Becoming a Better Doer

Today, I'd like for us to consider a rather simple question. Why don't we do what we know we ought to do? I know. I'm going to be meddling a little bit. I do that from time to time. Why don't we do what we know we ought to do? On its surface, this question acknowledges a common problem, and not one only limited to Christians who are striving to obey God and live by his way of life. But think about it. Isn't much of our frustration in dealing with people in general due to folks who just won't follow the rules, do what they're told, follow directions? Let's admit it. Sometimes a lot of the problems are on life because we're doing the same thing from time to time. We don't always do what we need to be doing. For example, at Walmart, why do so many people enter through that door that says, exit? I catch myself, I'll go around. Others, they keep going. And then they turn around and go out the exit door. Why do they do that? Driving back home from Thanksgiving last weekend, I can't tell you how many people I saw not doing what they were supposed to be doing. Right? Throughout Missouri, it seemed like every driver was just kind of slowly tootling along in the left lane, the passing lane, even though sign after sign said, left lane, passing only.

And then in the work zones of Illinois. Illinois is probably one of my favorite states to drive through. Not so much. Speed limits were posted in the work zones at 45 miles an hour, and people were regularly flying past me doing 70. How do I know? Because they have those little signs that light up your speed? Flashing 70. Amazing. As a teacher, I was constantly amazed as well by my students who wouldn't follow instructions. You can imagine. Homework was continually turned in late, directions seldom followed. An essay sometimes was so rarely followed the required format, MLA format, we call it, that when I'd get a paper where a student actually followed the format and did a great job, I'd practically cry. This is so pretty! That usually doesn't happen. Now, of course, you can come up with your long list of examples of things people don't do, and I can add a whole lot more. But why is it generally speaking? Why is it so difficult for people, that includes all of us, like I said, to do what we know to do? Is there anything we can do about it? Or should we just simply accept our propensity to fail in doing what we need to do, what we know better? Well, that's the topic of my sermon today. And the title is, Becoming a Better Doer. D-O-E-R. Becoming a Better Doer.

So let's talk a little bit about us now. Just a little bit. We're called, of God, now, to become more like Jesus Christ. Now, I assume we all know what we ought to be doing, but since a very dear friend of mine has told me time and again to never assume or make assumptions, let's review the very clear directions, instructions, God has set for the followers of Christ, and those instructions, those directions, were to follow are the Ten Commandments. Now, Jesus Christ explicitly shows in the Scripture that our obedience to God must include obeying the Ten Commandments. So let's turn to Matthew 19. Matthew 19. You see at Walmart and along the road sign and teachers, constantly giving directions, instructions, do it this way. Well, God has made sure we also, God has made sure we also, as Christians, have our directions. Matthew 19 and starting in verse 16.

I'm still getting there. There we are. Matthew 19 verse 16.

Person is asking Jesus, "'Now behold, one came and said to him, Good Teacher, what good things shall I do that I may inherit that may have eternal life?' Verse 17, So he said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones?

Now in answer, we notice that Jesus listed a number of the Ten Commandments along with a summary statement. And so continuing in verse 18, Jesus replied, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother. And here's the summary one, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. And so we learn that obedience to God begins with accepting the Ten Commandments as a permanent standard for our values and our behavior. Those are the to-do's we should be involved with. But our obedience, of course, must extend beyond just keeping the Ten Commandments, especially in a narrow, let's say, fair, say, equal way that will lead to acting with hypocrisy and self-righteousness or obsessiveness with regard to how strictly we adhere to the rules and formality of God's law. But let's also turn to Matthew 5, 17.

In Matthew 5, 17, let's notice something else Jesus said. Matthew 5, 17. In Matthew 5, 17, Jesus said, Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. And this Greek word here, fulfill, is pleru, which means to fill to the full. Verse 18, He says, For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Now this fulfilled is a different Greek word, gynome, and it's used in the sense of to come to pass. So until heaven and earth pass away, not one bit of the law is going to disappear. It's not going to be put aside. In verse 19, Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches him, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, then unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Sin is disregarding or refusing to do what God tells us to do. And Jesus tells us that he had no intention of annulling or abolishing any of God's commands, and that anyone who presumes to teach that is in very grave spiritual danger.

Let's also note John 14, 15.

John 14, 15. I've had relatives of mine I love very much tell me, oh well you don't have to keep those commandments anymore. They're nailed to the cross with Christ. Well, that's not true. Let's notice John 14, 15. John 14, 15. Very clear, very straightforward statement. Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commandments. Keep my commandments. Christ's directions can't get much clearer than that. So God's 10 commandments establish the basis of what we know to do in order to obey God and to avoid sinning. But do we always do what we know to do? No, no, not like we should. And I confess, I don't always do like I should. But I'm a work in progress, and I assume we all are, right? Well, let's consider a few common dilemmas concerning knowing and doing that we ought to do. Perhaps some of these are things we've run across in our own lives. For example, perhaps we know we ought to go to the doctor to get that strange pain checked out and to lay our spouse's fear. But we keep putting it off. We really should get that taken care of, right? Maybe we know we ought to clean our room, children, like Mom said. Not my kids. Maybe we know. Remember back when your child, how many times did Mom tell you to go pick up your stuff? We didn't do it, did we? Well, it still happens nowadays, I'm told.

We keep playing our games or doing whatever we do. We don't always do as kids what we need to do. Maybe we know we ought to give more time to our family than to our job. But we keep putting in longer and longer hours at work. Perhaps we know we ought to spend less time on social media, but we just keep our little eyeballs glued to that screen. And they come in various shapes and sizes and places and things now, don't they? Perhaps we know we ought to quit telling our teachers half-truths and feeble excuses, but we keep telling them anyway. And we also know that we ought to be praying and studying the Bible more, but we don't. And perhaps we really know we ought to volunteer, but we don't get that done either. So why don't we do these things? And many other things, frankly, that secretly, in the recesses of our own hearts and minds, we know, don't we? We know there's something we need to be doing, and we keep nagging ourselves about it to do it, but we just can't seem to get it done.

What's wrong with us? What's wrong with me? Why don't I do it? I don't want to accuse you of anything being wrong with you. Why don't we do what we're supposed to do? Well, nothing is wrong with us, per se, except that we all must struggle against our carnal, sinful nature. In this case, doing what we ought to do requires that we make changes in our lives, perhaps even a repent of sin. We might need to do something new and different. Doing things new and different. We might even become uncomfortable, though, doing some of that. Generally speaking, in my experience, in what I've known and seen of people, people do not like to change their ways of doing things. Especially if it's something they ought to do, but not something they want to do, or feel a pressing need to do. Perhaps you've noticed that about yourself. Now, why are some people—and this may include a few of us—I won't tell you which one of these fits me—but why are some people, maybe just a few of us, so resistant to change and not doing what they want to do, or what God wants us to do? Let's consider a few reasons why people don't typically do what they need to do. Some people are just too set in their ways.

Sometimes changing means getting rid of old habits, tossing aside those nicely established routines we've spent so many years honing and getting used to. People can become most content and comfortable with those patterns we're used to doing, how we think and believe. And there's so much so that it's really hard when we're setting away ways to see a need to change. I've always done it that way. What can be wrong with that, we might say. Sometimes people are satisfied with those ways. And, of course, the danger is that that could become a thing we call complacency—becoming lackadaisical.

And when they're made aware of a need to change, some of these folks usually don't like it. They resist changing. Perhaps their conscience will prod them a little bit with guilt. Try to get them to change whatever you need to change. But they don't want to do it. It's much easier, for example, to simply ignore—here's an example—much easier to ignore what the nutritionist is telling you to do. Eat more leafy greens, eat less red meat, what have you. It's easier to ignore that and do what we like to do and reach out and grab a second piece of that greasy fried chicken wing, and a big more batch of macaroni and cheese. Oh, and don't forget the sweet tea. When we go up north, you don't find sweet tea. They actually make you sweeten your own tea up north. My daughter is amazed. Other reasons people don't do what they ought to do. Well, now, sometimes people are fearful of change. Perhaps you've been in those shoes. Again, change requires doing things differently than before. That could mean a degree of fear involved, because there are different types of fears, aren't there? Doing things differently can make us leery because we're doing something we haven't done before. We're kind of entering into an unknown category, an unknown zone. Sometimes there's a fear of just doing something out of the ordinary, possibly failure because you haven't done this before. You don't want to be embarrassed by people when they see you fail. Maybe you trip over your feet as you try to skate for the first time. There's always a fear of standing out and being different. A lot of our young people growing up in the church, they know what that feels like, and they don't always want to become too noticeable in observing God's way of doing things. There's a fear of being pointed out. Sometimes change requires we might lose something. Maybe we lose a little more peace in our lives or something like that. Now, fear can be a good thing. I know that. Fear can prevent us from doing things that are harmful to our bodies. But the wrong use of fear can also lead us to avoid doing things that are really better for us. For example, some people won't go to the doctor like they know they should.

I can speak to that because we might be a little fearful of the diagnosis. Isn't that kind of odd? It's a diagnosis that could do us so much good if we just take the chance. Now, some people are just too busy. They're too busy to do what they need to do. Sometimes people resist doing what they ought to do because they don't have the time. Doing something new and different means changing routines. That slows you up in the morning or getting home at night or on the job. We don't want to do that. Doing things differently might make life more hectic, and we certainly can't risk that happening. They certainly have no time to face the potential of being inconvenienced or taken away from their harried schedules to help others, perhaps. We don't want to change the way we do things. Some people, frankly, I don't know how to say it anyway else, but some people are just too lazy. They're too lazy to do what they need to do. Even if it means doing something different that's going to make their lives better and them happier, they simply don't want to change. They don't want to be different than what they're used to. You see, to change can take a lot of energy and effort. Lazyness is really close to stubbornness at times. Those who are just a little too lazy, they'll never find time to lend a hand. They'll never find time to help others out in any way. Not even if they're really capable of reaching out and doing just that. They don't know what they're missing out on when they help people like we know. Sadly, more and more people are just too preoccupied with themselves. Increasingly, it seems people are so into themselves, they see no need to do anything except what they want to do. They certainly don't want to do something that takes up their time and their effort in doing what they ought to do would likely mean doing what they don't want to do. The world is revolving around their own needs and their own wants, keeping themselves satisfied. So if they know they ought to spend more time with their family, they probably won't do it because it takes away from their time and their interest. I have known a few people like that through the years. And then finally, I honestly have to come up with this reason why people don't want to do what they want to do, they don't want to change. Sometimes we don't want to change for no other reason than we don't want to. We have no reason to. Why would we even think about doing that? There's not always a clear reason to explain what we do, you see. We just do it. It reminds me of an anecdote Bill Cosby used to tell. I know Bill Cosby is kind of on the...

Yeah, Bill Cosby. It's sad. But back in the day when he was really funny and one of our favorite comedians, he used to tell the story and I don't know if it's a true story but I've never forgotten it. One day he discovered that his son had given himself a haircut and he had taken a pair of electric hair clippers and gone over the top of his head front to back, closely to the scalp, front to back. And of course his dad is quite upset about what his son had done to his hair. And so he asked him, son, did you give yourself a haircut? The son says, uh-huh.

Then he asked son, is this the haircut you wanted? A backwards mohawk?

Again, the son goes, uh-huh. Finally asked the son, what did you do that for? Of course, the answer is, I don't know. I remember that excuse growing up as a kid, you caught, why did you do that? I don't know. People still use that, even as we're growing now, we still do that. And so anyway, there are many other things, other reasons for doing what we don't do, but the fact is we may not always be able to explain to people or even to ourselves why we don't know why we don't do what we know we should do. But where human reasoning fails us sometimes, God's holy scriptures bring clarity and right understanding as to why we don't do what we know to do. So let's turn then back to the Bible. And some of you can probably guess where I'm going. We're going to go to Romans 7. Romans 7.

In Romans 7, some of you are very familiar with, in Romans 7 we find Paul's explanation of why we don't do what we know to do. Why we don't do what we know to do, the Romans 7. I will ask you to be patient with me because I'm going to be reading in Romans 7 from the new Living Translation. I've studied it. It looks to be rather accurate. And their translation just kind of uses a more contemporary language. I think it makes it a little more easy for us to understand. As we know, Paul sometimes says things that are difficult to understand. And this new Living Translation in this case does a better job of helping us understand. So again, Romans 7, the question is, why don't we do what we know to do? This is a big concern to the early Christians as well, and of course an early concern of Paul's.

In fact, Paul expresses some of his own bewilderment. He seems baffled as to why he doesn't do what he knows to do. And I say that because of what we find—and I'm going to pull a few scriptures out here—Roman 7.15. And notice what Paul has to say about his own perplexity and bewilderment as to why he doesn't do what he wants to do or should do. In Romans 7.15, again, I'm reading from the New Living Translation. It's going to be a little different. Paul writes, 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. And then in verse 18 and 19, he continues in the same line, And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. 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. Now, these three scriptures seem like I've heard this before, echoing in my own head at times. But these three scriptures highlight Paul's same frustration, I believe, that we feel about not doing what we know to do. Paul knows it. He felt the same way, I should say. He felt the same way. He had the same desires to please God and keep His commandments, just like we do, but he didn't. Now, let's put these all back into context. I'm going to read Romans 7.14, starting Romans 7.14, to understand the explanation a little more clearly now of the root cause, and Paul does get to it, of the root cause of why we don't always do what we know to do. So Paul writes, again, New Living Translation, verse 14, So the trouble is not with the law. Remember God's law, the Ten Commandments? If you love me, keep my commandments. He says, the trouble is not with the law. Pretty spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, Paul says, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don't really understand myself again, for I want to do what's right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows, does show, that I agree that the law is good. So in verse 16, Paul seems to recognize, like we do, that God's law is good and ought to be obeyed, and that we have the desire to obey it. That shows that there is something still good in us. We recognize God's laws, right? We really want to keep it, but something keeps pulling us back. Something keeps impeding us and hindering us in our effort to do what we know to do. So verse 17, so I am not the one doing wrong, he writes, it is sin living in me that does it. Verse 20, but if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong, he writes, it is sin living in me that does it. So he's separating out his desire to do right, and then inclination to go the opposite way. Verse 21, 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, he says in verse 24, what a miserable person I am. Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Verse 25 is the answer. We love this answer. Thank God. The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is, he writes, in my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature, I am a slave to sin.

It should sound familiar. What Paul tells us here is that we're involved in a spiritual struggle within us. On one side is the inward man, or the mind, which delights in God's law, which wants to follow Christ and obey God and do all that is good and right. But on the other side is the flesh, or our sinful nature, carnal nature. This sinful nature craves to sin and to fulfill its carnal desires that are always contrary to God's good and righteous law. The flesh continually rejects and resists the inward man, or the mind, that seeks after God. It's our sinful nature, as Paul describes, that continually strives to turn us away from obeying him from doing what we know to do. So we then find ourselves miserable when we fail to live according to God's law, failing to yield, or, excuse me, failing because we do yield to our sinful nature. And if we turn to Galatians 5.17, Paul more succinctly repeats this same idea in Galatians 5.17.

Galatians 5.17 is almost like the abridged version of what he's telling us here in Romans.

In Galatians 5.17, he writes, For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. The New Living Translation puts it this way, the sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the spirit wants. And the spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. And these two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you're not free to carry out your good intentions. And don't we have good intentions? To better understand what the struggle is all about, the struggle that we need to win, we need to understand what Paul means when he uses the phrase, both here and elsewhere, the old man and the new man. And that means we need to go back and make sure we understand the symbolism of water baptism. So let's turn back to Romans in Romans 6, 4-6. And let's read Paul's description of the process of baptism. That's in Romans 6, verse 4-6.

Romans 6, 4-6, Paul writes, Romans 6, verse 4, 4 Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death under the water, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection. 4 Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Paul here explains to us that our water baptism is a symbol of the death and burial of our old man. That means our old, sinful, carnal nature, the way we used to live before God called us. We started paying attention to God and started changing the way we did things before we started trying to do what God shows us to do. Now, if we turn to Colossians 3, 9-10, Paul gives us a little bit further instruction here. In Colossians 3 verse 9, Paul is exhorting Colossians to do what they should know to do. Colossians 3-9, Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created him. The new man is our changed Christian lifestyle. Our new lifestyle, a new way of thinking and doing and striving to be that occurs after our baptism. In Galatians 3, 27, it adds this meaning as well. And we may turn back here. It's just a few pages back, actually. In Galatians 3, 27, the new man is our changed Christian lifestyle after baptism is how we could phrase it.

In Galatians 3, 27, Paul writes, For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ, that new man, that new way of doing.

Let's also be turning to 2 Corinthians 5, 17.

These are very important scriptures that we need to be aware of. All this is helping us to understand this struggle within us.

So after putting to death our old man through repentance and baptism, we put on Christ by receiving his Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.

When that happens, when we receive God's Holy Spirit in us, we become a new man. There's something new within our hearts and minds, something that was not there before.

So Paul tells us 2 Corinthians 5, 17. I hope I said that right. 5, 17. Therefore, he writes, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

After baptism and we receive God's Holy Spirit, we may look the same. To a degree, we probably even act the same for a good long time. Who knows? But we're not the same. Something very miraculous has just happened within us. So when we become a new man, putting on Christ, receiving God's Holy Spirit, we do become that new creation in Christ. And that begins our lifelong process of conversion. Conversion is all about becoming more like Jesus Christ, becoming more like our Heavenly Father. So for the rest of our lives, we must strive to always live according to God's way of life. That's part of what we do. Should be doing. So although the old man is buried in the watery grave of baptism, we still have fleshly bodies and we are still inclined to sin. As long as we're in the flesh, we're always going to be struggling with sin and temptation.

Let's be turning to Ephesians 4.22.

Ephesians 4.22, please.

This is very important. Paul takes us very seriously. He warns us to be unguarded against the old man. He's further explaining to us why we don't do what we know to do. This old man is against us in a very real way. He warns us in Ephesians 4.22 to be unguarded against that old man and not to allow him to regain prominence in our lives. Not to allow him to dominate us and to rule over us, rule over our attitudes, things we think, say, and do. Ephesians 4.22, he exhorts us to put off concerning your former conduct the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lust and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man which is created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. So again, we have got to keep that old man in the watery grave of baptism. That's how I've been taught for years. I've heard Dr. Ward say the same thing, and it's a good way to remember it. What goes in that water needs to stay under the water, that old man. Instead, we must yield to the new man in us, Jesus Christ, God's Holy Spirit, and allow God to help us grow and become more spiritually mature. As Mr. Stewart told us in the sermonette, if we're not allowing God's Spirit to grow in us, then we're in danger of not being qualified for the kingdom. We could, without, if all we do is drink milk of the word, we may not be strong enough to push aside the old man when he yanks at our ankles and tries to pull us backwards the way we once practiced. So Paul's words in these very scriptures help to explain that spiritual struggle. We've got to be wagie. And so true, we may have old habits and fear and laziness. I got a little bit laziness. And a number of other old man ways, old man ways of our sinful nature to strive against. But with the help of this new man, which is Christ in us, we are promised victory as long as we continue to do what we know to do. To do what we know to do. And that is to stay repentant and to always obey and follow God. So ultimately, when it does come to acting in the right and godly way, and combating carnal nature and ruling it, we need to turn to God over and over again in repentance for help to keep moving forward. Our only hope for eternal life and salvation is due to the love of the Father, our Father who gave up His only Son, Jesus Christ. That Jesus Christ, who willingly died, paying the penalty for death for all of us, for all humankind, Christ died so that all might receive God's love, so that all might receive the Father's gift of the Holy Spirit.

If God's Spirit dwells in us, then we are God's. We do belong to God, and we will receive eternal life. But if we fail to strive against that sinful nature of that old man, get cozy with it, once again, get complacent, start doing those things we stopped doing, and now we're starting to do again. If we don't take action to stop that and repent, then we could lose God's Spirit and lose that hope we have of salvation. Let's turn to Romans 8 and 9. I'd like for us to note Paul's words that really offer a real powerful incentive to keep repenting of sin. Romans 8, verse 9 through 14.

Romans 8 verse 9, But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Verse 11, But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. That's the old man. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. These are the sons of God. So not changing our ways, not repenting of sin, simply carrying on, not doing what we know we ought to do.

Frankly, I don't see how that's an option for us. Because if we don't do it, we don't try to follow God and work with him and let him work with us. We're not going to make it. We're not going to get into the kingdom. So we do need to take action to repent over and over again, as much as it takes to allow God to help us stay repentant and rule over that sinful nature to remain qualified for salvation. Our merciful God, of course, is determined to help us succeed.

And that's the good news. You can't have anybody better than God on our side to do what needs to be done. God will give us the strength of mind and fortitude we need to make some tough decisions in our lives. Sometimes fearful decisions, but on the right decisions and the good decisions to make. God will help us find the courage we need or lack. To that contrary to those old habits, really dumb things that we may still be doing.

We know better, but we just can't seem to lick. God will help us change to become more like him. But it means we must stay spiritually alert. We can't just sit there and expect God to do all the work for us. That's not the way it works. That is not the way it works. We must remain spiritually alert, take charge of our lives, and start making those choices. You have to choose to do something, and the second part is you've got to do it.

That is the hard part, isn't it? You can choose to do it, but somehow we trip up and don't actually do it. You ever keep a promise? Well, let me put that back. You ever make a promise you didn't keep? You chose to make a promise, but you didn't follow through. That's where sometimes we fail.

We need to be practicing what God loves to see as practice, and that's judgment, mercy, and faith. Of course, it's part of this way of life that we must live. Micah 6-8. Micah 6-8. What is it God really loves? It's not all the sacrifices. As we see here, it's not the Micah 6-7.

What is God pleased with? Is He pleased with thousands of rams and rivers of oil? Is He pleased with our tithes and offerings and money and things like that we can do? Not as much as He is with what He tells us in Micah 6-8. God has shown you, old man, what is good and what does the eternal require of you but to do justly, to love, mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

It appears in different places in Scripture. If you really start paying attention to this concept of justice and mercy of faith, it's amazing. The same theme may not be the same words, but it comes up over and over and over again. It's part of the process of conversion. To better rule over the old man, residing and fighting against our good intentions, we need to be examining ourselves with the help of God's word. That's judging ourselves, using God's justice and word to judge ourselves to see where we need to repent.

And two, we need to go to God in prayer and repentance and humbly ask Him for help in repenting and also His help by having mercy and forgiveness of those sins we don't want to do, but we keep doing. And then third, we need to hold fast to God. That means persist with God, remain focused on Him, and continue to trust Him and obey Him, walking in faith with Him, growing in the grace and knowledge of God. So what should we do? Because a lot of what I've been saying so far is kind of the big words, obey God and so on, but there are some details in Scripture that helps us to know what it is we're supposed to be doing.

What actions must we take? Galatians 5, please. What actions must we take in order to more successfully do what we know we need to do? You may be getting tired of me saying that over and over again, knowing what we need to do, but guess what? You're not going to forget it for a while, are you? That's my hope. Remember, I'm also preaching it myself. I'm also preaching it myself. Galatians 5 verse 16. Paul provides the answer. What are some things we can be doing? Galatians 5, 16. Paul writes, so I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Quit getting in God's way and do what you know to do.

If you let the Holy Spirit guide your lives, I guess I'm sorry, I guess I'm reading from a New Living Translation. Let me read from Galatians. Let me read from the New King James. Paul writes, I say then, walk in the Spirit, or let the Holy Spirit guide your lives, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. In other words, you won't be fulfilling that sinful human nature, and you won't be fulfilling its cravings. Verse 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Against such, there is no law. There is no law against these good things. In verse 24. And those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

We need to follow God's Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives. Let's also look at 1 Peter. 1 Peter 2. 1 Peter 2. Peter exhorts us to be doing what we know to do.

In 1 Peter 2, and I'm going to be kind of skipping a few scriptures here, but it forms a good picture. In 1 Peter 2, 12, 1 Peter 3. He writes, Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, when they speak against you as evil-doers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. I like the way the New Living Translation puts it. Be careful, it says, to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Verse 15 of the New King James, Peter says, For this is the will of God, that by doing good, you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. We have a lot of people out in the world that accuse us of being haters. It's a slang term in school nowadays, isn't it? Don't be a hater, now. Don't be a hater.

And they accuse us of that. Well, we're actually doing good. What God tells us to do, they just haven't come to understand that yet. They will. They will. And also, verse 19, For this is commendable, Peter writes, If because of conscience towards God, one endures grief, suffering wrongly. The New Living Translation puts it this way, For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.

I think you'll begin to see why I like the New Living Translation sometimes. It just makes it more clear for me. For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. See, that's why some of us are afraid to do what's right. We don't want to get hurt. We don't want to get laughed at. We don't want to get picked on. We don't want to lose our job.

All sorts of things that can happen to us, unfair things that happen, that can happen when we obey God, which is most important. And then verse 21, New King James, version 14, This you were called, because Christ also suffered for us.

Leaving us an example that you should follow in his steps.

The New Living Translation again puts it this way, For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you, he is your example, and you must follow in his steps. We must follow in his steps and do good.

So we must choose. We must make the choice, and then follow up the choice with the action to stay close to God, and practice judgment, mercy, and faith, apply it in our own lives, and stay right with God. We must continue to be on guard against our sinful human nature, that wars continually against our good desires to obey and yield to God.

So if we're challenged to do what we know we ought to do, and do because of our old and sinful and deeply entrenched habits, then we absolutely must seek God's help. Some of us have those old habits, I do. I'm still a work in progress. I'm gaining on them. Hopefully you are, too. We must absolutely seek God and his help. Our sincere prayer of repentance to God and asking Him for His mercy and forgiveness will be answered. God will help us have the strength of His Spirit according to our commitment, and we continue to make our relationship with Him. God is able and willing to help us battle those old habits, even some addictions we may have to face and continually deal with. He will help us if we choose to change and do what we know we must do. But we must choose and act. If we are fearful of doing what we know we ought to do and want to do, again, we still have to go to God in prayer. It's the same formula. And let God help us push aside needless fear. Those obstacles fear puts in our way to good, solid spiritual growth.

We must not let fear rule over our hearts, not let it rule over our hearts, but trust God. Hold clean tight to Him. And when we do that, when we start getting closer to God to overcome those fears that you and I know we've been dealing with for years, when we start going to God, He will whittle away those fears. He will knock them down. Some of you know it. It's happening in your lives, perhaps all your lives, as it's happened in mine.

It is vital that we put on more that mind of Christ. And certainly, putting on a servant's mindset is not easy for us to do. That's something else we've got to do.

But we need to trust God to answer prayers to help us get put on just that mind. The old man hates godly humility. He hates it.

Perhaps when you've... some of you that... well, any of you that have done the foot-washing ceremony, and I was first in the church, there was a part of me that I really didn't look forward to the foot-washing ceremony. I remember it yet. Am I the only one? Okay. Some of you are laughing either at me or with me. Okay. Thank you. There you go.

I really didn't like it. Touching somebody's bare feet. Is the water sanitized? You know? Okay. I'm not... Okay. I don't know of any other church that does this, but... what was your attitude? If this was what God says I need to do... there it is in the Bible. All right. Now, I think I've grown a little bit because I actually look forward to it. Because I know it pounds down that old man in me. I need that reminder. So desperate. By Passover time, it's been a year? Oh, yeah. I need it. I need the reminder very much of it. Doesn't God know what he's doing? He really knows what he's doing. It's ending up through holy days.

So, yeah, we need his help in putting on that servant's mindset. The old man's going to stop it. He doesn't want it. He's going to resist it. Practicing a servant's mindset will make us feel uncomfortable at times. Just like washing feet. But we will feel awkward and strange at first, like we did when we first washed feet. And it seems really unnatural. Kind of creepy. And it's totally a kid's star nature. Cardinal nature doesn't want to do that. But the new man in us reveals to us the beauty of what we're doing, the meaning of what we're doing. And so now, we revel in it. We want to do it. We know that's part of God's way of love.

We can't afford to be lazy spiritually. We do have an air power to get up, spiritually speaking, and do what needs to be done. But, aren't there times when you know you could say something nice to other people, for example, and you miss the opportunity? I've got to do is say hi. Now, I apologize if I don't do that.

I'm human, just like all of us. But I'm trying. I'm trying to do better at that. You know, aren't there times when we know to pray for others and maybe we don't get it done? You know, we had some couple of serious prayer announcements today. It's okay to sit in our chairs and quietly pray, maybe during the special music. I've done that until I get to a better place where I can really put my heart into it.

Why don't we do that? We need to. Hopefully, it's not laziness that's keeping us from doing it. Hopefully, it's not being our comfort zone that's keeping us from doing things like that, that we know to do. God loves the sincere and humble heart of a servant. There's no way around it. He loves seeing us putting aside our precious little ego and our sweet little pride and vanity. Those things we just want to cuddle and cherish and stroke and make ourselves feel good about. He loves it when we put that aside.

We must not let the old man make us hesitate and procrastinate in our service to others because of pride. We must reject the old man's view of equating humility with humiliation. They're not the same word.

They're not the same meaning.

To give up ourselves for others because Christ gave himself for humanity is never a shameful or loathsome or foolish thing to do. That's the world's point of view. That's what the world thinks.

That's the voice of our sinful nature, that old man.

So, do we want to be like God badly enough that we will better rule over our old self and our sinful nature? Do we want it bad enough?

Then we've got to do what we know to do and keep doing it consistently in every way we can.

Here are some concrete examples. Just some suggestions.

Perhaps that means, then, if you really want to do what you know to do and be more consistent about it, that means perhaps the next time we have an opportunity to serve, do it. Now, by the way, I am a great authority on this.

Some of you have known me for many years, and you know I collected a lot of splinters on the bench for a long time.

For the blessing and mercy of God, that's changed because I changed and got off the bench. I stopped saying, no thank you. You want to do an opening prayer? Where's Mr. Lucas? No, he's not here today. He'll tell you. He used to ask me to do an opening prayer. No, no, I can't. I don't want to get up in front of people.

Yeah, that's changed. It's not because of me. I just finally got off my rump, my spiritual rump, too, and started doing what God tells me to do.

So, if serving and doing for others is sort of an inconvenience for you to do, sort of an inconvenience, then that's an even better reason to do it. I've learned if you don't want to do something, I'm smarter and better for it if I go ahead and do it. Are people, for example, are people only thirsty when it's convenient for you to serve them a cup of water?

No. Do people hunger always at convenient times?

Are the sick always conveniently ill between the hours of eight and five?

No. So, inconveniencing ourselves, our schedules, yeah, that's going to irritate us and get on our nerves at times. They're really upset that old man in us that doesn't want to be pestered. But you know what? Get him tipped off. Get the old man angry, because if you're making the old man angry, who are you making happy? The new man. The new man.

So, let's get up and serve. We truly want to do what we know to do.

And the next time your spouse wants to do something that you'd rather not do, again, I'm speaking from experience.

Don't say no. Yeah, I know you don't want to do it. I don't want to do it.

Say yes.

And I'd say about 98 times out of 100. I'm glad I did, because it was good for me and good for her and good for the family. The next time the kids... Well, just tell the kids yes a little more often, maybe. In the right way. Don't get crazy.

But the next time the kids ask you to do something special with him, and you really have no good, honest reason why you shouldn't, do it! Just do it. And the next time you see a need and a way to serve at church services, or maybe at church social... We've got one tonight. Jump in and help out. It's really fun. It's really fun. It doesn't hurt. See, if you wait and don't do it, if you don't jump in right away, some of you know what's going to happen, right? You don't act at the moment. You're going to wait, and who's going to creep into your head and talk you out of doing good?

That old man. That old, sinful man.

Do what we know to do and continue to practice that sort of servant's mindset. Wherever we go, we don't serve one another only. We shouldn't serve just our own brethren. We shouldn't just serve in church services for a couple hours in the Sabbath. This is something we need... There's no way around it. If you're becoming like God, you're going to be doing this every minute, most every moment of your life. It's not something you only put on for a few hours and then put it back on the shelf when you go home.

So we need to build a lot of new selfless attitudes. And new ways of doing.

We keep doing that to help get rid of those old habits and old routines that are no good anymore. They're junk. We need to get rid of them.

We got to get rid of them. I mean, would a Christian really want to remain self-centered and selfish? That doesn't make sense. It's incongruous. That's not what it means to be a Christian. Is that the type of personal inner God's kingdom? The selfish and self-centered person? No. Absolutely not. We must serve and give of ourselves, even and especially when no one's watching us. Because that means we're really doing it for the right reason.

If we do what's right, God will bless us. You'll enrich our hearts and minds with a special joy. And it's hard to describe. But it's a special joy that we only feel when we humbly serve other people from the right way. I can't explain it. It's kind of like a good feeling. It feels good and it's just something else.

Now, before I end this sermon, let me share some final thoughts. Hopefully you're not getting tired of me. Too bad.

As it says, no, it's okay. Thank you.

Before I end this sermon, let me share some final thoughts about that old man, that old sinful nature that wants to rule over our lives. Frankly, I think we must learn to shove the self to the side, to the side of that narrow road that leads to life. We must not allow the self, that old selfish nature of ours, to plunk itself right down the middle of our path, refusing to budge and get out of our way, and effectively blocking our progress forward to perfection.

Now, while we walk along this difficult road with the narrow gate that leads to salvation, that old man's going to try to get us. He's going to try to impede our progress. You know how it works. We're making pretty good progress and enjoying God, enjoying people, enjoying life.

When up from behind comes this old guy who's out to get in our way and stop us. We know how it is. We know what he's like. We know exactly all the same sort of dirty tricks and distractions and deceitfulness. He tries to toss along our way to slow us down. You see, we've known him for years.

Sometimes he tries to trip our feet up, tries to bump us aside, and frankly flat out knock us down. Anything to halt our forward movement. But we have to watch him. But we have to watch him. We've got to keep our eye on him.

He's most cunning.

And he's persistent.

We not only need to be persistent, but old man's persistent. He's not going to let up. I have a suggestion for us.

Have you ever watched Groehler Derby?

My grandmother loved that show. When I was a kid, we'd stay up late watching it.

I can't handle it now, but she loved it. Groehler Derby! You ever watched it? I don't know if the kids may know what it is, but Google it, YouTube it, you'll find it. Okay. Groehler Derby. You ever notice how the players block, and push, and shove, and jam? The opposing players, keeping them from passing them?

Have you ever watched an especially aggressive game of basketball? Well, some of you probably reft a few.

Have you ever watched worldwide wrestling?

Getting where I'm going with this?

I suggest that we learn from these aggressive moments in the sporting world a few more effective spiritual moves that we can use against the old man. Let's come handy for our children, for young people especially. Some of you like to do the ninja type stuff. Apply it on some of the old man, the old guy in you. You're young, but he's already in you.

I suggest we practice a few of these moves. Now, we're out to receive salvation, right? But he keeps getting in front of us. He keeps hindering us, getting in our way. Now, this may not sound polite. And of course, I'm only speaking this symbolically here. So, kids, don't practice these movements on your brother, your sister, your cat, and leave the dog alone. Don't get in trouble with mom and dad. But, brethren, I really do think it's time that we get serious and rough with the old man in us. I'm getting tired of him myself, and you probably are too. Let's bolster ourselves with the strength of the new man in us and fortify ourselves with the word of God in every way, and then do what we know to do. Let's stiff arm the old man's advances against us, right? Let's block and counterblock all those temptations he keeps sending our way. Let's slap down those wrong thoughts, and especially, let's smack down the old man so far back in the watery grave that he won't pester us for a long, long time. And give us a little peace, a little rest that we want badly at times. We really need to get aggressive with that old man because what we're talking about here is eternal life. This path we're walking on is not some game we're playing. This is not a game. Yeah, I'm using these images, metaphors, but it's serious stuff we're dealing with. This is life and death, spiritual life and death. We can't afford to be complacent. I have a hunch we're closer to the end time than ever before. I think it's going to get a whole lot worse than it is now. I hate to imagine it.

But the path we're walking on, brethren, is not a game. It is for real. So, brethren, let's be better doers of God's word. Let's smack down that old man once, twice, as many times as it takes.