Overcoming the Spirit of Immorality (Matt. 5:27-30)

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1 Page 1 Session Ten Overcoming the Spirit of Immorality (Matt. 5:27-30) A. Introduction 1. In Matt. 5:21-48, Jesus was not rebuking us about sin, but as a good Shepherd, He was: a. Teaching and equipping us to cultivate and grow the Eight Beatitudes; b. Giving us insight into the destructive and deceptive nature of the six hindrances or toxins that poison our souls anger, lust, disloyalty in marriage / relationships, manipulation of our words, demand for justice / revenge and passive mercy. c. Exhorting us to close the window of our souls to these six toxins and to war against them as they rob away the life and vibrancy in our hearts and defile our souls. d. Exhorting us to open the window of our souls by pursuing five Kingdom lifestyles. Matt. 6:1-18 is Jesus call to respond through these five disciplines - serve (v.1-4), give (v.1-4), pray (v.5-13), forgive (v.14-15), fast (v.16-18). It is vital for us to do these five disciplines as they will help us grow the fruits of the Beatitudes. 2. We need to resist ALL six toxins and respond by living out ALL five Kingdom disciplines continuously and diligently in order to have a vibrant spirit. We cannot pick and choose which to resist and which to pursue. This is not an option for believers who want to have a vibrant spirit. 3. We are unable to simply overcome anger or immorality by resisting. We need to, at the same time, open the window of our souls and walk in the five disciplines that are the keys to receiving God s grace in order to overcome. B. Overcoming the Spirit of Immorality (Matthew 5:27-30) 1. In Matt. 5:27-20, Jesus exhorted His disciples to resist and overcome the spirit of immorality. He was re-teaching the Seventh Commandment: Thou shall not commit adultery by teaching the spirit behind the Law. 2. The Pharisees had narrowed the Ten Commandments and reduced it to mere superficial and outward acts. Thus, people were comfortable with hidden sins as long as they did not commit the physical act of adultery. 3. However, Jesus was pointing them back to God s original intent when He gave the Ten Commandments. God wanted us to deal with what was within our hearts.

2 Page 2 4. Verse 27 - You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery. a. Jesus referred back to the Seventh Commandment, Thou shall not commit adultery in Exo. 20:14. b. The Pharisees had minimized this commandment to apply only to mere physical adultery, but Jesus pointed to the original intent of God s heart when He gave this commandment. c. More than avoiding the physical act of adultery, Jesus was teaching about how the spirit of immorality operates and grows. He was also warning us of its dangers if we allow it to take root in our soul. 5. Verse 28 - But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. a. The root of adultery is the spirit of immorality. b. It does not start or begin with physical adultery; it begins with our eyes. The spirit of immorality begins to operate the moment we look at a man or woman in a lustful way. c. The ultimate manifestation is physical adultery. However, there are different stages and levels upon which the spirit of immorality progresses. d. In this verse, Jesus reveals to us how the spirit of immorality operates and grows. It is vital for us to understand it in order to confront it. This may not be the most comprehensive teaching on sexual sin but it teaches us how immorality works in our hearts and how to deal with it. e. How the spirit of immorality operates and grows: i. This impurity is rooted in our hearts. It is an internal enemy and thus defilement begins in our hearts. ii. The spirit of immorality is fueled and fanned into flame by our lustful looks and gazes. The moment we look with lust, the spirit of immorality is already powerfully working in us. f. It is important to recognize the importance of the EYE GATE, which can open the door for the spirit of immorality to come in. We grant it legal access into our hearts when we look lustfully. It immediately grows and is enhanced and strengthened by what we look at (Job 31:1).

3 Page 3 C. The Spirit of Immorality How it Operates and Grows 1. Stage One: It starts with a lustful look 2. Stage Two: The spirit of immorality is able to come in, because lust has opened the door and given Satan legal access to our body. 3. Stage Three: If we persist in lust, the devil will heighten his activity within us and strengthen his hold on us through sinful habits and lustful desires. The spirit of immorality will grow into a foothold and stronghold in us, leading to obsession, wickedness etc. (Jas. 1:14-15). 4. Warnings about lust and immorality: a. We should not even entertain a moment of lust or give in to even a minute of sexual fantasy. It is way too long and costly. b. The spirit of immorality is dangerous. It doesn t just happen suddenly or overnight. If we do not deal with it radically and immediately, it will grow and eventually become uncontrollable. c. We must be vigilant and always assume we are vulnerable to it. The moment we are presumptuous and casual about it, we are most likely to fall. D. Three Lies about the Spirit of Immorality 1. Lie #1: It will eventually go away a. This is untrue. Immorality will never stop at the introductory / minimum level. It is like a drug addiction that has an appetite and craves for satisfaction. However, once it is fanned into flame, the cravings cannot be satisfied and will simply grow. b. It is thus easier to deal with it at the eye gate and not wait until lustful passions have flamed up. 2. Lie #2: We can manage it a. It is a lie to think that we can manage the spirit of immorality, as it is uncontrollable. Scripture exhorts us to flee from sexual immorality and avoid it at all costs (1Cor. 6:18). 3. Lie #3: We need something outside the will of God to be satisfied a. God wired us to desire and enjoy pleasure. We need to recognize that the ultimate pleasure that a human can experience is spiritual pleasure, and this is found when we encounter the knowledge of God in our spirit-man and emotions (Song 1:2; Psa. 16:11). Sexual pleasure has to be enjoyed within the boundary of a marriage covenant.

4 Page 4 E. The Primary Strategy of Satan Sexual Impurity and Immorality 1. A common question people often ask, whether consciously or unconsciously, is, How far can I go with regard to lust and immorality? 2. Jesus exhorts us to not even give an inch to lust and immorality! Lust is more powerful and dangerous than we think. It grows faster than we expect it to and quickly causes our hearts to become impure. 3. We need to deal with the spirit of immorality radically or it will cost us dearly and deeply (Matt. 5:29-30). Not dealing with it radically will affect: a. Our Relationships with People We will not be able to have pure and sincere relationships with people if we have the spirit of immorality in our hearts. b. Our Relationship with God Our minds will be too perverted and cannot be filled with thoughts of God and thoughts that are aligned with His Word (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14). 4. The primary strategy of Satan to defile the Church is through sexual impurity and immorality. a. In Rev. 9:21, God warned us of four primary sins that have roots that lurk in the hearts of people murder, sorcery, sexual immorality and theft. These will escalate in the Last Days. b. In Rev. 2:14 & 20, sexual immorality had established footholds in the Churches of Pergamos and Thyatira. Through these letters to the two churches, Jesus exposes and warns the Church of the two-fold goal of Satan: i. Satan wants to cause the Church to lose her vibrancy; ii. Satan wants to cause the Church to become God s adversary. c. This is similar to the counsel of Balaam, where Balaam advised King Barak to cause Israel to become God s adversary. This was accomplished by causing the Israelites to participate in sexual orgies (Num. 24:14; 25:1-3; 31:16; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14). E. Four Stages of the Destructive Power of Lust and Immorality 1. Stage One: Heart becomes dull or cold 2. Stage Two: Mind becomes darkened a. Instead of having our minds filled with thoughts of God, pervasion takes its place. Immoral thoughts and images fill our mind and rob us of the place where God dwells and speaks to us (Phil. 4:8). 3. Stage Three: Conscience becomes darkened a. In Rom. 1:24-28, Paul describes how our conscience progressively becomes darkened:

5 Page 5 i. Uncleanness (v.24) Initially, one loses control and is compelled to lust. The person becomes in bondage to lust and has to engage in more immoral activity. ii. Vile Passions (v. 26) Sexual desires become even stronger and lust burns at the heart level. This leads to perversion, causing one to go beyond normal sexual activity. iii. Debased Mind (v. 28) All restraints are lifted off and one s conscience is seared. There is no conscience and guilt, and no sense of what is right or wrong. b. In Rom 1: 24-28, it was mentioned three times that God gave them up to uncleanness to vile passions over to a debased mind. This does not mean that God causes our conscience to become darkened / hardened or that He releases immorality upon us. Rather, if we keep choosing to sin willfully in disobedience, He eventually gives us over to sin. 4. Stage Four: Body becomes defiled a. Finally, our physical bodies become filthy and defiled on the outside as we continue to indulge in sexual sin. Sexual sin is the only sin that the Bible says is against the body. As our bodies, minds and souls become impure, we are unable to think of God. F. Defining Sexual Immorality 1. Sexual immorality refers to all sexual activity that is outside a marriage covenant between a man and a woman. This could be physical, verbal, emotional, in thought, media etc. This includes lusting with our eyes, indulging in sexual fantasy, watching pornography, and committing fornication (sex before marriage), adultery (sex outside of marriage), and homosexual activity. 2. The Stages of Adultery: a. Eye Adultery This refers to looking lustfully at a person. b. Heart Adultery This refers to sexual fantasies within a person s heart and thought-life. c. Emotional Adultery This refers to a connecting of emotions beyond friendship. It is not possible to have a platonic friendship (i.e. a special emotional connection that is beyond friendship) between a man and woman. If a man is married, the closest person to him in all ways should be his wife and not someone else. d. Physical Adultery This refers to engaging in actual sexual intercourse.

6 Page 6 G. Dealing with the Spirit of Immorality and the Consequences of Not Doing So Verses If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 1. In these verses, Jesus gives us two very important principles regarding the spirit of immorality. They are very significant yet often neglected. 2. Jesus makes two major points with regard to dealing with sexual immorality: a. He teaches us what our attitude should be as we deal with sexual immorality. He exhorts us to be radical as we deal with it. b. There are serious consequences if we leave sexual immorality alone and not deal with it. 3. How to Deal with Immorality: a. Adopt a radical attitude Jesus emphasizes the importance of dealing with immorality radically. A casual and passive approach to lust is not good enough. We must take a radical approach even if it is going to cost us, even if it is painful and even if it seems extreme. b. Exercise spiritual self-denial Jesus is not advocating physical mutilation. Both the right eye and the right hand represent the most precious and useful parts of a person s body. Jesus calls us to make radical, costly and painful decisions to remove anything and everything that stirs up lust, even the most cherished or precious things in our lives, such as people, places, possessions etc. c. For example, if being in our workplace causes us to lust, we should quit the job. If an unhealthy relationship stirs up lust, we should stop that relationship. If our iphones or computers cause us to lust, we should get rid of them. 4. Serious Consequences of Leaving Lust Undealt With a. There are serious consequences of not dealing with immorality. Jesus emphasized the importance of radically dealing with immorality by repeating this phrase twice, for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. b. The consequence of sexual immorality, if left undealt with, is eternal judgment. The Scriptures are consistent regarding this (1Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:3-7; Rev. 21:8; 22:14-15). c. This does not refer to people who genuinely work at dealing radically with it or to people who struggle and fall occasionally due to weakness. This eternal judgment is instead for people who are unrepentant and immoral and who choose to camp in an immoral lifestyle.

7 Page 7 H. Five Practical Steps to Deal with the Spirit of Immorality 1. Forward a. Say no to lust. We are to lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness (Jas. 1:21). b. Close the eye-gate. Like Job, we should make a covenant with our eyes not to look with lust (Job 31:1). 2. Backward a. Search our hearts diligently and honestly to see if we are struggling in this area (Psa. 139:23-24). b. If we find that there is lust in our hearts, we need to repent and deal with immorality radically (1John 1:9; Matt. 5:27-30). 3. Inward a. Pray in order to cultivate clean hearts and a right spirit before God (Psa. 51:10-12). b. When we meditate on, fill and renew our minds with the Word, and receive His Word with meekness, we are strengthened (Phil. 4:8; Rom.12:2). 4. Outward a. Jas. 5:16 commands us to confess our sins to one another. Making ourselves accountable to one another if we struggle and are weak helps us. b. We need to draw boundaries and avoid situations were we will be vulnerable to temptation. 5. Upward a. As we learn to walk in the Spirit, we will not gratify the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16).

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