Why can't believers do the things they want to do?
Believers cannot do the things they want because the two natures within them are contrary to each other. When the spirit part withdraws from the battle line, old Adam seizes control of the body, causing even believers to sin. Exercising the spirit through the Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship enables them to control the body's activity.
Les explains that every believer experiences failure because the old Adam nature and the spirit nature are contrary to one another. When the spirit part suddenly withdraws and comes away from the battle line, old Adam immediately jumps at the opportunity and begins to control the acts of the body. As a result, believers naturally sin; believers sin, and we cannot get away from that. The remedy is to keep the spirit part literally exercised by the Word, by prayer, and by Christian fellowship, so that we can pretty much control the activity of the body. Even though these two natures are contrary, we cannot do the things we would, but if we are led of the Spirit, then we are not under the Law. Les says we should not beat our breasts and say we are without hope or cannot win, because the Apostle Paul went through that same dilemma in Romans chapter 7. Paul knew he should do something and did not do it, and knew he should not do certain things but did them. Les directs us to Romans 7:15 for that dilemma.