“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT2)
In part 1 you will learn that pride and anger will destroy any dreams of reconciliation in any relationship. But our Lord commands that a true follower will not and cannot let anything stop them from rebuilding relationships. Humility is the only path that will bring true reconciliation and Christ shows us the way.
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 NKJV
The perfect God took the initiative to restore fellowship with angry, rebellious mankind Jesus Christ (God the Son) left heaven and entered the world and took upon Himself all our sin, when He had none
“In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn’t hold people’s faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 GW
We must take the similar steps to restore our broken relationships with Him and the people around us.
“But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 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. 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.” Matthew 5:28-30 (NKJV)
The Tragedy of Lust 1 Lust is not normal, but abnormal to God 2 People’s consciences are dead to God’s moral standards 3 Christians must deal with lust with extreme measures 4 Lust is not a victimless crime
The Danger of Lust 1 It trains your mind to focus on the delusions of immorality resulting in spiritual blindness 2 Lust always gives birth to sin 3 The trap of immorality holds everyone in spiritual BLINDNESS
The Danger of Lust The trap of immorality holds everyone in spiritual BLINDNESS and 99% of Americans believe they are NOT going to Hell!
Lust is a heart problem! “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4
Train Your Eyes Not To Lust 1/ Change your relationships and run “Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NLT2)
2/ Transform desire to please yourself into desire to please God “[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” Philippians 2:13 (AMP)
3/ Dedicate every part of yourself to the Lord I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1 (AMP)
4/ Make a covenant with your eyes “I DICTATED a covenant (an agreement) to my eyes; how then could I look [lustfully] upon a girl? For what portion should I have from God above [if I were lewd], and what heritage from the Almighty on high? Does not calamity [justly] befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity? Does not [God] see my ways and count all my steps?” Job 31:1-4 (AMP)
5/ Read Proverbs and understand God’s warnings “Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.” Proverbs 1:2-4 (NLT2)
