#1459 1128 10A

          Self, sin, and Satan are always connected and always leading us outside of God’s will and Word.  The control of self and Satan in the world is obvious from the horrible spiritual condition of the world.  When Adam disobeyed the Word of God and decided to follow the way of self, everyone since then is born with self in control—and this must be corrected if heaven is our goal.

Only God can do that spiritual work, and only we can make that choice to let Him do it.  Jesus said John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing [spiritually].”  [Self plans, policies, procedures, and power would not lead anyone to the kingdom of God].  “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

          The world does everything by itself because it does not believe God knows what is best for them.  That is why John 6:66-68 ”many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.  Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’  But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’"

          Self always does things by its own wisdom; boasts of its own ability, and follows its own way to get a job, make money, be protected, obtain security, force a change, purchase things, or find relief from pain.  This sin nature of rebellion must be replaced with the divine nature of submission so spiritual growth results.  When a job, the money, protection, security, or healing is received in a scriptural way, God is glorified, and we will know that He does things for those who trust Him in faith.

          Naaman was given some instructions to be healed of a serious skin condition.  He did not want to follow them at first, but when he changed his mind and did what God wanted him to do, in faith 2 Kings 5:14, “his flesh was re-stored like the flesh of a little child.”  That divine healing proved what God will do when someone is willing to trust Him in faith.  15 "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel."

          The Spirit-controlled heart goes immediately to God in prayer and in faith—if employment is needed; a house to rent; money to pay bills; change in someone’s attitude, or healing from pain.  When Adam chose to follow his own self plans Genesis 3, he became afraid of God and avoided Him.  From that point, Adam did not want to ask God for anything, but to obtain everything by himself.

          When a final decision is made to depend on God alone for healing, conviction, money, protection, or any other need—and the bridge of retreat is destroyed, then self will be gone and God takes its place.  A follower of Christ risks their life on God’s faithfulness.  Luke 14:26, “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life.  Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.”

          We are not a true disciple of Christ, if some person; some interest; a job; or money has first place in our heart.  To hate our own life is to hate the self life.  The only right attitude to take is—that God and His Word will always be first.  A believer must be willing to give up any thing; any job; or any relationship—if the choice is between them and God.  Abraham left his father’s house; Moses left the Pharaoh’s palace; and Matthew left his government job.

          If our love for a friend, for material things, for worldly interests, or for a good-paying job causes us to place any one of those things ahead of God, we must be willing to give them up—and begin again with God in first place.  Such decisions are tests to prove our love for God.  The first and greatest commandment Matthew 22:37 is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

          God says in His Word, that His Son died on the cross, so self would die in our heart; and that Jesus was raised to life, so that we could begin a new life—free from self’s control.  When God is first in our heart, He has His right place in our life.  The centurion said Matthew 8:8-9, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.  But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.”

          The officer knew levels of command, and Jesus would have authority over Satan, so whatever Jesus said would be done.  Matthew 8:10-12 “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed.  Turning to the crowd, he said, ‘I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all the land of Israel!  And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.  But many Israelites — those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

          He meant—that kind of believing faith takes a person to heaven.  The Gentiles were more likely to receive eternal life, because they were more willing to give up self and trust God in faith, than His chosen people who were unwilling to trust Him, and very unlikely to give up self-righteous religion of outward dead works—no faith in God for anything.  Jesus then told the centurion Matthew 8:13, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you."

          A human took his humble place, and gave Jesus His exalted place, so the results were marvelous—the man was healed the very moment the Word was believed.  That same word, presence, and power of God is with us today, so we can expect the same results, when we place the same believing faith in Him.  Numbers 23:19 ”God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.  Does he speak and then not act?  Does he promise and not fulfill?” Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Hebrews 13:8

          The officer was now on the path of trust that leads to the kingdom of heaven.  If he chooses to stay on that path through every test of his faith, he would—as anyone who keeps their trust and faith on God—“sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven.”

          God requires that self be removed from our heart, but there are millions of proclaimed Christians who do not know this spiritual work must be accomplished.  Millions of people live honest and decent lives, but still have self controlling their attitudes.  Romans 8:7-8 ”For the sinful [carnal; unbelieving, rebellious] nature is always hostile to God.  It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.  That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”

          This control of self can be polished to look good on the surface, but it is deadly to have in our heart.  If self is not removed, trust on God cannot take place.  Self will not trust God in faith, because self does not believe His Word is true.  When self is gone, the Spirit enables us to 1 Peter 3:8-9 “Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

          The evidence that self is removed is—when we have been ignored, forgotten, and insulted, but we do not resent it and place it before God in prayer—When some good we have done is spoken of as bad, and we are not upset—When our advice is rejected and ridiculed, but we can praise God for the faith lesson learned.

          When we are content with any wage, satisfied with our house, pleased with the vehicle we drive, and glad we are working at the job God has provided, that is evidence self is gone, and the Holy Spirit has taken its place.  If we are shown no consideration, taken advantage of, or belittled, and we are able, by the Spirit, to endure it patiently, that is dying to self and living for Christ.  “To this you were called” 1 Peter 2:21 “because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

          When we do not boast about our knowledge, our children, or our ability—that is evidence self is erased, and the Spirit is in control.  When we seek no recognition, no praise, and no attention—that is dying to self and walking with Christ.  When we help others and no one knows about it ”then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” Matthew 6:4.

The evidence that self is still in control is—if we point out faults and mistakes of others, but never consider our own—If we resent a coworker’s pay increase, when we are overlooked—If we always have to be right, even if it starts an argument.  The world is controlled by self, but the believer is controlled by the Spirit.  James 4:4 ”You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

          Knowing what self will do, and that it must be removed, we must Acts 2:38 "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”   Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing,” so our reply is, You have the words of eternal life; we believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

          If anyone finds themselves in the lake of fire, they can be sure it was self who took them there.  Self can appear outwardly good, but is inwardly deadly—because it can destroy our soul forever.  Self has taken more people to eternal flames than could ever be counted.  No matter what the disguise self may be wearing—it is Satan behind the mask!  When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He meant it!