by Tom Greenslade

Created on: June 24, 2008

The Battle of the Soul

"What if God arranged things so that we would experience a mild jolt of pain with every sin, or a tickle of pleasure with every act of virtue? Sort of a divine behavior modification, if you will. (An invisible fence that zaps you to keep you in the yard.) Would you obey because you loved God? I don't think so. I think you'd obey simply because you desired pleasure and not pain." (Joni Eareckson Tada)

It is so easy to do what is wrong. Why? In Romans 7 the Apostle Paul agonizes over his own struggle: I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I don't want to do: for what I want to do, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do. 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. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in 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. (Romans 7:14-23)

1. You are not the only one who struggles.
With Moses, it was frustration.
With Elijah, it was depression.
With Peter, it was acting before he thought.
With Samson, it was lust.
With Thomas, it was doubting.
With Jacob, it was lying.
For each one of them, for me, and for you it is a very real battle.

2. Paul divides himself up into two parts in this passage: the mind and the body.
He says, "My mind delights after the things of God, but my body delights in sin." Here is what is right - but, oh how my flesh wants to do this other.
Last Sunday as you listened to a gripping sermon your mind relished the things of God. In the same moment your body responded to something you saw and tempted you to think sinfully.
One day, as you were paying for your meal at Cracker Barrel you felt absolutely stuffed with the chicken tenderloin, mashed potatoes, and a baked apple, but at the counter you saw a big chunk of fudge and the saliva started to flow. That is your body responding with the temptation to overspend and overeat.
A well known preacher was wheeling his elderly, crippled dad through the mall when a beautiful scantily clothed woman walked by them. The preacher said to his dad, "It must be nice to reach the age where sinful thoughts don't enter your mind when these things cross your path."

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