Sarah and Hagar | Genesis 16:1-16
The story of Sarai and Hagar in Genesis 16 is a sad tale of what happens when we operate out of the flesh, even trying to do God's will FOR Him, but in our own strength. God wants us to wait upon Him and His power, not do it our way and on our timeline - lest we produce an Ishmael and not an Isaac.
Mastering the Battle for the Mind
Spiritual battles are won or lost at the threshold of the mind. Thankfully, God has given us very practical, simple weapons with which we can fully experience the victory Christ has won for us.
Overcoming Sin - Repentance in Action | 2 Corinthians 13:1-4
Living in a sin-cursed world where we face temptation from all around us, there is still hope in the simple truth that Jesus is greater than your sin. The same power that raised Jesus from the grace, is able to overcome the flesh.
Know Thy Enemy - Part 3 - The Flesh - Ephesians 6:10-12
The enemy we struggle with everyday is the Flesh, the enemy of Sin that lives in the members of our body. It is crucial therefore, that we understand what the Flesh is - and what it is not, how it operates and the tools that it uses. Only then will we see the power of Jesus in us as the answer.
Know Thy Enemy - Part 2 - The World - Ephesians 6:10-12
We continue to understand our enemy with examining what Bible calls the World. A system of thinking that opposes the Kingdom of God and tries to replace God in our lives. This happens through a cultural pull attempting to influence our thinking, desires and goals.
Flesh-Aware
One of the many problems for Christians over the centuries has been the answer to this question: If I am made righteous, why do I struggle with sin? The solution for centuries has been to work harder at not struggling, yet that has proven itself to be a problem too. If we dig deeper into the Biblical understanding of sin and its origins, we'll find the problem is in us but not of us.
Why We Struggle - Ephesians 2:1-3
At times we all feel unloved and not good enough. Feelings that lead to us making choices that we end up regretting and feeling even more of a failure. The reason for this struggle is our battle with the Flesh. It is a universal and daily battle that we will not be able to overcome on our own. Ross teaches from Ephesians 2:1-3, explaining the Flesh in greater detail and how it operates.
The Battle Within
Understanding your enemy and how they attack is critical to achieving victory. Ross walks us through Galatians 5:16-18 to help us understand that the battle is not a battle against our old sinful nature. The old self was crucified with Christ. The battle is with the flesh – which is in you, but not you. It is not even a battle that you are meant to overcome on your own. It is Jesus that provides victory over sin and temptation.