THE INWARD BATTLE OF ROMANS SEVEN -- Tomorrow:
If you want to put this text to the test, make some good and godly resolves for tomorrow. I trust you can do it heartily, with the full consent of your will. Determine to carefully guard your mind, so that no sinful thought will weave its way into your thinking (Psa 119:13). Resolve to meditate day and night upon the Word of the Lord (Psa 1:2), and to fill your mind with wholesome Kingdom realities. Decide that you will fully comply with the exhortation, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Phil 4:8). All of these things are
good--more than that, they are the manner of spiritual life.
Determine with David, "I will not trust in my bow" (Psa 44:6). Resolve, "I will not be afraid of what man will do unto me" (Psa 56:11). Lay down a law for yourself that firmly declares, "I will not forget Thy Word" (Psa 119:16). You will be solidly in the will of God in all of these resolves. There is no question about that! If you are living by faith, these are the things you fervently desire. They fit into the category, "When I WILL to do good."
You have all the tools that are necessary for the realization of these commitments. Your will is in it. You have armor to protect you (Eph 6:10-18). The peace of God can keep your heart and your mind (Phil 4:7). You have an Intercessor in heaven (Heb 7:25), and One in your heart as well (Rom 8:26). You have the fellowship of the Son (1 Cor 1:9), the communion of the Holy Spirit 2 Cor 13:14), and access to God (Eph 2:18). Surely you will be able to boast tomorrow night that your resolves have all been realized! You cannot say God is not for you (Rom 8:31)! The One who is in you IS greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Surely you will be able to at least finish the morning without a single conflict. How can any competing thought rise in your mind, seeing you have made such holy resolves?
I will tell you that the morning will not pass until you will be required to do spiritual battle. You will need the whole armor of God to protect you (Eph 6:10). Your shield will have to be hoisted, and your sword unsheathed. You will have to use your spiritual weaponry to pull down bastions of thought that compete with your sacred determinations (2 Cor 10:4). You will have to call upon the name of the Lord (1 Cor 1:2), resist the devil (1 Pet 5:8), and deny ungodliness and worldly lusts (Tit 2:11-12). There will imaginations you must violently cast down, and thoughts you must take captive (2 Cor 10:5). Your will contend with imaginations and thoughts you detest, and for which you made no provision. There will be members of your fleshly makeup that you will be required to crucify and mortify (Gal 5:24; Col 3:5).
What will have happened to you? Why were you not able to perfectly do what you wholeheartedly wanted to do? It is then that you will be able to join in the confession of Paul. "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" (NKJV).
Can you see this law? Can you identify with Paul's conclusions? They are for every believer to know.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank Your for this passage of Scripture that acquaints me with the nature of spiritual warfare. In Jesus' name, I ask for grace to be a wise and faithful warrior in this good fight of faith.