Romans 8:11 "He Frees Us From the Tyranny of Sin"

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. ~Romans 8:11

When we receive Christ and the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, we are no longer bound to the sinful nature we were born with. Its oppressive power over us can be defeated by the power of the Spirit. Sin’s tyranny will have lost its reign. The bondage we have lived in no longer exists.

The Holy Spirit is the One we allow to put to death the misdeeds of the body. [Romans 8:3]

Thomas a Kempis, a 15^th century Augustinian monk, said that changing our habits toward sin will be at first difficult. “The flesh will cry out, but it will be restrained by the Spirit.” We have the power of the Holy Spirit not only guiding us away from our sinful nature, but helping us to resist the temptations that plague our lives.

Further Thoughts:

1. If the Holy Spirit lives in us, why are we still tempted by sin?
2. What is the relationship between temptation to sin and our decision to sin?
3. How does the Holy Spirit help us when we are tempted?
4. Write about a time the Holy Spirit clearly guided you away from the temptation to sin.

Holy Spirit, continue to help me when I am tempted to resist that which is death to me. You are my Protector. Amen.

Romans 8:5 "Sinful Nature or Human Choice?"

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ~Romans 8:5

All people are born with a sinful nature. They have an innate desire to go against God’s laws because sin and rebellion were allowed to come into the human existence. God provided free will, but man chose to act on that will and chose poorly. The sinful nature focuses not on God’s ways and direction, but on selfish desires and self-promotion all coming back to the first sinner – Lucifer—and his desire to be God. In the same way, our sins are an acting out of a personal desire to be our own god and in control of all we are and do.

God’s laws, however, are in sharp contrast to the sinful nature. A complete turn-around in fact. We exist for a relationship with Him and to live in that relationship, we must live in holiness as He is holy. The only way for that to happen is to choose to live by His Spirit and not by our selfish desires.

So the answer to the question is “both.” We must constantly fight with our sinful nature which will want to draw us back to all ways contrary to God. But we also have a choice – to choose our own way, or to choose the ways of the Spirit.

Further Thoughts:

1. In what areas do you fight your sinful nature?
2. What Scripture can you memorize to speak against the sinful nature when it wants to take over?
3. What choices can you make today to overcome your sinful nature?
4. What assurances do we have that the sinful nature can be overcome? Support with Scripture.

Father, I know my nature is to sin, but by Your power and cleansing, I claim holiness. Help me Holy Spirit. Amen.

Colossians 3:3-11 "Hide Away"

Read Colossians 3:3-11.

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." NIV

I love that I am now "hidden" with Christ in God. When Shay was about two years old, we'd play hide and seek with him. Jim would take Lauren and help her, and I would help Shay. One night, I hid him in a pile of 15 stuffed animals arranged on his floor. It was very ET-esk. All you saw was this little boy's head in among bear, duck, and dog heads. And he was good, too. All he moved were his eyes. Lauren never saw him, and it took Jim a while, too. When anyone looked at the stuffed animals, all they saw was a montage of stuffed animals.

This is what I imagine it means to be hidden with Christ in God. We just melt away from the direct view of mankind, and what they see is God, not me. That's the goal anyway. Unfortunately, there are things that we must put to death for that to happen in its clearest form.

Sometimes we can just fly over these lists of traits that we need to rid our life of and fail to really think how those words translate into the actions of our present society. So let's break it down.

sexual immorality
impurity
lust
evil desires
greed (idolatry)
anger
rage
malice: wanting to cause another pain or wish them ill will.
slander
filthy language
lying

Here's the way The Message says it:

3:5 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God.

3:6 It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger.

3:7 It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better.

3:8 But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

3:9 Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire.

3:10 Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.

It's impossible to hide ourselves in Christ if we continue to clothe ourselves with the evil of the world. They are in stark contrast to one another and by the way, we know better. If we take off these things, people will see Jesus, not our sin. Do you want to be hidden in Him?

Further Thoughts:

1. Read through the list of "put offs" again. What ones do you need to work getting rid of? Why do you hang onto it?
2. Another way of asking question one is, "When people look at you, do they see Christ or one of those sins listed above?"
3. What other Scripture talks about putting off the old self?

Colossians 2:11-12 "Surgery Complete"

Read Colossians 2:11-12.

"In him you were also circumcised...." NIV

"Circumcision" It's interesting how one word can bring both horror and complete joy. It just all depends on whose power is at work. I was just reading the other day in an autobiography about female circumcision in Somalia. Horrific mutilation and pain. God definitely has nothing to do with that practice. It's pure evil.

But Christ offers the circumcision of our sinful nature. Now there is where the joy comes in. I always imagine that I had a huge black spot on my heart that desires to sin. Christ takes a very precise laser knife and cuts out the spot freeing me forever of the sinful nature that plagues me.

It's interesting to look at sin from a Christian's perspective. I no longer have a desire to sin. But I am still tempted by sin. And I still sometimes fall and succumb to it. (Thank the Lord that forgiveness and grace isn't all used up with our initial repentance.) But the desire to go after sin is gone.

Now, I'm not battling the curse that I was born with as much as the enemy's lurings to get me to turn. But because I am filled with a power that is so much greater than he is, I can resist those temptations. I am not weak in my sin. I am strong in the power of Jesus Christ. I have the shield of faith protecting me from the fiery darts. I am a new creation. The old is dead having been cut out of my living tissue. It no longer has anything to sustain it. But I'm not maimed from the surgery. I am made whole through my Lord and can face any temptation thrown at me. I can live in joy rather than fear. I can live in victory rather than defeat. My God is in control, not the remnants of an ancient curse placed upon me. My choice has been made and my future made sure. I am alive in Christ and His power.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you still live in the defeat of the sinful nature? Why? If you've received Christ, it was taken away. You can face the enemy now because the power of Christ in the fullness of the Deity lives within you. The curse is gone.
2. Face temptations today with power and joy. You are an overcomer through Him.
3. Research the "shield of faith."
   

1 John 2:15-17 "The Pull of the World"

Read 1 John 2:15-17.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world." NIV

If we are to love God and walk with Him in His light and if we are to follow His commands from a heart focused on His love and surrender to Him, then we cannot love the world. John lists the things "of the world": 

"the cravings of the sinful man": These cravings would include desires that would satisfy the flesh but which do not honor God -- adultery, drunkenness, drugs, gluttony, rape, incest, rioting, etc. These actions are against God's laws and do not bring Him honor. 

"the lust of his eyes": This would include lusting after another sexually, coveting objects or position, all envy. Anything that would draw us away from God and focus our attention on craving personal gain that we don't have.

"the boasting of what he has and does": Rather self-explanatory -- pride. Placing your self-worth in your own accomplishments and possessions rather in the fact that you are a child of God and making sure everyone knows what you have and have done.

All three points -- the things of the world -- center on selfishness. It's all about me. Oh, when following this path, how close we come to mirroring Lucifer when we wanted to be equal with God. If it's all about me, then I am my own god and the "love of the Father is not in" me.

But this stuff here - the temporary pleasures - all lead to the same path eventually: pain and destruction, either in this life or the next. But if we keep our focus on God and His will, we will live FOREVER with Him. The choice to me seems simple. 

Precious Lord, help me to never forget the clear path you have laid out and why. Protect me, Holy Spirit, from the lusts of the world that pull on me. I desire nothing else but to serve You and You alone. Open the eyes of those who have not made that choice and use me to lead them to You.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is the pull of the world? Why is the enemy so successful -- even among professing Christians?
   
2. Would a consciousness of Satan's involvement behind the lusts of the world make them repulsive to those who continually succumb to its pull? How do we help others see the evil behind the desire without appearing judgmental and condemning?
   
3. Look up other passages on the Lusts of the World. 

James 1:13-18 "Two Births"

Read James 1:13-18.

"Every good and perfect gift...." NIV

I am struck with the two "births" contrasted in this passage. First is a birth spawned by the sinful nature. The enemy plays to our sinful nature by tempting us in any area that will drive us farther from the Father. And if we yield to the desires he is tempting us with, we plant a seed in our spirit. We nurture those desires with thoughts, plans, and dreams of acting them out. And if we allow those thoughts to grow within us, we will succumb to the temptation and sin is born. Embracing that sin will only lead to our spiritual death because we have chosen a path separate from Christ.

But we have a Father who loves us and did not leave us to the wiles of the enemy. The father of lies will continually drag us from one temptation to another. But the Father of Mankind is a constant in our life. He never changes; He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The Almighty does not want to lead us to death, but to eternal life if we will only follow His direction and embrace His love and gift. He does not tempt us to give birth to sin, but He gives us birth through the word of truth -- His Son Jesus Christ. He have been given a life choice not filled with lies, uncertainty and sin, but one full of hope, direction, and truth.

We have been given a heritage through the scattered Christians of James day -- one of perseverance and tenacity. They were not swayed by temporal temptations that shift with the wind. They chose what appeared to be a harder path, but one that ends in rewards beyond any human imagination. The scattered tribes were displaced, but only temporarily. They were bound for a unified home -- with the Father -- and nothing would stop them from reaching their goal. Mere inconveniences were just small obstacles compared to the hope of heaven and eternity with Christ.

Each day as we take up our cross to follow Him, we are also choosing which birth to embrace -- one to sin or to life. I choose to accept the birth of life through the Word of Truth.

Further Thoughts:

1. Research "holiness." What does it mean? Why are we called to it? How do we achieve holiness?
2. Compare and contrast the Hebrew children's journey from Egypt to our individual spiritual journey. What "births" do you note in each? How do we break the cycle? Can it be broken?
3. What obstacles or temptations are you facing that would pull you away from following the Almighty? Why are you entertaining those thoughts? What do you need to do to get your direction back on the right path?
4. Why is resisting temptation so difficult? Are there major changes you need to make in your life to avoid those temptations? Make them.

Matthew 16:5-12 "Eliminate the ME"

I have skipped over Matthew 16:1-4 because the exact same subject was covered in Matthew 12:38-45. Click on link for that post.

Read Matthew 16:5-12.

"They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread." NIV

I think quite often God is talking to us about one thing, and we "hear" another. Why is that? In this case the disciples' misunderstanding was because of insecurity, maybe guilt feelings. They felt bad because they had forgotten the bread and thought Jesus was rebuking them by bringing up the yeast.

But if they'd taken their eyes off of themselves for just a minute they would have seen two things:

1. Jesus couldn't be talking about needing bread because He can perform miracles to feed anyone. We've seen it done twice now.
2. He's warning us of the religious leaders' teachings.

Quite simple really, but because they couldn't take themselves out of the equation, Jesus' meaning was completely clouded.

How often am I missing what He is saying to me because I don't take the "me" out of the picture? I'm worried about how it affects ME; what He is upset with ME about; what does He want ME to do. I'm really starting to hate that word, "me." It's really getting in the way of seeing Christ clearly. That's one of the reasons He said to, "die to self." Everything that darkens my life seems to begin with my selfishness and "me" focus. If I remove the ME, I just see Christ, His compassion and grace, and His desire that I reach out to others first. Period.

Lord, I don't want ME in the equation any more. Keep my focus only on You and Your desires. ME just gets in the way of seeing and hearing You.

Further Thoughts:

1. When you hear a teaching, is your first reaction to focus on ME? If sin is involved, we do need to confess that and repent. But maybe He is trying to get you to focus on Him and others and move on past those temptations to sin.
2. If we stop focusing so much on ourselves, will we stop the cycle of sin in our lives? Support your answer with Scripture.
3. Look at the story of Saul and David. Saul was Me focused and David was God focused. In what ways is that true and how did that affect the outcome?
4. Read Galatians 5:16-26. Compare and contrast the acts of the sinful nature with the fruit of the Spirit. Which ones are ME focused and which are outward focused? What does that tell you about life by the Spirit?

Matthew 9:9-13 "Not Good Enough"

Read Matthew 9:9-13.

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” NIV

I don’t know how many times I have heard, “But I’m not good enough to receive Jesus into my heart.” Well, here’s a great passage to show that Jesus isn’t looking for “the good.” In fact, that would be a futile search for there is no one that is good. We are all born with a sinful nature; we all fall into temptation. It’s just that some have run from God for longer so they may carry more visible scars of their rebellion. But even the greatest saint has sinned and though their scars may not be visible, they will carry them forever on the inside.

Jesus strongly declares that he came for the sinners, not the righteous. I love the saying I’ve heard my husband say many times – Jesus doesn’t clean his fish before he catches them. The clean up part of our lives will usually come gradually. Some make a dramatic and radical change in their life overnight. But I don’t believe that is the norm – at least not in the American culture. And the change can’t be out of just following the “Christian rules” so you can remain a Christian and still get to heaven. That is a common misconception. True and lasting change comes from a love for God and surrender to Him as Master and Lord. If you truly love someone, and I mean that I-will-give-you-my-all kind of love, you will do for them anything they ask, just because you love them. That’s how Christians grow – we learn more and more about Christ and His love for us and as we do, we are compelled out of love to serve Him and to live as much like Him as possible.

I was watching a vocal training DVD yesterday and one of the exercises he prescribed is listening to an artist you admire and would like to sound like. You listen to their song with the song sheet in front of you and mark up the music to note where they have vibrato and where they sing straight; where they breathe. You underline the words where they bend the pitch. By studying their patterns, you learn their style. Then you record yourself singing the song and compare the two. If you don’t do a part of the style the same as they do, you start over working on that area until you are imitating them.

A Christian grows in much of the same way. We read God’s Word, study Christ’s life, absorb His love for people, listen to the guidance of His Spirit – and through that become more like Him. Did we start out that way? Absolutely not! He takes us with all our bad notes and faulty breathing and annoying vibrato. Then we grow and change as we allow Him to mold us into His likeness. And He can do that for anyone who is willing to surrender to Him and receive His gift of grace and the presence of His Holy Spirit.

The vocal trainer said that it is not the goal to be just like the musician you admire, but to learn from their expertise by imitating their style. That’s where the analogy breaks down. I want to be just like Christ.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you think you are too far gone to follow Christ, or better said, for Christ to accept you? In Jesus' day, tax collectors were right down there with the scum of the earth. They were thought of as traitors because they worked for the Romans and were corrupt. Not only did Christ forgive Matthew of His sins, but He drew him into His personal circle of twelve. Jesus demonstrated an example of complete acceptance. He loves you and desires to have a relationship with you. Will you accept His gift?
2. Have you been hanging out with any “tax collectors and sinners” lately? Christ does not call us to sit back in our cushy pews beside our loving brothers and hang out. He calls us to go out to reach others. But we can’t do that if we are cloistered away. Read Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 1:16-18.
3. Jesus tells the Pharisees in vs. 13: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus is quoting Hosea 6:6. Read the chapter and as He told the Pharisees, figure out what it means. How does it relate to serving and living out of love rather than duty? What was Israel’s downfall?
4. Find Scriptures that say we are to be like Christ. Start with Ephesians 5:1-2.
5. What is our primary way to love Him? Support with Scripture. Read 1 John 3:11-24.
6. Spend time today just loving the Lord – with words, with actions, in song, in thoughts….
   

Ephesians 4:25-32

"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." NIV

When you see "Therefore," figure out what it is there for. Paul has been telling these converted Gentiles to live out the new life they have been given through Jesus Christ. Put off the old self and put on the new. Now he describes some specific behaviors and attitudes that need to be altered to line up with a life pleasing to God.

Everything Paul lists is rooted in selfishness. Lying - keeping yourself out of trouble or making yourself look better. Anger - not happy with how things are affecting you, so lash out at someone else or maybe just because you are not getting your way. Stealing - laziness. Unwholesome talk - again, you think it makes you look cooler or better than someone else; putting someone else down to elevate yourself. But the things that Paul tells us to put on are unselfish acts - kindness, compassion and forgiveness. A self-absorbed focus will destroy us. Part of taking off the old self is turning the spotlight of my attentions off of myself and onto those around me - those hurting, in need, or ones who just don't know Jesus.

Lord, reposition my internal spotlight. Help me recognize my sin for the selfishness it is. Teach me to be content with who I am and what I have and to look outwardly to others and their needs and feelings. I do not want to grieve Your Spirit, Lord.

Further Thoughts:

1. Compare these "old self" attitudes with the Fruit of the Spirit that we are to live out in the "new self" as described in Galatians 5:22-23.
2. Some will say it's okay to get angry because Jesus did. Reread that passage where Jesus gets angry. Is it rooted in selfishness or something else? (See John 2:12-17)
3. The antithesis of selfishness is service. Using a concordance, look up Scripture with the word serve, service, or serving.
4. Do you still struggle with any of these things Paul is telling us to "put off?" List them and surrender them to the Lord. Ask Him to forgive you and point you in a new direction.

Ephesians 2:1-3

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." NIV

*Warning* Today's lesson is rather depressing because I am focusing on who I was before Christ -- following the ways of the world. Not that I never sin now; I do. But before, my desire was certainly not focused on living for Christ and serving him. I served myself, thank you very much. I followed my own desires, expectations, and perceived needs. The philosophy of "look out for #1" was definitely my motto. My comfort and desires were first on my "to do" list. Self reigned and God or others came a distant second. How pathetic a life was that?

I'm separating out these verses from the ones to follow not to glorify the sinful nature or to put myself into depression over the life I used to live. And I really don't care to think too long on God's wrath. I do it to make the next verses/lesson even better. By focusing in on where I've been, I so much more appreciate God's mercy and grace. I'm also much more merciful with others because I was once not walking in the Light. Thank you, Lord, that I am not what I used to be and am growing more and more each day in love and in line with You.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is the sinful nature? (See Psalm 51:5, Romans 7:5, 25; 8:5-8)
2. How were we "objects of wrath?" (See Romans 1:18-20, 2:5-11, Isaiah 51:17-20, Ezekiel 20:8, Revelation 6:15-17)
3. Is there any area of sin in my life that God has made known to me that I have not confessed and repented of?
4. Spend time thanking God for saving you from the death of your sins and the fury of His wrath.