“Getting Control of My Habits”

‘Building My Life’ series part 6 of 10

Rom 7:15-25

 

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Where I planned to take this sermon was… but the Lord took it to the foundation… of our habits

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A message that confronts each of us this morning… I trust the Lord will use His Word…

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What are some habits… favorite restaurants & stores, that special menu item, or stash of M&M’s in your nightstand, your spending habits, maybe it’s smoking or your prayer life or the time you go to bed each night, workout at the local gym, favorite TV show each week, church attendance…

 

“Habit” – An acquired pattern of behavior that often occurs automatically

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Everyone cultivates habits, either bad or good… often more bad than good

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Being formed since infancy by frequent repetition… some newborns sucking their thumbs

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The easier it is to do, the harder it is to change… law of replacement, accountability partner…

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Experts say it takes 21 days to form a habit… 3 weeks to form a new pattern of behavior…

 

JESUS:

Mark 10:1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. (prayer, attend synagogue, etc – life’s pattern)

 

JOB:

Job 1:5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.  (God called Job blameless, he feared God)

 

In Rom 7:15-25 Paul describes his personal conflict as a Christian with indwelling sin and its continuing efforts to control his daily life… a conflict that affects each of us… Getting Control of my Habits! (There are 26 - I’s and 13 – me or my)

 

Five Keys to Understand… (In order to get control of my habits)

1.       My QUESTIONABLE Actions – Why we do the things we do

Romans 7:15-16 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. (1Jn 3:4-10; Lu 22:54-62)

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New Year’s resolution to work out at the gym… goes good for 1 week then you miss a day, week, quit?

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You really want to witness to your co-worker about Christ… prayed up – opportunity comes – you can’t?

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What we want to do we can’t get the handle on and do what we hate… my questionable actions

 

2.      My Old Nature – Sinful, addictive, never satisfied

Romans 7:17-19 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.

(Col 3:5-9; Eph 2:1-3)

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The reason for my questionable actions is because of my sinful nature… desire to do good but I fail

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Our old nature describes all men… lost in sin, alienated from God, doing what naturally came easy – sin

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Sin is addictive and never satisfied… always crave more and more.  A little porn wants a little more…

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Paul tells us my addictions, my never satisfied cravings is from sin living in me – until glory.

 

3.      My New Nature – New heart, new identity, new lifestyle in Christ

Romans 7:20-22 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; (Eph 3:16-21; 1Co 6:19-20)

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The third key to know is my new nature in Christ.  Your innermost being is the real you in Christ…

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Our relationship to God is severed by sin… God sent His Son to die a sacrificial death to pay my sin debt

 

How can I receive this new life?

 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

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Saved by God’s grace through faith alone.  We do not earn or merit salvation by works, service, etc

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When we turn from sin to Jesus, He forgives us and cleanses us and comes to dwell within us forever.

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He gives us a new heart, a new life, a new identity but also a new lifestyle in Him.

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My new nature includes supernatural power to overcome any habit – I’m changed from the inside out

 

4.      My Inner CONFLICT – waging military war & enslaving control

Romans 7:23 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. (Gal 5:16-17; Jam 4:1)

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My questionable actions, my old nature, my new nature… 4th key is to understand my inner conflict.

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This is where some believers get discouraged… I thought when I got saved, everything will be good???

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When you’re born again you become a brand new person… yet there remains the old you…

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The old you may have learned habits of life for 30 years… now you’re saved… hence an inner conflict

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God tells us two things are happening… we’re engaged in a war and also a battle to take you prisoner.

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The battle is against the “law of my mind” – the new you in Christ… against you a genuine child of God.

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This is truth every believer needs to understand or else we’ll be defeated and held prisoner to bad habits

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I put together a little chart to try to help us to visualize and understand this truth better…

 

                                                                                   Habits

                                                                             Everyday Choices

Old Man

Feed the Flesh

Fleshly Old Nature

Indwelling principle of sin

Not responsive to God

Gal 5:19-21 Barrenness

Bondage

 

Romans 8:5a “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires…”

 

New Man

Feed the Spirit

Spiritual New Nature

Indwelling Spirit of God

Responsive to God

Fruitfulness Gal 5:22-26

Freedom

 

Romans 8:5b “…but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

 

  

 


 

                                     

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where’s your mind?

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Do you want to quit smoking?  Don’t focus on the problem but the solution – Jesus!

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Why are so many “Christians” living barren unfruitful, defeated lives?  The battle is won or lost in your mind.

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We go through life making unwise foolish unbiblical choices and still expect God’s blessings.

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Sit down and read Gal 5:19-26 and see where you fit… aligned more with works of the flesh or fruit of the Spirit?

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Are you living so that if people get to know you, they will get to know Jesus better? 

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Do you know Jesus?  Have you personally received Him as your Savior?  Not sure?  You need to settle it today…

 

5.      My Triumphant Victory – Jesus Christ living and working in us

Romans 7:24-25 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. (Gal 2:20; Rom 6:17-23; Phil 3:20-21)

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Paul concludes this passage by saying it’s not me doing it but allowing Christ in me to work…

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“Wretched” – distressed, miserable… The indwelling principle of sin will be with me till redemption!

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Thank God, Jesus is my Savior who lives in me… He allows me to living victoriously in good works

 

Habit Forming Truth Application…

·         Faithful in OBEDIENCE

Romans 6:16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

§  Obedience to God’s Word… feeding the spirit.

·         RENEW your Mind Daily

Romans 12:1-2 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

§  Offer your bodies… a humble surrender of your will to His…

§  Spiritually  transformed by daily renewing your mind …  thus pleasing God and not yourself

·         Make Jesus Christ LORD

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 

Let’s Pray…

§  It all begins by trusting Christ…

§  Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior & Lord?  I invite you to come…

§  How many would take the first step... I want a new relationship with God?  

 

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner.  Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord.  Forgive my sins and take control of my life and help me become the kind of person you want me to be.

 

§  A Large factor keeping Christians defeated w/questionable habits is a failure to surrender… pride

§  Truly saved but Jesus isn’t LORD of your life… quietly, humbly bow your heart today…

 

God help me – God break me – God forgive me – God use me.

 

HABITS - "Live as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back tomorrow."

 

Be Praying & Participating in “Piercing the Darkness” Feb29th!  7pm – 7am

Praise & worship / challenge from God’s Word / Come & Go All night season of Prayer