WHO SHALL DELIVER ME FROM THE BODY OF THIS DEATH? / QUI ME DELIVRERA DU CORPS DE CETTE MORT?

CHRIST THE ROCK CONGREGATION
SUNDAY JUNE 12^TH 2022
Sermon by Pastor Marc E Simeon

QUI ME DELIVRERA DU CORPS MORTEL DE CETTE MORT?

WHO SHALL DELIVER ME OUT OF THIS BODY OF DEATH?

LECTURE : ROMAINS 7:14-25

14 ¶ Nous savons, en effet, que la loi est spirituelle; mais moi, je suis charnel, vendu au péché.

 15 Car je ne sais pas ce que je fais: je ne fais point ce que je veux, et je fais ce que je hais.

 16 Or, si je fais ce que je ne veux pas, je reconnais par là que la loi est bonne.

17 Et maintenant ce n’est plus moi qui le fais, mais c’est le péché qui habite en moi.

 18 Ce qui est bon, je le sais, n’habite pas en moi, c’est-à-dire dans ma chair: j’ai la volonté, mais non le pouvoir de faire le bien.

 19 Car je ne fais pas le bien que je veux, et je fais le mal que je ne veux pas.

 20 Et si je fais ce que je ne veux pas, ce n’est plus moi qui le fais, c’est le péché qui habite en moi.

21 Je trouve donc en moi cette loi: quand je veux faire le bien, le mal est attaché à moi.

 22 Car je prends plaisir à la loi de Dieu, selon l’homme intérieur;

 23 mais je vois dans mes membres une autre loi, qui lutte contre la loi de mon entendement, et qui me rend captif de la loi du péché, qui est dans mes membres.

24 Misérable que je suis! Qui me délivrera du corps de cette mort?…

 25 Grâces soient rendues à Dieu par Jésus-Christ notre Seigneur!… Ainsi donc, moi-même, je suis par l’entendement esclave de la loi de Dieu, et je suis par la chair esclave de la loi du péché.

Ro 7:14-25

14 ¶ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.

 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.

 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

 23 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.

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

 25 I thank God–through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

INTRODUCTION

• In Romans 7 Paul exposes a corner in his life that’s kept hidden by most people  in spiritual authority.
• In most instances we find Christian leaders pretending to be soaring high in their relationship with God, while the contrary might be true.
• Paul went as far as portraying himself as the most villain and desperate of sinners.
• Many theologians are uncomfortable with Paul’s brutal transparence over his struggles with the flesh.
• Some say that Paul is talking about his pre-conversion state.
• While we Christians can be rightly tempted to put Paul on a spiritual pedestal, Paul himself refuted the very idea by exposing his inner battle with the power of sin.
• For the most part, religious people would rather justify or sanctify their shortcomings rather than confessing them as sins.
• Some people would go as far as dumping some praise the Lord Alleluia over their bad behaviors to make them look right.
• Some so-called Christians defend themselves by saying, “That’s the way God made me”.
• If we are honest we ourselves, we would see that Paul’s struggles are common for every true Christian.
• The bent toward sin long after salvation is far too common among believers.
• There needs to be a declaration of war between the two natures residing inside the believer.
• The inner drive toward sin must be confronted by all Christians.
• We must accept that we Christians are on an earthly pilgrimage to Golgotha, whereby we daily subject our flesh to be crucified for the benefit of our regenerate souls.
• The march toward sanctification is indeed agonizing and painful.
• Sometimes we are victorious;, and sometimes, we just have to try to get back on our feet after a knock down.
• Regardless how many good rounds you’ve had in your wrestling match with the flesh, the fight is bound to continue to our last breath on this earth.

THE  S.O.S.  CRY  FOR  SPIRITUAL HELP

• S.O.S. means Save Our Ship
• It seems that Paul’s struggle reached to the climax when he exclaimed:
• Ro 7:24 Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?
• Ro 7:24 Misérable que je suis! Qui me délivrera du corps de cette mort?…
• This is the cry of a struggling Christian who wants to make it right with God.
• Paul is asking for help from outside.
• Paul realized that he needed backup to overtake this opponent.
• Who is going to rescue me out of this mess?
• Who’s going to pull that monkey off my back?
• Who’s going to stand with me in prayer?
• Who’s going to join me in the fight?
• Who’s going to confront the enemy for me, or with me?
• Who’s going to give me a booster?
• Who’s going to lift me out of that hole?
• Far too many Christians found themselves alone in their most desperate hour in their battle with sin.
• Far too many struggling Christians are too proud to ask for help.
• Far too many Christians look the other way when they spot an entangled brother and sister.

THE COMPLEXITY WITHIN

ROMANS 7:19-21

• 19 Car je ne fais pas le bien que je veux, et je fais le mal que je ne veux pas.
•  20 Et si je fais ce que je ne veux pas, ce n’est plus moi qui le fais, c’est le péché qui habite en moi.
•  21 Je trouve donc en moi cette loi: quand je veux faire le bien, le mal est attaché à moi.

Romans 7: 19-21

• 19 For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practice.
•  20 But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelled in me.
•  21 I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present.
• The peeling-off of the flesh is no small matter.
• We have two bosses passing out orders in our lives.
• We are in constant conflicts.
• We struggle to stay on track with the Holy Spirit.
• some are tired with their constant short lived victories.
• If I to tell you that the struggles with the flesh will disappear at some point, I would be lying.
• But I can tell you that there is victory in Jesus.
• I can tell you that you are no longer a slave of sin to respond to its commands.
• I can tell you that the enemy can be tamed by the power of the blood of Jesus.
• I can tell you that you can turn the flesh to a defeated foe with the help of the Holy Spirit.
• A former alcoholic will continue to be on the watch with alcohol for the rest of his life.
• The sins that used to dominate over us will continue to try to reclaim their old dominion.
• But victory is certain with Jesus for all sincere Christians.

HELP IS ON THE WAY

• 1Co 10:3 Aucune tentation ne vous est survenue qui n’ait été humaine, et Dieu, qui est fidèle, ne permettra pas que vous soyez tentés au delà de vos forces; mais avec la tentation il préparera aussi le moyen d’en sortir, afin que vous puissiez la supporter. (LSV)
• 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (NKJV)
• 2Pe 2:9 le Seigneur sait délivrer de l’épreuve les hommes pieux, et réserver les injustes pour être punis au jour du jugement, (LSV)
•  9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, (NKJV)

CONCLUSION

• If you witness that sin has an upper hand over you, cry out for help.
• If you see that you’re too prompt to tell a lie, ask God to deliver you from that.
• If you see that you are losing the battle over alcohol, cry out to God.
• If you are losing the battle over pornography, cry out to God for deliverance.
• If you are losing the battle with your hot temper, beg God to rescue you.
• If you are losing the battle with bitterness, go to the throne of God and sue for God’s mercy.
• If you are losing the battle with worry, dial God for help.
• If you are losing the battle with impure thoughts, run to God for deliverance.
• If you are losing the battle with pride dial God’s emergency number immediately.
• If the love of money has gotten you on your back, rush to God for grace.
• Don’t just stand there and allow the enemy to wreck your life.
• Get in the battlefield with the flesh.
• Ask some Christians to join you in the battle.
• If you are on your back now, I challenge  yourself to get back on your feet.
• The fight is not over until it’s over.
• Do not accept defeat; fight on to holiness till your last breath.
• Remember that God is on your side and ready to assist you.
• Pr 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
• Pr 24:16 Car sept fois le juste tombe, et il se relève, Mais les méchants sont précipités dans le malheur.

          AMEN !