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NEEDED: MORE BATTLES WON (4)
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
David had a band of
thirty-seven men who became known as his “mighty men.”
1.
We read of them in II Samuel
23:8-30.
2.
These men were known for their heroic acts and their
victories in overcoming
a.
They slew their adversaries.
b.
The Lord wrought great victories in their
conquests.
B.
You and I are soldiers in
the Lord’s army.
1.
II Timothy
2:3.
Thou therefore
endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2.
As soldiers, we need to
become “mighty men” in the Lord’s army.
a.
We need to slay our enemies.
b.
When we do, the Lord has victory over the forces of
evil.
C.
In three previous lessons,
we have examined some of the battles that each of us experiences. We have also tried to provide
information that will enable us to be victorious on the
battlefront.
D.
Let’s continue our
discussion this morning by examining another battle we face. This is the battle over
SELF.
I.
DEFINITION
A.
Webster
1.
The entire person of an
individual.
2.
The union of elements (as
body, emotions, thoughts, sensations) that constitute the individuality and
identity of a person.
B.
This battle is a major
campaign in our Christian lives.
Webster lists some 197 different areas related to the
“self.”
II. THE BIBLE
ADDRESSES THE
A.
Self-conceit, that is, thinking too highly of ourselves
(
For I say,
through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as
God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
B.
Self-reliance, that is, the thought that we sustain ourselves, and no one
else, not even God, assists us (Luke 12:16-19).
And he spake a
parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth
plentifully: and he thought within
himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my
fruits? And he said, This will I
do: I will pull down my barns, and
build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou
hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be
merry.
C.
Self-deception, that is, the
ability one has to cause himself to believe an untruth, a
lie.
1.
Deuteronomy
11:16a
Take heed to
yourselves, that your heart be not deceived…
2.
Jeremiah
37:9
Thus said the
Lord; Deceive not yourselves…
3.
Jeremiah
17:9
The heart is
deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
D.
Self-deprecation;
self-indulgence; self-righteousness; self-serving…
III. WINNING THE
A.
The old man of sin must be
put to death.
1.
The old man of sin is “full
of himself.”
2.
In conversion, he must be
slain (Rom. 6:6).
Knowing this,
that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed,
that henceforth we should not serve sin.
B.
We must put on the new man
which involves renewing our minds (Eph. 4:22-24).
That ye put off
concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to
the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put
on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
holiness.
C.
We must follow the example
of Jesus Christ (
Let every one of
us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself;
but, as it is written, the reproaches of him that reproached thee fell on
me.
D.
We must practice self-denial
(Luke 9:23).
And he said to
them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow me.
E.
We must practice constant
reliance on God (James 4:15).
For that ye
ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or
that.
F.
Remember the things that
“level” all men.
1.
All are created
beings.
2.
All have been given
talents.
3.
All have
sinned.
4.
All have
flaws.
5.
All have
struggles.
6.
All must do the mundane
things of life.
7.
All will
die.
8.
All will be
judged.
9.
Proverbs
22:2
The rich and the
poor meet together: the Lord is the
maker of them all.
G.
Earnestly pursue the role of
a servant.
1.
The servant’s role is
humble, lowly, sacrificial, demanding, unceasing, and often
thankless.
2.
It was the role Jesus
assumed (Mark 10:45).
For even the Son
of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a
ransom for many.
3.
Mark 10:44; Galatians
5:13
And whosoever of
you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all….For, brethren, ye have been
called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by
love serve one another.
CONCLUSION
A.
The battle of self is one of
the most difficult. We wake up with
it; we go to bed with it.
B.
Paul fought it and
won.
1.
The fight (I Cor.
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.
2.
The victory (Gal.
2:20).
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
