Break Free, Part 4: Who Will Rescue Me?

Dr. Lem Usita, Guest Pastor

Romans 7:15–25
¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Wanting and desiring to do good is .

Question: Can you your habitual sin cycle?

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Next Question:
When you’re in your habitual sin cycle, do you take the sin that you confessed ?

Hebrews 12:2
…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Hebb’s Law
Cells that together together.

Quantum Zeno Effect
The brain becomes whatever you regularly .

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

We can create new neural pathways that lead us to the . 

Centering Prayer:
The simple practice of holding on to a word and sitting in the presence of Jesus.

• Choose a word or phrase as the symbol of your willingness to consent to God’s presence and actions within.
• Sit comfortably, and repeat your prayer, and breathe deeply.
• When thoughts come, let them go and return to the word or phrase and practice the 10k ways to return to God.
• At the end, thank God for His presence.

Journal Work

One Question:  Can you name your habitual sin cycle? Is it different than the one you came up with week 1?

One Truth:  Fix your eyes on Jesus, in order to “throw off the sin that easily entangles you.” 

One Step: Practice the presence of God. One way is to practice centering prayer.

Small Group Questions

1. What’s something God brought you through that you could’ve never gotten through on your own?
2. Why do you think we’re so prone to repeating sin as humans?
3. What’s your first response when you find yourself stuck in a pattern of sin? Do you move toward God or away from him? Why?
4. How do you go about boasting in your weakness while still moving toward the wholeness and freedom Jesus invites us into?
5. If you’re brutally honest, how hungry are you for God’s presence in this season? What would it look like for you to take a step toward God?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?