We Can Overcome
We can Live Out This Faith in Jesus
Published by Deborah Negron
March 12, 2023
I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 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. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of 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.
Romans 7:21-25
The awesome power of grace affords us liberty from the duality of our present state.
The soul yearns for an escapre from the flesh that causes us to do, to act and teo react in ways contrary to our determination to live for the Lord.
You find yourself in conflict. In your mind you have clearly defined what is good and right. But then an occasion comes where you find that you do the very opposite of what you had willed to do.
The conflict is not uncommon. For every believer fights against the flesh. Every child of God is in a constant warfare.
The apostle Paul is one of my favorite writers inspired by the Holy Spirit. His practical teaching of our faith enabkes the most new believer to be equipped to confront the battles within, the battles against the world and the battles against our spiritual enemy.
Paul understood the raging storm that faces each and every believer and disciple of Christ Jesus.
He understood that there are inclinations that we all have that can lead us astray. The desire for self gratification and for personal gain is mot something that disappears when we come to Christ. The flesh still wants to be number one. My desires, my wants, my will and my inclinations can pull me to sin.
The desire to be accepted, to fit in, to be a part of, can draw anyone to seek their own wants and needs.
Paul gives us ample guidance to combat the internal feelings and emotions that can rise up inside our hearts and minds.
His recommendation is wrotten for us to foolow and win the war against the self or the ego. Paul writes, in his letter to the church of Ephesus.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:10-13
He explains that our role and responsibility is to put on Christ. That is the full armour of God.
Each portion covers each part that can be affected or wounded.
So, his depiction of the roman armout was a visual aid for us to understand how to walk in the newness of God we have been given.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Ephesians 6:14-18
He also gives us this instruction in his letter to the church in Rome. Encouraging us to grow to understand our faith and our election. This goves us the ability to hold fast to our gift of salvation and this hope, since we have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
This knowledge reassures us that we are in Christ.
He also goes on to tell us in Romans 12:2, the process for living a daily walk if faith. He encourages us to renew our way of thinking. As we grow in the knowledge of God’s word.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
So, let us put it in our vernacular or common perspective. A daily dose of prayer and communion with God helps us to put on the Armour of God. As we pray, that is daily talking with and having a daily routine of calling out to God and spending time in a personal devotion time with him and his Word.
Seeking the Lord’s will is key. But how do we accomplish this.
We see in his word that our earthly concerns become secondary. Since we have Christ, we come to understand that God is able to sustain us in all of life’s issues. In every circumstance and in every place, having a relationship with our Creator enables us to walk with a level of confidence.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:31-34
We come to understand that He is our provider. He is the keeper of our lives.
This does not mean we will not suffer. It does not mean we will be free of pain or sorrow or hardship. What it does mean is that in every moment of our lives the Lord will be present to provide his peace.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
We read how we ought to live not following the trends and behaviors and norms of the world. Peer pressure and the pull to conform is real. When we bting our minds under the power of the Holy Spirit we will be able to live differently from the world’s standards.
We can then adhere to Jesus’ words,
““But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”
Luke 6:27-31
We can train our minds to think on what is pleasing to the Lord. So Paul instructs us,
So that we would not follow the world’s norms. And so we do not adhere to their standards. He guides us to adhere to those things that please our Lord.
The world flesh pulls us to fall. It pulls us to desire what God does not want for us. It draws us away from the truth. Outside fo Christ we will not prosper.
So, Paul gives us such comforting and enlightening words.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9
He directs us to be prepared for battle. Every day we will come against something or someone that will attempt to pull us away from what the Lord has for us.
Paul warned the Corinthian church against having relationships that were ungodly.
Do not become unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:14
There is a desire to fit in. It is human nature to desire connection and a sense of belonging. But this can be a downfall for us if we are not warae or careful.
It has long been known that gangs prey in youth who have an unstsble home. They look for those who appear withdrawn and alone and needy. They then go after them to fool them in to a false sense of belonging. They csude them to feel wanted and needed and lottle by little these unknowingly are pulled in to the “family.”
This is the same way that the enemy works to entice young people to fall for the wrong person.
She does not share your beliefs. She is beautiful. Pretty to look at. Listening to her laugh and looking at her eyes and how she appears to be desirable. She coaxes you and says she wants you. The trap is set. She has had others in her grip before. When you deny her, she cries and says, you mist not love her. Don’t fall young man. Walk away!
He holds you close and makes you feel wanted and in your mind you believe it is love. Yet, he only wants to have you fro a while. A notch in his belt. He has shared good times with you. Experiences and places… But beware, he just wants to use your body for his pleasure. All the while you would be an object and not a person. Marriage is not in his plan. Yet foolishly the girl falls. Then little by little her heart is now connected. Now she feels this false sense of belonging. Without commitment, the young man begins to abuse his conenction. You have now become a toy, not a woman whom he will honor and love.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
James 1:14-15
The emotions and feelings are intense. It Yes, the flesh, is your enemy. It will drag you down with the lust of the flesh.
The Word of God gives us the solution for this flesh problem.
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:16-17
So seek ye first to please God. Run from temptation. It is brave to run from that which will harm you. It takes courage to say no. It is beneficial to keep away fro. Those things that make us steer away from the Lord.
The Lord is good and faithful. He makes a way for us to walk away from that which can deter us from the path.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
I Corinthians 10:13
Seeking the Lord and His will will bring us peace and joy and remove all anxiety and shame.
When we are in Christ we are new.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
II Corinthians 5:17-19
He has washed away our sin. He has made us anew. He has prepared for us a life that will bring him glory and will bring us great joy and fulfillment.
So, to cause the old man or that is the flesh to back down and our spirit to be in connection with the Holy Spirit will enable us to live lives that are full of spiritual renewal. Strength for each day. The power of God to stand firm in what we believe and the determination that nothing can separate us from the Love of God.
Seeking to please and live for the Lord will give us the power to reach ithers for Jesus.
It will bring joy and an understanding that all though we face daily battles against our flesh, the world and the enemy, we will gain the victory.
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:34-39
So chin up! You can win.
The Lord will help us win. He has already won for us. May God’s Holy Spirit minister to your life today.
Live confidently, trusting in this,
being persuaded of this very thing, that the One having begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
Life and Faith By Deb 
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