Romans 7:18-19 reminds us that it’s a constant battle, but the victory is assured because of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. God’s grace is sufficient, and He equips us to choose righteousness over sin. So, stand firm, trust in the Lord, and let Him save you from yourself each and every day.
[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock. The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, rightly dividing the word of truth, and learning how to apply it to our daily lives. You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast. And now, here's Elgin.
[00:01:02] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit to another edition of The Bible Speaks. And today, we're exploring a deeply personal topic in an episode titled, Saving Me From Me.
[00:01:22] Our scriptural inspiration comes from Romans, chapter 7, verses 18 through 19. And reading from the complete Jewish Bible, it reads,
[00:01:56] Paul's honesty here is refreshing. Living a life that pleases God is a consistent and constant effort. It's not just about resisting Satan. It's also about wrestling with our own sinful nature, inherited from Adam's fall.
[00:02:14] Why is it so hard to live right? Because we were born into sin. And if we're not constantly saturating ourselves with God's word, being led by Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit, we default to sin. Think of it like a car with a misaligned steering wheel. If we're not actively correcting our direction, we'll drift off course.
[00:02:41] Romans 7 shows us that even Paul struggled with doing what he hated and failing to do what he loved. God didn't make us perfect because he wants us to choose him willingly. This means we have to intentionally avoid situations that easily pulls us into sin. If we don't, we find ourselves giving into the same old temptations over and over again.
[00:03:10] So how do we save ourselves from ourselves? Here are a few practical steps. Number one, stay anchored in the word. Psalms 111 and 11 says, I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you. Reading and studying scripture transforms our mindset and exposes lies that lead to sin.
[00:03:37] Number two, lean on Jesus's leadership. John 15 and 5 reads, apart from me, you can do nothing. We need daily communication with Christ through prayer, worship, and obedience. When we keep our eyes on him, we become more like him. Number three, seek the Holy Spirit's wisdom.
[00:04:04] The Holy Spirit gives discernment about where we should go and what we should avoid. Galatians 5 and 16 reads, So I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. And finally, avoid easily triggered situations. If certain people, places, and activities lead you into sin, create boundaries or avoid them.
[00:04:34] We have free will. Use it to make choices that protect your walk with God. When we resist our flesh and Satan, temptations lose their power. And we are able to build stronger relationships, have more peace and confidence, and be more available for God's purposes. Essentially, we become vessels through which God's love and grace flow to others.
[00:05:04] Don't be discouraged by your struggles. Even Paul admitted his battles in Romans 7. And yet, he went on to do mighty works for God's kingdom. It's an ongoing process of denying our flesh, renewing our mind, and growing in grace. 1 John 1 and 9 assures us that if we confess our sins, God forgives and cleanses us.
[00:05:31] 1 John 1 and 9 assures us.
[00:06:02] Being guided by Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit, we can break free from our old nature. Romans 7 verses 18 through 19 reminds us that it's a constant battle. But the victory is assured because of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. God's grace is sufficient. God's grace is sufficient. And he equips us to choose righteousness over sin. So stand firm.
[00:06:32] Trust in the Lord. And let him save you from yourself each and every day. I thank you for spending time with me on today. And I look forward to our conversation on tomorrow. Until then, God bless.
[00:06:48] The Bible Speaks is sponsored by C Squared Realty and New Gen Construction Group to help spread the gospel to the corners of the earth. If anything you've heard poured into your life, please share it with someone.
[00:07:11] You can find The Bible Speaks on Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, and many more. Follow us on YouTube at The Bible Speaks Online. You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582, Ocala, Florida 34478
[00:07:36] or by email at thebiblespeaksonline at gmail.com