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Wandering Eyes
Matthew 5:27-30 (New International Version)
"‘You have heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.’ ”
“When the thought of evil is loved and cherished, however secretly, said Jesus, it shows that sin still reigns in the heart. The soul is still in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. He who finds pleasure in dwelling upon scenes of impurity, who indulges the evil thought, the lustful look, may behold in the open sin, with its burden of shame and heart-breaking grief, the true nature of the evil which he has hidden in the chambers of the soul. The season of temptation, under which, it may be, one falls into grievous sin, does not create the evil that is revealed, but only develops or makes manifest that which was hidden and latent in the heart. As a man ‘thinketh in his heart, so is he;’ for out of the heart ‘are the issues of life.’ Proverbs 23:7; 4:23” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 60).
WANDERING EYES
One particular day, Joey and his friend Eric, were out hiking in the hills behind Joey’s house. This day was like any other day; they were hiking and climbing around on the rocks, when Eric found something. He called to Joey, and Joey came running. “What is it?” Joey asked. “I don’t know,” said Eric, and they both began to peruse the piles of papers and magazines that had been left behind by someone. From the moment the saw the magazine covers, they realized that the content was more than slightly inappropriate. Obscenity was on every page.
After they looked at these magazines for a while, they started to feel guilty, as if the were looking at something they were not supposed to see. They started to talk again and decided that they should do something with these pictures. And so they decided to destroy them. They were very careful to make sure they had torn up every image they had seen. In so doing, of course, they ended up making sure they looked at every picture. They walked back down the mountain, feeling a little better for what they had done to the material.
The next day they found themselves relating to each other that they had both thought a lot about the pictures they had seen. They knew they were wrong, but for some reason, they decided that maybe there was some more they had missed, and so they thought they should go and check. What they found, close by where they had seen the magazines the day before, was another pile of material. They looked, and again they felt guilty, so they decided to destroy it as well.
This went on for a while. Both boys found themselves thinking about the things they had seen more and more, and looking for more and more. That summer, they spent a great deal of time in the hills seeking out and destroying that stuff that people had left. Little did they know the effect it would have on them later in life.
Because of their exposure at an early age to that kind of graphic material, they both had to deal with some odd ideas about sexual relationships. Joey eventually went to counseling to deal with his pornography addiction. There he learned that what went into his mind, especially in the form of pictures, stayed there. He was always able to conjure up those images when he “needed” them. His early run-ins with pornography shaped who he became, and it took him a great deal of time and effort to undo some of the damage that was done on those afternoon hikes in the hills.
Think of this: Joey grew up before there was anything like the Internet, which has made those types of images even more readily available. Do we take this danger seriously enough?
“It is possible that you may bury them [sins] in your hearts and conceal them from human eyes, but how will you stand in God's presence?
“If you cling to self, refusing to yield your will to God, you are choosing death. To sin, wherever found, God is a consuming fire. If you choose sin, and refuse to separate from it, the presence of God, which consumes sin, must consume you.
“It will require a sacrifice to give yourself to God; but it is a sacrifice of the lower for the higher, the earthly for the spiritual, the perishable for the eternal. God does not design that our will should be destroyed, for it is only through its exercise that we can accomplish what He would have us do. Our will is to be yielded to Him, that we may receive it again, purified and refined, and so linked in sympathy with the Divine that He can pour through us the tides of His love and power. However bitter and painful this surrender may appear to the willful, wayward heart, yet ‘it is profitable for thee’” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 62).
“As soon as Satan can separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of man’s carnal nature. The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things—the neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly, the disposition to follow the customs and practices of the world” (Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 717, 718).
LOOK AT THIS
You will need:
A glass bowl
Clear water to fill the bowl a little less than half full
Different colors of food coloring
½ c. bleach
Ask your parents where a safe place in the kitchen would be to do this experiment. (The bleach will fade colored fabric.)
On a counter or table, fill the bowl with the water. Add food coloring until the water turns black. Then add the bleach, and watch what happens.
Think of it this way: The clear water is a pure life. As you add the different colors, think of how just looking at the “wrong thing” a little bit doesn’t seem to make a big difference until you do it over and over again.
The bleach represents how asking Jesus to come into your life and totally take over, forgiving your sin, can make you pure again.
“Polluted thoughts become habit, and the soul is scarred and divided. Once do a wrong action and a blot is made which nothing can heal but the blood of Christ; and if habit it is not turned from with firm determination, the soul is corrupted, and the streams flowing from this defiling fountain corrupt others” (In Heavenly Places, p. 197).
HERE’S WHAT I THINK
Here’s the situation: A friend brings a questionable magazine to school one day. It gets passed around to both girls and guys. Because everyone is a little curious and a little afraid, no one throws it away. Finally it comes to you.
A similar situation, but this time you are on the Internet while some friends are at your house. Your computer is somewhere where your parents aren’t necessarily going to come by, so the choice is up to you. What do you do?
Go to http://guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your answers. Your thoughts and feelings may seem clearer to you when you write them down, so we’ve provided space for you here as well. You may also wish to share them with your class later. Be up front and honest.
Ephesians 5:1-3 (New International Version)
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.”
Galatians 5:16-26 (Contemporary English Version)
“If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires. The Spirit and your desires are enemies of each other. They are always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should. But if you obey the Spirit, the Law of Moses has no control over you.
“People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom.
“God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. God's Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit. But don't be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are.”
The Bible verses that you have just read are basically telling us to watch what we do and think. Galatians 5:22-26 tells us how changed we will be if we fill our lives with God and His Spirit.
Sometimes the Bible sounds so matter of fact. I should behave or think in such a sinless manner. As a Christian, I realize that you fail more often than you care to remember.
We may think the people that lived during bible times didn’t have the same temptations that we have. This stuff doesn’t apply to us, does it? They had it much easier than I do. Was it just that simple for the people of the Bible?
Do you believe they didn’t have to overcome temptation? Did Jesus have to overcome temptation? Here’s what Paul says in Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (New International Version).
How is that? Jesus can sympathize with us because He was tempted in every way we are. Stop and pray asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand all that Hebrews 4:15 is saying. Jesus really does understand.
When you have finished, look up the texts listed below. Who are they about? What was the temptation? If they sinned, why did they sin? If they didn’t sin, what kept them from sinning? Write your answers on the lines below.
- 2 Samuel 11: 1-26
- Genesis 39:1-17
- Judges 16:1-20
Proverbs 6:24-26 (New King James Version)
To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.”
Romans 6:11-13 (Amplified Bible)
“Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus. “Let not sin therefore rule as king in your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies, to make you yield to its cravings and be subject to its lusts and evil passions.” Do not continue offering or yielding your bodily members [and faculties] to sin as instruments (tools) of wickedness. But offer and yield yourselves to God as though you have been raised from the dead to [perpetual] life, and your bodily members [and faculties] to God, presenting them as implements of righteousness.”
SO WHAT?
It’s important to deal with the issue of lust before we get into an overpowering situation. Jesus tells us in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) that we should stay as far away from sin as we can. How do we do this when what causes our sinful desires are things we see all around us? Do we have to walk around this world with blinders on? Guys are especially susceptible to this. For some reason, guys are wired so that what they see has a big effect on them. However, girls are not exempt from temptation from the eyes. It gives both guys and girls a great deal of responsibility when dealing with printed material, images, and each other.
Girls, watch what you wear! Guys, make sure to guard yourselves against images that tear down the value of women in your eyes.
Remember, every image you see represents a person who somehow found themselves in a less than-ideal-situation. But also remember that each person is a child of God and needs to be respected as such.
- Do you watch television? How do advertisers attempt to sell their merchandise?
- What is wrong with most of the television shows you are not allowed to watch?
- What influences the clothing styles that are popular?
- What is the temptation in each of the topics above?
Fill in each blank with the word from the correct Bible text.
- Galatians 5:19-21 (NASB) says, “ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ___________, ___________, _________, Idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, ______________, factions, ____________, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
- 1 John 2:16,17 (NASB) tells us: “For all that is in the world, the _______ of the __________ and the _________ of the eyes and the boastful Pride of life, is not from the father, but is from the world.
The world is passing away, and also its _________; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
- In Romans 6:12-14 (NKJV), we find, “Therefore do not let ____ reign in your mortal body, that you should ______ in its ____________. And do not present your members as instruments of _____________________ to sin, but present yourselves to __________ as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under ________ but under ____________.”
- Titus 2:11, 12 (NASB) says this: “For the grace of ________ has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, ___________ us to ________ ungodliness and worldly __________ and to live _________, ___________ and ___________ in the present age.”
- Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB):
- “Now flee from youthful ______ and pursue righteousness, __________, _____________, and _________, with those who call on the Lord from a ________ heart (NASB).
- In Colossians 3:5, we find this advice, “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, ____________, ____________, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.”
“Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith” (Steps to Christ, p. 48).
“Consecrate yourself to God in the morning: make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, ‘Take me, O Lord, as wholly thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.’ This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ” (Steps to Christ, p. 70).
“The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer” (Steps to Christ, p. 94).
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?
Because Satan likes to tempt us with things that are attractive to us, we need to guard ourselves against things we are drawn to by nature. There are many safeguards we can place in our way so we don’t inadvertently come across those images. We can put guards on our computers (have friends or family do it so you can’t get by the password). Don’t go into situations in which you might be tempted: Stay away fro volatile sexual situations. While you may not think that this pertains to you, you will be surprised at how you become assaulted with sexual situations either from the media, the Internet, or even with real-live people.
The good news is that God can be with you every situation and wants you to be victorious over sin. Remember, Galatians 5:1 says; “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (NIV). Just remember that what Satan makes seem like freedom to do what feels good actually becomes a yoke that can ruin our lives, and that we can’t get out from under by ourselves.
- How does society affect you and the way you want to look and act?
- What is your favorite movie? Why?
- What is your favorite song? Why?
- Who is the most popular kid at your school or church? Why?
- What is your favorite look in clothing? Why?
- Do you have a favorite movie star? Why?
- Go back to the first question. Should you change your answer?
Matthew 5:28 (Amplified Bible)
“But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
“You are responsible to God for your thoughts. If you indulge in vain imaginations permitting your mind to dwell upon impure subjects, you are, in a degree, as guilty before God as if your thoughts were carried into action. All that prevents the action is the lack of opportunity” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 561).
“Impure pictures have a corrupting influence. Novels are eagerly pursued by many, and as the result, their imagination becomes defiled” (Mind, Character, and Personality vol. 1. p.)
“Satan has come down with great power to work his deceptions. He fastens the mind or imaginations upon impure, unlawful things. Christians become like Christ in character by dwelling upon the divine Model. That with which they come in contact has a molding influence upon life and character. . . . That, which we allow ourselves to look upon oftenest, and think of most, transfers itself in a measure to us” (Letters to Young Lovers, p.61).
There is a book entitled Every Young Man’s Battle, written by Steven Arterburn and Fred Stoeker. If you would like strategies to become victorious over the temptations in the real world of sexual temptation, please read this Christian based book.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Take time to log your activities for a day; is there a time when you have nothing to do? Are you bored a great deal? Are you without enough to do so that you might let your mind and hands wander to things that are not of God? Take this sheet and log all the different things you do in a day, and see where your time is spent.
7-8 a.m. |
8-9 a.m. |
9-10 a.m. |
10-11 a.m. |
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11-12 a.m. |
12-1 p.m. |
1-2 p.m.. |
2-3 p.m. |
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3-4 p.m. |
4-5 p.m. |
5-6 p.m. |
6-7 p.m. |
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7-8 p.m. |
8-9 p.m. |
9-10 p.m. |
10-11 p.m. |
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