Subjection

1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me,” but all things are not expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of any.

I have a friend who used to say this thing that would always make me think. He'd say “Ya know, I don’t like when people think they're better than me. Come to think about it, I don’t like it when people think they're just as good as me.”
His tone and delivery were always so funny that you couldn’t help but chuckle. The initial statement draws you in. It's something that makes easy sense to us, the second part however...
As Christians, Let's replace the word people with problems? The revised statement is now a wholly good message. The second part is no longer as braggadocious.
Think about it. It makes perfect sense and it speaks sense to our perfection. We are only to be subject(under the power) of God and His direction for us, no longer compelled by old appetites.

Here’s The Word:

1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

There is no bad habit, besetting sin, or personal trial stronger than you. The Word of God speaks extensively about the power afforded to us, allowing us to take hold of our pursuit of righteousness. It identifies exactly the problems that pursue us to keep us defeated and leaving our greatest joy unfulfilled. As wide spread as our problems are, the source of the power to overcome them is singular.

Historically, men are more familiar with problems involving pornography. But a problem doesn’t have to be as big as porn to be a problem. Anything that exercises a power over you that you can’t seem to win against is a problem. We don’t see our speech being as large a problem as pornography or other addictions.

James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Many of us have yet to apply that God given, abundant life power of The Holy Spirit to our conversation. Our tongues taking unbridled opportunity to prove its rule over us.

Think of it this way:
Anything that calls to you and and you can't help but entreat it, that's something that has you under subjection. If that call is irresistible, you prove that you are indeed subject and also compelled, or powerless against. And if you've started rationalizing in your mind why its not so bad, then it's gained a foothold in your mind and you need serious help. Deliverance.
The abundant life takes us out of subjection to those things and gives us power to resist. Think about where the Bible says - James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

When we were unredeemed, still in sin, we were wholly and happily subject to our appetites. Now that we have the same power that raised Christ from the dead at work in us, we have the power to resist. We resist what was once irresistible and we no longer find ourselves in subjection to even the devil himself.

This is such a wonderful grace given to us to help us pursue intimacy in Christ.

However, many of us “try” in ourselves to stop doing bad things, but this is done not from a position of power, but a place of subjection – we’re still subjected to fear, even the fear that God will do something bad to us if we do bad. It’s no secret that we allow guilt to breath condemnation down our necks.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

A spirit of fear bends us toward subjection. The spirit of power love and a sound mind does not.
I don’t question the reality of the struggle presented by some of the bad habits within us, and even new problems that harass us. I just believe that a stronger power is available to overcome. Some may take more effort, but in all cases, we can relinquish their control and our subjectivity to them. The Bible gives us clear instruction about how to deal with problems. We confess and pray, we bring another brother or sister along side (in accountability) to also pray and help, we can also fast and pray. Isaiah 58:6 proclaims that a proper fast can loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke. Notice the emphasis on release from subjection. Romans 14:23 tells us that for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
So at whatever presence sin has in your life, Sin subjects us and impedes our journey toward perfection. We must use that greater power to control ourselves and keep ourselves from being in subjection to appetites. Bringing into subjection of the Spirit’s leading.

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

We know that we will have troubles in this world but we also talk about the peace that passes all understanding. I don’t see this as a common Christian experience. We use the “troubles in this world” verse to console ourselves even when we’re not taking hold of the power given to us. We excuse the absence of joy as a victim of circumstance rather than confessing the lack of power in our choices…rather than confessing and seeking remedy from our continued state of subjection.
I encourage you – Cast off that old man and put on Christ in all power.