*WHY DO I DO WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO? Romans 7:15, 21-25 Page 1 of 6 ILL I read about a guy who received a direct mail piece that really caught his attention. It was in strong red and blue coloring. It said, "If you have ever secretly felt fat, skinny, lazy, compulsive or depressed, this letter is for you!" It said, "Your life can be changed for only $29.95 plus $3 for shipping and handling. The last sentence said, "I guarantee this will work." Change your life for $29.95? His first thought was that one of his friends had given his name to this company as a joke. His next thought was, Who buys this stuff? Then it came to him. It s people like you and me! Because people are looking for anything that will change their lives and help them get control. We all struggle with something. I read this week that there are over 2,000 self-help books written every year. People in our world are looking for help. What is it that is out of control in your life? What do you have a hard time controlling? Maybe you would say it s My temper. One wife said, "My husband is so temperamental! Ninety percent temper, ten percent mental." My Spending. Bumper sticker: "The person who says money can't buy happiness just doesn't know where to shop." My Eating, My drinking, My Procrastinating, Or some other Bad habit. *The next few weeks we're going to be in a series called "Breaking Free". It is about getting rid of hang ups and habits that mess up our lives. The first thing we need to deal with is *1. THE PROBLEM We all have a serious problem. *Paul summarizes it in Romans 7:15-17, 15 I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. NLT Can you relate to this statement by Paul? I want to do what's right, but I don't do it. I do what is wrong. *ILL There was a cowboy who became a Christian and he said, "I feel like there are two horses pulling in opposite directions in my life." Which one wins? "Whichever one I say `Giddy up' to."
*We're in a civil war. Part of me wants to do what is right. Part of me wants to do what's wrong. It's a clash like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. *Jesus said in Mark 14:38 The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." NIV Page 2 of 6 Have you ever started a good habit or broken a bad habit only to be back in the same rut in a few weeks later? What about New Year's Resolutions? Have you made those only to break them in February? Resolving to change with only your own will power alone doesn't work. Good intentions are seldom good enough. The results are predictable: *(1.) Confusion. Paul was baffled by his own behavior. Are you ever baffled by your behavior. You are not alone. Why do I do things I know are bad for me? TS Another result of self-effort is *(2.) Frustration. Paul was frustrated because he kept doing what was wrong. Are you ever frustrated by your own behavior? It is like the guy that resolves to eat a balanced diet but by the end of the week his idea of a balanced diet is a Big Mac in both hands! I want to change but I don't know how. I've got the motivation but I don't have the determination. I've got the desire but I don't have the power. The problem with self-help books is they tell you what to do but they don't give you the power. It says, "Stop all your bad habits." Great! I know that! "Stop being negative!" Right! How? Don't just tell me what to do, give me the power. TS Another result of self-effort is *(3.) Defeat and Discouragement. Paul calls out in this agonizing situation and says, Who will rescue me? He says, "I'm losing the battle. I just can't change on my own! Do ever feel like that? Have you got so tired of failing you say, "Forget it! I quit!" If you've felt that way, have I got good news for you! You can change. The power is there. During the next several weeks we are going to study what God s Word says about Breaking Free and breaking the cycle of failure. You and I can change! It begins with... *2. THE PROMISE OF GOD
Page 3 of 6 *Jesus said, John 8:31-32"If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. 32 Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you." (THE MESSAGE) Notice that the way to personal change is not will power. It's not pills, or gimmicks. Jesus said that the way you break free from hurtful habits and hang ups is by experiencing the Truth. The only way to know and experience the truth is through knowing and experiencing a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus described Himself as the truth in John 14:6. *John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. NIV Until a person enters into a relationship with Jesus Christ, they will not accept the truth and you cannot experience the truth. Jesus is the truth and the gateway through which all truth comes to us. Through a relationship with Christ, we are able to receive the truth of the Bible. That truth is what changes the way we think. The way you think determines your actions. When it comes to change, most of us start by working on our actions in order to change bad habits. God says, Start with the way you think. Our behavior is transformed by the renewing of our mind. Everything you do, good or bad, is based on a belief. It's based on a belief that you're holding either consciously or unconsciously. If that belief is true, it is from God and it will cause you to do good. If it is false, it will cause you to do evil. If you want to change your actions, you must first change what you believe. To change what you believe, you've got to know and experience the truth. Behind every self-defeating behavior is a lie that I'm believing. During this series, we are going to expose faulty concepts and beliefs that keep you and I enslaved. Our goal is to be liberated by knowing and experiencing the truth. Today we are just laying the foundation for change. TS We have looked at the problem and the promise now we look at *3. THE PRESCRIPTION The first part of the prescription is to *(1.) ADMIT THE ROOT OF MY PROBLEM.
Page 4 of 6 This is the starting point to breaking free. Whatever you want to change in your life you must first acknowledge the root of the problem. God tells us what the root of our problem is. It is our attitude toward life, toward God, toward ourselves and others. It is called sin in the Bible. Sin is more than an action; it is an attitude that says, "I'm in charge of my life and I don't need God." That's the attitude that is the root of all our problems. As long as I have that attitude, "I'm going to ignore God and do what I want to do. *Look at 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. TLB We make things worse when we pretend we don t have a problem. The only one you're fooling when you say, "I've got it all together", is yourself. Nobody has it all together. In order to stop defeating myself, I must first stop deceiving myself. If you go to Alcoholics Anonymous, the very first step is "Admit that I'm powerless to control my situation and my life has become unmanageable." The sad truth is that too often we have to hit bottom before we admit our problem. Nobody likes to admit that they can't control their own actions. But when we hit bottom and feel the heat; then we say, "Maybe I do need some help." If you were to ask a dozen professional psychiatrists and psychologists, "What is the biggest problem?" They would tell you that people often wait too long to get help. They won't admit the problem. ILL It is like when a husband comes in to talk and says, "My wife just dropped the bomb. She said `I'm walking out. I'm fed up. The marriage is over.'" And then he says, "What can I do?" The answer is "Very little". If anything, at that point. Because you've waited too long. The first step to breaking free is to admit, "I've got a problem. I've been in charge of my life and I've been trying to solve my problems without God." *Jesus said in John 8:34 "You are slaves of sin, every one of you. TLB Sin is a bigger problem than most people think it is. You say, "I feel powerless to change. I can't get control. I have the desire to change, but I don't have the power. Is there any hope?" Yes *(2.) BELIEVE THAT CHRIST CAN CHANGE ME. *Romans 7:24 Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. NLT
Page 5 of 6 Paul is saying the answer is a person. God has the power you are lacking. You don't have the power to change but God does. God's got all the power in the world. Christ wants to help you change. He wants to give you the power to overcome those hang ups and habits. But you've got to believe that Christ can change you. *Paul says in Romans 8:1 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. NLT Jesus said, "The truth will set you free." and in John 14:6 Jesus said "I am the Truth". TS That brings us to the final part of the prescription. *(3.) COMMIT ALL I AM TO CHRIST. This is the foundation for change. Commit all I am -- the good, the bad, the ugly, the hurts, the habits, the hang ups to Christ. You may be thinking, "Why should I do that?" Nothing else works. There are millions and millions of people throughout history who are living proof that Jesus changes lives and nobody else does. ILL Time magazine did a cover story on "Who Was Jesus?" Isn't it amazing that 2,000 years later, Jesus is still making the cover of Time? After the article, scholars debated Who Was Jesus. There was a Letter to the Editor that said, "As far as I'm concerned the liberal theologians can keep their historical Jesus in their cut and paste Bible. I'm a former alcoholic and adulterer, set free by the power of Christ Jesus. Who cares about higher criticism when the resurrected power of the Son of God can transform you here and now!" *Corinthians 5:17 When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! TLB My question to you is, Are you tired of trying to change and coming up short? Challenge: *You can depend on yourself or you can depend on God, but you've got to live with the results. The results of depending on yourself are frustration. The results of depending on God brings freedom. Those are your choices. Prayer: Would you talk to God in your heart something like this? "Jesus Christ, I want to acknowledge the root of my problem is sin. I admit that I've been trying to live my life without God. I've done a lot of things wrong. I need your forgiveness and power to
Page 6 of 6 change. Now, as much as I know how, I commit myself to following Jesus. Help me to understand it more. I want to take the first step today." Those of us who have already made that commitment to Christ, need to pray. God please remind me constantly that I cannot live for Christ in my own power and strength. God help me to develop a daily relationship with God and depend on your power to enable me to do what is pleasing to you.