Let My Eyes Help My Heart Matthew 6:22-23

EYES: whatever allows thoughts to enter our hearts. EYES, HEARTS and CONDUCT  Job 31:7-8, “If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, or if any spot adheres to my hands, then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.

Things that lead the mind to ungodly sexual thoughts Vulgar talk, jokes or conversations TV programs Movies, magazines, books, music, internet Pornography Some “so-called” art Indecent or immodest attire

God’s Ordained Place for Sexual Thoughts and Actions ONLY WITH A MARRIAGE PARTNER! “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Heb 13:4 Contrast Gen 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” With 1 Cor 6:13, 15-16, “Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh."

Why are impure sexual thoughts and actions “SO” sinful in God’s eyes? One of the greatest powers of the sexual desire is its “addictive properties”.  Good: draws a husband and wife together to share a unique closeness in life that makes their bond stronger.  Bad: causes one to lie, sneak, deceive and be drawn further into sexual misconduct than he intended. “Don’t deny yourself of that special gift in marriage by sharing it with others outside of your marriage!”

Dangers of misusing this powerful human drive Matt 5:27-28, “…whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” 2 Pet 2:12-14, “eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin.”

The key factor that cultivates sexually immoral thoughts and actions… … the unlawful, mental portrayal of the nakedness of others.

Two keys to understanding what God teaches on modest apparel and conduct. 1.Nakedness is only to be shared, mentally and physically, in the privacy of the marriage relationship. 2.Modest apparel and conduct is determined first by defining what is shameful nakedness and then covering it up.  Therefore, the subject of modest apparel and conduct is DIRECTLY RELATED TO MARRIAGE, WHETHER OR NOT ONE IS MARRIED!

Heart of “godliness” and life of “good works” are necessary for modest attire and conduct. 1 Tim 2:9-10, "in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” 1 Cor 6:19-20, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Modest mind seeks purity in thoughts and actions at all times. Phil 1:9-10, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,”

From what should one “flee”? 1 Cor 6:18, “Flee sexual immorality” The act only? No! Then what? 2 Tim 2:22, “Flee also youthful lusts;” The act only? No! Then what? 1 Th 5:22, “Abstain from every form of evil.” The act only? No! Then what? Fleeing means leaving it completely. Immodest attire is the bait used in fornication.

Has God defined modest attire and conduct? “God did not draw a line for modest apparel.”  Are we sure about that? “Cannot use the Old Testament because it was the Old Law and we are under Christ’s Law.”  Are we dealing with an Old Law—New Law matter? “Godly men and women will just know what is modest.”  If they know then they can draw the line. But if there is no line how can they “know” what is modest?

Two sources of God’s “definition” of shameful nakedness. Statements about shameful nakedness. Implied contrasts with proper nakedness in marriage, which would be shameful outside of marriage, Prov 5: We can use the entire Bible to discover God’s “definition”.  1 Cor 10:6, “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.”

Where has God drawn the line? ?

Adam and Eve’s Coverings: Gen 3:6-10, 21 Their “coverings” left them naked before God. v 7  “a belt for the waist.” “a girdle, a belt; a loin- covering, a loin-cloth, armor.” God’s choice “clothed” them properly, v 21  “from a…root meaning to cover; a shirt:” “garments” as “a tunic, worn next to the skin… generally with sleeves, to the knees, but seldom to the ankles.”

“Naked”, “Nakedness”—different degrees of being unclothed, or improperly clothed Without clothing Gen 2:25; 3:7-11; Isa 20:2-4 Poorly clad Job 22:6; 1 Cor 4:11; Mat 25:36-44 Jas 2:15 Without an outer garment John 21:7 Figurative senses: uncovered, open Heb 4:13 But when the human anatomy is described whether referring to a person or a figurative condition of a nation, God lets us know what he does not want exposed.

“Where is the line?” THIGHS  Ex 28:42-43, “from the waist to the thighs”  Ex 20:26, implied…no steps to the altar  Isa 47:1-3, Babylon’s shame, "uncover the thigh… nakedness shall be uncovered… shame will be seen

“Where is the line?” HIPS (mid-section)  2 Sam 10:4, “cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.”  Isa 20:2-4, “naked… with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.”

“Where is the line?” BREASTS (chest, upper-body)  Prov 5:15-20, pleasure in marriage, not with others  Ezek 23:3, 8, 10, 18, 21, “committed harlotry in their youth; their breasts were there embraced.”

“Where is the line?” CHEST (upper-body) HIPS (mid-section) THIGHS (upper legs)

Shameful nakedness may be revealed by apparel and body language BODILY MOVEMENTS TIGHT FITTING TYPES OF CLOTHING SPECIAL OCCASIONS SHORT AND REVEALING Preserving marital nakedness is the issue!

“But preacher…” “Not everybody lusts for me when I wear that.” “Some will lust regardless of what we wear.” “But after a while people get used to style” “But I have the right to dress any way I want.” “I’ll show them, I’ll wear something that is even more provocative.” Ignorance, or not owning proper clothing. “Less clothing is more comfortable when it is hot.”

How can I “Let My Eyes Help My Heart?” Job 31:1-12, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why should I look upon a young woman.” “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,…that would be wickedness; yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.” Job 11:13-20, “If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, and would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; then surely you could lift up your face without spot; yes you could be steadfast and not fear;…but the eyes of the wicked will fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope—loss of life.”

Let My Eyes Help My Heart Prov 6:20-35, “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life, 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.” Psa 101:3, I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. Psa 119:37, Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.

Let My Eyes Help My Heart Psa 123:1, Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Col 3:5-6, Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

Let My Eyes Help My Heart Turn your head. Walk away. Go home. Get out of the car. Get out of the room. Turn off the movie, TV show, music, internet. Don’t pick up or look at pornographic books, magazines, pictures, websites, etc. Get involved with friends and things that help you keep your mind pure. Pray and study God’s word.

How do you dress? We either dress to respect marriage relationship or…. ….to respect fornicators and adulterers. THERE ARE NO OTHER CHOICES! Use your godly character to attract others. "Do not let your adornment be merely outward-- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” 1 Pet 3:3-4