## Disappointed With Ourselves

## Romans 7:15; 19

The last couple of Sundays we have addressed the issue of disappointment. We talked about the how disappointments in life come and can cause us to become disappointed with life if we fail to handle them properly. Last week we discussed the danger of becoming disappointed with God, Himself.

Today I want to address a different area of disappointment. Becoming disappointed with ourselves. I realize that is getting really personal, but haven't we, at one time or another, been disappointed in ourselves? I won't try to speak for all of you, but I know that I have. In our text this morning we read about a struggle that the apostle Paul had in this same area.

Note: Romans 7:15-21

In this section Paul is admitting that he is not perfect. He is admitting that he is a sinner. He is admitting that he struggled with some of the same things that we do. Note: v15 and v17

(Rom 7:15) "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."

(Rom 7:19) "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."

Why is it that we struggle in these areas? Why is that I am always less that I want to be or ought to be? There are two primary characteristics that must be considered.

I. The Source of Disappointment

A. I am a sinner, saved by grace.

1. I have a real problem with works based salvation.

a. I don't understand how anyone can be at ease with the theological position that we must earn our salvation and work to keep it.

b. I would be miserable with such a thought.

c. I would live in constant fear of losing eternal life.

d. If my eternal destiny rested on my abilities…I would be certain of hell.

e. Why? Because I still sin.

2. I hope that didn't shock too many of you.

a. There are those who profess that once they come to Christ…

b. They no longer sin…

c. God says they are liars!

(1 John 1:8) "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

d. Not only are they liars, they make God out to be a liar.

(1 John 1:10) "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

3. I am a sinner saved by grace, but I am still a sinner.

a. So was Paul.

b. As much as I want to walk for God and live righteously for Him, I still fail to do it all the time.

c. Why…because of sin.

Disappointment with self comes because of sin; and it comes because of slow progress.

B. Change for the better comes very slowly in this life ... if at all.

1. Physical growth is natural, and unless there is some problem it will happen.

2. Spiritual growth takes time and it is sometimes 'one step forward and two steps back'.

3. Why does it take so long for me to get where I want to be in my relationship with God, with my family, in my personal character?

4. Real positive change - seems to take forever.

5. Now that truth can certainly be cause for disappointment.

II. The Result of Disappointment with Self.

A. We are Tempted to Give Up and Quit.

1. We reason, "What's the use? Sin is always there to drag me down."

2. I am moving forward at a snail's pace in my spiritual growth.

3. Why not just give in and forget it?

4. We can learn to deal with our self-disappointment in a way that encourages us instead of discourages us.

B. God wants us to finish the race.

(Heb 12:1) "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

1. These Hebrew believers were ready to throw in the towel.

2. They were ready to quit on Christianity.

3. But God said, "Don't quit!"

4. Perhaps because of some of the same struggles that you and I face each day of our lives.

C. How do we keep from quitting?

1. Accept God's grace (his undeserved favor towards us) in Jesus.

(Heb 12:2) "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

a. Jesus is the starting point in dealing with self-disappointment.

b. Remember Paul's struggle?

(Rom 7:24-25) "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this 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."

c. Listen to Paul's statement in verse one of the next chapter.

(Rom 8:1) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

d. As long as we allow our sins and failures to weigh us down, we will become discouraged to the point of giving up.

e. But, when we realize that Jesus Christ has set us free from those sins, we can praise God and move forward with our lives.

2. We need to realize that God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.

a. Part of that plan and purpose is to become like His Son, Jesus Christ.

b. One day we will be like Him.

(1 John 3:2) "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

c. Understanding that God has a plan and purpose for our lives makes all the difference in the world.

d. Because when you know where you're headed, disappointment with where you are today won't discourage you to the point of quitting.

3. Don't try to be like Jesus, train to be like Jesus.

a. Did you know that marathon runners don't try to run the race?

b. They train to run it.

c. Becoming like Jesus works the same way.

d. It doesn't happen just because you try hard to do what's right.

e. It happens because you train hard.

(1 Cor 9:24-25) "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. {25} And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."

4. Don't quit…don't give up…stay in the race!

(Gal 6:9) "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Disappointed with life? Disappointed with God? Disappointed with ourselves? The answer to each of these scenarios is to focus upon who God is and what He has done for us. Do we have a personal relationship with God? You can know Him today. God so loved that He gave…

Believers, do we recognize that God has a plan and purpose for our lives? If so, then we know that He is at work, accomplishing His perfect will in our lives. We realize that "it ain't over till its over". The challenge to believers is to run the race set before us, and run it to win. Regardless of the setbacks and obstacles that may come our way. Don't give up…don't quit. Keep your focus upon Jesus.