O Wretched Man that I am
Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Paul cried out in anquish about the wretched state of his life….for it seemed to be a mess. He wanted to do God’s Will…but when he would go to do it, he felt within himself a resistance…….inside of him, wanting to be in charge. (Romans 7:23)…wanting his way, because of his coveteousness.
And we, too, are wretched….not by my word….but by the Word of Him who is the Faithful and True witness…
….but we know it not.
Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not theat thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”
The Lord told my husband once….praying for the church in these days….”that we are totally unaware of our condition….that if any Laodicean would get a good look at his heart…he would want to do something about it.”
Now I want to stress that this is said to a church.
But the Lord….the Amen, the Faithful and True witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God says….His church is a mess.
But we think we are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. And our Adversary, the devil, would keep us blinded to God’s Word…to the Truth, if he could.
But Jesus calls us to use eyesalve….”Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Rev. 3:18)
What is the eyesalve?
Some say the Holy Spirit, and He is the agency in us…the Godward side…the anointing.
But the manward side…the eyesalve…is honesty.
Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
The honest and good heart….good only because it gets honest. Having heard the Word…keeps it!
Answering the demands that that Word makes on their lives…doing as they are told. But this requires honesty…with the Lord, and with ourselves.
Honestly telling the Lord about how we feel, about the situation as we see it, and ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to change us.
It is everyday obedience…just doing His Will in our everyday circumstances. This leads us to know that His Kingdom is come within us.
This is what Paul wanted….and was frustrated by his own way.
We usually do not see the last stronghold of rebellion within us….till the Lord, in love, points it out…and then, as Paul we see our wretchedness and cry out to do something about it.
As a man thinketh in heart so he is. Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.
We must all come to the obedience of faith (Romans 16:26) or to believeing obedience.
This is a deliberate act of our wills.
“I see it!”
I know what this life of obedience entails….I see that I do not have the life I should.
“I desire it!”
This is the life I want to live.
“I expect it!”
I will by HIs enabling live it…hear His Word, trust Him in it, and do it.
“I accept it!”
I know I have it, and I thank you, Lord, for it….even as Paul did…”I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord….” (Romans 7:25)
“I trust Christ for it!”
Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it. (1 Thes. 5:24)
Romans 8:2, 10-11, 13 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
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 dwelleth in you.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
Will we be delivered from our wretchedness….by being obedient to the Holy Spirit?
For it is by the Holy Spirit that all these things are accomplished.
Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
This is one of my husband’s favorite verses….because here, all unite to invite all to come….if they will…and take the water of life, which is the Spirit of God, by Christ….freely.
Christ has paid the price…not only for our salvation, but our sanctification through the Spirit….He has paid it all…but we must come and obey Him. When once we really see this for ourselves….we too, will rejoice and joy in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 