“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.
Foundation Scripture: Luke 11:33-34 (AMP)
- 33 No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or crypt or under a bushel measure, but on a lampstand, that those who are coming in may see the light.
- 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye (your conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of darkness.
- 35 Be careful, therefore, that the light that is in you is not darkness.
According to the scriptures, the word “eye” is used to denote more than just your physical eye. The word “eye” is used to represent your attitude as well. As you can see from the scripture above, your conscience is the thing that influences your behavior and your attitude and even what you choose to look at with your natural eye.
Your physical eye is an extremely important organ in your body. If it is damaged or destroyed, it could threaten your life, because you need your eyes to keep you from danger and to find food and shelter. If you are blind, you are not 100% self-sufficient – you need to be helped by others. Heathen nations, in past generations would put out one or both of their enemy’s eyes because it humiliated them and left them powerless.
Judges 16:21 (NKJ)
21 Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.
The word “eye” is also used figuratively as the eye of the heart or mind – the organ of spiritual perception, which could be either blind to the things of God or enlightened or opened to see and understand spiritual things.
Matthew 13:13 (NAS)
13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Ephesians 1:18 (NKJ)
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
“Eye” is used as an index of the mind or disposition of man. According to the Bible, you can have a “good” or “bountiful” eye or “proud” or “haughty” eyes or “lowly” or “adulterous” eyes. Emotions, such as anger, are also reflected in and through your eyes.
Proverbs 22:9 (NKJ)
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
Proverbs 6:16-17 (NKJ)
16 These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
Psalm 18:27 (NKJ)
27 For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks.
Matthew 5:28 (NKJ)
28 “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
When your conscience is sound – it is honest and righteous. When your conscience is honest and righteous – it is fulfilling its office and doing what it should do and your whole body is full of the light of God’s presence. God’s Spirit will shine through you for others to see. When your sound conscience directs your thoughts and actions, you will not think or do things that are sinful or evil.
You protect your conscience by protecting your eyes and being careful of what you look at with your eyes. You also protect your eyes with your conscience – you will not stare at a woman lustfully if your conscience is doing its job. Just because you are a Christian doesn’t mean that you are shining with the light of God. You must be living and walking in a way that glorifies God. If you are sinning then you walk in spiritual darkness, even though you are saved.
So, protect your eyes and protect your conscience and your whole body will be full of the light of God.
