Keith Battle - What Did Jesus Say?- Part 4

Alright y’all, we’re coming to the conclusion; this is the end of our series, «What Did Jesus Say?» I hope it’s been helpful and challenging. I’m excited because we did this series at every campus and at every level. Our kids were studying the same thing, our youth will study the same thing, and we’re going to try this periodically so that we’re all on the same page and there’s continuity. I’m really excited about that.

In part one of this series, we looked at what Jesus has to say about how to be blessed. In part two, we looked at what Jesus has to say about how to make an impact in this world, being salt and light. In part three of this series, we examined how important living in harmony with others is. It’s so important to Jesus that He says if you’ve got a conflict with somebody, stop worshiping me and go make that right. Like, who does that? Right? Jesus' standard is so different.

Today, we’re going to look at what Jesus says about how to overcome sin and temptation. Now, before we hear what Jesus has to say today, I want to know: do you have a temptation strategy? If you’re being tempted to do the wrong thing, or tempted to violate something, what do you do? I know we don’t always win; sometimes we blow it. But do you have a strategy that you use to overcome? When you’re tempted, does anybody have something? Just raise your hand.

Yes, sir. Nice and loud!

Get out of the house. Get out! There was a movie called «Get Out.» So I’ma do it just like that: the «hell spot,» I’m in a bad spot.

Alright, yes, sir. What do you have for overcoming temptation?

Okay, please don’t make this another instance where you had to get up on the cross and down. Fool, you’re saying you don’t want to put Jesus through another crucifixion? That’s your thing? Okay, I’m gonna come back to you because I need you to clarify that statement so I can write it down.

Alright, who else has a strategy for overcoming temptation? What you got?

Follow certain accounts. Okay, I don’t follow somebody on social media. Yeah, social media.

Who else? I saw another hand. Yes, sir.

Take a walk. Take a walk! I’m gonna put it right here because Caesar said a whole page.

Yes, in the back.

Yes? Go to sleep. Take a nap! I just need to go to sleep. Just go lay down somewhere—is what Christmas Southern lets say.

What you got?

Call a friend. Alright, call a friend! I love it. I’m gonna fill the page up.

What you got?

Weigh the consequences. Mmm-hmm. Think about what it’s gonna get me now, what is it gonna give me?

What you got?

Prayer! The only person in here! I pray, and ain’t nobody else praying.

What you got?

Spend more time in the Word. We’ve spent more time in the Word.

I’ll take one more. Excuse me.

Yes, sir.

Counsel from an elder! Make sure it’s the right elder, though.

Yeah, if you do it, you say what you do, you flip it, and then you slap it, and then… good! So, also from there, right over?

Okay, this is good! Let’s look at what Jesus says. Matthew chapter 5. If you have a Bible, turn to Matthew chapter 5. If you’ve got a Bible app, Matthew chapter 5. We’re gonna look at verses 27 to 30 to see what Jesus says about overcoming sin and temptation.

Father, please speak to us. Open up your Word. At the entrance of your Word, you give light. O God, give us light today! Enlighten us! Give us understanding. Block out every distraction; may there be no emergencies. May our child number from extremes not come on the screen, and may we enjoy the service. May we be embraced with your teaching, and may everything run without distraction. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Verse 27 of Matthew chapter 5—I’m reading from the New Living Translation. It says, «You have heard the commandment that says you must not commit adultery. But I say anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.»

Whoo, Jesus! Or sunny? Nice!

«So if your eye, even your good eye, causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.»

And verse 30: «If your hand, even your stronger hand, causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.»

Wow! I don’t see none of that «Oh, here, cut you out, pluck your eye out, cut your hand off.» Jesus is intense!

So, because even though y’all didn’t write it, we do have everything set up today. There’s a room down the hall—we have an eye plucker and a hand slicer, and there’s gauze and everything. You have to sign a disclaimer, a waiver, but we will hook you up today! You will go out of here like this and like that. We have patches and everything—just get everybody right.

What is Jesus talking about?

Now, let’s set the context. Jesus is preaching a sermon. It is a long sermon. You think I preach long? This went three chapters. It’s probably dark when He finishes. It goes from Matthew chapter 5 to chapter 6 to chapter 7.