New year or same old problems?

NIV Romans 8:5-14

5. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

6. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

7. the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

8. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

9. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

10. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

11. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.

13. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,

14. because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

A transformation has occurred in our lives, the old self has died; Christ has come in to our hearts and taken control!

We have gone from death to life:

NIV Ephesians 2:4-5

4. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

5. made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.

NIV Galatians 5:16-18

16. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

17. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

Old to New:

NIV 2 Corinthians 5:17

17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

So, why do we still have all these struggles?

Answer, We want to be in control of our lives!!

We say to ourselves:

Salvation-good

Heaven-great

Love-super

Forgiveness-wonderful

Control -NEVER!!! That’s why we still have the same problems year after year, the same troubles in our relationships, money, time and jobs, etc…nothing ever changes because we refuse to give up control!! It is insanity (def: doing the same thing the same way over and over again and expecting a different results)

How do we break the cycle?!!

LET GO!!! (Joke) Give up, lay down, surrender!!