“Real Talk: Life, Faith, and Following Jesus”
“Real Talk: Life, Faith, and Following Jesus”
Introduction:
Good morning Eastern Shore Baptist Church. This morning we are starting a new series entitled “Real Talk: Life, Faith, and Following Jesus”. This is going to be a 6 week series. I do want to give you all a bit of a road map as we near the end of the year. Our next series will start on November 3rd. That series is called “Thanks and Giving”. It will be a four week series that discusses how to Biblically cultivate gratitude and thankfulness in every season of life. Following that series, we will start a 4 week Christmas series entitled “Wishlist”. This Christmas series will reveal the wonder, joy, and meaning of Christ’s birth to life. So, that will take us all the way to the end of the year.
By the way, several of you have asked if I am going to write another advent devotional like I did last year. The answer is “yes”. In fact, I am already working on it. I am looking forward to sharing it with you. Mark your calendars, you’ll be able to pick up the second book in the series on Sunday November 17th.
Now back to today! Back to our new series today. Real Talk. So, here is some real talk for all of you, following Jesus is hard. Quick quiz and be honest. In fact, I want all of us to participate in this exercise. So, if you answer in the affirmative, I want you to raise your hands. Ok? Ok! Here we go.
How many of you know what is right but you still do the wrong thing?
Ok, like everyone in the room. Very good. We are off to a stellar start.
Next, how many of you know that you think things you shouldn’t think but you think them anyway?
Yep, figures. All of you are a bunch of ne’erdowells.
Ok, here is another one. This question is a bit longer so let me get it all out before you respond. Ok? Ok!
How many of you want to desperately get control of your tongue? Meaning, you want to stop cursing, cussing, or gossiping. Maybe you just want to stop sticking your foot in your mouth. You really want to “tame that tongue” as James says but your mouth keeps getting you in trouble. Ok, how many of you feel that way?
There we go again. A bunch of blabber mouths. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
Just kidding. Just kidding.
Ok, last one. How many of you want to break that sinful habit? You know the one that I am talking about. It’s that habit that you have had since you were a kid. You may have gone through seasons where you have been able to put it down, only to pick it up again. You get discouraged and frustrated that you just can seem to get a grip on it. You want to break that sinful habit but you just can’t. How many of you would raise your hands to that one?
Well, it appears that none of us are alone. It seems that all of us are in the same boat. The big problem is that boat that we are all in is named “The Titanic”. We’ve hit the iceberg and we are all going down with the ship.
But are we? That’s what we are going to talk about this morning.
Today’s message is entitled “The Struggle Is Real” and real it is friends. You might add a couple of words to that title. Add after the word “struggle”…”with sin”. The struggle with sin is real. All of us deal with sin, and if you are Christian you probably have felt feelings of inadequacy, feelings of frustration, and feelings of failure in you inability to defeat sin!
Today’s Message:
“The Struggle Is Real”
I know that I am about to blow your mind, but the Bible has a lot to say about sin, shortcomings, and our inability to defeat sin on our own.
What about I John 1:8-9?
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Then there is Galatians 5:16-17.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
Here is James 1:14-15.
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
Funny enough, I had a buddy of mine send me a text this very week about this subject. He was frustrated because he knew that Jesus was the answer to his problems but he kept trying to go it alone, thinking that he was enough. Seriously! Im not kidding. Here is his text to me:
“Question. If you’re in the ocean swimming and waves are crashing into your face, sharks biting at your feet and you’re trying to get to shore and you’re just getting slammed by the elements. Meanwhile, Jesus is in a boat right next to you with his hand out saying “just trust in me and I’ll lead you to safety“. What possesses someone like me to wanna prove that I can do it on my own?”
Now maybe you have never had that exact thought, but we have all been there before haven’t we?
“God, I know that you are here to help but I can do this on my own.”
“Jesus I know that you want to help me defeat this sin but I don’t want to confess it because that would be embarrassing to me. So instead, I’ll just man up! I’ll just quit. I’ve got this.”
“I’ll put that bottle down.”
“I’ll stop eating so much.”
“I’ll get control of my mouth, my tongue, my speech.”
“I’ll stop looking at porn.”
“I’ll quit gambling.”
Most of live in the perpetual state of “I can do this on my own”.
Friends, do you know how I answered my friend’s question? “What possesses someone like me to wanna prove that I can do it on my own?”
Well…you’ll find the answer under “Today’s Thought”. Why do I sin when I want to stop? Self and Satan! That’s right, we sin and we keep on sinning because of self and Satan.
Today’s Thought:
Why Do I Sin When I Want To Stop? Self and Satan!
Friends, there is something that is just flat out broken in us. It has been broken since the Garden, that brokenness passed down from generation to generation, from person to person. We call this brokenness the sin nature. Do you know that you were never taught how to lie? You were never taught how to cheat, how to steal, how to covet. You were never taught how to sin, yet it comes so easily. We are truly self defeating. We sin because of the brokenness of self. We are defective and flawed. That may be true but we are going to talk about how Jesus fixed those failures.
Then there’s Satan. The enemy is real, and he’s scheming 24/7. 1 Peter 5:8 says he prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. And what’s his goal? To keep us stuck in guilt and shame. He whispers lies like, “You’ll never change” or “You’ve already messed up, might as well give in again.” But hear this—Satan has no real power over you because Jesus defeated him on the cross! He’s already a defeated foe! Yet, he’s crafty and wants us to stay trapped in our old habits.
We are at war friends and the war is not with physical weapons. The war is not even with another person. We are at war with ourselves. That is why when Jesus tells His disciples that in order to follow Him, they must “take up their cross and follow” Him. They must die to themselves so that they can live to Christ. That’s why when we become Christians Paul tells us that we are “new creations, the old is gone and the new has come”.
JI Packer is one of my favorite authors. He wrote a book a number of years back entitled “Keep in Step with the Spirit”. Listen to what he says about war…this battle that we are all facing.
“The presence of conflict in the Christian’s life does not mean that they are unspiritual, but the opposite. The Christian’s battle with sin is an indication of the reality of their spiritual life and growth, and the Holy Spirit’s work within them.”
Today’s Quote:
“The presence of conflict in the Christian’s life does not mean that they are unspiritual, but the opposite. The Christian’s battle with sin is an indication of the reality of their spiritual life and growth, and the Holy Spirit’s work within them.”
— J.I. Packer, “Keep in Step with the Spirit”
This morning friends we are going to be reading from Romans. Romans 7:15-25 to be exact. Before we do that, I want to give you the background and context of the passage.
Background and Context:
This passage is so powerful because Paul is keeping it real—he’s not sugarcoating anything! Hence the series title, Real Talk. He’s laying out the struggle we all face, that constant battle between wanting to do what’s right but somehow still messing up. Again, this is something that we can all relate to.
Paul is writing to the church in Rome, and he’s tackling some deep stuff. Earlier in the letter, he’s been talking about the law—the commands of God. The law shows us what’s right and wrong, but the problem is, the law can’t save us. It can’t give us the power to stop sinning. Paul is talking to people who know the law, and he’s like, “Hey, even though I know what I should do, I still don’t do it!” He’s painting this picture of the internal war we all face between our sinful nature and our desire to live for God.
This isn’t just Paul’s story—it’s our story. He’s laying out the reality that even as Christians, we still wrestle with sin. But don’t miss this—he’s not leaving us in despair! The whole point is to show how much we need Jesus. Paul’s building up to this climactic shout in verse 25: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” That’s where the victory is, church! In Jesus! It’s not about trying harder—it’s about relying on Him more. So let’s jump into this passage with fresh eyes and expect God to show us the way to freedom!
Statement of Belief:
We believe the Bible is inspired, infallible, and authoritative. It is vital for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. God’s Word brings life, peace, and protection, and it profoundly touches the human soul. As a unique and powerful book, let us stand in reverence and respect for it.
Pastor: “This is the Word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Praise His name, praise His Holy name.”
Today’s Scripture
Romans 7:15-25 ESV
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. [16] Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. [17] So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. [19] For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
How Can I Overcoming My Sinful Nature?
First…Acknowledge The Struggle of Sin vs. 15
So, I think that I have somewhat stated the obvious, we all have a sin problem. Paul, in Romans 3:23, tells us that we have all sinned. We have all fallen short. If you were a teenager in the 1990’s there was a deep theological term that was developed. It spread like wildfire among Christian teens. I’ll show you and example of how it was used.
We are all sinners and we all struggle with a sin nature. Ok, here is the deep theological term. “Like duh”!
Of course we all are all sinners and struggle with a sin nature.
The big question is how can we overcome that sin nature. I mean, none of us want to keep sinning. Except back in Paul’s day, there were people who actually did want to sin. They sinned with the idea that they would receive more grace the more they sinned.
How many of you have ever heard of anti-nom-ianism (anti-no-me-anism)? Like no one. Great. Well antinomianism is the belief that, because of God’s grace, Christians are no longer bound by the moral law and are free to live as they please—even sinning—because grace will always cover their sins.
Paul addresses this heresy in Romans 6:1-2 saying, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
So, let’s go back to our original question. How can I overcome my sinful nature? First, acknowledge the struggle of sin.
You have probably heard it said, especially if you have ever been in any sort of therapy or counseling, a good counselor would tell you that the first step to overcoming any sort of a problem, the first step to overcoming hardship, struggle, grief, depression, just about anything is to acknowledge that you and I have a problem.
Well we have a problem. It’s a big problem. It’s a sin problem. Our sin problem was installed the moment that our DNA was weaved together.
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5, ESV)
Go back and reread Romans 7:15, Paul states that even he struggled with his addiction and proclivity to sin, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” You feel that? That’s real life right there!
Let me tell you, acknowledging the struggle with sin isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of growth! We’ve got to recognize the battle within us. It’s that constant tug-of-war between what we know is right and what our old nature, our flesh, is pulling us toward. It’s like, you want to live for God, but then temptation comes creeping in. And sometimes you slip, right? Guess what? You’re not alone!
But listen—here’s the good news: the struggle means we’re still in the fight! We’re not just giving up. The fact that we feel that tension means the Holy Spirit is at work within us! Don’t get discouraged by the fight—get encouraged that God hasn’t given up on you! He’s right there, strengthening you, pulling you through, and helping you rise every time you fall. So, church, don’t let the struggle define you—let it drive you. Did you hear me. Don’t let the struggle define you, let it drive you closer to Jesus! Can we do that today? Let’s lean into His grace, because He’s got us every step of the way!
Most of you have probably heard of Saint Augustine of Hippo. You may have heard of him but you probably don’t know his story.
Before he became a Christian, Augustine lived a wild life. He was all about doing whatever felt good in the moment—living for himself, indulging in all sorts of sins. He knew what was right, but he just couldn’t seem to stop chasing the wrong stuff. He heard the Gospel and he gave his life to Christ. Still, even after he trusted Christ, he had a hard time of letting go of his sin. In his book Confessions, he wrote a prayer that stated “Lord, make me pure, but not yet” as an homage to his sinful nature wanting to hang on to his old ways of living and his old lifestyle.
One day, Augustine was studying the Bible and he came across Romans 13:13-14 which said, “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
Right there, his struggle became crystal clear, and it changed his life! He realized he needed to stop fighting in his own strength and let Jesus take over. Augustine’s story is proof that even when we’re stuck in the struggle, God is working, pulling us toward Him, and ready to transform us when we surrender. Just like Augustine, we can overcome—not by our own power, but by putting on Christ and leaning into His grace!
Again friends, hang on to this thought, don’t let the struggle define you, let it drive you to Christ!
Listen to what John has to say on the matter…
1 John 1:8-9 AMP
If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] [9] If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].
How Can I Overcoming My Sinful Nature?
First…Acknowledge The Struggle of Sin vs. 15
Next…Accept Our Shortcomings vs. 18
So friends, how can I overcome my sin nature…acknowledge the struggle with sin. Acknowledge that everyone is engaged with this battle, none are immune from sin’s hold.
Next, accept our shortcomings. We see this point illustrated in verse 18.
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”
Now I don’t want you to misunderstand me on this point. This is actually pretty crucial that you pick up what I am putting down. I don’t mean to provide for you the picture of a sinner that shrugs his shoulders and says, “well, I am nothing but a sinner. There is no hope for me as a sinner. I guess that I will just keep on sinning. After all, there is nothing that I can do about it.”
That is not the point that I am trying to make. The point that I am attempting to make is that by accepting our shortcomings as sinners, it drives us to seek help outside of ourselves. It is an admission that I cannot do it, I cannot make it, I cannot survive on my own.
Think of it in these terms. It’s the person struggling with the loss of a loved one, batting the overwhelming emotions of grief, admitting that they have a problem but understanding that they cannot walk through those feelings alone. They seek help. They go to a counselor, seek prayer from a pastor, and actively serve the body of Christ to put their mind on healthier matters rather than focus on the darkness of their misery.
I will give you another example. Years ago I went to my doctor. She told me that if I did not get my weight and my blood pressure under control that I would not live beyond my fifties. That was sobering news. Sobering and defeating. You see I knew that I was overweight. I knew that I had an eating problem. She told me that I had to lose 80 pounds…to start. That number seemed impossible. That was an insurmountable goal. I walked away from that encounter feeling utterly discouraged. For years I had this thought in my mind, “well, I know that I am overweight but there is nothing that I can do about it so I guess I will just keep right on eating.” However, when faced with my own mortality, I knew that while I had significant shortfalls, I needed help outside of myself. I went to counseling, sought out surgical options, and today I am in a much better, healthier place. Healthier mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Admitting your shortcomings is not meant to be a license to continue sinning. No! It is the first step in seeking salvation.
Paul states in verse 18 that “nothing good” dwells in him. Nothing? Really?
If there was anyone on earth that could brag and showboat about their personal holiness, their piety, their adherence to the law, it was the Apostle Paul. The journey from pseudo holiness to rotten sinner must have been a bumpy one for Paul. Paul was not the only one to make this claim. The Old Testament prophet, the Weeping Prophet says something remarkably similar.
Jeremiah 17:9 GNT
"Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed.
Paul claims in Scripture, before meeting Christ mind you, to have kept the commands found within the law. He claims to have kept all the manmade traditions. He was trained by the top rabbinical teachers of the day. Paul was known far and wide for his knowledge and application of the Torah, the Pentateuch and all of the Old Testament prophets. He was widely sought after to speak, to read the scrolls, and to defend Judaism. He was a zealot. He would have been seen and viewed as a foot solider in the holy war against other religious uprisings and people applauded him for his zeal. He prayed, he gave, he attended church, he read his scriptures, he provided alms to the poor. He did everything a good Jew would do and the public applauded him for it. If anyone could have made a case for their righteousness, it was Paul before his conversion. But here’s the twist: after encountering Jesus, Paul realized how far short he actually fell.
He wasn’t perfect—he was broken, just like us. He saw that all his efforts, all his rule-following, couldn’t fix the sinful nature within him. It didn’t lead to freedom; it led to frustration. And here’s the key: Paul didn’t stay there. He didn’t throw his hands up and use his failures as an excuse to keep on sinning. Instead, admitting his shortcomings pushed him straight into the arms of grace, straight into salvation through Christ.
Paul’s story is our story. Recognizing that we fall short isn’t about feeling defeated; it’s about knowing that we don’t have to carry the burden of perfection. Jesus carries it for us! Paul’s words remind us that we’re not trapped by our failures—Christ sets us free. This is hopeful news! We’re not stuck in a cycle of sin; we’re redeemed to live in the power of grace, pursuing holiness through Him.
You’re not trapped in sin.
You’re not trapped in grief.
You’re not trapped in failure.
You’re not trapped discouragement.
You’re not trapped but the first step to releasing yourself from those bondages are to admit that you are bound. Admission is not a license for your bindings to tighten. Admission is the first step to your bondages, your chains be loosened.
Jeremiah 17:9 GNT
"Who can understand the human heart? There is nothing else so deceitful; it is too sick to be healed.
How Can I Overcoming My Sinful Nature?
First…Acknowledge The Struggle of Sin vs. 15
Next…Accept Our Shortcomings vs. 18
Lastly…Admit The Sufficiency of Our Savior vs. 24-25
Again, how can I overcoming this sin nature?
First…Acknowledge The Struggle of Sin vs. 15
Next…Accept Our Shortcomings vs. 18
Lastly, Admit The Sufficiency of Our Savior.
We see this illustrated in verses 24 and 25.
[24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Jesus is enough friends. Do you believe that this morning? No matter what you are facing today, Jesus is enough.
When trials come and days are tough,
Jesus is enough.
When storms arise and waves are high,
Jesus is enough.
When doubts invade and fears increase,
Jesus is enough.
When strength is gone and we feel weak,
Jesus is enough.
When joy seems lost and hope is thin,
Jesus is enough.
When we are lonely, full of pain,
Jesus is enough.
When prayers feel dry, and tears fall,
Jesus is enough.
When sin feels strong, and guilt is deep,
Jesus is enough.
When dreams are crushed, and plans fall through,
Jesus is enough.
When life feels dark, no path in sight,
Jesus is enough.
When burdens grow and wear us down,
Jesus is enough.
When we feel lost, without a way,
Jesus is enough.
When failures stack and shame’s in view,
Jesus is enough.
When we’re in need of daily bread,
Jesus is enough.
When all seems bleak, and faith is thin,
Jesus is enough.
When friendships fail, and trust is broke,
Jesus is enough.
When futures scare, and pasts confound,
Jesus is enough.
When questions rise with no reply,
Jesus is enough.
When we can’t find the words to pray,
Jesus is enough.
When life is done, and death is near,
Jesus is enough.
You know, sometimes I think that we get into a mode where we think that the lives of those following Jesus turned out easy and good after they met Christ. That was not the case. They still dealt with their sin. They still lived in this world. Many of the followers of Jesus were martyrs, dying for their faith in Christ. In fact, that is one of the primary reasons that I believe in Jesus today. Why should so many of those early followers of Jesus die for something that they knew was a lie? They would have all had to be crazy. I don’t believe that they were.
Take the Apostle Paul for example. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul gives us an open window into his personal life. Listen to what he says in verse 7,
2 Corinthians 12:7-8 ESV
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
People have speculated for centuries about the “thorn” in Paul’s flesh. No one really knows. It could have been a temptation, a chronic eye problem, malaria, migraines, epilepsy or even a speech disability or some other physical disorder. Some people think that the thorn in Paul’s flesh was another person who was persecuting him like Demas or Alexander the Metal Worker. Let’s be straight, with names like Demas and Alexander the Metal Worker, these two sound like villains am I right? Again, no one really knows what it was. What we do know is that it caused Paul terrible discomfort and pain. Imagine how painful it must have been for Paul to describe it as a thorn delivered to him by a “messenger of Satan”.
Sounds bad right?
We have all been there. It seems wherever I turn that temptation is there staring at me in the face. It seems that no matter what I do, I drawn to the flame of sin. I can’t stop drinking. I can’t stop gossiping. I can’t stop putting others down. I can’t give up that pill that makes me euphoric. I can’t stop smoking. I can’t stop looking at pornography.
You can. Do you know how I know you can? You can because Jesus is enough. Jesus is enough to call you out of your sin. Jesus is enough to draw you towards help. He won’t abandon you. He won’t bail out!
Every time that Paul prayed that God would take the thorn from Him, listen to God’s response in verse 9…
2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT
Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
My power is made perfect in your weakness and my grace is sufficient.
God tells Paul that for him today, Jesus is enough.
I hope that you will walk out of here this morning saying “
Jesus is enough”.
Enough for me.
Enough for my family.
Enough to help me overcome sin.
He is enough friend. Do you believe it this morning?
Remember friends, you are an overcomer through Christ Jesus!
The other day I heard a song that I thought was powerful. The song is called “In The Name of Jesus” by Maverick City Worship. I want to read the lyrics as our closing prayer this morning. Would you bow your head?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51aZAb7r4lw
“In The Name of Jesus” Lyrics
I've been lost and what I've found
There's one name that can turn it all around
And I've been blind but now I see
With just one word, You can set me free
So in the name of Jesus, I am not alone
He's bigger than my problems, I find all my hope
In the name of Jesus, He won't let me go
I stand on every promise, I find my cornerstone
In the name Jesus
I'll trade my doubt for Your faith
I'll trade my shame for Your grace
Gave my sin, You gave your son
Now there's nothing I can't overcome, c'mon
In the name of Jesus, I am not alone
He's bigger than my problems, I find all my hope
In the name of Jesus, He won't let me go
I stand on every promise, I find my cornerstone
In the name Jesus
Through Christ, You Are An Overcomer!
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