~Open in prayer~
Icebreakers
• What is your favorite season?
• Have you tried any new restaurants?
• How many siblings do you have?
MESSAGE REVIEW
In the book of Romans, Apostle Paul speaks of being saved by grace but then later speaks about an intense struggle. So just because you have been saved does not mean you have been totally delivered. How can we close the gap between salvation and deliverance? Apostle Paul is speaking about himself the contradiction and the war that was going on inside of him. He speaks about being gloriously saved by grace, but then still speaks of his struggles. Today we want to dig into what the struggle is. Let’s dig deeper.
Let’s Talk About It!
Read Romans 7:15-25
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will do, I do not do; but the evil I will not do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Read Romans 8:5
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
–Usually if things are going wrong in our lives, it is not because of a demon or devil but because of our flesh. My flesh has desires in it that are contrary to God’s will for my life and if we do not learn to reign in these desires your life can become a wreck. Every desire needs boundaries, so it does not move out and damage our lives. In our moment of salvation when we called Jesus as our Lord and savior our spirit became perfect, but the soul and flesh still need work. In Romans 7:15, Paul says he felt pulled to do things that he did not want to do. He is speaking about the soul dimension (Mind, Will and Emotion). There are two types of grace: Saving grace and Sanctifying Grace. Sanctified means to be free from sin. Paul speaks of this contradiction happening inside of him and it is tormenting for him. He wants to do the right thing, but he continues to fall into sin. The spirit in us and the flesh in us is warring against each other and our mind can decide which way we will go. That is why we say the battlefield is in the mind. The bible says if my mind agrees with the flesh my life will be corrupted but if my mind agrees with my spirit, it is life and peace. How can you renew your mind daily? How do you put “death” to your flesh?
–There are many things that can affect your choices. People, sounds, environments are all factors that we need to take into consideration. What are you feeding yourself? Is it feeding the spirit or the flesh in you?
What are the doors that you need to shut to the flesh that you have left open? Spend time with the Lord and ask Him to reveal these things to you.
Prayer Focus & Request
Support one another in your prayer requests and share and celebrate praise reports. Pray and be aware of any triggers that you need to stay away from to not feed your flesh. Focus on feeding your spirit and share examples with the group.