Good morning everyone…it’s good to be with you here…today we will be diving into part two of our series called free, last week we talked about loving first, not judging first…and this week we are going to talk about living with hope…because sometimes…living life as a Christian…things can feel kinda hopeless…and it should never be that way...you know living with that feeling is no fun at all…and what I mean by that is this…sometimes we can get down on ourselves because we keep messing up… and it's frustrating...and usually when we keep messing up...it is in the same areas over and over again…the problem is we know what we are supposed to do, but we just can’t seem to do…and it seems…hopeless…in fact the dictionary definition of hopeless is, “ “not able to learn or act, perform, or work as desired””…An example would be like as an ice skater, Ken is hopeless…and I am…in seminary before I met Michelle I went on this group date where we went ice skating…and why I thought I would be able to take my body, and stick two thin slices of metal on my feet, and then run around on ice, would be successful and impress the ladies in that group…I will never know…let’s just say the whole the bigger they are, the harder they fall…is very true…I got going pretty fast because I wasn’t afraid cause I hadn’t fallen…and then suddenly my skates just slipped out from under me and I instantly fell backwards and landed on my back and head and slammed into the side wall…the employee who was watching the rink skated over to me and had his cell phone out and was ready to call 911 and he asked if I needed help…I just looked up at him and said, “Where were you when I was putting these things on and thought this was a good idea!”…I learned though because Michelle and I never went ice skating while we were dating…
Honestly you know, you and I don’t need someone to get up here on Sunday morning and say, “Don’t Lie!” or “Don’t Steal!” or “Don’t Judge First”…that sounds familiar…no one sitting here today is going to be like this changes everything…If only I’d known…don’t lie…I’ve never heard that before…I’m gonna go home never lie steal or judge first ever again…game, set, match…If it worked that way…that would be awesome…but we all know it doesn’t work that way…we all know we have a problem and it is a fight to try to do what is right..that sometimes that fight…to do what is right…can feel hopeless…that is why the Christian bookstore is filled with life coaching type books on how to overcome this problem…
The truth is…we probably don’t need more advice books…we don’t need someone to hit us upside the head with the side of a Bible and yell, “Stop doing whatever it is you know you shouldn’t be doing!” What we need is to understand why we struggle, why we have to fight ourselves to do what is right, and we need to understand how we can win in this fight…so we don’t go through life, feeling hopeless…because that isn’t what Jesus wants for you at all…in John 10:10 he told his disciples, “I have come that they (you) may have life, and have it abundantly.”
This morning I want to look one of the most encouraging passages in Scripture, for me at least, because I love the openness and honesty found in these passages….and when we understand what the passage is saying…it frees us from the trap of hopelessness…so that we can live, as Jesus says, a life that is full, a life that is abundant, a life that is marked, that is characterized, by hope… We are going to be spending our time in Romans 7 and 8, but before we open our Bibles will you join me in a word of prayer. PRAY
As I just mentioned we will be spending our time together in Romans 7 beginning in verse 15. Now the book of Romans was written by Paul as a letter to the believers in Rome…and he lays out a lot of really good, but really heavy discussions on what it means to be a Christ follower and how it all works out…and in chapter 7 he is talking about the law given in the Old Testament and what it means to us today, and how hard it is to follow the law…and in chapter 7 beginning in verse 15 Paul says, 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
I want to do what is right, but I don’t…I want to do what is right…but I can’t…I don’t want to do what is wrong…but I do it anyways…I mean honestly…raise your hand if that totally sounds like…someone other than you…we have all been there…I mean that is all of us…I mean, if someone says they don’t struggle with this at times…they are either lying, or they are blind to what they are doing wrong, or they are dead (which can have it’s own set of problems)…because the reality is as long as we are alive…this is going to be a struggle…
I really don’t think Paul is talking about flossing in this passage, or missing his daily devotional…I mean no one is like…Oh Lord…I didn’t floss again…whyyyyyy…I’m such a horrible horrible monster…I mean we might do that in front of our dentist…but we don’t really mean it…whatever it was that Paul struggled with…I believe it is something serious…and to him…it felt like a hopeless situation…and we have all felt that way before…oh man God…here I am again…I said I would never do that…and I did it again…I promised my wife I wouldn’t do this..and here I am…I told my parents I would never…and I just did again…I want to do what is right…but I can’t…why can’t I just beat this…it is so frustrating…why is this such a struggle…
And that is the question…why is this such a struggle…whether you are a Christ follower or not…this is a universal question…why do we struggle to do what we know is right…and there are lots of books and lots of theories why this true…and to find the answer to that question this morning… we need to roll the clock back…to the very beginning of all things…because if we follow the root down to its seed we’ll get the answer to this question…and that seed is found in Genesis 3…in Genesis 3 Adam and Eve are running around this beautiful garden God made for them to take care of, they are completely innocent and no concept of what evil is, and life is pretty awesome for them...until
And beginning in chapter 3:1 it says, “One day he (Satan) asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
So we have Adam and Eve going on a nice naked stroll through the garden (don't do that today...it was a different time), and they come to the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And they knew they aren't supposed to eat from it...it was one of only like three rules they were supposed to follow...which were take care of the garden, don't eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and have babies...three rules...very simple...it reminds me of my friend's dad in high school...he would always tells us boys, don't smoke, don't drink, and don't chew...and don't date girls who do...of course I was living in Potter Valley at the time...so basically don't date...anyone
Anyways because Satan is against everything God stands for...he wants us to do the exact opposite of whatever God says...so he was waiting at that tree for them...and after talking with them the first thing he did was he wanted to do was convince Adam and Eve that God was keeping them from something amazing...so step one is I. Satan convinced Adam and Eve that God was keeping them from something amazing. (Genesis 3:4) ...God says no touchie, no eatie...and you will die...that's not true at all...he is really keeping you from something that is mind blowing...he knows that as soon as you eat it...you will be just as smart as he is...you can know good, and evil...and they had no idea what evil was...but being as smart as God...that sounds awesome…you’d kill it on Jeopardy...and so it says in verse 6...
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
Now first I just want to point out a key phrase in verse 6. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her...for some reason people sometimes give women a hard time like all this mess was Eve's fault...like she tricked Adam into eating the fruit...like it was a cruel trick where she baked the fruit into an apple pie..."Here honey, I baked you a yummy pie...here...how does this pie taste...well thanks eve... num num num…this pie tastes sinfully good...it's sacrilicious...wait a minute...I’m feeling evil!...no…Adam was there this whole time...and he did nothing...oh wow...my wife is talking to a creepy snake...eh...oh the snake is telling her to eat something God said would kill her and she ate it anyways…well, she didn’t die so I guess I’ll eat it too...way to be on the ball there buddy…that’s terrific decision making you got going there
I want you see what is going on here in these verses...Adam and Eve created reasons why they needed to do...what they wanted to do...and that was they wanted to eat the fruit. (Genesis 3:6-7). Adam and Eve created reasons why they needed to eat the fruit...she sees that the tree is beautiful (and so she needs to try that fruit), she sees that fruit looks delicious (and so she needs to try that fruit), and finally she wanted the wisdom that it gave her (and so she needs to try that fruit). Basically in her heart she wanted to try the fruit, so her heart sent a message to her brain, "hey brain, I want to try this fruit...give me some reasons why I need to try this fruit!"...and the brain was like...ok...ok...ok....1) the tree is beautiful 2) the fruit looks delicious to eat 3) It will make you wise....how is that....(and no of those reasons are sinful...I mean they are terrible reasons...but being horrible at critical thinking isn't a sin)...she hasn't sinned yet...but unfortunately armed with those pretty lame reasons her heart goes, "That's great...let's do this..." And so her and Adam eat...and now...now we have a serious problem...and it continues in verse 7...
7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, (which was probably a total bummer if you are just wearing fig leaves) the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. 9 Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” 11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 13 Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
This plays out like a classic example of the blame game...basically Adam and Eve created excuses why they couldn’t stop themselves. REPEAT and Adam takes the gold medal for blame because not only does he blame Eve, but he also tries to through God under bus as well...Eve made me eat it...and just in case you don't remember God...you gave her to me...why couldn't you give me one of those I don't eat from the naughty tree woman...I would have given like two of my ribs for one of those...oh Adam...and Eve says it was totally the snake...it was all his fault... this is the original dog ate my homework only it is the snake made me eat it...This must have been so heartbreaking to God...because he knew that from this moment forward...everything was going to become very difficult, and the timeline of events which leads to His beloved son Jesus dying on the cross have now begun...
And you may be thinking...ok...great story...so what does that have to do with me struggling with my bad habits...it has everything to do with your bad habits...in Romans 5:12 it says, "When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned." So because all of us are related to Adam and Eve...we inherited the knowledge of good and evil they gained when they ate the fruit from the tree. We see it in our kids…I mean, not ours personally of course...cause our kids are perfect...but everyone else's...SMH... When I was a kid I went for a walk with my little sister and my dad...here is a picture of us as kids...it was taken a long time ago...like in the 80s...so we are on this walk around the high school track, and while my dad and I were walking around the track my sister was playing in the metal bleachers by the track…and my dad had given her his nice watch to time us for fun…and while we were at the other end of the track she started banging the watch on the metal bleacher because it made a cool sound…my dad saw this and heard this (and fyi it became the fastest lap we ever did)…and when we got back to my sister the watch is totally destroyed and she says, “the wind did it”…it was 9am…it was a still as a glass sea…no one taught her how to lie…no one teaches us to do wrong…it comes naturally…
It is in our DNA… and that basically means that everything that was happening externally between Adam and Eve and the snake...all of that now happens internally in our hearts...Jeremiah nailed it when he wrote in Jeremiah 17:9, "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?"...so to answer our question we asked oh so long ago, "Why is it such a struggle for me to do what I know is right"...the answer is because we have inherited, from our ancestors...a sin nature...and it is rooted in our hearts...and so the same thing Adam and Eve did in the garden...we still do that today....in our hearts, which is really horribly convenient for us...for example
I. Satan convinced Adam and Eve that God was keeping them from something amazing.
I. We convince ourselves that God is keeping us from something amazing.
We say stuff like - God just doesn’t want me to have fun, God is wrong I’m not going to get hurt, God is blowing this way out of proportion, It’s not that big of a deal, God doesn’t really care about that, God is wrong, this is going to be epic!...of course..that is, if we are even thinking about God at that moment...most of the time when we are tempted we automatically focus on our own happiness and what we want to do...which leads us to create reasons why we need to do, what we want to do...REPEAT
II. Adam and Eve created reasons why they needed to eat the fruit.
II. We create reasons why we need to do what we want to do.
For example…a husband says I want a Ferrari to be awesome and drive fast…but I feel guilty about that…brain, give me some reasons why I need what I want…ok…ok…ok…I will get to work and home faster, which means I spend more time at home to be with my family which is good…um…I can loan the car to missionaries when they are home on furlough…cause they deserve the best…We have a lot of low hanging tree branches on our street and the Ferrari fits under them with ease so it is safer…and so when he drives home with his new Ferrari and the wife freaks out he says…I did for you and the kids, for the missionaries, and for the low hanging tree branches…and the wife replies, “wow, I sure hope those reasons sounded a lot better in your head.”...
And they always sound better in our head…I mean how many times have we listened to our kids give reasons why they did something foolish, and as we listen we are thinking, are you hearing the words come out of your mouth right now…cause it’s crazy talk…or how many times have we listened to ourselves explain the reasons why we did something foolish…and as we are listening to ourselves explain to someone the reasons out loud why we did what we did…we realize how lame those reasons are…when our heart wants something bad enough…we will believe the dumbest reasons to convince us we need to do what we want to do…and finally…
III. Adam and Eve created excuses why they couldn’t stop themselves.
III. We create excuses why we can’t stop ourselves.
We say stuff like, I was just so tired…I’ve been under a lot of stress lately….I’m a guy…it is how we are wired…my friends made me do it…I learned this from my parents…I can’t help myself….the talking snake made me do it…at some point in my life I’m sure I have used all those…well, except probably the snake one…
So what do we do...jumping back to our passage, Paul asks that exact same question in Romans 7:24 when he says,"24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. 8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Oh my goodness best...verses...ever...." All that basically means is…when you place your faith in Christ… there is no condemnation…the power of the live-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death...God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins....imagine Jesus literally unlocking the handcuffs of that sin that keeps showing up in your life...and you are freed from that...so now you have a choice...you can either choose to put the handcuffs back on, or throw them away and be free...
The problem is a lot of the time we just don't think that way...we think…ok…Jesus died on the cross…so there is no condemnation…meaning he paid the penalty for our sins, so God can accept us as his child and we can go to heaven forever…that’s that and that's great…and it is true and incredible…but the effects of faith in Christ aren’t reserved only for heaven…they are for the here and now as well…we have been freed from the controlling power of sin that leads to death in the here and now…so we don’t overcome our sin nature by trying harder, by willing ourselves to be better, by beating ourselves up and choking on our own guilt…cause we all know that doesn’t work…it never works… and so instead of trying to do it all yourself... simply believe that in Christ God has declared an end to sin's control over you....and because of the God's promise and power you can make the choice to walk away...
That means you don’t have to play the whole Adam and Eve game in your heart…which is great cause that is a terrible game to play…instead of saying…God is keeping me from something amazing…and then making up all these lame reasons about why you need to do what your heart wants to do…and then coming up with excuses why you can’t help yourself… I mean…why spend all your time trying to convince yourself you’re a slave and doing something that is only going to harm you in the end…it is craziness…
Instead of all that crazy…when you feel tempted…just say this, Sin is not my master, so sin will not be my choice REPEAT…and walk away…and I know that may sound a little silly…but it is a lot less silly than pulling an Adam…so just try it…when you feel that old familiar urge to do whatever it is you know you don’t want to do anymore…take a breath and say, sin is not my master, so sin will not be my choice…and as hard as it is at first, cause it is always hardest the first time...just walk away…and be free... have a little faith in what God has said in these verses because Jesus says in Matthew 17:20, “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible…
Because with God…nothing is impossible…I know overcoming bad habits feels like you are trying to climb an insurmountable mountain and it can feel hopeless…and there will be times where we do mess up...but that doesn't mean we give up...there is forgiveness found at the cross...and so we get back up...because in Christ we have hope...so stop just trying harder…stop beating yourself up… stop heaping guilt upon yourself...stop trying to do this alone...and start believing…believe in Christ…believe that God has declared an end to sin’s control over you…Have hope in the freedom that Christ has promised he'll give to you and Choose to be free...free to live a life that is filled with hope...a life where nothing is impossible...because God will be with you...will you pray with me...
