The Lust Of The Eyes Series

KEY SCRIPTURE:

1 John 2:15-17 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

1. Temptations/Lusts

a. Temptation is the SUGGESTION to sin

b. Lusts are the internal manifestations of sin

Matt. 5:27-28 (KJV) "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

c. The “BEAST”/The “Cerebral”

i. The BEAST or CARNAL nature acts/reacts instinctively

ii. The CEREBRAL plots and plans

2. The Lust of the Eyes = COVETOUSNESS

a. AN OBSESSION FOR POSSESSION

Exodus 20:17 (KJV) "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

b. It is to WANT WHAT YOU CANNOT/SHOULD NOT HAVE

3. David & Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:2-5 "And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child."

a. David is where he SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN

i. He went with the intention of looking upon someone

ii. He sent messengers to find out who she was

b. He invited her WHERE SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN!

i. He was in OBSESSIVE mode!

ii. He took what he should never have had

c. He tried to COVER UP WHAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN

i. He brings Uriah home to cover his own sins

1. Uriah is TOO LOYAL to David and his men

2. Uriah is returned to the front with HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT!

ii. He commits murder to hide his lies

d. He claimed his prize THAT WAS BOUGHT WITH A PRICE

i. The baby conceived in sin DIED

ii. Absalom rises up against David

iii. David has to go into hiding

iv. His kingdom is forever at war

v. He never gets to build the Temple that he longed for

4. The Consequesnce for Sins Can Be Dire

a. The Law of the Tetherball

i. What goes around comes around

ii. Sin set in motion, though forgiven, still carries consequences

iii. Nathan told David that God removed his sin, but he still had to pay the price.

b. What your eyes see bears out in your soul!

Matt 6: 22-23 "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"

i. The eyes are a window to the soul

1. The soul is the inner man…the personality, the intelligence, the seat of emotions

5. The Requirements for dealing with THE LUST OF THE EYES

Mark 9:47-48 "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

a. PLUCK IT OUT!

a. Get rid of whatever is CAUSING us to sin!

i. Find a new route home or change the channels

ii. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep from sin!

b. MAKE A COVENANT WITH YOUR EYES!

Job 31:1 "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?"

a. Make a commitment to look no more upon what causes you to lust.