"God's Security"

"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth." (Psalms 80:1) Before we can actually have any sort of victory in our lives, we must first realize that we cannot be victorious on our own. Simply put, if we think we have something within us that gives us power over the flesh, we are not quite getting the whole picture of what is going on. Sure, we have the Holy Spirit abiding within us; which is why this body is considered to be the Temple of God; but without complete obedience to the Spirit within, we are totally going to fail when it comes to having victory over sin. I heard a message by Pastor Matt that pretty much speaks to what God has put on my heart this morning. The message was dealing with two brothers, Joseph and Judah, and it was basically about walking like Joseph walked, not like Judah. Was Joseph perfect? No, but he tried to do what was right. Time and time again, he did what he knew in his heart was the right thing to do; even though for years, doing good seemed to cost him some suffering. But, here's the thing we must always remember about Joseph's suffering, he always still tried to do good in the midst of suffering! There was something of a detachment between where Joseph was and where God had him; regardless of his situation, there was always something else to look forward to that went beyond the current situation. Unlike Judah, who pretty much lived for the moment, Joseph had bigger and better things he looked forward to; even though at times those things were not very obvious in his sight, they were still in his heart. That is the primary gift that the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us brings, a fellowship with heaven; the ability to live as though we know in our hearts that this is not our home. Does that mean we still don't live for the moment? No, not in the least! I wish it did, because there is always this stupid battle going on in the heart and mind. But God, the God who has snatched out of the fire, He alone is victorious! I can only hope to be victorious in Jesus Christ, not in myself! So, where, oh where is my victory found; well it's not here, that much I know...
"So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life -that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin."
(Romans 7:14-25) NLT