Having Pure Eyes
We must make a covenant with our eyes to avoid lustful looking and maintain purity in our lives.
Erlo Stegen emphasizes the importance of maintaining purity in our eyes and hearts, referencing Job's covenant to avoid lustful gazes. He highlights the pervasive spirit of immorality in society and challenges parents to take a stand against inappropriate content in their homes. Stegen warns that indulging in lustful thoughts or images can lead to spiritual decay and emphasizes that both men and women must guard their hearts against such temptations. He calls for self-examination and the removal of any filth that hinders our spiritual walk with God.
Text
Job 31:1
"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl."
Job writes that he had made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. He was a man among men.
God asked satan, "have you observed my servant Job, blameless and upright."
Where are the Jobs in our midst who do not gaze upon girls? These days there is a spirit of immorality poured out on all nations.
You might buy a newspaper but your real motive is to see if there is something about the opposite sex that would tickle you.
Nowadays there are photographs of nudity everywhere. You might even find it in your child's bedroom. Do you as a parent condone it? Why don't you tear it down?
A university in Pretoria did research and found that looking at pornography has the same chemical effect on the brain as taking drugs.
Jesus said if any man looks at a woman lustfully he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Your body is troubled by filth. If you smoke your lungs suffer, and if you look at pornography you damage your brain.
Paul writes that the one who steals or lies sins outwardly but the one who sins sexually by adultery sins against his own body.
Now Job did not refer just to nudity; he said that he would not even gaze or think on a young woman.
Parents your so-called Christian home will be condemned one day if you condone evil videos to be played in your home. Rather get rid of those video machines than you and your house go to hell. Be manly in your home and do not allow such filth in your house.
The bible says that sexual immorality should not even be named among Christians. Lustfully looking at a girl has no place in a Christian's life.
This matter works both ways - the same goes with women looking lustfully at men. It should not be found in a Christian's life.
Have you ever asked God to search you and try you and see if there be any wicked way in your life?
Maybe you are powerless spiritually because you condone these things in your life or house. Search your life and get rid of the filth.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Covenant of the Eyes
- A. Job's commitment to purity
- B. The consequences of lustful looking
- II. The Spirit of Immorality
- A. The prevalence of lustful images
- B. The impact on our minds and hearts
- III. The Consequences of Sin
- A. Damage to our bodies and minds
- B. Spiritual powerlessness
- IV. The Call to Purity
- A. Seeking God's search and try
- B. Removing filth from our lives
- V. The Christian Standard
- A. No place for lustful looking
- B. A commitment to purity in all aspects
Key Quotes
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.” — Erlo Stegen
“Jesus said if any man looks at a woman lustfully he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” — Erlo Stegen
“Your body is troubled by filth. If you smoke your lungs suffer, and if you look at pornography you damage your brain.” — Erlo Stegen
Application Points
- We must be intentional about removing filth from our lives and homes.
- We must seek God's search and try in our lives and be willing to make changes.
- We must commit to purity in all aspects of our lives and not compromise on our values.