Dynamics

1. Discover — “Faith Begins With Hearing”

In this phase a person is learning, listening, and exploring the truth of God’s Word. Their heart is opening but not yet fully surrendered. This is the stage of spiritual curiosity, questions, and early conviction.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” — Romans 10:17

Key Idea: Exposure to God’s truth awakens faith.

2. Embrace — “Receive the Word Into Your Heart”

Here, the person is no longer just listening—they begin to accept Scripture as true and personally meaningful. Their faith becomes personal, and they start trusting God’s promises. They are moving from information to transformation.

“Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” — James 1:21

Key Idea: God’s Word is planted inside and begins changing the heart.

3. Practice — “Do What the Word Says”

This is where real spiritual maturity forms. Instead of only believing the Word, the believer now lives it out in daily life—choices, habits, character, relationships. They become doers of the Word, not hearers only.

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” — James 1:22

Key Idea: Faith expresses itself through obedience and consistent action.

4. Surrender — “A Life Fully Yielded to God”

This is the highest level of spiritual maturity. The believer gives every area of life—desires, decisions, schedule, ambitions—fully to God. They do not resist His will but follow joyfully. This is where transformation becomes visible to others.

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice… be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:1–2

Key Idea: Surrender produces Spirit-led living and maximum spiritual fruit.

The apostle Paul openly confessed that he experienced a deep inner battle between his carnal nature (flesh) and his spiritual nature. Though saved, Spirit-filled, and called by God, Paul still felt the pull of sinful tendencies. This reveals a universal Christian truth: spiritual maturity does not eliminate the struggle—it transforms how we fight it.

1. Paul Recognized the War Inside Him

Paul describes an internal conflict between two forces:

• The flesh (carnality) pulling him toward sin

• The Spirit drawing him toward obedience

Romans 7:15
“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.”

Paul is saying: “There are moments I want to serve God, but my flesh works against me.”

2. He Admitted That His Flesh Was Constantly Tempting Him

Paul speaks honestly about the presence of sin still at work within him:

Romans 7:18
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.”

This is the stage where carnality still tries to dominate—but spiritual desire is also rising.

3. He Identified the Root Problem: The Sin Nature

Paul explains that even though he desires righteousness, a law of sin tries to pull him back.

Romans 7:23
“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind… bringing me into captivity to the law of sin.”

This is not an excuse—it's awareness, which is the beginning of victory.

4. Paul Felt the Weight of the Struggle

His battle led him to cry out for rescue from this internal conflict:

Romans 7:24
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

He recognized: “I cannot win against my flesh by my own strength.”

5. Paul Found Victory Through Christ and the Spirit

Paul immediately declares the solution: Jesus Christ and life empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 7:25
“Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

And then he goes further:

Romans 8:1–2
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus… For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

This means: Carnality loses its power when the Holy Spirit takes leadership in the believer’s life.

6. Paul Taught How to Move From Carnality to Spirituality

Paul explains that walking in the Spirit is the only way to stop fulfilling the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16
“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Paul does not claim perfection—he models progress, surrender, and dependence on Christ.

7. Why Paul’s Struggle Encourages Us Today

Paul's honesty shows:

• Even the strongest believers struggle

• The struggle is not a sign of failure but of spiritual life

• Victory is possible only through the Holy Spirit

• Spiritual maturity grows through surrender, not self-effort

His life mirrors our journey from Discover → Embrace → Practice → Surrender.