January 27th Lesson Twenty Seven THE POWER OF SELF DENIAL AND VICTORY OVER SELF TEXT: MATTHEW 16:24-26 KEY VERSE: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26). “Self” in the life of any human being is a reigning Monarch that does not recognize the authority of another king in earth or in heaven. Along with its ally, the flesh, it lusts against the spirit and makes obedience to God very difficult. Its agitations, ambitions and aspirations are always contrary to the word of God. When it is permitted to reign, it breeds carnality and sin. Self is the greatest cause of all defeat, backsliding and lack of spiritual progress in the lives of all Christians. Therefore, every believer that would live an overcoming life and make steady progress in the faith must not only deny but dethrone and deal a deadly blow to self through the grace of God. The self-life is deceptive and destructive. When it is not controlled and crucified, it hatches character traits that are damnable. Lucifer was thrown out of heaven, Saul was rejected as King and many men and angels have incurred severe judgments from God due to the wicked aspirations and ambitions of the self life. When self is not dealt with, it always manifests fruits that are contrary to God and godliness such as iniquity, indulgences, independence, indiscipline, indiscretion, insubordination and impurity. This is why it must be denied and conquered. The self-life is described in the Bible as “the old man” and “the body of sin. When it controls somebody’s life, that person cannot be a true disciple of Christ. Before any believer can live victoriously as a Christian, self must be dealt with decisively. Paul the Apostles lived a life of consistent victory because self and the flesh was crucified (Galatians 2:20). Galatians 5:24 says, “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh.” As on the cross Christ died, we also must be spiritually crucified, for self to die. This is the only guarantee for real victory. Spiritual conquerors have a duty to themselves in their daily life. They must regularly examine themselves and whenever the self-life begins to manifest itself, it must be promptly denied and mortified. Watchfulness over the activities of one’s heart and constant surrender of the will to God will ensure constant victory over the flesh. Have you denied yourself of worldly pleasures to serve the living God? THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Victory over self is victory over sins. SONG FOR THE DAY: Trusting in the Lord… #Horemow
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 23:33:14 +0000