Lust Of Eyes
the lust of the eyes
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read 1 Jn. 1:6-2:6.
(1) John had his share of battles to fight.
(2) John had the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ to defend.
(3) John had his share of warnings to sound out.
A. John’s audience, in a sense had a once saved always saved attitude.
B. View not exclusive to denominations. Held by many brethren, some don’t even know it.
2. Prior to the great text (1 Jn. 2:15-16) from which our lesson comes, John offered evidence of Jesus Christ’s life – I heard, I saw, I touched the Word of Life!
3. John says, “Not only did I touch Him. HE TOUCHED ME!
(1) John tells us that his life changed by being with Christ, and yours should tool
(2) Read 1 Jn. 2:15-18.
4. Regarding the text:
(1) Our attention is directed to John’s identification of the lust of the eye.
(2) It is the second prong in Satan’s three pronged attack. (Cf. Eve, Jesus).
(3) John’s ultimate point = this world, and every worldly lust / pleasure will pass.
(4) BUT, one who does the will of God will abide forever and ever (v. 17).
5. Our interest in this lesson = abide with God forever. The means - avoid lust of eye.
6. Illustration:
(1) Ever see a wide receiver drop the game winning pass? Why? Eyes not on ball.
(2) Would you want a brain surgeon to get a “singing telegram” in middle of your operation?
(3) Ever teach your children to drive? “Keep your eyes on the road!”
7. God, through His holy word, warns us, and the warning so simple, we expect the smallest of children to understand… Oh, be careful little eyes what you see…
8. Warning for us in 1 Jn. 2:16 = Be careful little eyes what you see. OR Keep eyes on road!
· “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart” (Prov. 4:20-21).
· “I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
· Heb. 12:1,2.
9. The devil has his eyes upon your, your soul. Three prong attack to distract and destroy.
(1) Eve saw the fruit, and it was pleasant to the eyes…
(2) Mt. 4:1-11.
DISCUSSION: Oh Be Careful Little Eyes…
I. The devil knows what you like.
1. Advertisers know it.
(1) Ever go to grocery store… Wal Mart… Notice product placement (top & bottom shelves)?
(2) Professional sports teams know it (cheerleaders/dancers).
2. Gen. 2:17 - “of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
(1) Adam & Eve didn’t have any trouble understanding.
(2) BUT, the serpent of old entered in, and painted an image in Eve’s mind.
A. Oh, now she saw it was good for food. (No more so than yesterday!)
B. She saw it was pleasant to her eyes. (No more than yesterday)
3. It is not wrong to enjoy the beauty of the physical creation.
(1) We don’t usually have a problem with fruit.
(2) We have a problem with form. (female or male).
(3) Not wrong to enjoy the beauty of opposite sex (if kept in godly context).
4. But if you allow your pleasure / desire for such things to take your eyes off the road… YOU ARE IN TROUBLE!
(1) It can happen in public. It can happen in private.
(2) It can happen at school activities. It can happen at church activities.
(3) It can happen with people. It can happen with photos & video!
(4) It can, and it does! (James 1:14-15)
5. Examples:
(1) Achan learned the hard way after taking treasure to be utterly destroyed or dedicated to God. Probably didn’t intend to, but his eye… “…When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment… I coveted them, and I took them” (Josh. 7:21).
(2) David is another classic example (2 Sam. 11:2-4).
A. One evening walking on roof of king’s house. Sees a woman bathing.
B. She is beautiful to behold. The deadly spiral / progression into begins.
(3) Jesus warned – “But I say whoever looks at a woman to lust…” (MT. 5:28).
6. John warns us against it. DO NOT FILL YOUR EYE WITH TEMPORARY TREASURES. GOD HAS ETERNAL TREASURE IN STORE THAT YOU CANNOT IMAGINE!!!
(1) Burden squarely upon each one of us – Be careful what you see!
(2) “ “ “ “ - Be careful how you desire to be seen (1 Tim. 2:10).
(3) There is none so blind as those who will not see.
II. The devil clouds our vision so skillfully, we are oft unaware.
· How many here wear glasses? Relate needing a new pair, but not thinking you need a new pair, until you actually get a new pair. Cf. cheat on eye test.
1. Be careful. You man not be seeing as clearly as you think you are.
(1) 1 Pet. 5:7-9 “Add to your F, V, K, SC, P, G, BK, Love… For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”
2. You may not be seeing what you think your seeing.
(1) Ever do that?
(2) Cf. Laodiceans – Saw selves as rich, wealthy, no needs, BUT the Lord said, LOOK AGAIN – You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked (Rev. 3;17).
(3) Rev. 3:18 – Jesus told them to anoint their eyes that they may see (v. 18).
3. Anyone in here have Lasik’s or the equivalent?
4. Bible offers you the ability to see forever and ever… clear into eternity!
III. God knows and provides what you need. (If we are looking)
· Surgery, glasses, medicines, squinting, etc…all help with physical problems.
· John saying, “Do not fill your eye with temporary treasure. God has eternal treasure in store for you. Such that you cannot imagine!
· Bible identifies what we need.
1. Resolve to keep your life pure.
(1) Job 31:1 – “I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?”
A. Job was a perfect and upright man. Feared God and shunned evil (1:1).
B. Job had his mind made up. Up front!
(2) Cf. Joseph (Gen. 39:9)
(3) If you want to withstand the wiles of the devil, you need up front commitment (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you…”
(4) We need to watch less television! (66% have 3; By 18 – 200,000 acts of violence.)
(5) Sometimes you get off track. Maybe the case for your this hour.
2. Prayer.
(1) Eph. 1:18 – Paul prayed for the “eyes of their understanding be enlightened.”
(2) Mt. 6:13 – “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us…”
(3) You have not because you ask not.
(4) Prayer will keep first keep you in touch with God, but also with self.
3. Guidance from a source purer than self. (Difficult o give self an eye test.)
(1) “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes…” (Psa. 19:8).
(2) Psalm 119:105.
(3) Psa. 119:11
CONCLUSION:
1. Pornography statistics:
(1) $57 Billion (world-wide); $12 Billion (U.S.)
(2) $2.5 Billion (internet); $3 Billion (child porn)
(3) Pornography generates greater revenue than Pro basketball, football, and baseball COMBINED!
(4) Avg. age of child’s first exposure = 11.
(5) 40 million adults admit to regularly visiting internet porn sites.
2. Fashions come and go, but fashion industry is not driven by desire for godliness.
3. T.V. and Radio have become cesspools of sensuality. (Can’t expect to play in it and not stink; drink from it and not get sick).
4. Jesus, and John warned often, Christians must keep our priorities in order, if we hope to obtain our desired destiny.
(1) Jesus – lay not up treasures on earth… Lamp of body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light, BUT if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. (Mt. 6:22-23)
(2) John – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father, but of the world.
I. Devil knows what we like.
2. Devil can cloud our vision so skillfully that we are unaware.
3. God knows and provides what we need if we are our eyes are on the road.
Jesus, tempted in all points as we are, resisted the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Eve, and Adam did not.
Be careful little eyes, for the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are not of the Father, but of the world. And the world is passing away and the lust of it…