Romans 7:15-25
We call it spiritual warfare.
The reality is, no matter where you go,
you will take your challenges with you.
W e should keep the faith no matter how many lies the enemy tells us.
When you try to please God by your own strength, you’re going to be frustrated and you’re going to fail.
“Let me help you figure out all of these challenges.”
#1. Confusion.
Romans 7:15 “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can’t. I do what I don’t want to – what I hate.”
It seems like Paul had an “I” problem!
#2. Guilt and shame.
That’s what happens when we fight a spiritual battle with human tools like willpower.
Romans 7:16 “I know perfectly well what I’m doing is wrong. And my bad conscience proves that I agree with these laws I am breaking.”
You do something with full knowledge of what you’re doing.
“The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
#3. Compulsions and addictions.
“I’ve got great intentions, but I just can’t seem to pull it off.”
We do the easy thing, the comfortable thing, the thing that feels good.
“There is pleasure in sin for a short time.”
#4. Self-condemnation.
Because you keep stumbling in the same area repeatedly.
“Why should I even call myself a Christian? God must hate me. He can’t depend on me.”
#5. Frustration.
The law of sin is the spiritual counterpart to the physical law of gravity.
You can’t ignore the law of gravity, nor can you ignore the law of sin in the spiritual realm.
#6. Discouragement and despair.
The new nature always wants to do the right thing, but the old nature in you constantly competes against it.
It’s called the flesh; it’s called the carnal nature.
That old nature is going to be there until you go to Heaven.
“Whichever dog I feed the most.”
Willpower is not enough to defeat your old nature.
You can win the battle in you.
#1. You must deepen your understanding of Christ.
But having Christ in you is not enough.
Romans 7:24-25 “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“Who’s going to free me from this body of death that stinks?”
#2 . You must detect and disarm the lie that you’re believing.
What are you pretending isn’t a problem in your life?
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
“When you know the truth, the truth will set you free.”
#3. You must declare your struggle to another.
Galatians 5:16 “Live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t do what your sinful nature craves.”
We are empowered by the Holy Spirit.