why is personal change such a challenge?

Why is Personal Change Why is Personal Change Such a Challenge?Such a Challenge?

Romans Chapter 7Romans Chapter 7

Defines Laws of ChangeDefines Laws of Change

Romans 7 NKJV

Rom 7:1Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

Rom 7:21-2521 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 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.

Creator >> Ordered Creation >> Laws Governing Order

Types of LawsTypes of Laws

Natural – govern the possibility of living in Natural – govern the possibility of living in a consistent environmenta consistent environment

Spiritual – govern spiritual life and Spiritual – govern spiritual life and relationship to Godrelationship to God

In God’s Creatiom - The Spiritual is always In God’s Creatiom - The Spiritual is always imposed over the naturalimposed over the natural

The Order of CreationThe Order of Creation

Spiritual First - “In the beginning God ..”Spiritual First - “In the beginning God ..”

Natural Universe out of the SpiritualNatural Universe out of the Spiritual

The end of all created beings – return to The end of all created beings – return to the spirit worldthe spirit world

Natural LawNatural Law

If released which way will the ball go?

Natural LawNatural Law

Down

If released which way will the ball go?

Examples of Natural LawsExamples of Natural Laws

Natural LawsNatural Laws

ForcesForces

Thermodynamics/PowerThermodynamics/Power

NuclearNuclear

CivilCivil

RelationalRelational

EtcEtc

Laws That Govern the Universe are Laws That Govern the Universe are Discovered not DerivedDiscovered not Derived

By Revelation – Newton’s AppleBy Revelation – Newton’s Apple

Once discovered can be faithfully usedOnce discovered can be faithfully used

The same is true of Spiritual LawsThe same is true of Spiritual Laws

?

Romans 7 Romans 7 andand 8 Spiritual Laws 8 Spiritual Laws

““The Law” – God’s Judicial Law … CondemnationThe Law” – God’s Judicial Law … Condemnation

The Law of Sin and Death – In the FleshThe Law of Sin and Death – In the Flesh

The Law of the Mind – Free will choiceThe Law of the Mind – Free will choice

The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus

No one can ultimately avoid these four lawsNo one can ultimately avoid these four laws

Spiritual Heavenly PlacesSpiritual Heavenly Places

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, …Jesus, …

DownAccording to the 4 Laws,Where are you now?

Up

In the heavenly places in Christ JesusIn the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

The Answer : The Answer :

Every one of is in both placesEvery one of is in both places

That is – if you are in Christ Jesus!That is – if you are in Christ Jesus!

If not, then you are existing only in If not, then you are existing only in the natural realmthe natural realm

Why is Change so Hard?Why is Change so Hard?

Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do present with me, the one who wills to do good. good.

Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. law of sin which is in my members.

The DilemmaThe Dilemma

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of Who will deliver me from this body of death?death?

The Deliverance!The Deliverance!

Rom 7:25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ Rom 7:25 I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!our Lord!

So then, So then, with the mind I myselfwith the mind I myself serve the law of serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

(In Christ we are set free to receive the power of (In Christ we are set free to receive the power of choice to overcome sin in the flesh)choice to overcome sin in the flesh)

Bad News Folks, it Ain’t EasyBad News Folks, it Ain’t Easy

It’s a battle!It’s a battle!

However it’s a battle that you are However it’s a battle that you are guaranteed to winguaranteed to win

Only if you understand and diligently apply Only if you understand and diligently apply the Spiritual Laws the Lord makes the Spiritual Laws the Lord makes available to everyoneavailable to everyone

Forces to Keep You Down:Circumstances, Temptations, Traditions, Old Habits, Addictions, Negative Attitude, Family, Friends, Past Failures, Guilt, Shame –

all enhanced by the Devil

When you start to change they come to get you back down where you were

Your World

The Battle to ChangeThe Battle to Change

Determination to Change

Without the Power to Change, Without the Power to Change, Which Way are You Going to Which Way are You Going to

Go?Go?

Spiritual Laws that SaySpiritual Laws that Say“I Win”“I Win”

Rom 7:23 The law of my MindRom 7:23 The law of my Mind

Rom 7:16 I agree with the law that it is good. Rom 7:16 I agree with the law that it is good. (Referring to God’s Law as revealed in Scripture (Referring to God’s Law as revealed in Scripture – even though it condemns me)– even though it condemns me)

Use the “LAW of the MIND” to “Choose” God’s Use the “LAW of the MIND” to “Choose” God’s ways and agree that His Law is good no matter ways and agree that His Law is good no matter how discouraged/tempted you are or impossible how discouraged/tempted you are or impossible it seemsit seems

Spiritual Laws that SaySpiritual Laws that Say“I Win”“I Win”

The “LAW of the SPIRIT of LIFE in CHRIST JESUS”The “LAW of the SPIRIT of LIFE in CHRIST JESUS”

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

We are dependent upon the power and guidance of the We are dependent upon the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit to overcome and changeHoly Spirit to overcome and change

See Ps 34:4-6See Ps 34:4-6

By Using the Law of the Mind You By Using the Law of the Mind You Invoke the Power to ChangeInvoke the Power to Change

Rom 7:25 So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Rom 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. NKJV

If you are “In Christ” then you must come to If you are “In Christ” then you must come to realize that you are living in a higher plane realize that you are living in a higher plane

than the purely natural / physical realm.than the purely natural / physical realm.

The Power of God in Christ Jesus that lifted The Power of God in Christ Jesus that lifted you to this higher plane will also release you to this higher plane will also release progressively the power of change and progressively the power of change and

spiritual maturity.spiritual maturity.

Romans 8:1-3Romans 8:1-3

There is therefore now no condemnation to those There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk

according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. made me free from the law of sin and death.

NKJVNKJV

Paul’s Confession:Paul’s Confession:

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.according to the inward man.

The inner man – is our spirit man, who, if The inner man – is our spirit man, who, if we are in Christ Jesus is seated in we are in Christ Jesus is seated in heavenly places with Himheavenly places with Him

It’s Time for Break Through

Life in the heavenly places in Christ JesusLife in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

It’s Time to Make up Your MindIt’s Time to Make up Your Mindfor …..for …..

The Law of Your Mind is the battle you are The Law of Your Mind is the battle you are guaranteed to Winguaranteed to Win

in Christ Jesusin Christ Jesus

Ours is the power of choice to hang in there Ours is the power of choice to hang in there trusting in the Lord’strusting in the Lord’s

Power to accomplish change Power to accomplish change where we are dependent on Himwhere we are dependent on Him

Ps 34:4-7Ps 34:4-74 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears. And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant,5 They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed. And their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles. And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them. And delivers them. NKJVNKJV