Today's Passage - Matthew 5:27-32

Matthew 5:27-32     "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to stumble, 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 if your right hand causes you to stumble, 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 go into hell.  "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.   Pharisees interpreted the commandment of "you shall not commit adultery" same way as they interpreted the commandment about murder.  Since the law only forbids adultery in action, as long as they didn't commitment any act of adultery they have not violated the law, and thus they were considered righteous in the eyes of God.  Jesus clearly said that the law of God didn't just ask for pureness on the outside, but also pureness in the soul.  The tenth commandment says "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife," and that is the sin and adultery in our heart.   God doesn't just abhor sin on the outside, but even more so sin inside our hearts.  Don't ever think that a little sin inside here and there isn't a big issue; when devil Satan tempts us, it always starts from the inside.   Brothers must be extremely cautious because our time is evil and pornography is prevalent.  Not only is TV filled with porn scenes, there're also porn phone services and websites, and even the ads sent to our homes may be filled with porn images.  In fact, even if you are just sitting home doing nothing, the world will influence you and shape you with all kind of ways so that you may become like the world.   Lord said that "If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away...   And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away."  The right eye and right hand represent our body.  Today, many people live to satisfy their own physical desires, or even driven by their physical desires to do things that they are not willing to do.  Many are trapped by bad habits like erotic thoughts, and even extra-marital affairs and pre-marital sex are prevalent.  We know that they are not right and do not please God, but we often follow our physical desires.  Lord taught us to break the bondage of physical desires in the spirit by the authority of Jesus Christ's victory.  Let us proclaim victory against the enemy by the Lord's precious blood, rebuke attacks from it and overcome the bondages brought forth by all the physical desires.  May the Lord's Spirit help us to experience victory of God! Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, I thank you and praise you; even though the world is filled with evil and temptations, but in you we have victory.  May the Holy Spirit help us to solely focus on the Lord.  Let us stand firm on the foundation of the precious blood of Jesus and rebuke all the temptation and lure from Satan, so that we may please God in our daily life.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!      Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!