Sermon Central
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Dying To Self
Contributed by Joe Rowland on Feb 2, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Have you ever found it hard to give to what you want to do? Most people will do what they want and forget what the Word of God says to do. We have to learn to die to self. We need to learn to walk in the Spirit that we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh
Dying To Self
1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
I have entitled this today: “Dying to Self”
1 Peter 4: 1 says: Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh,
This is referring to the cross with flesh; this is saying that Christ died physically and not spiritually as some claim.
Then verse 1 then says to “arm yourselves likewise with the same mind”
This does not mean that we are to attempt to immitate Christ in suffering, but rather to make the fact He suffered our source of victory.
He suffered in the flesh that we might have victory over the flesh.
Verse I then says: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
This is talking about the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit.
Suffering in the flesh, by the believer, refers to stopping any dependence on self effort and depending totally upon the Holy Spirit, who demands that our faith be in the Sacrifice in Christ.
Galatians 5: 16-17
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
We, as Christians, have to learn to die to self.
We need to learn to walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
They are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Since we are now saved, the sin nature is no longer to rule over us.
There is to be a Divine nature ruling over us which comes about because of our total dependence on Christ and what He did at Calvary.
Christ and the cross are never to be separated, which is referring to the benefits of the cross coming down unto us even unto this hour.
1 Corinthians 1: 17-18
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1 Peter 4:3 is talking about our life before coming to Christ.
I have entitled this today: “Dying to Self”
Here is the reason why:
Dream 1-24-09
I dreamed that I saw myself in a casket. I was dead. I went over and I picked up my hand, it was swelled up. I noticed that one of my shoes was off my foot.
I had a second dream that night.
Dream
I dreamed that I had my dead body; I knew it had to be put back in the casket and buried.
Interpretation
Simple
I need to let self die and come alive in Christ Jesus.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ro 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Ro 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Old things are passed away and all things become new.
We are a new creature in Christ Jesus.
