Dead To Self, But Alive In Christ

(Farewell To The Flesh)

 

 

By Clarence Andrews

 

Indeed, all of us once behaved like them in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and senses. By nature we deserved wrath, just like everyone else, But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us, even when we were dead because of our offenses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). Ephesians 2:3-5.

 

How many of you can actually say, I’m dead to self, and now alive in Christ? If you are alive in Christ, you are controlled by what the spirit wants, but if the flesh lives on in you, then you are controlled by what your flesh wants. The spirit and the flesh war against one another, each seeking to gain control of your life. The flesh cries out to be satisfied, but the spirit attempts to guide you along a path that leads to life, and a life that’s lived to please God. To die to self is plain, it’s just forgetting what you want, and doing as the spirit directs you. You no longer put yourself first, but is giving God first place in all things. Your entire way of thinking is changed, and you are not looking at what God can do for you, but what you can do for him. Many of us become Christians, but we never die to self, but when you can look pass your own needs and see nothing but God, then shall the desires of your heart be given to you. There are Christians who know what dying to self is, but will not do it because they think they will have to give up all their dreams. But dying to self does not mean you have to give up your dreams, you are only putting God ahead of what you desire in life; and when God see you doing this he will bless you with what you want. The Apostle Paul had to die to self or to the flesh in order that he might see only the Christ in his walk, “Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3 : 7-8.  There will be many times when the flesh is going to rise up to encourage you to seek out self and do what self wants. Self is a friend to the flesh, and the flesh is going to war with the spirit. The scripture says it quite well, “But I say, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall no way fulfill flesh's lust. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these things are opposed one to the other, that ye should not do those things which ye desire.” Galatians 5: 16-17. Once you become dead to self you can begin living life by the spirit. What the spirit will do is guide you and manifest its self through you in ways that will bring glory to God. The holy spirit will help you to live a life that’s pleasing to God.  If we live by the Spirit, let us walk also by the Spirit. Galatians 5: 25. Without the holy spirit self will always pay attention to what the flesh wants. If self is not focused on material gain and all you want in this life, then it will certainly be focused on the gratifications of your flesh; And the flesh is filled with all kinds of impure desires. These desires are the result of a sinful nature manifested by the flesh, and Paul said this about that nature, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings.  Galatians 5 : 19-21. I will never say that you will always be able to live a life that is dead to self, but you can certainly try. I continue to try not to let self, rule over me, but everyday I have to die to self, and many times it is not always easy. Self wants to have its own way, and continue to be a partner with my flesh. You will learn that dying to self is a daily process, and it will provoke a struggle within you, a struggle between the spirit and the flesh. Right now, you may be trying to live your life in the spirit, and dying to self, but don’t give up if you are failing in your attempt. Remember what Christ said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Matthew 26: 41.  In spirit you are willing to die to self, but your flesh is weak and will keep you tied up, and prevent you from doing what the spirit wants of you. When Christ made this statement in Matthew 26:4, he had asked his disciples to keep watch while he prayed, but when he returned he found them sleeping. The disciples were willing in their spirit, but because the flesh was weak they fell asleep. I have had to struggle with self since I first became saved, and I’ll admit, it was not easy then, and its not easy now. I made this statement twice so you will understand that you are not the only Christians struggling in this area. Just keep in mind the words of Christ, “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”