Righteous Living: The Battle Within PT 1

Romans 7:14–20 “14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.”

The greatest battles: There are many throughout history

Battle # 5 Antietam American Civil War, 1862

The Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in American history, stopped the first Confederate invasion of the North. It also ensured that European countries would not recognize the Confederacy or provide them with much-needed war supplies. While the later battles at Gettysburg and Vicksburg would seal the fate of the rebel states, the defeat of the rebellion began along Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland, on September 17, 1862. 

Battle # 4 Leipzig Napoleonic Wars, 1813

The allied victory over Napoleon at Leipzig in 1813 marked the first significant cooperation among European nations against a common foe. As the largest armed clash in history up to that time, Leipzig led to the fall of Paris and the abdication of Napoleon.

Battle # 3 Stalingrad World War II, 1942-43

Stalingrad was the last great offensive by the German Nazis on the Eastern Front. Their defeat in the city on the Volga River marked the beginning of a long series of battles that would lead the Russians to Berlin and Hitter's Third Reich to defeat. The Battle of Stalingrad resulted in the death or capture of more than a quarter million German soldiers, and denied the rich Caucasus oil fields to the Nazis. 

Battle # 2 Hastings Norman Conquest of England, 1066

The Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 was the last successful invasion of England--and the first and only since the Roman conquest a thousand years earlier. Its aftermath established a new feudal order that ensured that England would adopt the political and social traditions of continental Europe, rather than those of Scandinavia. The single battle also gained the country's crown for the Norman leader William.

Battle # 1 Yorktown American Revolution, 1781

The Battle of Yorktown was the climax of the American Revolution and directly led to the independence of the United States of America. While others may have been larger and more dramatic, no battle in history has been more influential. From the days following their victory at Yorktown, Americans have steadily gained power and influence up to their present role as the world's most prosperous nation and the only military superpower.

Introduction: It is here reflecting upon the goodness of the Law of God that Paul describes the Battle that Rages within himself and quiet frankly within all of us

Today we will learn what such battle this is. The battle of knowing what is good and the inability to do that which is good

The Roman poet Ovid Said “I see the better things, I approve them, but I follow the worse”

How relatable this truly is and when we here such things we find them profound but God already has brought us to such truth

Be careful in letting your guard down today. Righteous living is knowing God has made us righteous and we live by faith. Todays study further drives home the notion that only God can make us righteous and their is nothing we can nor should do other than live by faith- Sounds mundane rather I would object and state it will be the hardest most trying conclusion- why cause of the battle that is within

Message:

The stage is set VS 14

Law is spiritual-

The law again is from God gets to the point of making us right with God.

Deuteronomy 10:12–13 “12 “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?”

Church this has not changed today

This is where this battle within us is

I was able to talk with a good friend this week to get some wisdom, knowing he has also been kind to spend alot of time with me. He shared some great encouragement when it comes to you and me

we do play an important role in each others lives.

Characterized by the Holy Spirit

It can reveal sin, it cant conquer it

it can convince of sin, but cant make it cease

The holy spirit comes to us as a helper… do we surrender to it as a helper- our flesh would consider it a hindrance something we are fighting against

God’s word however points us to the one who all things are possible

Romans 8:3 “3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,”

Through this offering we are free from the death of sin

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

We may immediately go to a place where we think Jesus is speaking concerning our life here

Yes our live can be abundant as we live life’s of faith, it wont be as we think, rather I believe we have seen rare examples of such live’s that have been lived abundantly- be careful to compare

serving, not in our own strength

I saw this statement a couple days as go that there is a unfortunate notion that God will allow us to do it our own way

He does allow it - isn't that what we are talking about here in this verse (not as a light subject but at what truly is going on)

but His ways are not off of it

I am of flesh- Sinful, characterized by sin

Corrupt nature

Sold into Bondage

We have been sold into bondage we are a slave to our sin- though we know it is not good we obey it- we wonder why any of the evil done is possible, dont be misguided all people are a slave to self glory and feeding of self

1 John 1:8;10 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” ; “10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

The payment is death and decay, we know where sin leads- death, can we for a second not take this for granted all we have- all we enjoy- do we think that our sin will lead any other place than death- may we look around us- actually may we look within where has our sin got us- we may have gotten further than we thought- but be aware that the fall is coming

The stage is set we know what is good, we even approve them but follow the worse

2. Humanity’s inabilities vs 15-19

Problem with self- declaring the problem with trusting in self

Paul is describing himself but this is all humanity

a. Knowledge- VS 15

We can know how to do things-

Frisbee golf

It is ok to take time to better your self, gym, books, family, you will know how to do all these things well, but you they will leave you lacking

You make become even the greatest at what you do but if it is for self you will find yourself lacking.

It wont be until you and I come to know and depend fully on Christ. This is the difference between a religion and a relationship isn't it-

You may today feel like you have failed, you can say with full confidence yes- but today may we learn from our failures and surrender.

It is only when we come to know Christ

1 John 5:20 “20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”

b. dependancy- vs 16-17

We cannot depend on ourselves-

have you found yourself being dependant-

Dangerous words- I have got this

Peter

Matthew 26:35 “35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.”

We know that did not turn out that way… they all scattered

What happens when those who are close to Jesus scatter?

We can learn alot from the dicsiples

Yet what did Jesus do restored them, Great reminder of the love of Jesus

That man may scatter but God does restore us

c. Awareness vs 18-20

Although this is a great place to arrive there is no prescription that man can offer for our sin

Even knowing the truth cant save you-

we learned last week that sinners know they are sinning but they don’t understand the consequences,

Being aware of your sin and being repentant of your sin, are vastly different ways of living. What a joy it is when someone repents from their sin-

Why is it a joy well it is surrender it is where we are to be, and it happens by faith

it is by faith

The Battle within

Galatians 5:17 “17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”

The notion here is that we are unable to do that which we know is good even in our best version of of ourselves (level battle field)

…so what do we do?

Application

Find rest

Matthew 11:28 “28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

Are you tired of fighting, I am! This is daily rest (Faith in Christ)

fighting our desire knowing what is good and fighting against what is bad is tiring

This is not a call to laying out guard down it is a call to find our rest in the Lord

2. Walk in His ways not ours

Faith in your dependance and living

Seek him, surrender to him,

Deuteronomy 30:16 “16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.”