Part 29: Living the Extraordinarily Blessed Life! Texts: Psalm 1:1-4 (NKJV) - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. [3] He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. [4] The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Psalm 92:13-15 (NKJV) - Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. [14] They shall bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, [15] To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Colossians 1:27 (NKJV)- To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Part 4 Set Free From Me! A. This series is intended to end self-destructive behavior and patterns that cause us to hurt ourselves. 1. Joke: You're Next! A young blonde woman is distraught because she fears her husband is having an affair, so she goes to a gun shop and buys a handgun. The next day she follows her husband, and sure enough, he's meeting a beautiful woman in a bar. She walks into the bar, grabs the gun and holds it to her own head. The husband begs and pleads with her not to shoot herself.
Hysterically, the blonde snaps at her husband, "Shut up...you're next!" 2. Some of you may have trouble accepting the fact that the Kingdom of God involves our way of thinking. 3. The original sin committed by Adam and Eve was not eating the forbidden fruit; it was refusing to think as God thinks. a. They had been told that the day they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they would die. b. However, Satan introduced another way of thinking to assure that they would not die. God was selfishly preventing them from reaching their full potential of becoming like Him. So, they chose to think like the enemy rather than God. 4. Paul's epistle to the Romans is such a fascinating book! Some of history's most powerful revivals were the result of reading this book. a. For example, in 1515, Martin Luther began to study the book of Romans for a series of lectures. He was so impacted by what he was reading, in 1517 he nailed a list of 95 theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany which began the Reformation! b. In 1738, John Wesley was saved in a church on Aldersgate Street in London by just hearing Luther's preface to the book of Romans. Later, Wesley led the great Wesleyan Revival that shook both the U.K. and America. c. Though Romans is the sixth epistle, the English translators assigned it to be the first of Paul's epistles because of its extraordinary significance. 5. The epistle to the Romans deals with the importance of our thought life and what we choose to think and believe. 6. Paul specifically targeted the Roman Christians' beliefs regarding our right standing with God. a. This epistle was actually written to both Gentile and Jewish Christians living in Rome. Neither the pagan religions of Rome nor the Jewish believers understood justification by faith, which is the
theme of this book. Instead, they relied upon sacrifices to atone for their personal sins. b. This epistle is to correct the erroneous thinking that salvation can be earned by what we do. Paul tells the early believers that Christ's atonement can only be accessed by faith in Him alone. B. The Book of Romans says a great deal about faith. 1. Faith is what you believe; it's what you think about God and embrace as truth. a. It's so important to understand that faith is a way of thinking not an emotion. Even if it's not based on verifiable fact, it's still what you believe. b. The Kingdom of God is much different than the definition given by the world. It's more about choosing to embrace God's way of thinking and His thoughts. And that's the concept the epistle of Romans deals with, chapter after chapter. 2. In chapter 1, Paul verifies that both mankind and the world fell into the devil's trap when they: a. Verse 21 (NKJV) - became futile in their thoughts. b. Verse 28 (NKJV) - did not like to retain God in their knowledge, (so) God gave them over to a debased mind. 3. In chapter 2, Paul again establishes that the problem began with how mankind chose to think: Verse 15 (NKJV) - their thoughts accusing or else excusing them. 4. In chapter 3, Paul declares that even if our thoughts contradict God's thoughts, His way of thinking is still correct. All other thinking is based upon deception: Verse 4 (NKJV) - let God be true but every man a liar. 5. In chapter 4, Paul says that righteousness begins in our thoughts and beliefs, just as sin began with wrong thinking: Verse 3 (NKJV) - Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 6. Chapter 5 is the very key, pivotal chapter for God's amazing grace to suddenly turn everything in our favor. If we choose to believe that Christ
came to suffer in our place and the reasons for His coming, we will have peace with God through Christ's sacrifice. 7. In chapter 6, Paul even instructs how we should think of ourselves: Verse 11 - dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus." 8. In chapter 7 (our text verses), Paul speaks about his own inward struggle to maintain a relationship with God that is right and beneficial. 9. Chapter 8 explains how to overcome the struggle in our thoughts. The enemy repeatedly uses eight toxic thoughts that encourage us to hurt ourselves. Today, we will talk about fixing this problem. 10. After explaining how to deal with toxic, self-destructive thoughts, chapter 9 establishes that when Abraham and Sarah chose to change their thinking and believe what God had said, they became the children of God. a. The way back to God was to believe the right things. God said they would have a child and become the father and mother of a nation. Yet in their present condition, they knew this would never happen. b. They were given the choice to either believe in their circumstances or believe God. Righteousness began when they chose to believe God, in spite of the problems they faced. 11. In chapter 10, the apostle points out that to be saved, we too must believe differently than the world and only what God has said. Then in verse 17, he explains that faith, this different way of thinking, comes by hearing the Word of God. 12. Chapter 11 explains that Israel's refusal to continue believing as their father Abraham, resulted in being alienated from God. This made it possible for us Gentiles who are not the seed of Abraham to become God's children by choosing to believe. 13. Verse 2 of Chapter 12 urges us, as God's children, to continue seeking for the renewal of our minds, which will transform us into living examples of the good things God has willed for mankind. a. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) - We should not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that we
may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 14. Through the remaining chapters, Paul encourages believers in Rome to accept a different way of thinking. And that's what the Kingdom of God is all about learning to embrace Kingdom principles that are superior to those of this fallen world. C. If you've ever served in counseling, or as a life coach or mentor, I'm sure you've noticed that human tendency (that you've also seen in yourself) to oppose what we've been hoping to achieve. 1. Something within seems to work against us to make us fall. a. Romans 7:15-20 (NKJV) - 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 to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to 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. b. John 8:31-32 (NKJV) - Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. [32] And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 2. Because of those inward feelings that we may not even know are there, we often make decisions and act in ways that work against what we're trying to achieve. a. These things within become the enemy's weapons that prompt us to destroy ourselves. b. That is what Paul is saying in Romans 7:24 (NKJV) - O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
3. Below are eight ways we sabotage the happiness and success we've worked so diligently to achieve. Like weapons of self-destruction, the enemy tempts us to use them against ourselves: a. Shame b. Self-destructive thoughts c. Compulsions d. Fear e. Despair f. Resentment g. Pride h. Low self-esteem 4. Paul discusses the effect of these self-destructive weapons in Romans, chapters 7 and 8. a. Romans 7:15-20 (NKJV) - 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 to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to 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. 5. Paul says that when he acts in a self-destructive manner, he doesn't understand what he is doing (verse 15). In fact, he can't even comprehend why he keeps doing this or how to fix the problem. a. The hardest thing in the world is to diagnose your own selfdestructive tendencies. b. It is far easier to blame your mom or dad, your teacher or pastor, society, the culture, your boss, or friends. Some even blame the church.
c. The ability to self-diagnose is rare indeed. It's really difficult to look at the problems and misery in your own life and say, I know what I've done to cause this. It's because of unforgiveness in my heart, or pride, low self-esteem, a lack of faith,... or I'm not willing to give it my best shot. d. Very few people can determine their own imperfections. They can certainly see it in others and quickly determine the problem, but for themselves? That's much harder to address. 6. Most people choose NOT to deal with their problems. They ignore them and hope they'll go away. But as we have all observed,... they stay. 7. Paul then asks in Romans 7:24-25 (NKJV) - Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! a. The answer is not what will deliver, but who will deliver us? b. It's not a pill, a book by Tony Robbins or Dr. Phil, or watching Oprah. Those things may help, but they won't fix the problem. c. And it's not about quitting the church. Removing all positive and spiritual input that can elevate you from self-destructive tendencies can really cause problems! d. The answer is... a person. That Person is Jesus Christ. 8. How does God deliver us from self-destructive behavior? The same way He does everything else: through His Word. From creating the universe to our salvation, God has always done everything through His Word. 9. This is why Romans 8 is one of the most profound chapters in the entire Bible. a. Some years ago, a survey was made among Bible scholars with this one question: if you were placed on a remote desert island for the rest of your life and could only take one chapter of the Bible with you, which one would you take? b. Nearly every one answered: Romans, chapter 8; not Psalm 23 or John chapter 3, but Romans, chapter 8. 10. Romans 8 is the key to resolving the dilemma in Romans 7 that causes us to destroy our own lives and happiness.
a. This chapter gives the eight mental habits Christ offers for solving the eight self-destructive behavior patterns in Romans chapter 7. b. It also tells us how to be free from our worst enemy ourselves so we can enjoy the life, success and fulfillment He wants us to enjoy. E. Eight strategies that keep you from being your own worst enemy can help you become all you were meant to be. We'll discuss the first one today and the others next week. 1. How to be free from shame: a. Be thankful every day for what Jesus did to free you from sin. b. Romans 8:1-4 (NLT) - 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. 2. He doesn't say that you'll never sin or make another mistake. But you'll no longer feel condemnation or live with shame! a. Jesus didn't just pay for the sins you've already committed; those in the future were also included. b. Verse 2 says: the power of God's life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin. Rather than using your own willpower, you now have access to God's power. c. Unfortunately, many believers haven't learned to tap into that power. They still attempt to use their own willpower to do what's right. 3. Verse 3 says: the Law of Moses was unable to save us.
a. It's so important to know that the Law of God cannot save us. b. Neither can being a good person, not hurting anyone, or keeping the Ten Commandments save you. (Sounds like the rich young ruler who had kept the Law from his youth). But as Jesus pointed out, the Ten Commandments couldn't save him. c. As this verse clearly states, keeping the Law cannot save you because it doesn't change your sinful nature. 4. This is why I have so little confidence in the government correcting the evil in our world. a. Government is necessary for an orderly society, but it can never create a utopia. b. Make no mistake: government creates order by imposing penalties that are severe enough to make the average person avoid the offense. c. People choose not to rob a bank or kill so they won't go to prison. But that doesn't prevent them from harboring hatred in their hearts. d. This is the difference between God and the Law: governments can never change the hearts of men. You can pass as many laws as you wish, but they will never keep you from being dishonest, a racist, lying, or having lust in your heart. e. Only God can change a person's heart. Multitudes of people have been wonderfully, gloriously transformed by giving their hearts to God.