"The Biggest Loser"

Romans 7:7-8:11

I have lost count of how often I have failed in life. I can't tell you how many times I have succumb to sin instead of of submitting to God. I have truly lost track of all my failures, defeat, and mistakes. The weight of it all at times seems daunting to me. Sometimes our sins are so prevalent from our past and present that we begin to doubt who we are in Christ and we feel condemned. 

The Apostle Paul went through this same inward conflict. The more he dived into God's Word the more he was made aware of the sin in his life ( Romans 7:7). God's Word clearly showed Paul his sinfulness, and despite Paul's best efforts and ability he was powerless against the fight with sin. He did not lack the desire to stop sinning, he lacked the ability to do it (Romans 7:18). Paul longed to please the Lord but every attempt was meet with defeat and failure ( Romans 7:19-20). Paul was stuck in a place he felt he could not get out of, he called himself a "wretched man" because he felt trapped by his own sinful ways (Romans 7:21-24). I can relate to what Paul was going through. Feeling like you cannot get over the hump of a sinful life. You feel like no matter what you do, you will always fail at being a righteous and Godly person. What is the solution, what is the answer?

Paul found The Answer in Jesus (Romans 7:25). Jesus is the answer to our struggle with sin, He alone is our victory! We do not have to feel condemned or carry guilt because through the death of Jesus we are set free (Romans 8:1). He rose our Lord and now we just must set our minds on Him and submit to His Word and not our sinful ways (Romans 8:5-8). So when the temptation to sin comes upon me I turn to God's Word instead of my desire to sin for relief and victory. To stop a fire you don't use gasoline, instead you get a fire extinguisher. In the same way, put out the fire of sin with God's Word and submit to it and watch the grave for sinful satisfaction be extinguished. 

Get an accountability partner who will restore you when you are caught up in sin (Galatians 6:1). Fill your heart with God's Word and let His Holy Spirit use it to guide you in the direction you need to go. If you hide God's Word in your heart and are lead by His Spirit it will strengthen you in your fight against sin (Psalm 199:11, Galatians 5:16).

But if you fall into sin, get back up! You are not condemned, you are forgiven. Never forget that. Don't stop fighting the good fight of faith. Don't let a momentary setback become permanent thing. Don't wallow in defeat but celebrate the victory that Christ has given us. Read the Bible daily, pray without ceasing, and accept correction. Stay focused, you can do this!

"In His JOY!"

"You remember me!"

Deuteronomy 31:6

We all have been there where feel we are forgotten about and totally abandoned. It makes us question what exactly is going on in our lives or makes us say "God where are you?" We feel as if God has forgotten us or maybe even as if He has failed. But this is where we look to His Word and see that God never fails us or abandons us.

Three Hebrew boys were taken from their home land, given slave names, and forced to serve a king they refused to worship. For their disobedience they were bound by rope, placed in a furnace, and set on fire. But they weren't forsaken in the midst of the fire God appeared (Daniel 3).

Joseph was beaten and thrown in to a deep well. He was sold into slavery and later falsely accused of sexual assault. He was sent to jail and left to rot for the rest of his life. He helps out two fellow inmates by telling them what the nightmares they had meant and years later He was brought before the most powerful men in the country to interpret another dream. God gives him wisdom and the next thing you know he became the second in command (Genesis 37 - 41).

Job had the good life, everything was going well for him. And then one day it all fell apart. His house was a wreck, business in the red, countless deaths in the family, and health issues that seemed to change like the wind. He laid on the ground and struggling to understand just what was really going on. His friends offered poor advice and said it was all his fault. He was told "God is anger at you!" Hope seemed to disappear but yet He trusted that his Redeemer was alive. God appeared to Job and his friends, and completely brought clarity in the midst of confusion. God not only put everyone in their place He also changed Job's life forever. Everything that Job had lost was given back too him with interest. He gained two times more than what he lost (The entire Book of Job)

We could go on and on with countless stories about how God has never failed or abandoned His People. What I want you to know is that "Your Redeemer Lives (Job 19:25)" I want you to urge you remain faithful and continue to seek after the Lord and His way because He will take care of you (Matthew 6:25-34). And you will see God stand strong on your behalf. That all this mess around you has purpose. That God is not letting go through purposeless pain and agony. He has a plan that you may not understand. And if you allow Him to work in your life, the person you where when you started this test will be nothing compared to the person you will become in the end (James 1:2-4). Your Redeemer is actively working in your life and He has not forgotten you. Stay focused, you can do this!

"In His JOY!"