Posted on Wed, Jul 1, 2009
Escape from Yourself
Speaker - Elder Ayodeji Adesina (Lay Pastor, BHSDAC, London)(Message summarised by Sis. Ayobola Akwarandu)
Key Text - Romans 7: 18-25
So much of our life is about escaping from one thing or the other - pain, loneliness, financial hardship, stress, physical problems, worry, anxiety, self-loathing, marriage, job uncertainty, conflict in relationships and the list goes on and on. It also seems the more we try to escape, the more difficult it becomes. Some need an escape for their children or other things in life. We fight and lose ground, we achieve but have no satisfaction, and we work but no gain. We try to escape but it looks like there is no way. Recently, a family who lived a seemingly comfortable life drove over a cliff to their death along with their dead disabled child. In the passage in Romans 7, Paul cried ‘Hosanna’ when he noted there seemed to be a way of escape.
What does ‘hosanna’ mean? It is a word used to praise and give adoration. However, it also means ‘o save’. So when Paul cried ‘who will save me from this body of sin?’ He is in essence crying ‘hosanna’. We have also cried unto God to save us from our enemies. For some it is their circumstances or some persons pestering their lives. Many are crying out like the people on the first Palm Sunday as Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, ‘hosanna, hosanna!’ Many cry hosanna to different sorts of messiahs, all trying to find ways of escape through various means - from spiritualists to yoga and all sorts of religions, but Jesus is the only true Messiah. He alone can get you the help you need. He alone can save and deliver you. We all need an escape, an escape from oneself. Jesus wants to be a friend that sticks closer than a brother. If you do not know Jesus, you should cry out to Him and seek escape from your sins and yourself.
Some may ask, ‘why should a Christian be crying out for help like Paul did?’ Romans 7:18-25 shows that you must be sincere with yourself. Paul realised he needed God to rescue him to be able to now be empowered by God. Do you have a nasty habit or someone you can’t love or an attitude that you cannot change? Is there bitterness eating at your very soul, anger or selfish ambitions? Then you can identify with Paul. There is always conflict between what your sinful nature wants and what God wants us to do. Paul says you can become an overcomer and escape from yourself.
- Romans 8: 1 – We are to live according to the Spirit; when we keep our minds on Jesus, despite what we go through, we will experience true joy/peace. Paul said he did not base his joy on circumstances.
- Say to yourself there is no more condemnation because you are in Christ Jesus. You will have satisfaction that money cannot buy.
- No trouble on earth should distract you from the joy that lay ahead. When you understand what is ahead, you will continue to shout ‘hosanna’ through your struggles. It might look like a fierce battle but Jesus is going to win!
You can find an escape from yourself, Jesus is going to win!
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