> 00:39:10.880 the worship team 00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:11.539 to come on up. 00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.180 There's just too 00:39:15.180 --> 00:39:15.800 much at stake. 00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:17.680 There's just too 00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:18.260 much at stake. 00:39:18.260 --> 00:39:19.900 Brother or sister, 00:39:20.280 --> 00:39:22.080 don't stay in the 00:39:22.080 --> 00:39:22.640 shadows. 00:39:23.700 --> 00:39:25.080 Come out into the 00:39:25.080 --> 00:39:25.580 light. 00:39:26.620 --> 00:39:27.780 We're here to help. 00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:30.480 God's grace is all 00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:30.940 powerful. 00:39:32.080 --> 00:39:32.860 Let me pray. 00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:36.260 God in heaven, 00:39:36.820 --> 00:39:38.960 would you set the 00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:39.840 prisoners free? 00:39:41.460 --> 00:39:42.519 Whether it's right 00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.420 now or throughout 00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:44.820 this week or for 00:39:44.820 --> 00:39:45.740 the months to come, 00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.420 God, would you 00:39:46.420 --> 00:39:48.480 unshackle men and 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:50.640 women shackled by 00:39:50.640 --> 00:39:52.480 the sin of lust? 00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:54.000 God, would you 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:55.059 free our brothers 00:39:55.059 --> 00:39:56.320 and sisters who are 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:57.079 ensnared by 00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:57.500 pornography? 00:39:58.720 --> 00:39:59.599 God, would you 00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:00.579 make a salt and 00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:01.440 light in this city? 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:03.679 And would you 00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:06.000 sanctify us so 00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:06.960 that we are more 00:40:06.960 --> 00:40:08.460 salty and shine 00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:09.240 more bright? 00:40:09.780 --> 00:40:10.659 In Jesus' name, 00:40:11.200 --> 00:40:11.500 Amen.