If I would do all that I wanted to do, I could not consider myself born-again.
Hindering ourselves because of the perception of what we should be as representatives of the Kingdom of the Most High God, instead of behaving in a manner that is representative of one who serves in love.
“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:19)
Why wouldn’t Paul do those good things? Why don’t we? Why is it that the evil things come so easily to us?
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” (Gal. 5:17)
Our sinful nature my friends, that is why, our old man that has the preeminent authority within us, whether we want to admit it or not. It is the Holy Spirit that works good works through us, it is us that is going against our nature when we willingly agree with Him.
Two verses, not in linear order in the Scriptures then for you, but in perfect unison, perfect context relative to the subject matter at hand.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13)
It is the old man that says, “If I could do what I wanted to do,” it is the new creation in Christ that says, “I could do the things I want to, but I choose not to.”
Now, you must be able to look within yourself and ask, “Why not?”
No one is watching. No one will ever know, no will ever even suspect. Will you not do that thing because the Almighty is watching and you are well aware of that truth, or because even if He is the only One who would ever know, you would be dishonoring Him?
Is it because you believe He will withdraw His face from you, His continual fellowship? Do you believe you will lose heavenly rewards, be punished or chastised in some manner by Him? Or do you believe that you can control your appetites, your sinful desires?
Remember, we can do nothing without Him.
The more we try, the more we fail, the more we submit, the more battles that will be won.
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1st Cor. 6:12)
I have found over the years in my walk with the Savior that one of the ways He both warns and encourages us is with feelings, and I am not sure that one could call them emotions. We just know when certain thoughts begin to creep into our minds that this is wrong in the eyes of the Holy Spirit, that our eyes are looking at something they should not be looking at, our ears should be stopped from listening to that.
We just know.
That is the Holy Spirit speaking to us, not forcing our head to turn or altering our ability to think certain thoughts, but prompting us to modify ourselves, with His strength.
We are allowed to do, say or think anything we want to, we may be slaves to the Lord Jesus Christ, but He has not removed one iota of our free will.
That feeling, that knowing, is a precursor, a blessing, a prompting offered in love, if it is denied by us, if we continue on a path we know we should not traverse and you truly are hid in Christ, expect more than a feeling soon.
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Heb. 12:6)
This is called growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.
There are those who serve the Most High out of fear, out of a reverential trust, out of love. And there are those who serve Him because they are afraid of Him.
Can you do anything you want to do? Yes, anything. You must be the one to determine within yourself why you do not. And then you must remember that even if you do not, it is Christ working through you to give you the strength to not do what you do not want to do.
