Overcoming the Invisible War Within Us

Devotional

Day 1: The Internal Battle of Two Natures

In our daily lives, we often face an internal struggle between two conflicting natures: our old nature, which seeks self-gratification and convenience, and our new nature, which aligns with God's will. This battle within is the root of much of our unhappiness, as we tend to listen to our flawed thoughts rather than God's truth. Recognizing this internal conflict is the first step toward victory. By understanding that our old nature seeks self-gratification, we can begin to align ourselves with God's will and find true joy and purpose. [02:16]

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15, ESV)

Reflection: What are some specific areas in your life where you notice the struggle between your old and new nature? How can you invite God into these areas today?

Day 2: Identifying and Overcoming Weapons of Self-Destruction

Shame, uncontrolled thoughts, compulsions, fear, hopelessness, bitterness, and insecurity are internal forces that lead us away from God's plan. These are the weapons of self-destruction that we must identify and overcome. By seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can replace these negative mindsets with those that lead to life and peace. Recognizing these weapons allows us to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in overcoming them. [05:37]

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." (Ephesians 4:31, ESV)

Reflection: Which of the seven weapons of self-destruction do you struggle with the most? What practical steps can you take today to begin overcoming it with the Holy Spirit's help?

Day 3: Embracing the Power of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8 teaches us that the Holy Spirit provides the antidote to our self-destructive tendencies. By inviting the Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions, we can experience true transformation and freedom from our old nature. The Holy Spirit empowers us to develop mental habits that align us with God's Spirit, leading to transformation and freedom. [12:19]

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26, ESV)

Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions today? What specific area of your life needs transformation through the Spirit's power?

Day 4: Focusing on the Long-Term Benefits of God's Will

By focusing on the long-term benefits of aligning with God's will, we can endure short-term pain and challenges. This eternal perspective helps us overcome hopelessness and bitterness, trusting that God is working all things for our good. By keeping our eyes on the long-term, we can trust that God is good and in control, even when we face difficulties. [51:31]

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV)

Reflection: What short-term challenges are you currently facing that require a long-term perspective? How can you remind yourself of God's eternal promises today?

Day 5: Resting in God's Unfailing Love

Trusting that God will never stop loving us provides security and peace. No matter what we face, we can rest in the assurance that we are part of God's family, and nothing can separate us from His love. This understanding of God's unfailing love gives us the confidence to face life's challenges with peace and security. [07:00]

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: How does knowing that nothing can separate you from God's love change the way you approach your daily life? What is one way you can rest in His love today?

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, I explore the concept of the "Invisible War" that each of us faces, focusing on the internal battle within ourselves. This battle is not against external forces like Satan or the world, but rather against our own nature. We often find ourselves struggling with two natures: our old nature, which seeks convenience and self-gratification, and our new nature, which aligns with God's will. This internal conflict is the root of much of our unhappiness, as we often listen to our own flawed thoughts rather than God's truth.

I identify seven "weapons of self-destruction" that we must overcome: shame, uncontrolled thoughts, compulsions, fear, hopelessness, bitterness, and insecurity. These are the internal forces that lead us away from joy and fulfillment. However, Romans 8 provides us with the antidote to these destructive forces through the power of the Holy Spirit. By embracing the truths of Romans 8, we can develop mental habits that align us with God's Spirit, leading to transformation and freedom.

The first step is to remind ourselves daily of what Jesus has done for us, which frees us from shame. We must also ask the Holy Spirit to give us better thoughts, replacing negative mindsets with those that lead to life and peace. Recognizing that we have a new ability to say no to self-destructive behaviors is crucial, as is turning our thoughts to God whenever we are afraid. By focusing on the long-term rather than the short-term, we can overcome hopelessness and bitterness, trusting that God is good and in control. Finally, we must trust that God will never stop loving us, which provides security and peace.

Key Takeaways

1. gratification, we can begin to align ourselves with God's will and find true joy and purpose. [02:16]
2. Weapons of Self-Destruction: Shame, uncontrolled thoughts, compulsions, fear, hopelessness, bitterness, and insecurity are the internal forces that lead us away from God's plan. Identifying these weapons allows us to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in overcoming them.

3. The Power of the Holy Spirit: Romans 8 teaches us that the Holy Spirit provides the antidote to our self-destructive tendencies. By inviting the Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions, we can experience true transformation and freedom from our old nature.

4. Long-Term Focus: By focusing on the long-term benefits of aligning with God's will, we can endure short-term pain and challenges. This eternal perspective helps us overcome hopelessness and bitterness, trusting that God is working all things for our good.

5. God's Unfailing Love: Trusting that God will never stop loving us provides security and peace. No matter what we face, we can rest in the assurance that we are part of God's family, and nothing can separate us from His love.

** [02:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:06] - Introduction to Summer Series
[01:19] - The Three Enemies
[02:16] - The Battle Within
[03:09] - The Struggle of Two Natures
[05:37] - Weapons of Self-Destruction
[06:55] - Overcoming Shame
[07:23] - Controlling Thoughts
[08:08] - Mastering Compulsions
[08:24] - Conquering Fear
[08:54] - Defeating Hopelessness
[09:12] - Letting Go of Bitterness
[09:56] - Overcoming Insecurity
[12:19] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
[51:31] - Focusing on the Long Term
[07:00] - Trusting in God's Love

Sermon Clips

Our greatest enemy is often ourselves, as we struggle with two conflicting natures. Recognizing this internal battle is the first step toward victory. By understanding that our old nature seeks self-gratification, we can begin to align ourselves with God's will and find true joy and purpose. [00:02:36]

The first weapon of self-destruction is shame. Shame, you cannot be happy and feel ashamed at the same time. When you feel ashamed, when you feel guilty, when you feel regrets, that just robs all your happiness. God doesn't want you to walk around feeling guilty. God doesn't want you to walk around feeling ashamed. [00:06:49]

The second weapon of self-destruction is uncontrolled thoughts. If you don't learn how to control your thoughts, your thoughts will ruin your life because you say stuff to yourself that causes unhappiness, causes grief, causes pressure. You must learn how to control your thoughts. [00:07:23]

Romans 8 teaches us that the Holy Spirit provides the antidote to our self-destructive tendencies. By inviting the Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions, we can experience true transformation and freedom from our old nature. [00:12:19]

The mind of sinful man is what that means. It's self-destructive thoughts that you come up with yourself are going to tend to be self-destructive. The mind of sinful man is death, but the Mind controlled by the spirit is what life and peace. [00:27:03]

The fourth weapon of self-destruction is fear, and fear is an enormous destroyer of Happiness, of potential, of God's purpose for your life. It will limit your life. You've got to learn how to master your fears. [00:08:24]

The fifth weapon of self-destruction is hopelessness. Hopelessness keeps you from keeping on. When you start to feel hopeless about anything, you get discouraged and want to give up. If you feel hopeless about your marriage, if you feel hopeless about ever getting married, if you feel hopeless about your finances or you feel hopeless about your health, hopelessness is a self-destructive weapon that you use on you. [00:08:54]

The sixth weapon of self-destruction is bitterness. Bitterness is a huge weapon of self-destruction because life is unfair, and we don't all get the same thing, and life is broken, and we're stuck, and some people get better than you, and you get jealous, and you get envious, and some people hurt you. [00:09:12]

Trusting that God will never stop loving us provides security and peace. No matter what we face, we can rest in the assurance that we are part of God's family, and nothing can separate us from His love. [01:07:00]

The seventh weapon of self-destruction is insecurity. You got to deal with this one because if you don't learn how to deal with insecurity in your life, it's going to cause you to do foolish things. When you're insecure and you're trying to show everybody else that you're very confident, you'll say stupid things, you'll do stupid things. [00:09:56]

The more you have of the Holy Spirit, the more self-controlled you are. In fact, God does not give us, it says, a spirit of fear. So if you are afraid, that's not from God. That fear is not from God. When God's spirit comes into your life, you're filled with love. [00:50:20]

By focusing on the long-term benefits of aligning with God's will, we can endure short-term pain and challenges. This eternal perspective helps us overcome hopelessness and bitterness, trusting that God is working all things for our good. [00:51:31]

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