Old self is your personality that loves to do things in your own way without considering the opinion of the Lord. Old self or old man does not live to please God. The old-man hates the rules from the Lord, but loves everything about the world.
Old self is the rebellious nature which is not acceptable by the Lord. So, the teachings of Jesus Christ, His death and Resurrection are events that give New Life or New Man to all believers.
Everyone must put away the old self before enjoying the salvation of Jesus Christ.
I give God the glory for my life today. My old self starts to manifest from the tender age of nine. I grew up from a Christian home, but my old self pleases me more than obeying the instructions in the Bible.
So, I was hypocrite for a long time. I lived a lukewarm lifestyle till my final year in the Polytechnic. My encounter with the Lord defeated my old self, and I became a new man in Christ.
Today’s message will reveal the power of old self and how to overcome the forces of the old man.
What are the Features of the Old Self?
The old self neither obeys nor respect the Holy Spirit. Now the works of the flesh are evident:
- adultery
- fornication
- uncleanness
- lewdness
- idolatry
- sorcery
- hatred
- contentions
- jealousies
- outbursts of wrath
- selfish ambitions
- dissensions
- heresies
- envy
- murders
- drunkenness
- revelries
If you carefully go through the list above, and you notice one or two of the character in your life, then the old self is still in control.
Colossians chapter 3 verse 5 to 10 says: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which are idolatry.
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.
And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”
How to Defeat Your Old Self!
God loves you and He does not want your old self to put you away from heaven. The following tips will help defeat the old self:
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Walk in the Spirit
Paul said: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:16-18)
You are not under the curse of the law, if you quit the features of the old self.
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Obey the Word of God
The old self would want you to always argue with the word of God. And the old man would make you see the instructions of Jesus as a difficult task to accomplish. The old self makes the Bible boring to you, but do not give-in to the old-man.
Read the New Testament carefully and understand the New Life Jesus Christ is introducing to you. Embrace Jesus by obeying all His commandments. You can do all things in Jesus. Thus, nothing is difficult in the instructions of our Lord Jesus.
Jesus says: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7
Obedience to the word of God all the time will defeat the old man in you.
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Your Strong Determination is Essential
It is true that Jesus had completed your salvation on the cross, but He won’t spoon-feed you. You need to forsake worldliness. Make the right choice to follow Jesus with All your heart.
First John chapter 3 verse 4 to 6 says: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.”
Don’t fold your arms and expect Jesus to come down from heaven to earth to do all the fights for you. He can’t force you to abide in Him. The Power of Jesus will give you victory over your old-man, if you have a strong determination in your heart to stop all worldliness.
The Grace of God is abundant in our generation, but only few could enjoy it, because, many are not ready to pay the price – “Then He said to them all, if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
Your old-self will die if you always refuse to do the common practice of the world. And your new man will live forever if you always obey the word of God daily. It is impossible for people living in their old self to inherit the kingdom of God.
So, make the right choice! Crucify your old man on the cross, and live a New Life in Jesus Christ.
