Psa.27:4 "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
St. Mark 9:43-48 "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:(vs44)Where the worm dieth not, and the fire that never shall be quenched:(vs45)And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (vs46)Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.(vs47) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:(vs48) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary on page 31, comment on St. Mark 9:43-44 BETTER DIE THAN SIN "Christ is speaking here of injuries which we may do ourselves or others. Most men guard themselves carefully against physical injury. They insure against accidents, avoid miasma, and attend to the first appearance of the external assault, but is unsuspicious of treachery within. In a moral sense, it may often be said "A man's foes are they of his own household". The allusion to the hand, the foot, and the eye indicate that the causes of sin are found in our nature; that evil is natural to us as the use of these members. Sins spring from within:"Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts". When acts are repeated, habits are formed which become part of ourselves. Then these habits are allowed for and excused by others, so that we no longer get our attention directed to them as otherwise we might do, and notoriously regarded as a personal peculiarity. Yet though it seems a part of ourselves, God says, "Cut it off and cast it from thee".
The Flesh And The Carnal Nature Form An Ongoing Opposition To What Is Right, Good And Holy
Obsess: means to fill the mind of ; keep the attention of.
Obsession: means the influence of a feeling, idea or impulse that a person cannot escape.
EXPOSITION
1. Why The Need In Our Lives Of A Spiritual Obsession.
A. The Flesh And The Carnal Nature Form An Ongoing Opposition To What Is Right, Good And Holy --Rom.7:18&23 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (vs23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."
Rom.8:6-7 "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.(vs7) Because the carnal mind is enmity(the feeling that enemies have for each other) against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
B. The Environment And The Time In Which We Must Live-- 1 Tim.4:1-3 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrine of devils; (vs2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (vs3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."
2 Tim.3:1-5&7 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.(vs2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (vs3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (vs4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (vs5)Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (vs7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
The Situation In The Last Day Church(Now)---Rev.3:13-19 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.(vs14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (vs15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (vs16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (vs17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art werched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (vs18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (vs19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
2. How Is My Spiritual Obsession Created And Maintained in Me.
A. My Spiritual Obsession Is Fueled By A Strong Spiritual Desire-- Psa.63:1-7 "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (vs2) To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. (vs3) Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. (vs4) Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. (vs5) My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: (vs6) When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in night watches. (vs7) Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."
B. My Spiritual Obsession Is Sustained By My Longing For Spiritual Satisfaction-- Psa. 17:15 "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I will be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."
Psa.107:8-9 "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (vs9) For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness."
C. My Spiritual Obsession Is Evidenced By My Spiritual Striving--( Our Lord Said In) St. Luke 13:24 "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
D. My Spiritual Obsession Is Measured By My Spiritual Progress-- Job 17:9 "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger."
Prov.4:18 "But the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto a perfect day."
E. My Spiritual Obsession Must Have A Goal To Which I Must Feel Compelled To Attain-- Rom. 12: 1-2 "I Beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (vs2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Phi.3:9-15 "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (vs10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (vs11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (vs12)Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (vs13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
F. My Spiritual Obsession Is Sustained By My Conviction Of My Rewarded Labor-- 1 Cor. 15:58 "Therefore , my beloved brethern, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."