The Eye Gate: (Be Careful Little Eyes What You See) Part 1
Notes
Transcript
15 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. 16 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 is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1. The eyes are one of the gates to the soul.
1. The eyes are one of the gates to the soul.
(For the purpose of this sermon is: the mind, the human will, the emotion)
(For the purpose of this sermon is: the mind, the human will, the emotion)
often times desire starts with what we see.
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
notice that Genesis 3:6 says “So when the woman saw....”
often times desire begins what we see.
in the base text the apostle John enumerates “ lust of the eye” specifically!
The 80’s group Wham! captured this kind of lust in the song “everything she wants” in the lyric everything she wants is everything she. when the lover in the song asks “is out of reach just not good enough for you?” he expresses the exhaustion that comes from the appetites of the flesh.
in recovery it is captured with the statement one is too many and a thousand is never enough.
Cribs.
Clothes.
Cash.
Cars.
these things do not bring fulfillment.
where ever there is a thing there is a new version coming out the does more better. years ago the example was “as soon as you take the brand new computer out of the box it is obsolete.
the lust of the eye rearranges our priorities.
2. We can have stuff and enjoy life, our stuff should not have us.
2. We can have stuff and enjoy life, our stuff should not have us.
a. We are called by God to take care of our families.
a. We are called by God to take care of our families.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
b. we are called to work for our own provision.
b. we are called to work for our own provision.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
c. we are encouraged to save.
c. we are encouraged to save.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
d. we are allowed to own property.
d. we are allowed to own property.
2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
e. we are called to support the work of the Church in the world.
e. we are called to support the work of the Church in the world.
2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
f. we are called to help those in need.
f. we are called to help those in need.
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
3. By doing all of this we lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.
3. By doing all of this we lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.