Scriptural reading Romans 7:15-20; verse 4 (New International Version);1 Corinthians 14:33 King James Version (King James Version)

Struggling is a common part for everyone. As Christians, we have a spiritual war that has already been won through Jesus Christ but the fact is that we have to slug it out or have it in a battle and we have to win this battle the hard way. It is not easy to kick the habit of smoking or getting rid with addictions for people who do not trust God. On the other hand, it can be the same with Christians who might be facing the same things or might be even worst.

We might realize it or not but the battle ground is ourselves. Our body is the site where decisions are made whether it is going to be good or bad. We have to see ourselves from deep with in us. We have to see who we are from inside in order to resolve the existing conflict. We are weak from inside. As a matter of fact we cannot save ourselves. How is it possible to win the battle and the war if the bottom line is we cannot save ourselves. The truth is the enemy is ourselves. When we face ourselves, we face the enemy.

Verse 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Just to start with, confusion is present. ” I do not understand what I do”. We are confused. This is the result when we decided to work something that is good and guess what? We refuse to do it! “For what I want to do I do not do“, we do exactly the opposite “but what I hate I do”. A question that we asked repeatedly to ourselves why we love doing it again and again?

1 Corinthians 14:33 King James Version (King James Version)

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

God will never and ever confuse us. The devil the father of lies is doing everything to make us lie. He uses our body to make up our mind and decide the wrong things “but what I hate I do”.

Verse 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

Sin with in us binds us with the law. It prevents us from doing God’s will. When we are finally successful of doing the wrong things ” And if I do what I do not want to do”, the law is now right. It is now more true and definite that we are sinners and we’re helpless with out Jesus.

Verse 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

It is now very clear that inside us we are having a battle. We struggle against sin inside of us. We know our sinful nature confront what is true and right and the result is that always sin wins. Sin is stronger than we are and that is why we need a savior not just a savior but God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.

Verse 18 For I know the good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Sometimes we are fooled to believe that nothing is really good in us. We are Christians and we have to stand on the promise that we are the children of God. We are able and has the capacity to perform what God has instructed us.

Verse 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do- this I keep on doing.

Verse 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.

Summing up verses 19 and 20. We are on our way to doomsday. Since we cannot save ourselves, then we need JESUS CHRIST.

verse 4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead in order that we might bear fruit for God.

If we back track a bit, the solution to the battle who we are inside is nothing but a lost in every way creature. Our actions and decisions can never be admissible and gratifying in God’s presence. It was the atoning death on the cross by Jesus and through His resurrection that made us belong to Him and finally winning the battle that we might bear fruit for God.

Yes, you and I can bear fruit. We are now completely changed. Now we know our position. Our position in Jesus Christ has over turned the table. Through Jesus Christ we can finally win the battle. The war is over.

Now this is who we are inside, we are the children of God.

Scriptural reading

Psalms 119:9-11:1 John 3:8-10; Matthew 15:18–20;Proverbs 4;23-27;Hebrews 4:12.

In a 24 hour cycle in our lives, heart ache remains the best seller of all times. Every second in this world pushes humanity to the edge. It tells us how vulnerable we are and we need an instant and constant reminder that it is impossible to go on and handle this kind of situation in our lives.

God is FOREVER with us in our meditation and prayers. Our entire being is in the holy presence of God Almighty through our spirits. Our Heavenly Father will communicate to us by way of His spirit then to our spirit and will progress to our soul which contains our HEART.

It is of utmost importance and is inevitable that we should fully comprehend how the heart plays as precious and highly regarded part in our spiritual life. To be in the holy presence of God is to be our priority and this is where our heart is incorporated in the equation.

In Greek, the word heart is “kardia” prolonged from a primary kar meaning the heart. Figuratively, the thoughts or feelings (mind) also by analogy can be found in the middle like as for an example broken (heart) ed. In Hebrew the word heart is translated as “leb” and figuratively also used very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything love, peace, joy etc. This tells us that even in different language the meaning remained the same.

Psalms 119:9-11

9	BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.
10	With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11	Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

We cannot be in the presence of our HOLY GOD being a sinner, we will surely die. To clean our way of living(cleanse his way). We have to live a holy life as Jesus instructed (taking heed) us through God’s (word)s. If we humble ourselves under the mighty hands and the authority of God then His Words and commandments which we as Christians go after(sought) and act accordingly(wander from thy commandments) then we will be in a position not to commit sin. All of these things happen in our heart.

This is why Satan is always waiting for the right time for us to make a mistake to commit sins(1 John 3:8-10). He is making a heart attack(Matthew 15:18–20).

The only way to deal with this is to protect our hearts(Proverbs 4;23-27). Let us trust God’s words to protect us( Hebrews 4:12). Now we are ready at all times even for a heart attack.

Scriptural reading Matthew 5:14-16

As parents we always make sure that we get our messages get across to our children.One of the quickest and easiest way to enter and join them into their world is through animation. The character, color and the story would definitely perk a child and we can easily access into their whole entire being or their realm.

This also holds true to our Father in heaven. He is also doing the same things for us His children. Just as we earthly parents want to make sure that our children would be on the right track and so does with our Heavenly Father. The parables of Jesus is our Heavenly Father’s animation for us. We might not see the way kids do but then again it makes us think and try to paint pictures in our minds trying to figure out these things thus making these parables a kind of animation for us and teaching us what God wants us to do. These things God wants us to do is first will go through into our spirits then to our soul through our emotions and then to our mortal bodies.

Matthew 5:14

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Jesus always make known to us that He is the “light of the world”.

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 9:5

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Jesus is our spiritual light in our life. We can never have the light. It will NEVER COME FROM US but rather He WILL SHINE FOR US and therefore we BECOME THE LIGHT of the world. This is what Father God wants to install in our lives the light of Jesus.

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

As for the continuation and in the same manner, Jesus wants us to know that we being the city set on top of the hill would mean that it would be impossible for us not to be seen by anybody and if a city which is set on a hill this means that we are standing on the strength of God and what ever we will be doing, it cannot be hidden. God will be magnified.

Matthew 5:15

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. If we are going to sum verses 14 and 15 we will arrive with verse 16.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The light that shone which resulted the good work came from Jesus is exactly the thing that our Heavenly Father wanted for us to have. A thing that we cannot brag about that it came from us but from Jesus that the Father might be glorified. Once we acquired the SPIRITUAL light( into our spirit) our emotions(SOUL) reacting to the light would produce the GOOD WORKS( our mortal body) and finally glorifying God!

Let us be God’s children to our Father in heaven. God never stops on giving us instructions for our own good…. even if it is animation.. a spiritual animation.

Scriptural readings: Acts 9:16, Phil 1:20-21, Luke 18:25,28-30

Acts 9:16

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

This is how Paul was fitted in his life after he met the lord Jesus Christ and from then on he became a christian. A chosen vessel for our lord to bear His name for everyone of us. Isn’t terrifying to know that we are facing a lot of suffering. WE ARE NO DIFFERENT from Paul. He followed Jesus Christ and so do we and we will SUFFER FOR HIM too!

Phil 1:20-21

v.20 According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death.

v.21 21 For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.

What is this thing that after following Him and then to suffer and at the end to die is to gain? What is good about this? Nobody wants to suffer! Why is the apostle Paul thrilled about leaving our world?

Luke 18:25

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

We live in a temporal world relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs. There is nothing wrong with gaining much of these things that we deserve to have. As a matter of fact, Jesus said He will double the talents you are having but Jesus NEVER WANTS us TO TRUST in these temporal things.

These things can be taken from us at any time AND ONLY GOOD IN THIS WORLD!. The suffering that we are having is the FEAR OF LOSING THESE TEMPORAL THINGS WE HAVE.

Luke 18:28-30

v.28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”

v.29-30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God v. 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Now there is the reason why we should be more than thrilled to follow Jesus, suffer for Him and to die for Him is to gain.

Does it fit you?

Heavenly Father give us all the reason to know Jesus more. Grant us the strength through the power of your Holy Spirit to follow Him and endure the pain of suffering as we hold on to your promises of blessings come eternal life. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!