Caging the Beast Within

Is not my experience is by instruction.

The best way for you and I to learn immorality deceives is not my experience, it is by instruction for some of us involved in immorality doing things that do not.

Our God that may need be intervention.

It may be the sermon or maybe a close friend for some thing that may have a length that is something less than disaster. Honestly, that's a notion that in our culture consider outdated. In fact, in some ways impurity is promoted over purity.

So this is a unique opportunity for Christians to stand out and shine as lights for the truth of God. This is wisdom for the heart with Stephen Devi were in a series from our vintage wisdom collection through the book of Exodus, Stephen called the lesson you're about to hear. Caging the beast with Proverbs chapter 29 verse 18 it deals with the authority of Scripture, and although it doesn't it's easy to overlook the fact team says this, where there is no vision the people perish where there is no revelation from God, the people perish in that parish could be translated as well. If you have an American standard for people without restraint. That's a powerful thought. If you take from a congregation. If you take from a society, the authority of declared revelation if you rob a country of declared truth.

People are without restraint.

People do anything. Anything we care to our desire is interesting as we discover 10 commands that God has chosen to give to us by way of revelation you take out you suck out of our society. Those 10 Commandments, and you will have people in the church without restraint and under attack in our society. In this little town is an attack on the authority of Scripture. There are four fronts on which this battle was fought for ladies. The authority of Scripture is attacked.

The first is simply an obviously by public opinion, public opinion will attack the authority of Scripture because being without it they can do what they want to do. It's interesting, I read a survey, 700 people produce 75% of everything on television which is where the public espouses its views 700 people produce 75% and these people by a national organization were surveyed and they came up with some rather startling facts. If you wondered why television is what it is is why 84% of them never attend a church or synagogue or very seldom and hours.

They are there without a revelation from God because they are apart from the propositional truth that is or should be declared 84% say the government should have no laws regarding moral behavior.

55% say that adultery is perfectly moral. 95% say that homosexuality is not wrong you removed from public opinion.

The authority of this book upon which our authority hangs and people become without restraint. There's another attack. However, it isn't just public opinion. It's accommodating theology is not just confusion on our society. There is confusion in the pulpit, there is confusion among people who say that they believe the words of Scripture, or believe in God but my friend, if you say you believe in God and do not believe in the authority of this book, then you are and I am confused. I would declare the words of John to them as he wrote in the final chapter of this book. Whoever takes away from this book of prophecy, God will take away his part in eternal life adds to these words, God will add to him the plagues pretty strong words, God doesn't want his authority tampered with public opinion accommodating theology confusion the pulpit as a result, confusion in the pew there's another Christian opinion often attacks the authority of Scripture like you just talk to another Christian to find enough to disagree about. I got up like hanging my study. I love it. It's to stop over in the corner so you don't see it, if you first walk in. It reminds me as I look from my desk to that wall. It says were two or three are gathered in my name, there will be disagreement as to what the Bible teaches. There's a lot of truth to that, and yet opinion is not our basis for life. It is revelation. We are to pursue the teachings of Scripture to discern those teachings and then led by fourth delayed consequences. Ecclesiastes chapter 8 verse 11 says because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed swiftly, the hearts of men are given fully to evil we can fool ourselves in our society can be fooled into thinking that because God's judgment does not fall and there must not be a judgment all Robert Ingersoll, the man he used to stand for thousands of people on the stage and take his watch off anyone home and into the air and he would say if God let them strike me dead in front of the second and then count the time down 2928 27 and the crowd with Jasper and he would get down to 10 987321C. There is no God is the delay of consequence that fools people into thinking there is no penalty for sin.

And if I violate this book and something doesn't happen to me. It must be all right violated so that opinion as well. Attacks the authority of Scripture. So what we have today men and women we have what one man writes about in a fantastic little book called the integrity crisis when we're speak. He says for 1900 years the church has been telling our world to repent of that sin and to live your today 1900 years later the world is looking at the church and saving repent of your sin and live up your for 1900 years the message has been suspect. Today, men and women. The messenger is suspect, why because there was no longer an authority of Scripture and the whole in the church and society. God has spoken directly to such things as moral purity. In fact, he selected 10 commands as we been studying racks in Exodus chapter 20 and one of those 10 commands is very specific. Verse 14 you shall not commence adultery. That's expanded in the New Testament with other verbs or words used in the original language my costs for adultery that is illicit relationships between those who are married and fornication as he will tell us in the New Testament in Ephesians Galatians to flee.

These works and he puts side-by-side another word tornado from which we get our word pornography is the Greek word that means, or can be translated fornication that is immorality among unmarried people. So all the way back in the beginning of revelation from God, or at least written revelation. We have a declaration toward moral purity. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Know what I want to do several things I want us to discover how it invades our lives and let me say right off the bat that we are all impacted by this potential sin. In fact, according to the New Testament. Jesus Christ says if you merely look on a woman to lust for her, you commit adultery in your heart.

James even expands it further in chapter 4 verse four he says this and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God. In other words, adultery covers a wide spectrum were going to deal primarily with more respect, but it knocks on the door of every one here.

I realize the gravity of this kind of sermon and how it may impact my own life. Let me talk first of all, about how it invades our lives. First is the ever present capability in a person's flesh. Galatians chapter 5 verse 19 talks about adultery and fornication being for work.

All the flesh when I want to do.

First of all I just lay the simple foundation that we recognize within us lies a beast. The apostle Paul said all wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death is released within the capability and all of us ladies and gentlemen to do hideous crimes against our God, Dr. Howard, a great expositor in Australia was preaching in his church and that it was his typical approach to call sin.

Sin we need more of that today and up and officer of the church approached him and he said Dr. Howard. Don't you understand about being so specific you could cause problems. In fact, what's suggested you call things, not necessarily sin refer to them as mistakes and Dr. Howard got from behind his desk and he said follow me sore and he went down into the basement of his church and into a utility room and he pulled off the shelf a bottle and he wipe the dust off it, and he showed demand the label and he said the label reads obviously here rat poison.

Dr. Howard said what you are suggesting we take this label off and we replace it with one that reads peppermint candy. The point was made to call it anything other than it is actually makes it dangerous.

So let's begin with ourselves and call ourselves when we are in our flesh. The works of the flesh are adultery and fornication.

There is a beast with all of us must pique were to work toward that end, the second point is an evil creation in a person's mind course.

Jesus Christ cleared that up. In Matthew chapter 5 where he says it doesn't necessarily have to be an act can be a thought. It can be a creation in the mind. It can be a silent secret thing that knows about except you and your thoughts and what is capability then becomes a creation in the mind where to begin. That which is capability the terms to creation then finds culmination number three is the erotic culmination in a person's senses the beginning of David's decline is a verse of Scripture that says and he saw the first words recorded from Samson's mouth in Judges, chapters 14 to 17 were the words I saw a woman we need to be very careful. Men and women that we see what we hear what we like to influence us especially on the basis of that interview and that survey will be allowed to invade our living room, but we will listen to why because in the pathway that leads to destruction. There is the sensual of the senses that find their culmination in those evil deeds. So beware of what we see here when we see something or listen to something that does not honor God. Take the advice of the apostle Paul who said, fully fornication hi Kayla move and flirt with it. Don't because if that culmination and finds activity number four.

It is the enveloping control of the persons future. Be careful, be careful what you allowed to invade your senses. Psalm 101.

David says in later years of his life.

He says I will set no evil thing before my eyes, because ultimately if we allowed to invade our lives. It will control our lives were going see in a moment. Proverbs and it is a battle if you feel like you're the only one here who faces that battle your wrong is a battle in the in the life of every believer who pursues Jesus Christ, take heart. I never forget sitting in the office of one of the most godly professors I had in my seminary experience. He was a man in his mid 60s approaching 70 impacted my life like no other and we were sitting in there and the news, it just erupted of a man. Spiritual leadership who had sole and morally, and he was exhorting me just as I viewed the ministry of moral purity. Like I chuckled and I I said to him boy to be sure nice to turn 70 and we laughed and informed me laugh.

Then he looked at me straight in the eye and he said the older I get, the more difficult battle becomes. I said thanks a lot. The truth why because the flesh is not laid off 60s or 70s or 80s taken to the grave, and while we are on the process through life we change it we discipline it we carted we watch us to control our lives if we allow it into our lives were the results turn to Proverbs chapter 5 Proverbs chapter 5. Let's take a look at one who fell the results. How does it impact a life that is given to its control. We give you three clear points.

First of all, immorality to frauds your husband or your wife and I will add to that your future husband. Your future wife is a thief steals the delight of discovery from that one. You will marry. It takes from that when you are married to and it gives in a different way to someone else. God never intended that this take a look at the Scripture says, chapter 5, verse seven now then, my sons listened to not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her, he is talking about the seductress. Do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your vigor to others in your years to the cruel one with strangers be filled with your strength and your hard-earned goods, go to the house of an alien. You see, what a thief.

Immorality is growing in your letter, and when all your flesh and your body are consumed, and you say how I have hated instruction in my heart spurned reproof and I'm not listen to the voice of my teachers more inclined my ears to my instructors.

I was almost not a ruin in the midst of the assembly and congregation drained Colorado from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well. Should your springs be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets. Let them be yours alone and not for strangers with you, but your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the life of your youth take from that spells what is the errors don't allow someone to steal.

I don't give it away. Great teacher of Scripture said that for a man to be involved with another woman or a woman to be to begin with. In the life of another man is like a bank robber coming in robbing a bank. It is money that does not belong to him within the confines of arrangement that God is designed by his delight, and for our delight is like putting deposits into a bank making investments in a relationship that will last for immorality to frauds steel. Secondly, immorality deceives your intellect but I'll refer to this, not just in adultery alone, but anything that is a minimal, any activity that violates the authority of God, Scripture, anything, then that is sin according to his book deceives you could add the word in your notes. It depreciates your intellect. Have you ever considered the thought that personal purity provides a foundation for right decisions you think how could that man do something like that you read the newspapers some size bed tell you how they were involved in things that have been trapped there intellect and it is depreciating the sermon right from wrong, what is dangerous and what is safe. One of the greatest reasons to live up your life is to be able to make decisions that are God and protect our lives for me to show you what Proverbs is along the line in chapter 6, verse 32. The one who commits adultery with the woman is lacking sense. Chapter 7 verse seven and I saw among the naïve.

I discern among the use of a young man lacking sense. There is isn't until you and I repent of immorality and said come back into fellowship with Jesus Christ that we are given again that foundation for making decisions that will honor him, but let me warn you that are involved possible when you're in that situation, you may make grave errors, judgment, because the foundation for judgment in part is personal purity is aspirin that tasted delicious. I can't remember the name of them. They had a unique little name. They were they were on Jewish just like candy. We would fake headaches you know to get that stuff.

Well one night my brother and I slipped out of bed. Sure was his idea climbed up the counter and got a brand-new bottle of aspirin bulletin we opened and we a little went back to bed. My mother woke sometime later were not even sure how long. Sometime later went into the bathroom and saw the empty bottle lying in sync. She came rushing into our room and my brother and I were fast asleep. The next thing I remember is laying on my side, staring at the waist of the biggest nurse I've ever seen in my life as she pumped my stomach. See for me that that sleep could have led to death. I don't know, it could've been disastrous. I desperately needed intervention. That's the point, for some of us involved in immorality doing things that do not God then may need be intervention. It may be the sermon and maybe a close friend do was warning for some thing that may ever link them up is something hardly less than disaster.

The best way to learn about the more than two aspirin is not my experience, it is my instruction. The best way for you and I to learn immorality defeats the frauds deceives is not my experience, it is by instruction we give you 1/3 to frauds deceives and it destroys your character and I'm referring her to an unrepentant person who refuses to give it up. Whatever it might be. It destroys your character. Listen to these words.

Chapter 7 verse 24 now therefore my sons listened to me and pay attention to the words of my mouth. Do not let your heart turn aside her lays down straight into her paths are and I've inserted a roadmap for many are the she is cast down, and numerous who was slain house is the way that she grave the sending to the chambers of death, let me say this is referring this in light of the woman but we can take anything that is immoral and if we pursuant and steps lead to death. The death of life and death of our character. The engagement of of immorality may take our character unless we come to Jesus Christ and repent: soon. I want to start later before we get into the solutions and just say this, there was a word in Scripture that is it is the word forgiveness Isaiah writes the Lord said to me, let's reason together literally, let's talk together though your sin has left a deep scarlet stain I can wash his wife's first John chapter 1, as you well know, says if we confess a five-minute sinful by, confess my sin, he is faithful and just to forgive my sin and to cleanse me from all all all unrighteousness. But we begin by calling it admitting before God we have violated is would you think of a doctor who found a tumor within your body and said take two aspirin and call him back next week that would be an appropriate response to what he found. What would you think of a fireman responding to a three alarm blaze by saying romance. It'll probably burn itself out soon enough weight. One policeman who arrives on the scene of a bank robbery and says boys will be boys. That's an appropriate response to what's happened is what God wants from us.

Let's just take a look at what this stuff is let's call it what it is that admittance that opens the way by his forgiveness to do three things. Victory perceives all three to give them to victory over the sin begins with the determination to stay put it down to be a picnic. It means a persuasion in our soul we will not file by the grace of God's command begins with the determination, commitment, it means simply saying God I'm not going to make any excuses about my sin, no excuses. All that you will call it what it is without any excuses and buyer grace never do it again. Victory begins with determination to stay and secondly, victory is strengthened by discipline David Wright's thighs were thereby hidden in my heart I treasured it up so that I will not sin against that's disappointed you found it easy to sit out and memorize a verse of Scripture, absolutely not. I never talked to said that was easy, but that is part of the discipline. David understood the value of it is a discipline like David who said I will not send any wicked thing before my eyes. I will watch what I say I will be careful what I'll do my life and let me say a word to every mom and dad are specially of our young people at this point in their lives. Be careful that you help discipline that you help them create a sense of what's right and wrong.

They face incredible temptation is changed even from from my day, my heart beats for you. Betty Lou is in on the top 10 anymore.

It is tonight's the night. The theme teenagers were surveyed and they came up with what is been a mind blower as a youth pastor and former churches. This is grabbing me 36% of all the teenagers interviewed could not say with any sense of authority that immorality outs or core relations outside of marriage were wrong and is it any wonder that the next statistic is true. 46% of charged teenagers have given away their purity.

I challenge every father to get involved every mother to be aware they are facing pressure when one victory is assured by dependence relationship for five verse 16 says walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh that is and get five minutes of the spirit get a taste of the Spirit is saying Talairach in the spirit peripatetic which means all that surrounds my life as I go through my life will be depending on the spirit of God, and it is that kind of life that will protect me from fulfilling the loss desires of the flesh.

Have you ever asked yourself how can I be seen as distinctively different in the world. This is probably one of the greatest emerging way moral purity. We as believers purity, not only are we obeying our king, but were also shining as lights in a world that desperately needs light. This is wisdom for the heart with Stephen Devi. Today's lesson is called caging the beast within and it comes from our vintage wisdom series through the book of Exodus, Stephen pastors, the shepherd's church in Cary, North Carolina. You can learn more about us and our ministry@wisdomonline.org comments question or would like more information you can send us an email if you address it to info@wisdomonline.org. Take a moment and write to us and join us next time.

As we continue through Exodus on wisdom for the heart