1. Lust and Adultery
Matthew 5: 27-30

2. Lust and Adultery -- Matthew 5: 27-30
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old,  ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

3. I. The Power of Imagination
Lust and Adultery -- Matthew 5: 27-30
I. The Power of Imagination
In The Workplace and Daily Life
II. Imagination Can Have A Dark Side
Satan Perverts What Is Good !
Jimmy Carter, 1976:
" I try not to commit a deliberate sin. I recognize
that I'm going to do it anyhow, because I'm human
and I'm tempted. And Christ set some almost
impossible standards for us. Christ said, 'I tell you
that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has
in his heart already committed adultery.‘ I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do--and I have done it--and God forgives me for it."

4. I. The Power of Imagination
Lust and Adultery -- Matthew 5: 27-30
I. The Power of Imagination
In The Workplace and Daily life
II. Imagination Can Have A Dark Side
III. The SoM: Christ’s Position
Challenging and Straight Forward
IV. Christ is Dealing With The Internal, Not External
Adultery Is MORE Than The Physical Act
V. Lust
Insatiable Desire
Sinful Craving
Eyes Awaken Desire

5. Preventing Lust Is A Difficult Challenge
Lust and Adultery -- Matthew 5: 27-30
I. Is Sexual Desire Lust ?
NO!
It Is God-Given
For Pleasure and Procreation
B. Distinction
God’s Plan of Sexual Desire is Healthy
Lust Is Rooted in Human Depravity
It Is Self-Centered, Focused on My Gratification
Marriage Bed Is To Be Undefiled
Lust Perverts Marriage
Preventing Lust Is A Difficult Challenge

6. Inward Thoughts Produce Outward Acts
Lust and Adultery -- Matthew 5: 27-30
II. Is Lust Adultery ?
Yes!
Both Physical And Mental Is Sin
Sinful Even If Only In The Mind
B. Elaboration
Great Punishment for Immorality
OT: Capital Offense By Stoning
NT: Disqualification For Spiritual Leadership
If We Deal With The Mind, We Don’t Have To Deal With Physical Sin
The Pharisees Could Not Get Past The Outward, External Righteousness
Inward Thoughts Produce Outward Acts

7. Lust and Adultery -- Matthew 5: 27-30
III. Why Is Lust Wrong ?
It Denies The Law of Love !
God Created The Whole Person
Lust Focuses Only On The Physical
Lust Will NOT Foster Love !
B. It Devours a Person !
Demands Increasing Satisfaction
Traps a Person, Seems Like No Way Out
Insatiable Thirst Causes Death
Lust is Destructive: Body, Soul, Spirit
Look Upon The Opposite Sex As In The Image of God

8. IV. What Can We Do About Lust ?
Lust and Adultery -- Matthew 5: 27-30
IV. What Can We Do About Lust ?
Take RADICAL Steps
Note The Words Of Jesus Christ
Connection: Eye – Heart Adultery
Treat Your Body As A Blind Amputee
B. Take Responsibility !
No “Victim” Mentality
Take It To Christ … And Leave it !
C. Take Notice of Early Warnings
Make A Way of Escape 1 Cor. 10:13
It Always Begins With A Choice
D. Take Time To Feed on God’s WORD
It Is TRUTH – Opposite of The World
E. Take Time To Renew Higher Law
Lust Destroys Intimacy – Not Close to God or Spouse

9. We Must Decide Who We Will Live For:
Closing Thoughts
I. Walking With The Lord
Lust Hinders Spiritual Growth
Lust is Prohibited So We Can Grow in Christ
II. Loving The Lord
Love Him Too Much To Lust For Another
Cultivate Intimacy With God
We Must Decide Who We Will Live For:
God or The World !