the Struggle

Romans 7:14-25 "14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.15 For that which I do I *allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good.17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but to perform that which is good I find not.19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23 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.24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?25 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"

*allow = 1) to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel a) to become known 2) to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of a) to understand b) to know

Every true child of God experiences a daily struggle against sin; the flesh (within) and the world (without) and only through knowing and trusting that Jesus Christ our Lord is in control of life is that we taste victory.

Psalm34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him"

Jeremiah 9:24 "But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these I delight, saith the LORD"

Struggle = verb 1) to contend with an adversary or opposing force. 2) to contend resolutely with a task, problem. 3) to advance with violent effort.
noun 1) the process or an act or instance of struggling. 2) a war, fight, conflict, or contest of any kind. 3) a task or goal requiring much effort to accomplish or achieve.

Galatians 5:17 "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"

John 6:63 "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, are spirit, and are life"

Romans 8:5 "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit"

John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit"

Today's Christianity is in the flesh, teaching man to trust in physical commandments or doings; and this was the temptation in the wilderness of Old Testament Israel. The Israelites needed to see physical signs or have physical provision to trust in the living God; it is the same today, most Christians today believe they must do physical things (physical water baptism, physical tithing and physical communion) in order to be a child of God; others need more than these: they need to have material blessings in order to feel as a child of God.

Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed willing, but the flesh weak"

Mark 14:38 "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly ready, but the flesh weak"

Psalm 95:8-11 "8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, [and] as the day of temptation in the wilderness:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.10 Forty years long was I grieved with [this] generation, and said, It [is] a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they enter not into my rest"

Psalm 78:12-22 "12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, [in] the field of Zoan.13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave drink as the great depths.16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?21 Therefore the LORD heard [this], and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation"

Matthew 16:1-4 "1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he shew them a sign from heaven.2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, fair weather: for the sky is red.3 And in the morning, foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not the signs of the times?4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed"

Many false teachers have tried to teach me that I got to do or see physical things (signs) in order to be a child of God; but many do not understand this: The Lord Jesus Christ clothed me with the garments of Salvation when He came in my life and did not ask me to do anything physical, but gave me the joy of Salvation. I went with them (false teachers) for awhile; but I was never satisfied or filled with their lies, until God made me see that the Lord Jesus is the Water, the Meat, the Bread, the Light, the Way, the True, the Life, the Door, the Shepherd, the Rock, the Redeemer, the Husband, the Messiah, the Lamb, the Pearl, the Treasure, the Lion of Judah, the Refuge, etc and God in the flesh.

Galatians 6:7-8 "7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting"