INTRODUCTION:

The next strategy in God’s Battle Plan for purity is to identify the sexual temptations and become ruthless in getting all of them removed. Listen to what Jesus Christ said in the context when He was teaching about adultery:

JESUS CHRIST'S TEACHING ON MORALITY:

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it, plug it out and throw it away. Because it is better, profitable that you lose one of your body's parts than your whole body be thrown into hellfire. And if your right hand causes you to sin, you better cut it off, and throw it far away from you. For it is profitable, better that you lose one part of your body than your whole body go into hellfire (Matthew 5:29-30).

Jesus Christ made that striking message after teaching that a man who lusts after a woman outside marital boundaries, has already committed adultery in his heart (v. 27-28), Jesus Christ said that one should be violent in removing such temptations towards sexual immorality.
The plucking out of one’s eye and cutting off one’s hand are hyperbole or symbolism for war time tactics. In ancient wars, when an army conquered another, they would at times pluck out the eyes and cut off the hands of the conquered so that they would never rise up and fight them again. This brutal tactic was used on Samson. When the Philistines defeated him, they blinded him with the intent of disabling him from ever harming them again (Judges 16:21).

By using this exaggeration, Jesus Christ shared how we must similarly declare war in order to be pure. He showed us how severe we must treat lust and every immoral temptation. If our eyes —what we look at—are causing us to lust, we must get rid of it. If our hands or eyes, that means "what we do or cherished" are causing us to sin, we must stop it and get out from such lifestyle.
The "eye and hand" are representatives of things so dear to us — things that are most essential for our life. Yet, even though these parts of the body must not be spared in our efforts to be holy and pure. It's an intimate relationship tempting us? It must be plugged or cut off. Is it our reading novel or TV program? Let us remove such things. We must employ battle-spirit in our task of maintaining purity and holiness.
This battle-spirit will be demonstrated in various ways: TV programs , Nude pictures, pornographic books and films, etc. Personally, as a pastor, I will do everything within my limits to protect myself from temptation. I went too far physically to protect myself, but most importantly, to honor God.
This is why many people cannot remain pure. The reason is simple. They just don’t hate their sin enough. Purity is not a big deal to get rid of things that are dear to them. They love their eye and their hand at the expense of their purity. Nude pictures, TV programs, Nude films, friendship dating, etc., are not enough to part one from holiness.
If we must win the battle against lust and immoral temptation, we must declare war on it. Are you willing to go to battle in order to be pure? For those who have opened sexual doors, this battle may be especially difficult and costly. But God will help as you are faithful.

REFLECTION:

1. What types of cherished things commonly hinder a believer’s quest for sexual purity? Why is it so difficult to let go of these things?
2. What things have you had to cut out of your life in order to be pure? Are there some things the Lord is telling you to get rid of currently?
3. What other questions or thoughts do you have about this section?
4. In what ways can you pray in response? Take a second to pray as the Lord leads.

"Disclaimer*
The post is an extraction from the original owner as you can see from the cover page.