drowing in sin

[thereaperman]

sometimes all it feels like i do is sin. everyt thought, action, word, intention is just wrong and compleatly out of line with what god wants me to do. and i cant hear what it is god wants me to do, and if i can i feel im ignoring it. i feel so useless and guilty just by living in my house, driving my car and eating food on my plate when1/3 of the world is starving and 30,000 people a day die from starvation. i want to help people, i want to make a huge differance on this planet while ive still got time. i feel im letting myself and everyone else down by not being the best person i can be, and i dont know how i can be that person and help and save people in the state im in, or how i can get out of this frame of mind.....

does anyone else feel this way sometimes?

[Constant]

I feel that way alot. I feel like a bad person for sinning and enjoying it . I know that I could stop being selfish and do better in the world but right now, I don't want to. I want to be me and do for me. I feel the same way you do. Like for example, complaining that my new car has a scratch on it. Big deal, half of the world don't even have cars or the money to have a car. I feel selfish too when I go to GNC and spend hundreds of dollars a week on stuff that I really don't need. My $ could be going to a charity or something good like that. Trust me, I know how you feel. Let us lean on each other and help each other when we are feeling this way.

[other one]

You, me, and Paul....

Rom 7:14-25

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

NASB

I think this pretty much describes me to a T.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

First: (Please read the whole chapter)

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

It is the enemy who continues to sow seeds of doubt, disbelief and torment into your lives. You have to make up your minds to either pick up your cross and follow Jesus or succumb to the whip of Satan. We must always be aware of:

Ephesians 6:12-13 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Identify what the "whole armour of God" is, and then make sure you are wearing it daily.

Quit buying into the lies of the enemy. Yes there are times when by our action or inaction we might grieve the Holy Spirit, but these are His characteristics:

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Did you see "condemnation" in any of those? Well then, you know ANY condemnation is coming from Satan, and you don't have to put up with it.

If you feel you need to do more, give more, act more, then put yourself into a position where you CAN and quit grieving over it, for by your grieving, YOU GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. He wants you to have those FRUITS of HIS IN YOU!

I really hope and pray you get on your knees and confess your lack of faith and assurance and stay there till you are convinced that you have it. I can't convince you, but I know the Holy Spirit can.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Matthitjah]

Grace to you,

Left us lift our vision higher.

You see if we focus on ourselves? We will see imperfection and sin. It is our earthly fleshy nature.

If we focus on Jesus?

Beautiful Jesus. We will shine brighter and brighter everyday. Glory to Glory my friends. The Word of God speaks the Truth.

Blind,

I have yet to see your testimony? I don't believe I would ridicule it?

I'm not being flippant here.

Lift your vision higher. We have all been there. Failures in the flesh. When we succeed, we succeed in His power and authority by the power of the Holy Spirit. There will be no boasting that way. For anything we have done has been done by being Obedient to God and to Him goes all the Glory. For He has enabled us in the first place.

His Grace is sufficient.

Peace,

Dave

[Guest Thomas I believe]

Lift your vision higher. We have all been there. Failures in the flesh. When we succeed, we succeed in His power and authority by the power of the Holy Spirit. There will be no boasting that way. For anything we have done has been done by being Obedient to God and to Him goes all the Glory. For He has enabled us in the first place.

Amen Dave !!!!

[Guest Jacee]

Dave is right why so blind. Paul himself struggled with this until he realized that there is nothing good about our human nature. We cannot make it better; we can only die to it. And that is by placing our faith in the fact that another became our substitute for our sin nature. Not just individual sins we do; but our very nature itself. Is why salvation is of the soul. Our spirit has been sealed by Holy Spirit; but our soul needs saved. And we learn to rethink. We've been programmed by satan from our earliest years and have to relearn truth.

We are placed into another. Is the blood baptism we all who are born again experience. Done positionally. Worked out in experience.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

Dr. Luke is right on. Setting our sights on Jesus instead of ourselves is understanding the dividing of "soul and spirit". If we mind our flesh, we are living carnally, sometimes referred to as "soulic". But if mind the spirit, we will do the works of the spirit. We are told to worship God "in spirit and truth". The flesh (soul) must be subordinated to the spirit if we ever expect to mature.

Now in response to one poster. I find these words of Jesus rather telling:

Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Matthew 16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

It really doesn't take MUCH faith:

Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

But it certainly is required if you wish to receive anything from God:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If you or anyone is entangled with sins or with preoccupation of yourself and your own needs, then I can only conclude that scripture says you need to start building up your faith by believing.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Keith]

If I may make a suggestion, tsth just started a thread in the Study Group called, "The Sin Exchange." I think it compliments this thread. It helped me.