July 22
2 Chron 6:12-8:10 | PS 18:1-15 | Prov 19:24-25 | Rom 7:14-8:8
What is the average number of days before one breaks their New Year's Resolution? 12 days. What percentage of gym memberships go unused? 67%. How long does the average diet last for a woman? 5 weeks, 2 days, 43 minutes. What percentage of motorists admit that they speed over the posted speed limit? 89%. The truth is everyone knows that eating right and exercising regularly is the right thing to do. Everyone understands the dangers of speeding and the importance of setting guidelines to reduce injuries in case of accidents. Everyone knows this, but everyone fails to follow through, because our flesh is weak. We all have every excuse known to mankind. We don't eat right because we like certain foods, even if bad for us. Some state that they crave certain foods. Others state that they get depressed when they can't eat what they want. Many choose not to exercise because they state they can't fit it in their day. Others don't like the way it feels or find it boring. Most people don't apportion their time correctly, therefore they justify their speeding to make up for their poor scheduling. But this has always been the problem for humanity. Consider the Israelites who experienced the miracles of being spared the plagues in Egypt, then miraculously passed through the Red Sea in the Exodus. Moses then convenes the people after convening with God and gives the people the Ten Commandments along with other laws outlined in Exodus 20-23. We read the people's response in Exodus 24:3-4, "So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people answered and said, "All the words which the Lord has said we will do." Moses wasn't gone long as he went up once again on the mountain to receive further instructions from God, that we come to Exodus 32 and the people have already ignored everything that God said to Moses and were now worshiping a golden calf.
Paul details the problem of trying to be good and follow the law in the flesh, as we read in Romans 7:15, "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." He goes on to explain this frustrating reality in 7:18, "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." But we see Paul's reliance and with that his ability change in 7:21-25, "I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.. "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." The word "wretched" used in 7:24 carries with it being to the point of exhaustion in a struggle. But notice he moves in his dialogue from how to who. He doesn't outline a 12 step program or a checklist. It is not how we overcome, but Who overcame. The penalty for my sins were paid on the cross: past, present, and future. The power of my sin was broken by the cross. Any preoccupation of my sin is eliminated because of the cross.
Our power is not in becoming better people. Our power is from the Spirit, Who resides within each and every believer in Jesus Christ. This power does not vary between believers. It is the same power which enabled Jesus to rise from the dead after His crucifixion. So, if our power source is so powerful, why do we find ourselves floundering so often and so impotent? Because we choose to plug into the wrong Power Source. We can understand the theology, the principles, etc. of salvation and the Spirit filled life. But unless we spend time with Him frequently we are choosing to move in our own feeble strength rather than His power. The word is abide. This is not something which can be done once a week at a service. This is nothing that you can do for fifteen minutes every morning. We need to surround ourselves constantly with Him. What do we do first thing in the morning? What music are we listening to? What do we watch on TV or listen to on the radio? What is the substance of our conversations: is it mindless banter or is it fellowship? Our ability to live in the Spirit vs the flesh depends largely on what we surround ourselves with. Alone we are easy pickings to fail. Empowered by the Holy Spirit and abiding in Him, we are empowered to shine through life's trials and tribulations.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: