But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. Romans 7:17-25 The Message
What did Jesus give you so that you could win in this fight with your flesh? Here’s the answer most don’t like to explain to you.
“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at My request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.” John 14:26 The Message
Most religious ‘teachers’ will tell you that it is up to you and give you a ‘formula’ / steps / plan / program that you need to follow. When in actuality … the answer is an ongoing real vibrant conversational daily ‘relationship’ with the indwelling Presence / the Holy Spirit. But don’t I “have to” read and memorize my bible? Knowing the scriptures is extremely helpful but the ‘knowledge’ of them is not where the ‘power’ lies. The power to overcome evil lies in the real (not just intellectual knowledge) vibrant personal relationship with Jesus, who has given to those who really ‘know’ Him … the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that actually wields the ‘power’ of God.
Some itinerant Jewish exorcists who happened to be in town at the time tried their hand at what they assumed to be Paul’s “game.” They pronounced the name of the Master Jesus over victims of evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus preached by Paul!” The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were trying to do this on a man when the evil spirit talked back: “I know Jesus and I’ve heard of Paul, but who are you?” Then the possessed man went berserk—jumped the exorcists, beat them up, and tore off their clothes. Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could. Acts 19:13-16 The Message
These Jewish exorcists (experts) ‘knew’ the scriptures VERY well. Demons definitely “know” the scriptures better than any of us. So just ‘throwing’ scriptures at them – makes them either laugh, or swear at you, but it doesn’t ‘move’ them. What actually works against evil? The Holy Spirit. He is the same One who helps you with your ‘flesh’ … issue. Our problem is we don’t listen to Him. We tend to ignore Him. We brush His suggestions to the side within our minds because we’ve learned to listen to all the other of the myriad of voices in our heads. We don’t like His directions to us because they make us feel ‘uncomfortable’. We haven’t learned how to separate and recognize His voice from all the others in our minds. Yet… if we will just listen …we will know. His voice is …peace. His voice is …love. (Not the ‘love’ we think we know – but the Father’s heart for us.) His voice is always leading us to surrender and repentance before Him. His voice requires humility in us.
How well have you learned to discern His voice within you? The better you are at doing that … and have learned to obey Him quickly … the faster and better you will get in dealing with your ‘flesh’ issues that are constantly popping up in your daily life. I certainly am humbled by His voice within me …daily. I am training myself to surrender quickly in that moment … to Him.
Jesus, I surrender to You again …right now. I give everything and everyone to You! Please clear away all the other voices in my mind, I want to hear You directly and succinctly. Holy Spirit … speak to me.