TURN AWAY MINE EYES...
December 19, 2004 AM
Sermon Outline
PS 119:37
INTRO: I am probably what could be called a visual learner. And I think that probably most of learn and retain that which we are able to see much better than that which we hear. What we see makes a deep impression on our minds. So, our eyes are very important to us ... and to the learning process. It is the nature of our eyes and their immediate impact on our brains which calls for our being careful with our eyes. We want to wear eye protection when we are working in certain jobs. But this needs to be taken a bit further. Eye protection of a different sort is very important to us ... this eye protection has to do with what we permit our eyes to see! I cannot help but wonder if, from a practical standpoint, this may be one of the psalmists most important prayers!
I OUR EYES WILL SEE!
A. Just point your eyes in any direction, and they will see!
1. this is an amazing thing about this faculty - eyes cannot help but see
2. Prov 20:12 with Ps 139:14
B. Since our eyes will see, there must be some discipline
1. Mt 6:22,23 - clearly, the Lord challenges us to discipline our eyes!
2. our eyes are one means by which things beautiful or ugly (in a moral sense) my enter our minds - and make an impression
II THE EYE PROBLEM...
A. 1 Jno 2:16 states the problem very well - the lust of the eyes
1. is it inevitable that our eyes should cause lust?
2. of course not - if our eyes are disciplined
B. Eve illustrates this problem
1. Gen 3:4-6 - ...it was pleasant to the eyes...
2. all three of the problems of which John wrote are here! - and the problem is not unique to Eve
C. The sons of God had this problem
1. Gen 6:1-5 - ...the sons of God saw the daughters of men...
2. the only explanation which makes any sense at all is that the righteous lineage of Seth began to marry people of worldly roots and emphasis - and sin began to proliferate to the extent that it repented the Lord that had made man
D. Achan of Ai fame had this problem
1. Josh 7:21 - When I saw...then I coveted...
2. his coveting resulted in the defeat of Israel! but coveting is a very real result of undisciplined seeing
3. Ex 20:17a - Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house...
4. Prov 23:5 - Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?
5. do our eyes tell us, You just must have that...?
E. And David certain illustrates the problem
1. 2 Sam 11:2-5 - ...he saw a woman washing herself...
2. his eyes saw, and his heart desired ... and thus began what must be the most tragic, memorable episode in his life
3. thus began an episode which would affect him throughout his life
4. he would know the tragedy of seeing vanities!
5. Mt 5:27-29 (remember Ex 20:17 also reminds, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife)
III I HAVE NO DOUBT WE NEED TO PRAY FOR HELP WITH OUR EYES
A. Consider Isa 33:15-17
1. who shall dwell on high? whose eyes shall see the king in his beauty?
2. answer: He that...shutteth his eyes from seeing evil
3. it is critical that we discipline our eyes - that we refuse to see that which may be hurtful, harmful
B. And the psalmist prayed, Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity
1. he knew the need - his own experiences had made the need very real
2. he also knew that he had to have help beyond his own power
3. appropriately, he prayed to God for this help
C. Having prayed, there must also be resolve
1. Job 31:1 - I made a covenant with mine eyes...
2. in scripture a covenant is a most solemn agreement
3. prayer for assistance is vital - but prayer in the absence of this covenant will be of little help
D. And there must be the positive objective
1. Heb 12:2 - Looking unto Jesus...
2. who we are as redeemed people must ever be on our minds
3. Jesus, our Ideal, must be an every present reality day by day ... moment by moment ... event by event
CLOSE: There are things to which our eyes should never be exposed. There are things which our eyes of understanding should never contemplate. But ours is a shameless world, and it is so difficult not to be exposed. So, yes, we need Gods help in turning our eyes away from destructive vanity.
Cecil A. Hutson
19 December 2004