1. Adultery of the Heart Part I - Diagnosis Matthew 5:27-10
Grace Community Church
4/24/2005

2. Fellowship – Walking in light…
1 John 1:5-7
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

3. You Heard it was said…
Matthew 5:27 You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’

4. Sex is God’s Idea… Proverbs 5:18-19 18 May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be captivated by her love.
Genesis 2 24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.25The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

5. Why is adultery wrong? People get hurt…
Innocent parties – Spouse & Kids…
Guilty Parties
Best case scenario – broken fellowship and God’s discipline…
Worst case scenario – stumbling block that keeps them from Christ…

6. Your heart is the issue…
But I tell you…
Matthew 5:27 You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Your heart is the issue…

7. Your heart is the issue…
Matthew 15:19
19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
Proverbs 4:23
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

8. Lust will cripple your walk…
1 John 1:5-7
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

9. Lust will cripple your walk…
1 John 1:8-10
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

10. Those who walk in darkness…
Adopt a mechanical view of the law…
Low view of the Law…
High view of themselves…
Often self righteous…
Minimizing pet sins
Emphasizing areas of strength…
Often critical of others…
Overly sensitive to criticism from others…
Excuses sin by blame-shifting…

11. 1st Step – Come into the light…
1 John 1:5-7
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.