Overcoming Lust Of The Eyes Introduction: I continue with my series of lectures about overcoming. Jesus has laid down the gauntlet...issued the challenge...you must overcome, just as He has overcome, if you are to sit with Him on His heavenly throne. (Rev. 3:21). The question is: will you and I answer the call...will we overcome? Overcome what? THE WORLD!...but what is that? Lots of things but it is reduced to three things in I John 2:15 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 passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever. And then in 5:4 we read For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. This is not optional matter. This is life and death. Overcoming we must. Today, I wish to stress overcoming the lust of the eyes. Now, what first comes to mind when you hear lust of eyes? Men lusting after women with their eyes, right? Jesus says in Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Fellas, Jesus is plainly speaking to look at a woman with lustful, longing is sinning. No ifs, ands, or buts about. And if it is sinful, we have got to quit it. How did David and Bathsheba committing adultery start? David saw her naked bathing. And we know how that all turned out sordidly wicked. Now, I know, for the bible says, we can admire the beauty of women and it not be sinful, but that is for another sermon. Today I am hammering this other side.
Whether it be viewing women in person as eye candy, or eyeing them in media pornographically, either way we have got to overcome this. But, Whit, it is so hard not to look sexually at women. I just can t seem to quit. And have you seen how these ladies dress these days? These women can help if they didn t show so much in public. I know what you mean, but this sermon is about you and me and no amount of undress by women lets us off. It is true, a strong warning is issued by God to women causing men to stumble, and one way can be by the way they sexually show their bodies in public, but that too is another sermon at another time. But, I understand. This is hard to do. But, God is aware of this problem we have. Listen: Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin (II Peter 2:14). So, this can become an addiction something we can t easily stop. God knows it. We know it. So, how do I overcome? Do like Job I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?" - Job 31:1. So go ahead, make the vow right now! Make a solemn oath speak to yourself maybe speak it to another speak it to God in prayer so help me God, I am not going to look at women with sexual thoughts in my mind. But, then what else can we do? How do I overcome the lust of the eyes? Go around with eyes closed? No. Go around with blinders like a horse so not distracted by what is around me? No. But, let me say as Jesus did and it is quite severe sounding. Right after saying lust with eyes is adultery he then says in the very next verse If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. (Matt. 5:27-29). So yes, you may have to get quite severe in
fixing your problem. You may have to disconnect your internet put a block on the sites you can see stop going to places where women undress to swimsuits, or dance places where they dress suggestively and move suggestively. You have to live in the world and there are things that are unavoidable, but not all. But, lust of the eyes is not limited to men looking at women. In fact, a worse problem (if that is possible) is in the following way. Covetousness. What is covetousness? An inordinate desire for things. It is materialism. It is an over the top longing for stuff. And it often has its window through our eyes. It often begins lusting with your eyes for possessions. Israel when entering the promised land had their first defeat because a man named Achan broke God s order when He said do not take spoils from Jericho. But, listen to this in Joshua 7:20-21 And Achan answered Joshua, Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath. I saw, I coveted, I sinned. And soon after this he was put to death. This is as old as the world. Listen to how the first sin took place So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. One of the ten commandments God said You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's (Ex. 20:17). Covetousness usually involves lusting with your eyes and it can be anything. In Colossians 3:5 we are told how serious this is Covetousness is idolatry. False godship!! It is not only men who need to stop lustfully looking at
women, but men AND women need to stop lustfully looking at cars, houses and cell phones. Lusting eyes can be through TV watching or movie watching or through gaming we become mesmerized, zombiefied, all through looking with our eyes lustfully, longingly, inordinately. You see, lust with eyes may not always be at something forbidden it may be overboard, over the top, addicted eyes than can t get enough watching of most anything. Food is good but not without restraint. Sex is good, but not without restraint. And Looking at cars is good, but not without restraint. I remember my mother pointing out how at age 10-11 I would every day just spend oodles of time looking at encyclopedia pics and information about Go-Karts. Man, I wanted a go-kart so bad! And I never got one. But, boy did I spend so much time just looking. I guess a lesson here is this problem can start early. All my married life Irma has not enjoyed window shopping at the mall or looking at open houses on Sundays, because she says it just makes her discontented with what she has and she doesn t like that. Now you may say you can manage it better. Ok, but just be warned, if your eye causes you to lust or be covetous, you would do well to pluck it out. You may want to avoid places where lusting with your eyes is going to be more likely to happen. No malls, no new car lots, no encyclopedia pics of Go-Karts. So there you have it God says lusting with your eyes is a worldly way you will perish. This we must overcome. God does not spend a lot time and space in scripture with ten step plans or even 5 step plans but puts it as two step plan repent, make a promise to yourself, stop lustfully looking and I will strengthen you internally to make steps in improving.
We have got to admit we have a problem, and begin killing those urges we have in our worldly fleshly members and move ahead deeper and deeper into the heart of Jesus. Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly be filled with the things of the Spirit to walk all day long in the Spirit and we are told we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. A great defense is a good offense. Eyes of the world are less likely to be tripping us up if we walk in the Spirit. It s true! God says so! Without exception? No. But, making progress? Absolutely. God knows we will stumble. He knows we are lying to say we have no sin. But, He has said, you can do better. You can improve and sin less than now you do. You can overcome this lusting with your eyes with the strength I provide you. Amen?!