Have you ever noticed that there are times when you are so encouraged by what the word of God say's, but when you go to apply that word to your life you just don't seem to have the power or discipline to get the job done? I have been going through that in many areas as I’m sure many others have. The problem with me though was that I didn't understand my problem because I didn't feed myself the word as I was supposed to. I'm sure some of you have experienced a time like that. Instead of reading the word for myself and saving myself long suffering, I went through all sorts of problems until I heard the word taught to me last night in such a way that it pierced my spirit.
I was at church this past Tuesday night for a bible study on Romans. Pastor Wayne taught with brutal honesty and I learned right then that I was not alone. What an eye opener that was. I found out that I was not going through something new, not at all. Paul and countless others had experienced the exact thing that I have been experiencing, but Paul so eloquently wrote about it. I just didn't have the discipline to read it. There is no doubt that I could have saved myself a couple of years of heartaches and headaches had I simply done what I knew in my heart I was supposed to do, but instead I let procrastination thoughts overtake my heart.
Romans 7:14-25 (Message Bible) say's
“I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
I was at church this past Tuesday night for a bible study on Romans. Pastor Wayne taught with brutal honesty and I learned right then that I was not alone. What an eye opener that was. I found out that I was not going through something new, not at all. Paul and countless others had experienced the exact thing that I have been experiencing, but Paul so eloquently wrote about it. I just didn't have the discipline to read it. There is no doubt that I could have saved myself a couple of years of heartaches and headaches had I simply done what I knew in my heart I was supposed to do, but instead I let procrastination thoughts overtake my heart.
Romans 7:14-25 (Message Bible) say's
“I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me join's in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.”
What Paul said in this passage speaks to so many of us that it had to be repeated. I pray that I will conquer the rebellious side of me on a daily basis because that’s what needs to die. I cannot live totally for Christ if I have not totally died to sin. Jesus never asked us to give him half of our best. He gave us everything and we bring him half. Mathematically that just doesn’t work out. He deserves our very best. I’m amazed that we won’t hesitate to ask the Lord for everything plus increase and somehow we are able to rationalize giving back less than that.
I am so thankful that my eyes have been opened to this. As painful a lesson as this was to learn, I am thankful. I pray that all who read this will get what I got if they haven’t already, and that’s a wake up call that no matter what you’re going through in life. Someone else has been through the same thing before you or something very similar.
I am now equipped to win this battle that is inside of me. I now know the recipe for the destruction of sin in my life. I recently read something that Bill Johnson wrote that speaks to this battle of good & evil. He said that “King David was known for killing Goliath in His youth. Yet there are at least four other giants killed in Scripture—all killed by the men who followed David, the giant killer. If you want to kill giants, hang around a giant killer. It rubs off.” I hang around my Pastor and his family at every opportunity I get, because when I am around them for a few hours, I go home a different person. I pray that everyone would have or find a person they can look to that is a spiritual giant so that the strength and discipline that they need will rub off on them
Father I thank you for this lesson. I pray that you would surround all of us Lord with people that are giant killers, So that we can capture the anointing that they have on them and acquire the ability to defeat the giants in our lives. Sin, discipline and any other areas that we need to conquer.
I ask this in Jesus name
Amen
God Bless You All.
“The Sharpshooter”
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.”
What Paul said in this passage speaks to so many of us that it had to be repeated. I pray that I will conquer the rebellious side of me on a daily basis because that’s what needs to die. I cannot live totally for Christ if I have not totally died to sin. Jesus never asked us to give him half of our best. He gave us everything and we bring him half. Mathematically that just doesn’t work out. He deserves our very best. I’m amazed that we won’t hesitate to ask the Lord for everything plus increase and somehow we are able to rationalize giving back less than that.
I am so thankful that my eyes have been opened to this. As painful a lesson as this was to learn, I am thankful. I pray that all who read this will get what I got if they haven’t already, and that’s a wake up call that no matter what you’re going through in life. Someone else has been through the same thing before you or something very similar.
I am now equipped to win this battle that is inside of me. I now know the recipe for the destruction of sin in my life. I recently read something that Bill Johnson wrote that speaks to this battle of good & evil. He said that “King David was known for killing Goliath in His youth. Yet there are at least four other giants killed in Scripture—all killed by the men who followed David, the giant killer. If you want to kill giants, hang around a giant killer. It rubs off.” I hang around my Pastor and his family at every opportunity I get, because when I am around them for a few hours, I go home a different person. I pray that everyone would have or find a person they can look to that is a spiritual giant so that the strength and discipline that they need will rub off on them
Father I thank you for this lesson. I pray that you would surround all of us Lord with people that are giant killers, So that we can capture the anointing that they have on them and acquire the ability to defeat the giants in our lives. Sin, discipline and any other areas that we need to conquer.
I ask this in Jesus name
Amen
God Bless You All.
“The Sharpshooter”
