Say 'Help' Not 'Don't': Overcoming Destructive Desires

And so, what Paul's getting at here, and this is how we put it all in the application, is Paul's saying, don't say don't. Say help. Don't say don't. Say help. Say, Help. It's radically different when we invite God into those desires that are broken and getting the best of us. We cry out, Help. Look, it seems so simple, but here's how it's different. You cry out, Help, You're doing something powerful. Three things that come to mind. One, you're acknowledging that you can't do this on your own. [00:59:24] (36 seconds)  #AskForHelp

Dead serious. If you tap into that, Paul tells us, God's word tells us all over the place that when we rely on the Holy Spirit and we invite him in, he gives us the power to do what we can't do on our own. The spirit gives life and is able to set you free from the law of sin and death, the power of sin and death, the power to not overcome your don'ts. Now, with the spirit, it's not going to be easy, but you're actually able to do it. [00:58:53] (30 seconds)  #SpiritEmpowers

Condemnation is strong disapproval. Strong disapproval. And I just want you to be honest with yourself. We're not going to write it down. We're not going to raise hands. But how many of you feel like that's how God feels about you today? Or when you can't get a handle on your don'ts and your dos, strong disapproval. Biblically, the definition goes further. Strong disapproval that results in a verdict of guilt and judgment and separation from God. [00:55:23] (37 seconds)  #FeelingCondemned

We do it all the time, right? I was content with my house, I was content with my car, I was content with that TV, until I saw my neighbor's five bedroom, until I saw their new model, until I saw their 80 inches compared to my 55 inches, and now we want it. We start to covet. And Paul's like, Man, that doesn't even seem that big of a deal. I wouldn't have known it was that kind of big a deal until I saw it in the law that said, Thou shalt not covet. [00:40:28] (24 seconds)  #ComparisonBreedsCovet

He's saying, I want the best for my life. I am doing my best. I'm putting don't stickers and do stickers, and it's not working out, and I'm losing. I'm losing. I feel like where I'm supposed to be as a follower of Jesus, this life that Jesus talked about, this life that God wants for me, and he tells me, these are good desires, these are bad desires, it's not working for me, I can't do this. I'm losing the battle. [00:44:26] (31 seconds)  #LosingTheBattle

And I sometimes got to wonder, God might be looking at us going, What are you going to do? I've done a lot. I know I'm God, but I've given you gifts and abilities as well. Now, we can't do it all. We can't be the one who gets out in front. We've tried that before. Don't don't work. But if we cry out help sincerely, there's still a part that we need to play in the midst of our surrender. [01:01:54] (25 seconds)  #SurrenderAndAct

Now, those of you that grew up in church, you're like, oh, oh, oh, I know the answer. Churches say this all the time. They say, don't. That's what they say. Or if you grew up in church world, we used the King James version, we said, thou shalt not. Right? That's what we said. And it's don't. But before you get too judgy with that and go, That's what I thought you'd say, you're in church. Churches are famous for saying don't or some version of that. That's exactly what we do on our own, church or not. We say, Don't. [00:32:11] (28 seconds)  #ChurchSaysDont

He's saying, I want the best for my life. I am doing my best. I'm putting don't stickers and do stickers, and it's not working out, and I'm losing. I'm losing. I feel like where I'm supposed to be as a follower of Jesus, this life that Jesus talked about, this life that God wants for me, and he tells me, these are good desires, these are bad desires, it's not working for me, I can't do this. I'm losing the battle. [00:44:26] (31 seconds)  #FeelingDefeated