Dying To Self
1 Peter 4:1-4
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.
1 Peter 4:2
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.
1 Peter 4:3
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.
Have you ever found it hard to die to what you want to do?
Most people will do what they want and forget what the Word of God says to do.
We need to learn to walk in the Spirit that we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
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 to us that are saved it is the power of God.
1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
If we are a Born again believer we will overcome this world.
We will not be defeated with this world or it’s system.
We need to have faith that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Re 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
My name is not blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life because I am an overcomer.
Re 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
The overcomer is one who trusts in Christ and what He did at the cross for us.
Verse 12 says in it and he shall go no more out:
This is referring to a constant position in the presence of God.
At the Cross, Christ identified with our sin by suffering its penalty for each and every one of us.
Now He idenifies with our most excellent blessing for as He is the source of all.
Are we dying to self and living for God?
Maybe part of our lives has died for Him, but you know that there is still more to give.
Remember the second dream I had:
Dream
I dreamed that I had my dead body; I knew it had to be put back in the casket and buried.
Galations 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.
Some might say, “I can’t die to self”, but the Word says:
Phillipians 4:10-13
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Paul knew what it meant to die to self, He knew what it meant to walk in the Spirit, and He knew that he could do all things through Christ which strengtheneth him.
Maybe some of you need to die to self, and start letting the Lord have total control of your situation.
If you’re born again, then you have been bought with a price and you are not your own:
You are the Property of Jesus Christ and you can and you will die to that old nature.
Call out to Jesus and ask Him for direction in your life today He will make a way for you.
Closing
Dying To Self
Have you died to self?
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If you are interested in seeing some God given dreams given to me and others in our church go to:
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/w/windoffaithdrea/
Go to the new text page for the God given dreams.
