It has been noted by this writer that the most difficult funeral we will ever attend is the death of self. The purpose of this article is to be very specific about at least ten hurdles or barriers that we will face in the death of self and our desire to look more like Jesus.
- Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
- Engaging in no willful wandering.
- Yielding to the will and discipline of God.
- Living outside of God’s will—beware!
- Having a total incompatibility with sin.
- Giving ourselves to the care and keeping of God.
- Being matured through the experiences in our lives.
- Submitting to the wisdom that is from above rather than our own.
- Allowing our minds to be nourished in the words of faith.
- Putting to death the deeds of the body.
If any of us are wondering if these or similar expectations will be on God’s final test, be assured they will be. Why? They are all based in Scripture because He has spoken.
- Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ is 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
- Engaging in no willful wandering is Psalm 119:10. “With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!”
- Yielding to the will and discipline of God is Hebrews 5:7-9. “Who [Christ], in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
- Living outside of God’s will—beware is 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.”
- Having a total incompatibility with sin is 1 John 3:8-10. “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”
- Giving ourselves to the care and keeping of God is 1 Peter 5:5-7. “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
- Being matured through the experiences in our lives is James 1:2-4. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience [endurance]. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
- Submitting to the wisdom that is from above rather than our own is James 3:13-18. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
- Allowing our minds to be nourished in the words of faith is 1 Timothy 4:6-8. “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
- Putting to death the deeds of the body is Romans 8:13-14. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
To borrow a thought from one good brother who is literally fighting for his life: “One of the richest, most encouraging, stabilizing promises ever found is Jesus’s statement of the purpose of His coming. ‘I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly’ (John 10:10). We misread when we falsely conclude this promise eliminates daily problems, difficult moments, unavoidable sicknesses, uncomfortable settings, upsetting scenarios, along with the ten-thousand other things that clutter an otherwise most enjoyable life.”
The death of self is a process that we who want to go to Heaven will be striving to achieve to a much fuller degree as long as we live. Even though we are in these weak, worn and wayward bodies, we can and do have the victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
