Overcoming Self – Conclusion

This brings us to the conclusion of our discussion on “Overcoming Self.”  Today we will see how we can walk in victory over the flesh when we apply God’s full-proof methods that He has provided for us.  The following is taken from my book, Victory Over Backsliding. 

   Victory Over the Flesh

Throughout our life we will battle with self or the “flesh.”  But as the Lord has overcome our other two foes, the world and Satan, He has also overcome the flesh.  We find this in the following two verses:

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-  Romans 6:6 NIV

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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.  Gal. 2:20 

This is indeed good news.  Although we may struggle with many temptations and trials, we are free from giving in to the many ungodly demands of the flesh.  But in order to enjoy our freedom, we must submit ourselves to the Lord continuously.   We have many besetting struggles with the flesh, but we can overcome evil desires by instead fulfilling the desires of the Spirit.  

   This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  Galatians 5:16  

Similar to the way we overcome evil with good, in order to overcome the flesh, we walk in the Spirit.  This means we no longer have lordship over our own lives, but will have given over every aspect to the Lord.  One of the most important reasons to submit everything to the Lord is that until we do, Satan can have a hey-day with us.  We will be open to every kind of attack he will try and throw at us.  What he does is use our power to choose, like he did to Eve, and then entice us to be disobedient.  This way, he will win and we’ll live defeated until we repent and submit it completely over to the Lord.

 

Victory over the flesh is an ongoing battle, so we must be consistent in our efforts to not allow self to rule.  We dethrone self by daily submitting ourselves to the Lordship of Christ in all things, then trust Him and obey Him.  We need to stop relying on ourselves and looking to self or the things of this world for answers.  God has many solutions for every problem and situation we encounter in life.  If we diligently submit our lives over to Him on a daily basis, we will see a marked growth in our walk and with God’s power working in our lives, we’ll be able to stand against our own flesh in the battle against backsliding.  

Taken from Victory Over Backsliding, by Linda McBurney-Gunhouse, Creative Focus Publishing, p. 77-78, 2007.

I hope you have been blessed by this chapter on how to overcome self.  I encourage you to read my entire ebook, Victory Over Backsliding.  Written under inspiration and backed by years of research, and filled with countless applicable Scriptures, it will enrich your life and set you on a path closer to God.    

May God richly bless you as you put into practice the powerful principles of God’s unchanging Word.