The Struggle Within

Opening Scripture:

Romans 7:18–25 NLT

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 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.

Paul is describing the ongoing internal struggle of a believer who, though redeemed, still battles the flesh. 

“For I have the desire (thelein) to do what is right, but not the ability (katergazesthai) to carry it out.” VV 18-19 (The Failure of The Will)

The Greek thelein (θέλειν) expresses a genuine moral willingness — the person truly wants to obey.

But human will, apart from divine empowerment, is enslaved to sin.

The contrast between wanting and doing reveals the tragic impotence of self-effort.

We all struggle daily with something that could potentially lead us into sin

Through Jesus we have the power to overcome ALL Sin and live/lead a life of victory!!

When The Struggle Is You

James 1:13–15 NLT

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Often times we play the blame game on everyone else including God to avoid accountability from the very things in which we are struggling with.

God is Holy and Just and can never and will never tempt anyone to Sin against Him.

Temptation is deeply rooted within our own personal desires to satisfy the flesh.

Temptation is NOT Sin in its self — When we choose to give into the temptation that is where we give Sin permission to enter in.

The more we give into temptation the more Sin spreads throughout our life in which will essentially lead us to eternal seperation from God. (The Second Death).

Standing Strong In The Struggle

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

All Temptation is the Same in nature —- to get you to commit an action that is based on a desire from your flesh that is against the will of God for your life.

We are NOT alone in our struggle, many others have and are currently going through temptation as well.

God is faithful and has provided a way of escape from the temptation

Our way of escape is through Jesus

When battling the temptation’s from within we MUST press our way through studying God’s word and actively putting it to work in our lives.

We MUST also press our way in prayer, even when we don’t feel like praying.

We MUST look for opportunities to change — breaking bad/old habits that do not glorify God.

Hope For The Weary

Hebrews 4:15 NLT

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Jesus is our high priest who gets our struggle

Jesus was tempted in ways that we could never imagine (matthew 4)

Even though Jesus was greatly tempted He never gave into Sin.

We can lean on Jesus and He will always carry us to victory every time!

Even though we may feel weary we MUST always remember that Jesus is our source of strength

We MUST make the choice who or what we want to carry us —- Jesus (our high priest) or Temptation in which leads to a place of sin and isolation from God.