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. (Read Romans 7:7-25) In the previous devotion, obedience and heeding Jesus' words to keep his commandments were explored. Now we will swing the pendulum to the other side of this paradox-the war between the flesh and the spirit. Paul talked about this life long struggle, and described the battle waged within himself, and that we all share with him. In the verses in Romans ch. 7:7-25, Paul details the conflict within us, after our salvation. Verse 18 sums us our dilemma-In my body, our flesh-there dwells no good thing. When we were unsaved, we had no understanding or consciousness of this conflict; we were part of the world, and enjoyed the pleasures of sin. But, when salvation opens the eyes of the newly repentant believer-the Holy Spirit begins the work of revealing ourselves to us, as we really are. We are shown by the light of the law shown on us in God's word, our inability to keep it, our powerlessness to do right-even though now, after salvation, the desire is there to obey God. An excerpt from Biblical Illustrator helps make this clearer) "No man this side of heaven is out of the reach of sin and out of the danger of temptation. Opportunity acting upon sinful inclination may lead the best of men to fall into sin. Then we have an evil world. This world which is ever about us, in our families, relationships, business; the world with all its show and pride, tempting some with its pleasures, baiting the hook for others with its riches, how tempting a world it is—when the Christian would do good it is present with him. And when the believer would do good, the evil spirit is present with him. Satan with his emissaries is trying to hinder, harass, and destroy. Conclusion: 1. Does not this teach us that we have constantly to watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation? If you have not looked upon your Christian life as a conflict, you have not taken a right view of it. 2. And then, is there not in all this an encouragement to go continually to Him in whom we have righteousness and strength? “If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father,” etc. (Canon Stowell.)" An excerpt from David Guzik adds to this:
"Paul describes his sense of helplessness. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. a. For what I am doing, I do not understand: Paul’s problem isn’t desire - he wants to do what is right (what I will to do, that I do not practice). His problem isn’t knowledge - he knows what the right thing is. His problem is a lack of power: how to perform what is good I do not find. He lacks power because the law gives no power. i. The law says: “Here are the rules and you had better keep them.” But it gives us no power for keeping the law. b. It is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me: Is Paul denying his responsibility as a sinner? No. He recognizes that as he sins, he acts against his nature as a new man in Jesus Christ. A Christian must own up to his sin, yet realize that the impulse to sin does not come from who we really are in Jesus Christ. i. “To be saved from sin, a man must at the same time own it and disown it; it is this practical paradox which is reflected in this verse. A true saint may say it in a moment of passion, but a sinner had better not make it a principle.” (Wuest)" In my own life this warfare, and struggle continues, to this day. If it weren't for the mercy, forgiveness, patience and longsuffering of Jesus in my life-I wouldn't have a chance. The only good thing that may ever be accomplished in this body, is what the Holy Spirit is able to do through me-and there are many times, I'm very aware that I hinder Him and grieve Him. The word of God cuts through our facades, our egos, our pride, and it reads us-as we read it, if we allow it to. When the Holy Spirit convicts me of sin-I am glad, and don't waste time making excuses-I get on my face, and repent. I want God's correction, I want Him to show me where I'm getting into a ditch, where I'm displeasing Him, and doing wrong. I want His hand of correction, and His covering over my life. When He corrects me, I know I belong to Him-this is worth all the gold in the world. When we work for the Lord is His service, there are times when the spiritual battles can become very hard, and the trials will come in waves, and we may become battle weary. Our souls will stumble under the exhaustion of the onslaught, and we may say or do something that comes from our flesh-even when we know it's wrong. Satan knows just how to go about bringing you to this place, and if you stumble and fall, he then goes into gear with the other angle of attack-the accuser of the brethren; and he'll use anybody who he can get, to accomplish your ruin, if he can. I've learned, as I've stated above-go right to the Father, get on my face-and repent-and get into the word of God, and let God speak to me, on what I need to do, to come clean again with Him. I don't care if it takes all night, all day, or many days. Whatever it takes, to allow the Holy Spirit to wash me of my sins, restore me, and cover me again, with the blood of Jesus. Satan hates it when you do this-it's the only solution-and he knows it. If you've stumbled, fallen into a sin, from weariness, temptation, trials, or all of these; just go to Jesus-admit what you've done wrong-and allow Him to apply His blood to your soul, once again. His precious cleansing flow is never ending. When you've opened your heart, and come clean with Him again-get back up, put your armor back on, and walk on with Jesus, and stand again in victory. Lorna Couillard Comments are closed.
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In this page there will be devotions/poems music and inspirational material The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Joel 2:28-32 But this is that which was spoken by the
prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: Act 2:16-18 Resources
Madame Guyon - A Short and Easy Method of Prayer / Christian Audio Book (1 / 2) https://youtu.be/eihZWpAk7y4?si=PQ-_J3Y6i8u-N2Ac Union With God By Jeanne Guyon Chapter 1 Of 7 https://youtu.be/d5AfKS2dFLg?si=VtWAeEurkAddTDpL The Practice of the Presence of God - audiobook Brother LAWRENCE (1614 - 1691)- https://youtu.be/rRAs_BK1NR8?si=hGAL4C829aH7 DKMn Gander Story Poems
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January 2025
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