“How To Kill Yourself”
Text: Philippians 3:7-11
Intro:
The Apostle Paul tells us here in the passage that to really know the Lord Jesus Christ then there must be first a death (v.10, “being made conformable unto his death;”)
And second a resurrection (v. 11, “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead”) in the life of each Christian.
The death and resurrection Paul is speaking about is not in the physical realm but the spiritual.
This is what Paul’s desire was as expressed here in the passage.
In fact, Paul let us know that this death and resurrection cannot be obtained by our own effort.
Paul expresses this very clearly in verses 3-8 (Paul’s Garbage Can)
I believe the majority of Christians don’t really know or have an intimate relationship with the Lord because have not experienced that death and resurrection that Paul speaks about here in the passage.
This is obvious by how the average Christian conducts himself and his manner of conversation.
What Paul is talking about is the old man, the old nature being put to death.
Remember, only your spirit was born again and not your flesh when you got saved.
We often find Paul instructing the Christian as follows –
2 Cor. 4:16, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
Col. 3:10, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge (the word of God) after the image of him that created him:”
Eph. 4:23, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”
Romans 12:2, “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.
You see my friend when one part of you dies another part takes over.
John the Baptist put it this way, “If I decrease then Christ will increase.”
I want us first to look at “How Kill Yourself” so that you can really know Christ and have a close intimate relationship with Him.
Next we will look at how the spiritual resurrection takes place after the death has occurred.
Then finally, we will look at what is the outside evidence that this has taken place.
I. HOW TO KILL YOURSELF
A. Reckon Yourself Dead – See Romans 6:3-13
You need to die to self, sin, & system (world system)
You need to deny self and take up your cross.
To do this you must have the “mind of Christ” – Phil. 2:5
The mind of Christ is found in Phil. 2:8
Key – humbled, obedient, death
Allow God to crucify the old man.
I believe the Apostle Paul had learned “How to Kill Himself”
See Galatians 2:20
Paul said, “…the life which I now live…”
He referring not to the old life but the resurrected life.
Notice what Paul said in Phil. 1:21
B. Put Off The Old Man– See Ephesians 4:22-24
V. 22 – The death
Vs. 23-24 – The resurrection power – (we will talk about later on)
C. Mortify Your Members– Kill/Destroy Flesh – Col. 3:5-10
Vs. 5-9 – Destruction
V. 10 – Resurrection
D. Only Can Be Accomplished If Yielded to the Holy Spirit & allowing Him to subvert the flesh.
Can’t do under your own power.
See Galatians 5:16
II. SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION
How does the resurrection take place once the death has occurred?
Well, the scripture tells us that it was the power of the Holy Spirit that resurrected Christ from the dead.
Each believer has dwelling with in them that same power.
The Spirit is what does the renewing.
Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
It is the Spirit of God in you that gives you the power to live holy, live right, and to suffer.
III. EVIDENCE KILLED YOURSELF AND BEEN RESURRECTED
People and that also includes most Christians don’t understand you.
Your own flesh will rise up against you.
You begin to suffer.
If you allow God to crucify old man then going to suffer.
See 1 Peter 1:7, 5:10 & 2 Tim. 3:12.
When you begin to suffer then you begin to experience the power of God.
Paul said, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
Along with the resurrected life you know Christ.
Why?
Because He is doing things through you.
It is Him doing the things and not you doing the things.
When you see how He does it then you know Him.
How can you know Him if you are doing it?
To know Him is to allow Him to take you through the death and suffering.
Once you do this then you begin to experience the resurrected life where does everything.
You know it is not you doing it.
And you can say as the Apostle Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: neverthless 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.”
Conclusion:
My friend can you really say what Paul said here in Galatians 2:20?
Have you reckoned, put off, and mortified that old man?
If not you will never experience the resurrected life.
You will never experience the power of God in and on your life.
If you have never done it won’t you today come to this old fashion altar and “Kill Yourself” by –
Reckoning yourself dead
Put Off the Old Man
Mortify Your Members
