Words of Inspiration - I've been here before

[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock. The Bible Speaks is a daily

[00:00:44] podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, rightly dividing the word

[00:00:50] of truth and learning how to apply it to our daily lives. You may contact Elgin at the address

[00:00:57] 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 Yeshua HaMashiach to another edition

[00:01:09] of Words of Inspiration where we explore how the truths of the scripture can help us navigate

[00:01:16] the challenges of life. And today I'm joined once again by Consuela Shaw and we are going

[00:01:23] to speak on the subject of Ive been here before. Our scriptural inspiration comes from the subject

[00:01:32] of Romans chapter 7 verses 15 through 25. And we'll be talking about the struggle we face

[00:01:41] when we find ourselves repeating behaviors and sin that keep us from reaching our full potential,

[00:01:49] both naturally and spiritually. So let's begin by looking at Paul's honest confession in Romans

[00:01:57] 7 verse 15 where he says, I do not understand what I do for what I want to do. I do not do, but what I hate,

[00:02:10] I do. Doesn't that sound familiar? How often have we been in a place where we know the right thing to do,

[00:02:19] but somehow we keep falling into the same traps, repeating the same mistakes and engaging in behaviors we know are destructive.

[00:02:31] Paul's vulnerability here resonates with many of us because we've all been in that place of struggle.

[00:02:38] He goes on to say in Romans 7 and 18, for I have the desire to do what's good,

[00:02:45] but I cannot carry it out. This internal battle can feel overwhelming at times. It's a cycle we don't

[00:02:53] want to be in, yet we keep finding ourselves trapped. These things we thought we had overcome resurface.

[00:03:02] And we say, I've been here before. But here's the good news. Paul's confession is not just about the

[00:03:11] battle with sin. It's about the hope we have through Jesus Christ. He reminds us that despite our repeated

[00:03:18] failures, we are sinners saved by grace. This understanding is foundational to breaking free

[00:03:27] from cycles of repeated sin. But grace doesn't mean we can ignore the underlying desires and motivations

[00:03:35] that drive us back into those destructive behaviors. And with that, I'll invite Consuela to add in

[00:03:44] what you're thinking about, what you're thinking about. Wow. I've been here before, definitely.

[00:03:52] And I feel that this takes the internal searching. This is where we shine the light down on our soul,

[00:04:04] right, on the inside. And do we really want to see what's there? And Paul is saying,

[00:04:10] I'm showing you, I'm being transparent here to let you all know that I can empathize with your struggle.

[00:04:18] Yes. Because we were right. We were born into sin, shaped into iniquity. Right. And it's in there.

[00:04:27] It's in there. And it's doing the work to to one, as we say with many things, in order to do anything

[00:04:35] about it, we first have to acknowledge that is there. And here Paul is acknowledging. Yeah, I got I have a

[00:04:43] real struggle going on here that there are some things I'm saying in my mind, in my head or with

[00:04:50] my mouth that I don't want to do this. But that flesh is saying, oh, yeah, you're gonna do this.

[00:04:58] That's right. You know, and so hearing Paul really lay this out, I think many a times it's good to share

[00:05:05] this with a lot of people, because we find that people fall under the condemnation. Yes. Of I know

[00:05:13] I'm saved. I know I love the Lord. And I've been walking with him. And I can all of this. And I'm

[00:05:20] doing all the right things. But I find myself with a struggle. Yes. And and the struggle is real.

[00:05:26] And many a times what happens is we'll find that people with this struggle will will find that they'll

[00:05:35] tend to begin to withdraw, because I don't have a safe space to share what Paul is sharing with us.

[00:05:41] And I feel it's important as the people of God and as we continue to go forward, that we get people to

[00:05:49] understand. Listen, just as you have this same thing going on with you. Trust me, there's something

[00:05:58] going on with me, too. While my struggle may not be yours, yours may not be mine. But what we do have

[00:06:04] in common is we both have a struggle. That's it. You know, Bob Marley said in this song, when the rain

[00:06:10] falls, it don't fall on one man's house. Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. And I think in this day,

[00:06:16] it is imperative that we become so transparent that we really can draw people. Because the word says,

[00:06:25] if I be lifted up, I'll draw. But Paul is saying, listen, I'm telling you with who I am and what I

[00:06:34] do now, I'm telling you, even in that, I'm warring with this thing. But what I like about it is that he

[00:06:42] says, this thing is at war in my mind. That's right. And we have, oh my goodness, when he says,

[00:06:48] I'm at war in my mind. And that's why it behooves us. Daily, we have to renew our mind. That's right.

[00:06:56] Daily, we have to saturate our mind in the word of God. And the only person that really knows

[00:07:03] where your mind is, is you. That's right. That's right. And you know, often we,

[00:07:09] we focus on the symptoms, the outward behavior without really addressing the root causes that

[00:07:15] keeps us bound. If we don't deal with the underlying desires or patterns in our lives,

[00:07:21] we'll continue to experience the same results. If you are not a good budgeter, there's no surprise

[00:07:28] that you're broke all the time. Absolutely. You can pray to the Lord. And you know, when he gives it to

[00:07:35] you, you don't handle it correctly. And you'll get to the point where he says, well, I can't trust you

[00:07:39] with a little. So I'm certainly not going to trust you with a lot. Absolutely. Okay. So Romans seven,

[00:07:45] verse 23 to, I'm sorry, 22 to 23, Paul writes for in my inner being, I delight in God's law,

[00:07:54] but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner

[00:08:03] of the law of sin at work within me. Paul is identifying that there is an internal conflict,

[00:08:12] the desires of our flesh pulling us in one direction while our spirit wants to follow God.

[00:08:20] And you know, I tell people all the time that we give too much credit to the devil. Absolutely.

[00:08:26] We have more problems resulting from our flesh than anything else. You know, you want to know why?

[00:08:33] Because it knows you as well as you know, you know, when we become saved, that's a spiritual

[00:08:40] transformation. That flesh is still there and has to be brought unto subjugation. And that's what the

[00:08:47] words said, brought under control. Absolutely. Right. Pulling down strongholds is really talking about

[00:08:52] your flesh. Absolutely. And so to overcome this, we must ask ourselves, what desires are keeping me

[00:08:59] from fully living out the life God has for me? What areas of our lives are we refusing to surrender?

[00:09:07] That thing you think you can do in a doubt that nobody see. Wow. These are the roots that we need to

[00:09:13] address, whether it's pride, fear, insecurity, a desire for control. We need to bring those things

[00:09:23] under control and give them to God. You know, in this day and this time, we want to make sure we also let

[00:09:32] people know that there is someone out here who understands. Yes. And because I sit where I sit,

[00:09:42] it doesn't make me any more, any less. It doesn't minimize your struggle because I sit where I sit.

[00:09:48] And to give people that, to give them that in some sense of normalcy, because we all have something

[00:09:58] that is a device and understanding that God will use whom he please. That's right.

[00:10:05] And it has nothing to do with you yourself. But remember, there's your flesh and there's the spirit of God.

[00:10:12] And because God has already ordained what he's purposed for your life, he knows the device is there.

[00:10:19] Yes. And so he's not going to allow his purpose to be subject to your device.

[00:10:26] And if you really want a brain squeeze, how about the scripture that says three times I asked

[00:10:34] that this thorn be removed. Absolutely.

[00:10:38] And God said, what? My grace is sufficient.

[00:10:42] So I'm not going to take that desire away from you. You're going to choose to not do it.

[00:10:47] You're going to choose to be obedient. And yes, that taste is always going to be there.

[00:10:53] And it's good. Right. And I think that's the thing that people need to hear is that guess what?

[00:11:02] Yeah, you may still be smoking. OK, just an example.

[00:11:07] But do you not know that the spirit of God that's on the inside of you and the purpose that's on the inside of you will supersede that nicotine addiction?

[00:11:21] And while in your mind you're saying, I don't know how I'm going to stop this.

[00:11:26] The spirit of God is saying, I got a timing on it.

[00:11:30] Yep. I already. But what I just need you to do is follow my instructions.

[00:11:34] Do what I tell you to do. Keep moving in obedience.

[00:11:37] And in the obedience, the desire will be cut down.

[00:11:41] That's right. You won't be smoking a whole pack. Now you're down to one or two.

[00:11:45] And so understand that people need to know God is not a God that every situation he's just going to snatch you out of because there's something he needs you to get along the way.

[00:11:55] There's a purpose that he hasn't relinquished you from that particular device.

[00:12:01] I think we then ask the question, God, what is it about this that I need to learn so that I could pass this test?

[00:12:11] That's right. Because you're not going to the next grade until you pass the final exam.

[00:12:16] Yes, right. And so God is saying, OK, I know what you're saying, but I know what I need from you.

[00:12:21] And here I feel that Paul is letting us know, listen, we wrestle not right against flesh and blood.

[00:12:32] But these principalities, this is a stronghold that you're dealing with.

[00:12:36] That's right. Right.

[00:12:36] And so he's saying, OK, keep your mind saturated, but just know that my purpose is going to prevail over all of this other stuff.

[00:12:47] I just need you to keep coming.

[00:12:50] Keep reading. Keep studying.

[00:12:53] Keep studying. Keep saturating yourself.

[00:12:54] Keep getting in there.

[00:12:55] Because one thing we know, even as Paul was saying, yeah, I'm telling you, I'm struggling in my mind.

[00:13:01] But yet and still, the spirit of God is prevailing every time.

[00:13:05] That's right. And that he keeps going.

[00:13:07] Right. And he keeps going.

[00:13:08] And even though we've been here before.

[00:13:11] Yeah.

[00:13:12] We don't have to stay here.

[00:13:14] Absolutely.

[00:13:14] You know, Paul's message isn't about staying stuck in this cycle.

[00:13:18] It's about recognizing that through Jesus, we have the power to overcome it.

[00:13:23] Just like you were just saying.

[00:13:25] And in Romans 7 verses 24 to 25, Paul cries out, what a wretched man I am.

[00:13:34] Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

[00:13:39] Thanks be the God who delivers me through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

[00:13:44] We are not left to battle these desires and behaviors on our own.

[00:13:49] Through Christ, we have been given grace, unearned, undeserved favor and the power to be transformed.

[00:13:59] And, you know, I was thinking about as you were speaking that some things that come to us,

[00:14:05] we're supposed to grow through, not go through.

[00:14:09] Absolutely.

[00:14:09] And since we don't see that designation, we end up repeating it.

[00:14:13] Yes.

[00:14:14] And, you know, God's an eternal.

[00:14:17] He'll let you just think about it.

[00:14:19] When you think about the children of Israel.

[00:14:22] Absolutely.

[00:14:23] You know, the area that they were wandering in is called Kadesh Banera.

[00:14:28] Yes.

[00:14:29] And in Hebrew, that means almost there.

[00:14:32] So they spent 38 years almost there.

[00:14:37] Right.

[00:14:37] Right.

[00:14:38] And so there was that cycling that kept them from it.

[00:14:42] They would, you know, do what God told them not to.

[00:14:46] He would give them some sort of consequence to it.

[00:14:49] They would ask for forgiveness.

[00:14:50] He would give it.

[00:14:51] And then it's rinse and repeat.

[00:14:53] Right.

[00:14:54] So how do we begin to break free from this cycle?

[00:14:59] It starts with honesty.

[00:15:00] Like you said, just a few moments ago, admitting where we are, just as Paul did.

[00:15:05] Then we need to actively surrender those desires and patterns to God.

[00:15:11] Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the root causes and empower us to overcome them.

[00:15:17] We must also surround ourselves with accountability, immerse ourselves in God's word and continue seeking his presence daily.

[00:15:29] Transformation is a process.

[00:15:32] But the more we align our hearts and minds with God's truth, the more we will experience freedom.

[00:15:40] Now let you have the last word there.

[00:15:42] Wow.

[00:15:43] Wow.

[00:15:45] I would want those that would hear this to be encouraged right where you are.

[00:15:53] Yes.

[00:15:54] And understanding that even with where you are, you're not by yourself.

[00:15:59] God said that he would never leave us nor forsake us.

[00:16:04] There's nothing about us that he doesn't already know we're in the midst of.

[00:16:10] So he's saying, how long do you want to be there?

[00:16:17] That's a big one there.

[00:16:18] Because the children of Israel didn't have to be there that long.

[00:16:23] That's right.

[00:16:23] But because they made some choices and their mindset would not allow them.

[00:16:32] So they stayed in almost there.

[00:16:35] Wow.

[00:16:36] Right.

[00:16:37] And here we're saying to you today, you don't have to stay in almost there.

[00:16:44] So whatever that device is, you don't have to almost be delivered from it.

[00:16:50] He's saying, I will deliver you from it.

[00:16:54] I will keep you in it.

[00:16:57] And Paul realized that when he said, I can't do it.

[00:17:02] I'm no good to do it.

[00:17:04] Right.

[00:17:04] Paul said, I'm a wretched man.

[00:17:06] I'm not good for anything.

[00:17:07] I can't do this.

[00:17:09] But the God that I serve, the God that I talk about, the God that I tell others about, he is yet with me.

[00:17:18] And he can.

[00:17:20] And so we acknowledge him and know that God, there's purpose for where I am.

[00:17:27] And as long as I acknowledge you first, you're going to direct my path even out of this.

[00:17:36] Yes.

[00:17:37] Yes.

[00:17:38] So brothers and sisters, the struggle is real.

[00:17:41] Absolutely.

[00:17:42] But so is the grace of God.

[00:17:43] Yes.

[00:17:44] And it's by his grace that we can move beyond our past, overcome our present challenges and walk in the future.

[00:17:52] He has planned for us.

[00:17:54] I thank you for joining us on today.

[00:17:57] And we look forward to our conversation on tomorrow.

[00:18:00] Until then, God bless.

[00:18:09] 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.

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[00:18:39] You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582, Ocala, Florida 34478, or by email at thebiblespeaksonline at gmail.com.