My Journey through Romans 7

To Live or To Die, that is the question. The question is NOT “To be or not to be.” However, “Shake-us-sphere” aka Shakespeare came close in his soliloquy.  😛

On this journey I made a list of seven notes about being released from the law and sin. It’s important to acknowledge to self that we as Believers do indeed sin and sometimes become so bound up in it that we are unable to release ourselves from it. Peradventure, some are astonished about what sin is and wrestle with it daily.  If we are not cognizant of our sin, what then? (((JESUS)))   And now, allow me to share my words of understanding. Please read the bible verses in Romans 7 to receive your understanding.

1. God’s law never dies. (Entire Bible)
2. If you strictly follow the law then the law has dominion over you as long as you live. It’s basically a marriage between you and the law. Paul gives an ensample of a marriage between a man and woman. A living spouse is only released from the marriage if the spouse dies and is free to remarry without being labeled an adulterer/adulteress. If both are still living and one remarries then that one is called an adulterer/adulteress. According to the word a divorce still bounds one to that marriage even if one remarries. Huh? The only thing that is clear to me with this scenario is that the point is this: someone must die for another to be released from the law. (vs.2;3)
3. You only become dead to the law by the body of Christ which is a good thing. If we are honest with self and with God, we know how impossible it is for us to follow the whole law. Who alive have not broken one or more of the Ten Commandments? Even so, now we are assured that Christ is the ‘someone’ that released Believers from the law. Believers that are alive in Christ “should bring forth fruit unto God.” (vs.4)
4. Let’s swim for a moment. While swimming in the flesh w/o some lifeguard protection, the motion of deadly waves can cause one to drown. Drowning = Death. Sometimes the flesh thinks its ok to swim in calm waves. Don’t be fooled by the motions. By law, oceans always have waves. (vs.5) Ocean Moment- http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/wavesinocean.html
5. Deliverance from the law allows you to be more attentive to serve in newness of spirit (the new way) and not serve the flesh which is administered by the letter (the old way). Point– An antique piece can be renewed, yet it is still an antique. (TYHS) In Christ, you still have the same old body but you are no longer bound in that old body when you have freedom in Christ. The chains have been broken; the prison door has been opened. Peter can testify to that. ( vs. 6) Speaking of testify…why is it that some churches no longer allow time for testimonies anymore? Sad!
6. The law is NOT sinful, but you learn what sin is because of the law. Let’s look at it this way using this statement- “I would not have known it existed had I not seen it there with my own eyes.” (vs.7)
7. Sin is always ready to seize its moment because of the law. Remember, it is always alive and crouching at your door looking for that opportune moment for breaking the law. (vs.8)

In verses 9 thru 23 we will find the wrestling match between the law and sin, the spirit and the flesh. S-T-R-E-S-S is what it boils down to. The wrestling between the spirit and the flesh cause us to be in a ‘do I do’ or ‘do I not do’ constant Thorn-ful Stress Head Lock.

Story Moment– (Read Genesis 32-33) This study reminded me of the wrestling match Jacob had. Let me go into the childhood part of mind here before closing out this blog. Jacob was on his way to meet his brother Esau, who he betrayed while in the flesh.(TYHS) He was afraid to approach Esau first, so he sent his servants ahead of him with a message for Esau. Messengers returned with a report from Esau. Jacob becomes scared, puts the people and things he love most into one group and the people and things he loved less in another group. Guess which group was placed in front to allow a chance for the other group to flee.

He then prays to God, chose gifts to appease Esau and sends his servants ahead of him with the gifts as he slept in the camp. He woke up from his sleep and took his two wives, two maidservants, and his eleven sons and other stuff he had over the crossing of Jabbok’s brook. (Still serving the flesh)  Now he was alone, the wrestling match begins with “a man with him until the breaking of the day.” 

The man could not get a good choke hold on Jacob, so he used his touch move to the hollow socket of Jacob’s thigh to push it out of joint to slow Jacob down. Jacob still had a hold on him as he asked Jacob to “ Let me go, for the day breaketh.”  Jacob said “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” He asked Jacob what was his name. He then told Jacob that his name is “no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power (wrestled) with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Out of that wrestling match comes a new name and something to remind him of why he received it. What something reminds you that you are new in Christ and blessed?  To live or to die, that is the question beloved.

Jacob was blessed by the man and he believed that he had met God face to face and that his life was now preserved. The story ends, Jacob has no fear of meeting Esau, they meet, hug cry (you know what forgiveness releases you of) and introduced family they never met. And so, Jacob arrived at his destination without wrestling with his brother.

There were three points that the Holy Spirit shared with me here. (1) Jacob was no longer serving the old flesh(backstabbing a family member), but was now living and serving God with a newness of spirit and with a new name. I guess flesh shrinkage does wonders. (2)God can work through you to change even the negative attitude of another person that has cause to be against you. Is that not a blessing? Go ahead. Let’s shout for that is an opportunity for a “Praise God” moment. I surely can’t wait for the day that I receive my new name. (3) No where in the bible does it allude to the adage “choose (pick)  your battles wisely” that is preached and taught. The bible does show and tell us that we are to be ready for battles(wrestling matches) as Jacob was. Had he not been ready to fight, the wrestling match would have been over before daylight, don’t you think?

And now I close.

The bottom line of this wrestling match is as Paul states in verses 24-25: O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 Thank you for reading and may you receive many blessings and understanding from the Holy Spirit.

 

Come, let us worship and sing with joy, “I will never be bound again”.

https://youtu.be/r4vx1YKAU7U

Fasting 4 Real-HERE AM I! – Isaiah 58

My worship song for this morning was:

 

 

Isaiah 58 KJV

Isaiah 58 NIV

Good evening beloved! After my morning prayer the Lord did say to me “Shelia, Here AM  I”… I immediately thought about Samuel. After hearing that I began studying Isaiah 58, Day 5 of my church’s Fall Prayer Consecration. I want to share something the Holy Spirit showed me about Fasting 4 Real and the words “Here Am I.”

I was reminded of this inspirational saying:

First and most importantly shown to me were the words “Here Am I” or “Here I Am” (vs. 9) said by none other that God Himself. Those words worked my spirit into tears, shouts, and a whole lot of praise earlier this morn. Don’t you just love it when the Holy Spirit of God cleanses and refreshes the soul when He speaks directly to you? I must share with you my beloved comrades and readers in prayer,  a real sad personal moment.  The Holy Spirit is prompting me to share this.  I have been battling the devil working in my sister for over a month over heir property /inherited shared property from our Grandparents (many more years over other things) that she thinks she is “controlling” and “taking to my grave” she said – claiming it to be “mine only.” She  yelled at me last week “I am Christ” and “you are not a part of this family…what is it you don’t get after all this time?” In the presence of our mother, who just lowered her head.  Is that the sign of Christ working in others? NO.  Lord have mercy!

 

Have you ever been face to face with the devil? I have more times than I care to have been. I rebuked that quickly in her face and the devil is riding high now within her that she does not communicate and is always leaving my mom’s house to avoid seeing me now. I will not back down in Jesus name and that passage reminded me this morning that God is with me through this battle. PRAY for her to be released from the many devils controlling her since our earthly father’s death….a long time, please. It is not just me in the family who sees she is “out there without God claiming to be Christ“…And PRAY for me, the Lord’s will be done.  To-Day, I’ve finally decided to stop feeling sorry for her, that was the damnation cloud hanging over me.

Too many people walk around believing and are taught that Satan is not real. A lot of  people believe that he “wears PRADA”.   I beg to differ. The devil wears and conceals himself within any scented spirit well open to him.

 

Now on to the REAL I discovered this morning:(TYHS!) This chapter showed me how God views humanity with their false sense of fasting… Pure Hypocrisy! In Isaiah 58 he showed me the real.. we cannot continue to fast as we do today and think that he hears us. Every  one of us need to pray together for God’s guidance in All matters. ( now I get why the Holy Spirit led me to share my issue. An army is needed to break this stronghold of  many devils “Legion”- TYHS again) PRAY.   

Isaiah 58:3-5

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
    and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.

 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

Guidance to Fasting 4 Real per the Lord, Our God

• loose the chains of injustice
• untie the cords of the yoke
• set the oppressed free
• break every yoke
• share your food with the hungry
• provide the poor wanderer with shelter
• when you see the naked, to clothe them
• not to turn away from your own flesh and blood ( I hear you Lord)

After you DO these things beloved…Hear what the Lord hath said :”Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”

In Fasting 4 Real, again we are reminded that we must:

• do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk
• spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed

Note of Light -“Then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.”

And Fasting 4 real doesn’t end there:

• keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day
• call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable
• honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words

Are you ready for this? Guess what else will take place after Fasting 4 Real?

Note of God’s Promise- “Then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

“HERE AM I”

 I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins