- Sep 20, 2011
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The Impossible Life
(Part 1)
Spirit, Soul, and Body(Part 1)
"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. If then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." (Romans 7:15-18)
Paul knew... that the spirit of Christ indwelt his born-again spirit. Therefore, he couldn't be technically correct and say, "In me... dwells no good thing" without the clarifying statement "that is, in my flesh." Paul acknowledged his born-again spirit, but declared, "there is no good thing in my flesh--my unrenewed mind and physical body, all the external parts of me functioning independent from Christ. There's nothing good about that! I'm going to have to lay this flesh down and receive a new body and a new soul, which are completely renewed and think exactly like God.
I know that... in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after 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." (Romans 7:18-23)
Sounds a lot... like what he wrote in (Galatians 5:17), "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would." (Romans 7:23) summarizes Paul's dismal dilemma, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"
Romans 7... doesn't teach that Paul was constantly trying and failing to do the right thing. he wasn't describing his present Christian life and saying that this is the way it is. Paul wasn't confessing that after all those years... he was still struggling with lust, sexual sin, anger, and bitterness. Neither was he saying, "You have this flesh, and try as you might, you can never beat it."
Paul was simply... describing the inability of the flesh---your physical ability, natural mind, emotions, and actions all independent from Christ... to please God. You cannot overcome your flesh on your own; you have to (start living) from who you are (in Christ). Your spirit man is completely changed and infused with the life of God. You can only please Him through living by your spirit.
The Christian life... isn't just difficult to live-- It's impossible! In (your flesh), you can't do what the Lord has told you to do. He's commanded you to just bear it when someone insults you. If they sue you and take away your coat, you're to turn the other cheek. If they slap you on the face, you're to give them your cloak as well. If someone forces you to carry their burden one mile against your will, go two miles (Matthew 5:39-41). Your natural self, independent of God, just won't do things like that.
It's natural... to be self-serving, self-seeking, and self-promoting. If someone slaps you on the cheek, you want to hit both of theirs. If someone takes something from you through a lawsuit, you want to hire the best lawyer to sue them back. But the Lord's told you to do the opposite. Without supernatural assistance, it's impossible to do what Jesus commands. That's why Paul declared, "It's no longer me that lives but Christ who lives through me" (Galatians 2:20).
There's a... tremendous amount of liberty that comes with recognizing and releasing Christ (in you). You don't have to say in the flesh "Well, I will to love you" and then turn the other cheek through (gritted teeth). It's much better to pray, "Father, in myself, I'd like to knock their block off." Your flesh cannot do this: Paul described this in Romans 7, "but in my spirit, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I have the (same spirit) that Jesus had when He hung (on the cross) and forgave the very people... who crucified Him!
"Father...! I don't feel like it right now, but I know I have the same spirit that enabled Jesus to extend mercy to those who mocked Him. (In the natural), I can't do this. Father, please live through me now. Give me a supernatural compassion for this person so I can love them!"
Peter thought... he was being very generous when he asked, "how many times should I forgive my brother... up to seven times a day?" Jesus answered, "not seven times but seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:21-22). That's (490 times) in one day! This was His way of communicating that there shouldn't be a limit on your forgiveness.
The Lord... wants you to forgive totally, as much and as many times as it takes. In your flesh, you might be able to forgive a person for some minor things once, twice, or even seven times in a day (Peter thought he might be able to do that). But what Jesus asked goes far beyond your human ability. The only way you can forgive like that is by saying, "Father, I can't do it, but you can. Lord, please love them through me." When you humble yourself, turning away from your own natural ability and to God and His divine ability, you'll discover a supernatural strength flowing through you.
You have an unlimited supply of God's kind of love in your spirit. "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). His love never fails! (vs. 8)
(Special thanks to Andrew Wommack)
Thank You Father!
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