The enemy that is in!

Scripture Read: Romans 1:21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes. 24 So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.28 When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.32 They are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

Application: Refuse to understand:ἀσύνετος asunetos -  unintelligent, without understanding, stupid. Paul calls unredeemed man’s heart asunetos, because of its inability to conclude from the observable creation that there must be a Creator, To be without understanding is not just a partial deficiency which might be overcome; it is total darkening, and as such the work of God, ,

Break their promises: ἀσύνθετος asunthetos - In the NT a breaker of a covenant or agreement, faithless, treacherous. Paul, however, uses it with an act. referring to those who, being in covenant and treaty with others, refuse to abide by their agreements. ,

Heartless: ἄστοργος astorgos - without natural affection, Without family love,

Unforgiving: ἀνελεήμων aneleemon  - Unmerciful, not compassionate.

This is a pretty ugly description of man. I wonder how often I would fit into this category. I realize that I have been delivered but since this is a description of my old nature – when I yield to it, am I not in the same boat again, except I am not without hope? Perhaps this is why believers can do such ridiculous sins! We know what is right and wrong – but when functioning from the old man we can easily sin because the old man does not operate with spiritual eyes. This is why it is so important to have a moment to moment conscious relationship with the Holy Spirit. For He can awaken us from within when we are trying to walk in the power of the flesh. This is not an excuse Lord – for I do not have to yield to the old man. Help me my Lord to see the need I have to stay conscious on my relationship with the Holy Spirit. He alone can provide me with the strength of Christ. Thank you that He is in me and desires to lead me. Thanks Holy Spirit!