The Flesh Does Not Seek God

Romans 7 :

[14] For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
[16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
[17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
[19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
[20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
[22] For I delight in the law of God after 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 shall deliver me from the body of this death?

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Have you ever wondered why, in theory, you would love to be more into the things of God? You would love to read your bible more. You would love to pray more. You wished you liked going to church. Many of us, if we go to church at all, go because we believe that makes us christian. We don't really like church. I know, for years, I went to church because it is what christians do. I did not really ENJOY church. It was not the highlight of my week. Many of you may be like that now. It was not until recently that I started enjoying going to church. Part of it is that I really enjoy the church I attend now.

Some of you think, "Since I (speaking of your own self) do not like these things, do I really love God? Am I really saved? Am I really a christian?"

I can't tell you if you are really a christian or not. The Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit as to whether we are saved or not. We are saved because God in His magnificant love saved us because of His grace and mercy. We are saved because Jesus died on the cross in our place, and rose again in glory and power. We are are specifically saved becasue God put His Spirit in us so that we might see all of that, confess it , and walk in faith because of it.

The reason we do not like to do the things of God is because our flesh is wicked. It has an agenda that is polar opposite to the agenda of God. That is why the things you know to do in your mind, or not done. Rather the things the body wants to do are done. There is nothing wrong with you other than what is wrong with all of us. Our flesh is wicked.

The thing about christians is as Paul said in Romans 7. My inner man (spirit) seeks to do the things that God wants me to do; study the bible, meditate on the word, fellowship with other believers, go to church, and live holy. But our flesh says "NOOOOOO". Folks, there is no magic potion to be faithful in the things of God. We must recognize the battle, and also recognize how to be victorious. We must take authority over our sinful flesh. We must make our spirit stronger than the flesh. The only way to do it is to give ourselves to the things of God. That's like a catch 22, because again, the flesh does not want to do that.

Ask God to help you. He will. You might not know this, but it is God who is doing the work in you anyway. We don't have the strength to do it. But, be honest with God. Tell Him you need Him to strengthen your spirit that it might take authority over your flesh, and do His will. I will tell you that this is an everyday thing. There is not going to be a time when we can relax from it. The moment we do is the moment the fleshly desire gain strength.

(More on this in next message.)
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Do you know how to gain strength in your spirit ?

Will you read your bible this weekend ?