Who Will Deliver Us?

Text: Romans 7:21-25

Date: March 30,2025

Scripture Reading: Exodus 3

Well good morning. It’s great to be here with you this morning. If we haven’t met my name is Chase. I serve as the lead Pastor here at The Corners. And I can’t wait to dive into God’s word with you this morning. (pause) If you have a Bible go ahead and turn to Romans Chapter 7. That’s where we’re gonna spend most of our time this morning.

And while you’re turning there, lets give a shout out to any first time guests we have this morning! We’re so glad you’re here. . We hope you feel welcome and that this is a place where you’re welcome and feel the love of Jesus in this place.

Hey before we dive into the Word...let me quickly address the elephant in the room...

- Explain leg

- Eye

- So I’d appreciate prayer...both for me, but more for my wife and family

Well enough about me....let’s turn to our true source of hope in this broken world, and ask him or guidance as we study his Word.

PRAY

Well, many of you know I love movies. And I’ve said before that one of my favorite movies....not just one of my favorite animated movies, but favorite movies overall is the Prince of Egypt.

The Prince of Egypt was DreamWorks Studios star packed adaptation of the story of Moses and the Exodus in the Bible. And while there were certain liberties taken, I think overall it’s a wonderful film and a great depiction of the Exodus account...and one of my favorite parts of the whole movie is the opening song.

It shows the Israelites in bondage in Egypt...their oppression as they’re making bricks and living as slaves...and here’s the lyrics to the opening song:

With the sting of the whip on my shoulder With the salt of my sweat on my brow Elohim, God on high, can you hear your people cry? Help us now - This dark hour

Deliver us Hear our call, deliver us Lord of all, remember us Here in this burning sand Deliver us There's a land You promised us Deliver us to the Promised Land

Then it shows Moses and him being put in the basket and sent down the river and ending up in Pharoh’s house....and finally, the song builds one more time with a final cry where the Israelites are crying out:

Deliver us Send a shepherd to shepherd us And deliver us to the Promised Land Deliver us to the Promised Land!

Now...again, there’s artistic license being used in the song and in this movie...we don’t know exactly what the Israelites were saying in their distress...but we do they were crying out, because – like Debbie just read from us in Exodus 3, when God enlisted Moses into ministry if you will, he said in Exodus 3:7: “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings...and then check this out...he said verse 8....and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.

Well, if you know the story of the Exodus – or if you’ve seen the Prince of Egypt you know he did just that...using Moses and Aaron as his mouthpieces, he confronted Pharoah and brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt into the land that was promised..and they all lived happily ever after, right?

No! They got into the promised land, but that was just the beginning of their cycle of disobedience and rebellion...and getting conquered....which was followed by repentance...and more deliverance...and then more rebellion, and so on...and really the entire Old Testament is the story of this back and forth between Isreal following God, rebelling, following, rebelling, and so on.

Well, I think this is a good picture to have in mind of what Paul is showcasing in Romans chapter 7, but not for a nation...for the individual life of the believer. (Puase_) If we are Christians...that means we’ve been saved from the bondage of sin...we’ve been DELIVERED...but does that mean we live in sinless perfection? No, we still sin, and just like Israel had their amazing salvific experience in the Exodus story....they still needed to be delivered over and over again – ultimately until the embodiment of deliverance Himself – Jesus – came into the world.

REVIEW

If you are a guest today or tuning in online... our church has designated this whole year, minus the summer months, to journeying through the book of Romans.

And the reason we’re doing this is because Romans...and we’ve said this every week...Actually lets read this out loud together... The letter to the Romans is the clearest and most systematic presentation of Christian beliefs in the whole Bible.

And how’s he systematically laying it out? Next slide...He starts by reminding us of our sinfulness, and that’s followed by...the antidote...namely salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone, right? And then a couple weeks ago, we came to this new section on Sanctification...everybody say sanctification...right, and we said that’s just a big word that means becoming more like Jesus...because that’s what happens when we have been saved, right? We don’t just stay the same, we’re made more and more lke Jesus for the rest of our life....

And so in chapter 6, Paul begins telling us about the makeup of the believer. Right, we’re still not all the way into the section about outward behavior...that’s not till chapter 12 we’ll get there in the fall. But...he’s explaining to us what the internal make up of the believer consists of...like if we’ve truly been justified...what’s that mean? It’s just as if I’ve never sinned. And if Christi’s righteousness has been imputed on to us....than what’s that look like internally.

And we saw a couple weeks ago in Romans 6, that right away Paul shows that there’s an intrinsic, ontological change that takes place within us when we’re saved, right, we can’t just keep living the same way as we lived before Christ....because...he says Romans 6:2...we’ve DIED to sin....that’s strong language, right?

And he’s using this strong language beause he knows that some might here this teaching that we’re saved by nothing we’ve done and be like...okay cool...then I’m just gonna keep sinning! Like if God’s gonna cover me with grace...let me just keep living how I want to live and he’ll forgive me! And Paul’s like BY NO MEANS!!! And so chapter 6 is showing us no...if we’re Christians our relationship with sin has to change...like we can’t just keep living the way we lived before.. but then he goes on in chapter 7 to immediately introduce this tension that we all know if we’re in Christ....and that’s that even though we’re in Christ....that’s what it means to be a Christian, right...we’re in Christ...covered by his sacrifice...even though that’s true...and– we’re new creations in Christ, and our life’s been changed by Jesus, we still striggle with sin!

Do you see the progression? Romans 6 says stop sinning, and Romans 7 says I can’t! Like no matter how hard I try I can’t stop completely! You with me? We have to get this....this is Christianity 101 right here...and let me just say this....I think many of us in the church...and I don’t just mean our church, I mean the church at large, our gospel largely consist of Romans 1-5...and 12-16.

Like we know we’re sinners...we know we need the cross...and so we focus on what we need to do to be saved....and then we jump right to the external in 12 and beyond...but we have to understand what’s going on inside of

Like, think of it this way...this might be a terrible example....but I’m gonna say it anyway. Imagine you went back in time like 1000 years ago....no lets even say like 500 years ago....you go back in time....someone invented a time machine and their like hey I want you to go back with your cell phone and show everybody the wonders of modern technology....and so you got your impressive apps...angry birts...is that still a thing? You got Farmville 2....you can tell I don’t play phone games. You got...i don’t know...soduko...and so you get in the time machine and you go back...and guess what....the time machine drained your battery!

How are you gonna convince anybody of the future with a dead phone? Unless you’re Tony Stark...or a super genius...and can figure out how to get electricity into the phone you’ve just got a glass box, right? Beause...99.9 precent of us...and maybe some of you in this room do know...but I think I speak for most of us...we use this thing every day – probably more than we should...but we have no idea how it works!! We just know when it’s dead or when the service is out and it doesn’t work...but we don’t know HOW it actually works.

Well, listen....Romans 6, 7, and 8...are telling us HOWthe Christian life works!! Not just how we should live...but how it works! It’s getting us inside the wires and circuit boards if you will..and I know it’s complex...but listen... we have to get this lest we get to ro Romans 12 and beyond and we know it works, but we don’t know how!

So check this out and then we’ll dive into the text....In Romans 6, Paul is telling us we can’t just keep sinning, right? Why – because our relationship with sin has changed...it’s no longer our master...and our old self has died with Christ...that’s Romans 6. Then in 7 he’s like here’s why you can’t stop...that was last week, and then in chapter 8 he give sus our eternal and permanent hope despite the fact that we can’t stop sinning. Does that make sense?

And I know I’ve said this already, but I can’t stress this enough...we have to get this. We have to understand this....not just so we understand ourselves, but so that we can share with others!! Because if we’re only focused on the external...or listen...even if we’re only focused on Romans 1-5...we’re not painting a full picture of The Gospel! So we really have to understand this!!

And so this morning....I want to look at the end of Chapter 7....and let me just say...Pastor Tanks did an amazing job last week breaking down chapter 7 didn’t he! If you weren’t here last week, go back and listen...it was absolutely amazing...and he set the stage perfectly for me to move right into Romans 8. Which is like the pinnacle chapter of this book. And I was really tempted to just move right into 8 this week. But one of the things he said that wa sust so good...is that Romans 8 is only amazing when we really understand Romans 7!

And Romans 7....again is showing us this tension of the fact that we don’t stop sinning even thought we’re free from the bondage of sin...and again he did an incredible job breaking it down....and I think he perfectly teed us up for chapter 8...but as I was preparing this week, I just felt that it would be best to sit just more week in the tension that’s being raised in chapter 8, and Lord willing, we’ll just dip our toes into chapter 8, sound good?

So, what’s the tension that’s being built? Here it is...and really, this is the question that’s being answered in chapters 6-8...how do we fight sin? We’ll never fully eradicate it this side of heaven...but that doesn’t mean we just embrace it – Romans 6...and we also can’t just keep trying harder to follow the law...Romans 7...so what do we do...well for the rest of our time together, I want to give 5 subcomponents of this question. Here they areL. Okay, these are all tied to this overarching question. What is the Christian Problem? The Agonizing Questions that stem from this problem, The Sufficient Answer, The Present Result, and the Only Solution.

Okay, so that’s where we’re going...and this might seem like a lot, but we’ll spend most of our time in the first two and then move through the last three rather quickly. . Sound good? Okay – lets start with The Christian Problem,

THE CHRISTIAN PROBLEM

So, if you’re Bible’s open to Romans chapter 7 lets start reading in verse 21. (pause)

Actually, let me pick up in the middle of verse 18 – Again, remember, Paul is stating the reality that is true of every Christian...and he says...

For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Can anybody relate? We want to do the right thing, but we don’t always do it. We don’t have the ability to live in sinless perfection on our own.

19 For or it could be because I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

And again...if you missed Pastor Tanks message last week, go back and listen....he unpacked all of this and said that doesn’t just give us a free pass, right? We can’t just sin and be like....welp thart wasn’t me it was the sin. (pause) No...and this is huge he said an evidence of our faith is when we don’t WANT to do the sin we do!

We have to get that! If we’re fine with sin...and we’re just like – hey everybody sins – then this isn’t the predicimant Paul describes! We have to have a desire not to sin!

Brothers, and sisters, listen to me – the evidence of a transformed life is not sinless perfection on this side of heaven, it’s the desire to NOT sin! And the hatred not the acceptance, but the hatred of the sin that lies within us!

See, this is where unbelievers – apart of the Spirit opening their eyes – will never understand Christianity. Because the world looks from the outside in at the church, and sees how we we’re told to live, but then sees when we fall...and says LOOOK!!! YOU’RE A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES!!!

And the true blood-bought believers retort should be YES AND I HATE iT MORE THAN YOU DO!!

I don’t know why I do what I do!! [PAUSE]

You know who should really understand this? Parents of middle school boys. Because middle school boys....just be doin stuff. Like....I remember when I was in middle school, and we had a keyboard that plugged into the wall...and the other side went into the keyboard...and I remember unplugging it one day with my friends and sticking it in my mouth! And it hurt so bad!! So I gave it to y friend and he tried it! And we kept doing it until I had this burn on my tounge and I went up to my dad and was like I can’t feel my tounge!! And he’s like what were ou doing. And I told him...and he just starred at me! He’s like why’d you do that. And I was like I don’t know!

I don’t know why I did about 97% of the stuff I did in middle school! My brother and I would go in the woods and sharpen sticks and make bow and arrows and shoot them at each other! Why? I don’t know.

And now I see it in my own son..when he’s like dad look I’m a rhino and then he runs headfirst into a wall and hurts his head...and I’m like son why did you do that? And he’s like I don’t know.

Well catch this...just like a child’s frontal cortex is not developed...in my case it may have been completely absent...and they just do stuff that goes against logic Paul knows that on this side of heaven, because we’re still in our earthly bodies and surrounded by the presence of sin in the world...we’re gonna continue to do stuff that goes against our nature as followers of Jesus!

And he unpacks this in the next three verses when he says

21 So I find it to be a law - pause

Really, quick in passing...it’s important for us to note that Paul, when he uses the word law...he uses it in a number of ways. Sometimes he’s talking about the Old Testament Law...sometimes he’s talking about the moral law of God, and sometimes he’s talking about principals...right, like the law of gravity. And it’s on us as the reader to use our context clues and understand what he’s talking about. (pause) When he’s talking about the religious Jews, he’s most often talking about the Mosaic or the Old Testament Law. Here he’s talking about just a principal...so he’s saying I find this to be an eternal principal that’s true.

that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, (now he’s talking about the moral law of God or the commands of God....just like Psalm 119 how I love your law God...)He says I delight in the law of God in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law (or another eternal principal) waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

What does all this mean...well this is our first point – The Christian Problem. THE MORE WE MATURE IN OUR FAITH, THE MORE AWARE WE BECOME OF OUR OWN SINFULNESS. X2

Paul gets this! And if this is the Apostle Paul wrestling with this...the greatest church planter to ever live...the man who wrote almost half of the New Testament and almost 20% of the books in our bible...if he felt this way, should we expect that we won’t have the same struggle? Like we’ll unlock perfect sinfulness this side of heaven when the Apostle Paul didn’t?!

And...Tanks alluded to this last week too....people will try and make arguments that say well Paul is talking about himself pre-conversion in these verses. You ever heard that? Like..they’ll say Romans 6 is Paul’s description of himself post conversion and Romans 7 is pre-conversion.

And...maybe you’ve held that that view or even hold that view...well let me just give you three reasons that I believe show Paul is talking about the Christian life...not just the pre-conversion experience.

Number one, it’s just the plain reading of the text. If you just read this, the straightforward reading is that he’s talking about himself now. He’s using the present tense, right? You don’t even need to know Greek or look at the original language to see he says when I WANT to do right, evil’s right there. Right, he’s not saying when I wanted to back in my past. So when we just read this in the plain reading of the text, it’s clear he’s talking about himself now....post conversion.

Number 2. This truth, that we’re not perfect on this side of heaven...that we still struggle with sin, it aligns with the rest of the bible INCLUDING chapter 6. Okay, we won’t turn there, but let me just encourage you to read Galatians 5. Because in Galatians 5, Paul is clearly talking to believers, and he’s using this same language about waring with the flesh...and walking in the Spirit while still having the desires of the flesh. And even Paul’s own testimony in 1 Timothy, he calls himself the chief of sinners...again using the present tense! He doesn’t say I was...no the more he’s in Christ he recognizes his PRESENT sinfulness.

And I could share more...but just one more...Number 3. If we’re in Christ...we know this to be true of us! This is all of our story if we’re Christians...that we’re not perfect.

And I say this all the time, but let me just pause to say – if you’re a guest...or you’re new...and you think you somehow stepped into a room of perfect people...no...we can all echo the same sentimate as Paul, and the longer we try to live this Christian life...the more imperfect we realize we are, and the more we realize we have the same problem as Paul!

THE AGONIZING QUESTION

And I say this is a problem...because it’s this truth that leads to Paul’s agonizing question in verse 24. Where he says this:

Wretched man that I am!

The King James, I think rightly adds the O...for emphasis...O wretched man that I am!! (pause) This is strong language! One – Greek grammatical guide I was using to study noted that in it’s strongest sense, essentially what he’s saying is – quote – What am I? Just a miserable particle of humanity

Now...this is so important...hear me. This is not self deprecation. (pause) You say, how is this not self deprecation, we’ll it’s not self deprecation in the sense of self-hatred or any dangerous mentality like that. See, this verse – especially the first half can lead to all sorts of dangerous theology that says Christians are to never be happy...to always be miserable...and even in some cases to intentionally cause ourself pain...like as if that brings glory to God.

Remember the scene in Monty Python and the Holy grail...the monks....

- Explain

We laugh at that scene, but Christians have used this verse to form entire theologies of suffering that tell us we’re to intentionally pursue it as a way of proving our sanctification...but that’s not what Paul’s saying at all!!

This is not self-hatred...this is a hatred of the sin within...and a recognition of his imperfection in light of God’s PERfection! He’s like....ahh I can’t stop doing what I hate...and I’m miserable about it! This is the same recognition John Newton came to in his hymn...probably the most popular hymn in the English language when he says Amazing Grace,...how sweet the sound...that saved a – what? A WRETCH...like me!! Which causes him to ask this question...

Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Now, let me make two observations about this verse.

Number one. This is another reason, Paul has to be talking about his current cry...and his current life...not his pre-conversion life. (pause) Because unbelievers don’t talk like this.

The first part....maybe. (pause) I’m sure we’ve all heard unbelievers acknowledge their sinfulness, right? This is common in music...especially the country music and rap generes, right? People talk about how they’re sinners and even often use the word sinner. (pause) But this second part....who shall deliver me....that’s not uncoverted talk! Because unbelievers while some may know they’re sinners don’t have this desperate agonizing cry of their need for a savior, unless their hearts have first been opened by the Holy Spirit to see their need FOR a savior!

And key in on this word...deliver...okay...this notes that he knows he can’t di it himself. He needs a deliverer...in other words, the ability to be saved must originate from outside of himself.

And – warning this is a bit graphic – but many commentators point out at that at this time, it was not an uncommon method of execution to sentence someone to die by chaining them to a dead body....because – eventually the decay and disease from the deceased would transfer over to the living...especially if you can’t move around or anything....and eventually you’d get sick and die.

I know that’s graphic, but many throughout history have suggested that that’s the imagery Paul has in mind when he uses the phrase “body of death”! He’s saying....I got this sinful, currpted body of death attatched to me...and I’m no longer a slave to sin and death – Romans 6....but it’s still on me...and it keeps causing me to stumble....ahhh......i’m a mess who will deliver me!?!

And so here’s our second point: THE REALITY OF LINGURING SIN SHOULD INCREASE IN US A LONGING FOR DELIVERANCE!

Brothers and sisters, how often does the sin in our life cause us to cry out!! To look forward to the day when we will be free from sin forever?! We have to ask ourselves this, because again, someone of us are cool with our sin! We think we can tame it. Like, it’s not that big of a deal....maybe it’s even a little fun. (pause) They’re like little pet sins...

And we’re tolerating or at worst playing with our sin, not realizing how quickly little pet sins can turn into habits, which can turn into strongholds, which can turn into bondage, which can lead to destruction!

Do you think anyone in a good relationship wakes up with the desire to cheat on their spouce or partner? Of course not.... How’s it start? Often with a joke or a text message that might not even be inappropriate in itself, but it’s something you wouldn’t want your husband or wife to see. And it grows. Until before you know it, your life is in shambles.

Or what about anger. (pause) I’ve heard people laugh and downplay their anger....oh I’ve. Just goa temper....everyone knows I’ve got a temper. (pause) Well it’s all fun and games until in one moment of that anger you make a split second decision that gets you locked up or even worse in an early grave.

THE SUFFICIENT ANSWER

And I know those are extreme examples, but the point is this...we cannot just be okay with the sin in our life....we should hate it....we should lament it...and we should long for the day of total delieverance, which is what causes Paul to cry out with a celebratory cry in the next verse.... the first part of verse 25: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

This is the Gospel!! This is the good news that in many ways takes us all the way back to Romans chapter 1 verse 16, when Paul says he’s not ashamed of the Gospel! Again, don’t miss the big piture....he introduces the book Romans in the first 17 verses of chapter 1 saying this whole thing is about the Gospel....then he jumps right into talking about sin and salvation from it and has this culminating cry that proclaims look the wretches aren’t just those I talked about in hapter 1...remeber that long list of the ungodly!! Like you might think he’d say they’re the wretches...but after 7 chapters of explaining God’s wrath, and justification, he comes to the conclusion that He...and consequently WE....we’re still wretches...AND...now but AND....thanks be to God because through Jesus we’ve been saved!! (pause) But we’re still messed up.

Do you feel the tension? Well, here’s our third point: Jesus’ completed work on the cross guarantees a permanent eradication of sin for the believer.

Okay, don’t miss the tenses....Jesus’s completed work...that’s past, right? It happened...it’

S done...When Jesus died, and rose he defeated sin and death...which is why Revelation 4 and 5 show us the picture of Jesus as the victrious lamb ruling in heaven....that’s all the past...but this past action...guarantees...that’s now...that’s the present....a permanent eradication of sin....that’s the future!!

THE PRESENT REALITY

So, follow me here....what I’m saying is that the past work of Jesus...guarantees ...NOW...in the present...a FUTURE permanent eradication of sin. (pause) Which means...and this is our fourth observation...the present reality: CHRISTIANS LIVE IN AN “ALREADY-NOT-YET” WORLD.

We’ve used this term before....but this is the theological wording that means the Christian life is one we’re looking back to the finished work of Jesus, and living in light of all he accomplished, while also looking forward to the ultimate fulfillment that will one day come!

And brothers and sisters, this is the language we need to keep in mind...not just for when we still struggle with sin...but when we experience pain...and suffering...(pause)...when we loose loved ones...

And it’s this truth the Apostle Paul recaps in this final sentence of chapter 7...I think the NIV accurately starts a new paragraph with this verse....to separate it from the first part of the verse...but here it is...Paul’s summary statement of all we’ve talked about...he says:

So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

There’s a war raging within! I love how Pastor Tanks put it...he said to be a Christian is to live in constant conflict with ourselves!

So what do we do? What’s the solution? Because Paul essentially ends where he bagan here at the end of chapter seven doesn’t he? He says I don’t do what I want...i do what I don’t want to....who’s gonna save me...Jesus will save me...now I still find myself between two worlds and not doing what I want.

THE ONLY SOLUTION

So, what’s the solution? Well, (pause) that’s chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. It’s been called the summit of this great book...the great climactic chapter. But that’s next week. (pause) But I said, I wanted us just to dip our toes into the waters of chapter 8...and so...let me just tease out this chapterby using the headings in the NIV...so, these are not the inspired text....but it’ll give us a road map for where we’ll be the next few weeks as well as I think answer the question we’ve been trying to answer today – namely, how do we fight the sin in our life. Alright, so check this out...

Romans 8:1 through 17...have the heading Life through the Spirit....so, lord willing next week we’ll talk about some practical tips for following the lead of and listening to The Holy Spirit. Okay, so that’s gonna be key to fighting sin.

Then, verses 18-30 have the heading Present Suffering and Future Glory. Again, unpacking the reality of the already not yet we live in. That we an have hope NOW...because of what WILL happen AND because of what HAS been done. And, Lord willing Pastor Benedito will be delivering that message on Home Group Sunday all the way from Mozambique. I can’t wait.

And then, Lord willing on Easter Sunday...we’ll see Paul’s limactic hymn of praise as he reminds us of our ultimate identiy...that while yes...we still struggle with sin...yes, we experience pain, and loss in thi life...we’re more than conqueres and nothing can seprate us from the love of Christ if we’re in Christ, amen!

So this is where he’s heading, and Lord willing, this is what we’ll dive into for the next three weeks....but using even just these headings..without getting into the text...I think we can anser the question we’ve been trying to answer....how do we fight sin....with our final point – the ONLy Solution...here it is: In light of everything we’ve talked about...here’s what I want you to know....WE FIGHT SIN BY LEANING WHOLLY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT AS WE EMBRACE LIVING IN THE TENSION OF THE “ALREADY-NOT-YET.” (repeat)

CONCLUSION

Listen...if you’ve missed everything else so far in this messahe...here’s what I want you to know....the power to fight sin in our life doesn’t come from just us digging depeer into our own strength...but by total dependance om God!

I’ve told this story before, but this was one of the most formative events in my Christian walk and I’ll never forget it. (pause) I was at a Men’s conference down in Fort Worth Texas....and there was a speaker who was really making a call for men to step up and fight against passivity, fight against lust and pornography...and against all of these other things that a lot of men struggle with...I know it’snot just men that can struggle with all that, but this was a men’s conference...and so at the end of his message he made this call for men to come down and lay whatit was....passivity, lust, anger, lying...whatver it was...and man it was so powerful to see hundreds of men...grown men....tears streaming down their face saying I’m not gonna do this anymore.

Then we had like a 15 min break...came back worshipped together, and the next speaker gets up....and the first thing out of his mouth is who all came down here and said you’re gonna stop doing...whatever....and hundreds of hands went up and everyone’s cheering. (pause). And then....he hit him with the gut punch...and said....who’s been to a similar event like this and made a similar decision in the past to stop doing whatever you’re doing....(pause) and like 90 percent of the same hands went up.

And his point was....and the blunt, straightforward word he gave was...look if you go home and think I’m gonna stop....I’m gonna try harder to be a better man...I’m gonna try to stop sinning and do MY best....and I’m just gonna try really really hard....it doesn’t matter how disciplined you are YOU CAN’T DO IT ON YOUR OWN!!! And he said...if that’s your way of trying to overcome sin, you’re gonna be right back here next year crying and walking up front.

BUT....and this is what changed my life....he said if you surrender to the Spirit, abd say God I can’t stop this on my own...I need you to fight the battle for me....I need you to change ,me from within and I’m gonna stop putting myself in situations that present opprotunites for me to sin....and I’m gonna focus on you more, and study your word and fill my minds with things that bring glory to you....but I’m gonna leave the battle to you...you are the one that can kill the flesh that’s still in me....then guess what....that’s when we begin to see strongholds fall!!

Brothers and sisters, what I’m talking about is a cry for deliverance that’s rooted in the confident reality that the battles already been won and we don’t have to fight it because God is fighting for us!!

Which leads us back to where we started....which is also where we’ll end.

Do you remember what God said when he showed up to Moses in the burning bush....he said I’ve heard the cry of my people...and I’ve come to what? To deliver them.

And he did, but they were still a mess. In fact, when Moses was giving his Fairwell speech right before he died...do you remember what he said? Deuteronomy 30 verses 1-5, he tells them – here’s the law....if you obey it you’ll be blessed...if you don’t you’ll be cursed...but then he just tells them and since you won’t obey it...one day God is gona give you a new heart! He literally says God will circumcise your heart...in other words you don’t have the ability to live in perfection....but one day – you’ll be given a new heart!

Fast-forward 1000 years and it’s the time of the prophets! And the prophets are prophesying about God changing hearts by pouring his spirit into people...Ezekiel 37 and the valley of dry bones....the prophet Joel...and others....they didn’t fully understand what they were saying, but through the inspiration of God....they’re prophesying about this deliverance that is coming in the form of God placing his spirit in his people!

Fast forward to Jesus!! The ultimate Deliverer...do you remember what he said before he died? He said it’s better for me to go!! Why? Because the helper is coming! (pause) Can you imagine Jesus’ disciples...they’ve seen him heal the sick, walk on water, and raise the dead....and he says it’s actually better for me to go! He says I’ll be back....but it’s better right now if I go.

And then on Pentecost...what happens? The Holy Spirit falls on the believers – kickstarting the age of the church – and the Apostle Peter stands up and is like this is what all the prophets were talking about!! And he said if you believe in Jesus, trust in him...make him king of your life...you’ll receive the Holy Spirit! The third member of the trinity! Fully God...just as much God as the God in the burning bush.

And so, here’s what I want you to know brothers and sisters....this is the great mystery of mysteries...if you are a follower of Jesus, and you’ve cried out for deliverance from your sin...than the same God of the Old Testament that parted the read sea...the ssme God who took a shephered boy and brought down a giant...the same God who was with the boys in the firey furnance in Babylon...with Daniel in the Lions Den....the same God who spoke from the fire and promised to deliever his people LIVES...in...you Today!!

And it’s that confidence, that focus...that assurance leads to victory over sin! The assurance that he’s delivered you once and for all from the penalty of sin....that he is delievering you when you lean on him more and more from the power of sin in your life today...and that he will one day deliever you from the presence of sim for all eternity.

Focusing on those truths,,.that’s our battle strategy against sin. Not just trying harder...but knowing we have a deliever who lives in us.

So, I’ve got to ask...do you have thie assurance? Have you cried out first in recognition of your own sinfulness....and second have you cried out for a savior? Someone to deliever you?

If not, let today be the day.

PRAY