Falling Short?

This post is from notes taken during Pastor Allan’s sermon Sunday Morning.

 

 

 

Do you ever feel like you are falling short - - and not measuring up? 

That is what the enemy wants you to believe.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

This verse applies to the lost, and we must not stop there.  Although the struggle is real and we all have our times of feeling a failure.  It is not that we are not saved, but the struggle is still there.  Your struggle may not necessarily be alcohol or drugs, but there is always some little thing.

We are made of flesh and the Flesh wants control.  In Romans chapter 7, Paul is saying the nature of selfishness and desire tries to overrule what he knows he should do.  His flesh wants to make him a slave to sin.  He asks “What is our hope? 

On to Romans chapter 8 and Paul reveals that Jesus provided a way to free us from sin.  The sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, fulfilled the requirement to forgive yours and my sin. Jesus took the punishment for our sin.   Now God desires to change our mind-set to become controlled by the Spirit of Life. 

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.

We must move over into the walk in the Holy Spirit.  Condemnation tries to rule and reign in our thoughts, and if allowed it will keep you down and unable to move forward.

Our understanding of "Who we are in Christ," needs to become a reality in our life.

Our very words condemn us when we use a title to identify ourselves by saying: “I am a sinner, I am an addict, I am a loser.”  Christ has made a way to change your identity so you can declare, “I am free, I have been delivered, I am the Righteousness of God in Christ, I am a winner through Jesus.”

Romans 14:10 But why do you judge thy brother? or why do you set at naught your brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Each of us must give account for themselves, and pray for your struggling friends.  We must no longer criticize others, but we also must be careful not to put a stumbling block in front of others by what we allow in our personal life.

Yes, because we are human, we will make mistakes.  We will say the wrong thing, and get angry.  However God sees you as a blood covered Christian, and he desires to cover your mind with the blood of Jesus.  Our mind is also washed by the Word of God as we read and think about what we are reading. 

 

Don’t allow the “World” to shape who you are.  Understand you have been changed, and God is still changing you. 

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

How many times are we allowed to slip and fall?  I don’t know the answer to that, but perhaps it is as many times as we are to forgive others.

God is continuing to reveal things in our lives that need to go.  Honestly there are things I still struggle with, but there comes a point where we must honor what God is dealing with us.

Quit digging in the garbage for that which is old - - It is time to plant new and maintain what you plant so that you will grow and mature in Christ.  Water your life with the Word and the Holy Spirit.

I Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

The Word of God is unadulterated spiritual milk, and needs to be digested and not puked up.

Be careful who you follow, because you may end up in a place you don’t want to be.

Why am I often stressed and upset?  Perhaps I got off the path.  It is time to consider and back up a bit.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Really?  Are you sure?  Do you believe this is true?  I am going to take this scripture and others as being true and believe it.

Discipleship is not always instant, and it may take time to learn to walk and become mature.  Just be diligent and willing to learn and receive truth.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Continue to strive toward a walk that is pleasing to God, allowing the Holy Spirit to root out and dig those things that need to go, with a no nonsense approach to becoming mature in Christ Jesus.