Are you like Paul in this area?

[SonOfThunder]

I struggle with this daily, and wonder if I am alone in todays world.
Paul had this to say in Romans

I feel like Paul when he speaks in Romans about………



ROM 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

ROM 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

ROM 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

ROM 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

ROM 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

ROM 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

ROM 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

ROM 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

ROM 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

ROM 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?


My inward man delights in God, my mind wants to go home when I know it's wrong. When I was home everything seemed perfect and at ease for many years. Now this path is difficult.

How many others struggle between flesh and Spirit?


GAL 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.



James

 

[RED that's ME]

Good thread James I think every believer struggles with this whether they admit it or not. It's too easy sometimes to be/stay in the flesh and not do what we are commanded to do.

 

[eldermike]

Great thread! I am recalling the scoffers who told Jesus to come down from the cross, some even said "come down and save yourself, and us". When we really understand, as Paul did, that it took the death of One perfect man, there was no other way, nothing in us to help save us, then we know ourselves and our Savior.

It's a struggle, but it's a good place to be, we do right because of love, not to gain it.

 

[SteveR2021]

It is a perpetual fight...and that is the important thing to remember: it is a fight. There is no success in the Christian walk without struggle, sweat, and pain.

So often our spirit is SO willing and yet, as you have said, the flesh is SO weak. This struggle will never end...even the disciples couldn't watch and pray.

However, I believe things changed for the disciples after pentecost. I don't believe the struggle became easy but they had the help of the great Helper (the Holy Spirit). He promises to help us but we have to do our part and struggle daily in prayer!!

J.C. Ryle in his EXCELLENT book on holiness says this:

He [the Christian] must fight the flesh. Even after conversion he carries within him a nature prone to evil, and a heart weak and unstable as water. That heart will never be free from imperfection in this world, and it is a miserable delusion to expect it. To keep that heart from going astray, the Lord Jesus bids us, "Watch ye and pray." The spirit may be ready, but the flesh is weak. There is need of a daily struggle and a daily wrestling in prayer.

Ryle says that the Christian must daily fight the world:

The subtle influence of that might enemy must be daily resisted, and without a daily battle can never be overcome. The love of the world's good things, the fear of the world's laughter or blame, the secret desire to keep in with the world, the secret wish to do as others in the world do, and not to run into extremes - all these are spiritual foes which beset the Christian continually on his way to heaven, and must be conquered

See James 4:4, 1 John 2:15, Gal 6:14, Rom 12:2

We can have victory, but we must fight. We must never make our flesh and excuse for failure (God does not allow it). We have all we need for victory so long as we do not lose our fight. All the devil wants to do is take the fight out of the Christian! (David Wilkerson once said something along those lines)

We will succeed by "watching and praying, and fighting, and putting on the whole armour of God."

Ryle concludes:

May we never forget that without fighting there can be no holiness while we live, and no crown of glory when we die!

I find it a constant struggle. Stephen is WEAK and LAZY...and I fail so often. But, I never let that become an excuse (I know no-one here is suggesting that) - I get up again and get back in the fight with God's help.

So long as we're fighting we're ok - it's when we lose our fight that we get into trouble.

The trouble is (and ElderMike alluded to this) the world and even our fellow Christians will encourage us to get down off the cross...they'll tell us we're being too hard on ourselves and that we must not run into extremes. We must never heed their advice. We must continue to fight, and God by His wonderful grace will give us victory.

Keep fighting brother!

 

[22 Degree Halo]

James 1
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

I struggle with sin and I am a believer. It's because Sin is alive, even though I am no longer a slave to it. I just need to quit thinking like a slave.

We need trials because in them we are tested and refined. Choosing God's will takes practice. The more I do it, the easier it gets.

Although the test do get harder until we die and are made perfect.

 

[ZiSunka]

It's a struggle for me every day, too. Sometimes it's even worse because I don't always know how much of what I struggle with is really what I should be doing and how much is guilt feelings making me feel like I should be doing more.

 

[2Timothy2]

Don't forget Paul's answer in verse 25 to his question in verse 24.

This is the process of sanctification, as mentioned in another thread. I think the very fact that we struggle against sin is a sign we are His. Sometimes it's a struggle not to sin, sometimes it's "I can't believe I just did that". But, yeah, we all struggle with this. It's no small thing, but we have both a Saviour Who faced temptation and knows what we are going through, and an Advocate for when we fail. I find tremendous peace in that. There seems to be no end to the things for which I'm thankful to God.

 

[Matthan]

James, do you remember in Matthew 19:27-29 when Jesus told His followers,

" 27. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."

?

He gave us the same lesson in Mark 10:28-30, too. But it is His lesson in Luke that I appreciate the most. It is found in Luke 12:51-53, and reads:

"Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52. For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law."

Always remember that Christ is the ultimate divider! What we decide to believe regarding Jesus as the Son of God determines our ultimate destiny for all eternity! That decision also draws a barrier line between men, including members of the same family. Some believe rightly, but others believe untruths, and rely on lies for their faith. If they search the Scriptures they will find the truth. But they do not want to find that truth, for whatever the reason. That is their decision.

You have chosen wisely. You follow God's truth. Do not think that, by leaving that truth and returning to untruth and lies, you will be helping your family or yourself in any way. Instead, remain strong in Christ. He is our only redeemer. He alone is our salvation.

Matthan <J><