Audio Sermon: Struggle

How does this relationship with Jesus Christ concretely and practically lead to change? Why Change is so hard? Ministering from Romans Chapter 7, Pastor Ray Davis shows the contrast from someone who tries to live by the law as opposed to someone who allows God to live through them.

In this message, Ray examines the following points:

What Doesn’t Work?

• Getting my identity from my performance of the law - Obey the law but don’t be married to the Law as your dominate motive will be fear.

• Trying really hard to live the law of God by will power. (Moralism) - It doesn’t work because the law reveals my sinfulness and the law revives my sinfulness.

Why It Doesn’t Work?

• There is a civil war occurring within me.

• Even though I desire to do what is right, by nature I am a sinner.

• Sin is not something that acts upon me from the outside or comes into me temporarily, but it is at home in me.

• Even the most decent people have at the core of their being an incredible evil, a capacity for incredible self-centeredness and self-absorption.This evil is hidden down deep inside of us even hidden from us until certain situations act as a occasion (not cause) for this wickedness to be revealed. (i.e. stress, temptation, marriage to a difficult person, etc.)

• My assessment for my capacity for evil and sin is typically too small. Why? Self-deceit through rationalizing, justifying and comparisons.

• There are two ways to become self-centered: One way is by being very bad. (Breaking all the rules) Second way is by being very good. (Becoming a self-righteous Pharisee).

What Does Work?

• I am more wicked than I dared to think. (Humility)

• I am more loved than I dared to dream. (Confidence)

“A life without struggle is impossible, a struggle without surrender is miserable.” Charles Swindoll Galatians 2:20

In summary - Law implies that God requires for me to do something for Him (achieving). Deliverance from the law implies that He exempts me from doing it and that in grace He does it for me (receiving). It is a life not under law but love.

Click here to listen to sermon in audio format.

Note: You will need a player such as Real Audio Player or Microsoft Windows Media Player to listen to the audio teachings and Adobe Reader to open sermon notes. You most likely have these applications already installed on your computer but if not, they are free to download form each respective site.