The Struggle

THE STRUGGLE

Preached on Sunday, 24 August 2008

At Shiloh Baptist Church

Waukegan, Illinois

Song: In The Name Of JESUS We Have The Victory

Text - Romans 7:14-15; 24-25

(v.14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

(v.15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

(v.24) O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

(v.25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Subject: The Struggle which in essence means ... the things that I should do, I don’t do, and the things that I should not do ... well, ok ... that’s what I do.

The Struggle

• Of right and wrong

• Of good and bad

• Of telling the truth or telling a lie

• Of helping or hurting someone

• Of healing or hindering

The Struggle

• Of being a blessing or being a curse

• Of yielding to temptation

• Of saying no when your mind and body says ... oh yes

• Of being strong when you feel oh so weak

• The struggle of pressing on when you feel like giving up

• Of given into temptation when you know that consequences could lead to death

I talking about the struggles of life ... the struggle with sin.

You know the things that I should do, I don’t do, and the things that I don’t have any business doing, well, ok ... that is what I do.

O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death ... I’m talking about the struggle

You know ... I like this passage of scripture right here because Paul helps us to understand that even as believers ... we will still are going to have some problems, situations, circumstances ... and oh yes, some struggles in this life.

Well that begs the question ... what is this struggle and how can I defeat it.

I. THE STRUGGLE IS WITH SIN

Oh yes, the first thing that we need to understand ... right off the bat is that the struggle is with sin. No need in beating around the bush, no need to sugar coating it, no need to find a Greek word to better define it ... it is what it is ... my struggle is with SIN.

Not sin in general ... yes, I know that sin is sin, however, I am convinced that this type of struggle typically happens with what I call my secret sin.

You know the things that we try to hid. What I like to call the “take to the grave type of sin.”

You do not tell and I will not tell -- type of sins. The Alicia Keys ... just think of me as a page in your diary type of sin.

Well let’s face it ... I don’t ordinarily struggle with things that I am good at. In fact, that would not be called a struggle at all. My struggles usually occur in areas where I am the weakest -- you know, the area called flesh.

You see this type of struggle that I and just maybe some of you are faced with in our life is with sins ... that one knows that they have no business doing ... yet they find themselves doing it over and over again. The desire to quit is there, yet the fleshly desire for “one more time; one mo gen” is oh so strong.

I need to let ya’ll know this morning that this ain’t no kiddy sermon. In fact, we goanna deal with some things that just might convince you, convicted you and if you are not saved convert you.

I’m talking about the struggle...

You know, let put it this way: with relationships that you know you have no business being involved with.

You know that he is no good, the Spirit has convicted you; you know that you need to get out; you know that you need to leave him; or need to leave her... yet the flesh (the desire) keeps you coming back for more.

I’m talking about the struggle ... and this struggle is with sin ... don’t believe me, it is right here in the text (v.14)

For we know ...

in other words, Paul is saying I’m not telling you anything new. In fact, I spent all of chapter 6 and 13 verse of chapter seven telling you what I’m about to tell you again ...

that the law is spiritual: So don’t get it twisted, this is God law. In fact, (v.12) helps us to understand that GOD’s Laws is holy, and the commandments holy, and just, and good. You see ... it ain’t nothing wrong with GOD’s Law.