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“For I reckon” means to consider or calculate. What is Paul talking about.....he’s talking about the human experience. He is talking about the sufferings of life, the struggle of the human existence, he is talking about the believers struggle, the trials, the tribulations, the temptations.
Week before last, we preached from the 7th chapter how Paul wrote to the church about the believers struggle against self. In particularly, he writes about his own personal struggles with his human nature which is called the carnal mind.
He writes in verse Romans 7:14
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Then he writes:
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
The NLT translates “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right.” Is there anyone in here that wants to do what is right? Paul who is an Apostle, Paul who has written over half of the New Testament, Paul who has founded churches in Asia Minor, who has healed many, who has cast-devils, who has been locked up for preaching the gospel, who is anointed. He writes of his own personal struggle with himself!
And whether you want to admit it or not....we all have our own personal struggles with ourselves. No one is exempt! Don’t care how anointed you think you are, doesn’t matter what your accomplishments are, doesn’t matter what your position in the church is.....we all have our own personal struggle against self to deal with.
Paul said he admitted that the problem isn’t with no one else....because a lot of times we want to blame other people for the plight that we sometimes find ourselves in. But when it comes to sin, when it comes to making the right decisions in life, you can’t blame no one but yourself. PAUL said “THE TROUBLE IS WITH ME, FOR I AM ALL TO HUMAN, A SLAVE TO SIN.”
And because of this, “I want to do what is right but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” I hate because it messes with my relationship with God. I hate it, because it displeases God. I hate it because if I keep doing it.....it will send me to the Lake of Fire, I hate it because God hates it......God hates sin. I hate it because it brings condemnation, I hate it because it brings guilt and shame!
Paul then says in verse 16 and 17 “if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.” God’s word is right......we cannot disagree with God’s word. We cannot change God’s word.....we cannot spin the interpretation of God’s word, we must take it as it is and not bring it down to our understanding.....BUT OUR UNDERSTANDING AND OUR WILL AND OUR DESIRE MUST COME UP TO GOD’S WORD.....HIS REQUIREMENTS.....HIS WILL.....NOT OUR WILL.....NOT WHAT WE FEEL......NOT WHAT WE BELIEVE......NOT WHAT WE INTERPRET.....BUT WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS!!!!
Doesn’t not matter how good you think you are. When you truly see yourself through the eyes of God and according to the word of God you realize that you are not a good person.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
In the same chapter:
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
And even Jesus himself said:
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
I’m trying to paint a picture of who we really are. Because when you are puffed up in your mind.....you can’t really see yourself. And if you’re not careful....you can have the mindset of a narcissistic saint. What is a narcissistic saint?
A little expose’
There are 15 signs of a narcissist:
1.Grandiosity
Narcissists have to be the best, the most right, and the most competent; do everything their way; own everything; and control everyone.
You the only one that is right....everyone else is wrong. It has to be done the way you think it should be done or it is not right. They are people who seek to be in control.....and when they don’t have there way.....they sit back and throw a pity party.
2.Attention seeking
Narcissists constantly need attention—even just by following you around the house, asking you to find things, or constantly saying something to grab your attention. And validation for a narcissist counts only if it comes from others.
Got to have your say in everything.....and it isn’t right unless you say so.
3.Perfectionism
Narcissists need everything to be perfect. They believe they should be perfect, you should be perfect, events should happen exactly as expected, and life should play out precisely as they envision it.
They believe that saints should be perfect, they won’t allow room for people to make mistakes, and they are so grandiose with self that they feel they don’t make mistakes. These are the ones with the holy than thou attitude.....these are the ones who have the pharasic mindset.....that when they pray.....they say “Lord I thank you that I’m not like this sinner.....but that I do X,Y, & Z.”
They judge everyone else but themselves.
4.Controlling behavior
Narcissists want and demand to be in control, and their sense of entitlement makes it seem logical to them that they should be in control of everything.
They want to be in control.....they covet it....and they have a sense of entitlement. Because they been saved for so long, because they been preaching for so long, because they don’t do this that or the other they should be in control of everything. I should be the head usher, I should be the head of the kitchen committee, I should be the head deacon, I should be the Pastor.
5.Lack of accountability
Narcissists never want to be responsible unless everything goes their way. They often place all the blame and responsibility on someone else to maintain their own façade of perfection.
6.No boundaries
Narcissists lack boundaries. They believe that everything belongs to them and everyone thinks and feels the same as they do.
7.Insecurity
Narcissists perceive everything as a threat. They frequently misread subtle facial expressions and are typically biased toward interpreting facial expressions as negative.
8.Lack of empathy
Narcissists have very little ability to empathize with others and often lack an understanding of the nature of feelings.
In other-words, they don’t care how you feel or what you think. They only care about themselves.
9.Deflection
Narcissists make most of their decisions based on how they feel about something. They always look to something or someone outside themselves to solve their feelings and needs.
They look outside of themselves to validate self. For narcissistic saints.....they we look for others who believe like they believe to validate their opinions and beliefs.
10.Blaming
A narcissist's personality is split into good and bad parts. Any negative thoughts or behaviors are blamed on you or others, whereas they take credit for everything that is positive and good.
11.Trust issues
Narcissists are constantly afraid of being ridiculed, rejected, or wrong and often struggle to trust other people.
12.Anxiety
Narcissists typically deal with anxiety, and typically project their anxiety onto their closest loved ones, accusing them of being negative or unsupportive.
13.Deep-seated shame
Narcissists don't feel much guilt because they think they are always right, and they harbor a lot of shame and often bury their insecurities, fears, and rejected traits that they are constantly on guard to hide from everyone, including themselves.
14.Lack of love
Narcissists can't truly love or connect emotionally with other people because of their inability to understand feelings, their lack of empathy, and their constant need for self-protection.
15.Not a "team player"
Narcissists don't have the capacity or the motivation to communicate or work as part of a team.
These are high minded folk.
The scriptures declare:
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Then later it says:
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Do you know who you really are?
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
When you know the struggle is real.
When you know that you aren’t as good as you think you are.
When you know that even on your best day....you are still a sinner in need of a savior.
You’ll cry out like Paul in verse 24:
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I said it week before last and I’ll say it again so that you can understand what the scriptures says:
Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
And all because of Jesus.....all because he died for me......all because I believed on him, all because I repented of my sins, all because I was baptized in his name, all because I received His Holy Spirit:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Let me say it one more time so that you understand it:
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Winding up:
So Paul then says in verse 12:
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do......why because Christ has freed you. But you have to believe it in faith and walk in it. He died.....not for you to remain in sin.....but for you to be liberated from sin. Not for sin to control you.....but he gave you power to control the sin.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
If you do what ever your flesh feels like doing, if you live a life of sin....you will die. You need to understand that in the scriptures there are two deaths. There is a physical death and there is a spiritual death.
But Pastor how do I overcome these urges, how do I overcome sin in my life?
Paul made it plain in the same verse: “but if ye through the Spirit” The NLT says “But if through the power of the Spirit.” SEE YOU CAN’T DO IT......IT TAKES THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST LIVING IN YOU TO DO THE WORK!
We have to mortify the deeds of the body......to mortify means to kill.....we say often times when we make mistakes ‘I’m only human’.......well guess what....it’s time for that part of me to die.....by the power of the Holy Ghost! Because if you put your flesh to death, if you put your carnal mind to death, if you die to your human nature through the power of the Holy Ghost....you shall live!!!
Closing:
Gonna skip down to verse 18:
So Paul then says “For I reckon” I add up everything that I have discussed so far. I come to the conclusion that life isn’t easy. I’ve come to the conclusion that when I would do good.....evil is always present. I come to the conclusion that sometimes this walk can be a struggle. I’ve come to the conclusion that I can’t blame nobody else but myself.
Is there any honest people that can say every once in awhile it is a struggle. Every once in awhile I have to bite my tongue.....I have to hold my mule.....gotta watch myself.
Every once in awhile....my flesh wavers in faith. Every once in awhile I’m not as strong as I should be. Every once in awhile.....I have an inflated view of myself.
But the struggle......the sufferings of this present time.
Somebody testify and tell someone THIS SEASON......this present time......I’VE STRUGGLED IN THIS SEASON....I’VE HAD MY UPS AND DOWNS IN THIS SEASON.....THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I WANTED TO GIVE UP IN THIS SEASON......MY FOOT ALMOST SLIPPED IN THIS SEASON.....I HAVE EXPERIENCED PAIN IN THIS SEASON......I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSSS IN THIS SEASON.
But this season that I’m in......TELL SOMEBODY.......”IT’S JUST A SEASON.” AND IF IT IS JUST A SEASON.....GUESS WHAT YALL....SEASONS CHANGE......EVENTUALLY THAT SEASON HAS TO COME TO AN END.
Yet what we suffer right now....is NOTHING compared to the glory he will reveal to us later!!!! In other-words......weeping may endure for a night but......JOY will come in the morning.
Paul said “For the earnest expectation of the creature or all of creation waiteth fo the manifestation of the sons of God.
Verse 20 “For the creature or creation was made subject to vanity (God’s curse.....which is judgement against sin.....Adam sinned.....his sin has been passed down to us.” All of creation was subjected to God’s curse......everything dies.
But now with eager hope.....the creation looks forward to the day when it will join in God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
