Text: Proverbs 16:32
“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit that he who takes the city.”
Overcoming self is very crucial than taking the city.
A believer has 3 important enemies:
Death – Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour has settled the case of death. 1 Cor 15: 51-57 in verse 54 the last part of it says death is swallowed up in victory. Verse 57 says Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ.
Devil – 1 Pet. 5: 8 & 9 Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The devil is walking around seeking whom to devour but the eyes of the Lord is going to and fro to save us. 2 Chro 16-9 .The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to him.
Verse 9 of 1 Pet 5 says we should resist him – the devil steadfastly in the faith.
Self – Romans 8:31 says What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us?
The devil cannot James 4:7 says Therefore submit to God, Resist the devil and he will flee away from you.
Demons cannot Mk: 16 – 17 says and this signs shall follow them that believe, in the name they shall cast out demons they shall speak with new tongues.
So the devil, the demons cannot be against you except you if you allow them. Who is the enemy to overcome or to fear? It is SELF. The first and the biggest victory any believer must pray for is the victory over self. Proverbs 25:28 says Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city without walls. Example Cain – Genesis 4:1-14.
- Cain – had some issues with self, he was stingy, jealous, envious and full of anger.
- Esau – Gen25:29-34. Esau was unable to control his appetite for food so he sold his birthright for food.
- Samson – Judges 16:1-end. Samson had no control over self when it comes to women issues and because of this, he messed up his destiny. He died with his enemies.
7 Reasons why I know that I can have victory over self.
If you are truly born again then you are a child of God. John 1: 11-12 then, if you are a child of God, the seed of God duel in you. 1 John3:8-9. No matter how hungry is a cat is, it will never eat grass because there is something in it that says in the cat generation they don’t eat grass.
Jesus overcame and I will overcome. Jesus was tempted but He never sinned – Heb. 4:15
You will not be tempted more than what you can bear and in temptation, there is always a way of escape. 1 Cor 10:13.
The power of God shall keep you. Psalm 121: 4-5.
The Holy Spirit will help us. We need help in various ways Zechariah 4:6. Most importantly He will help us to pray according to the will of God Rm 8:26.
Because God loves us. John 3-16; Rm 8:37.
PRAYERS
Father, thank you for saving me.
Lord Jesus, just as you overcame let me overcome.
Father, by your power, keep me Holy and pure until the end.
Father, because of your love for me always make me more than a conqueror.
Lord Jesus, you prayed for peter please pray for me.
The sermon, Victory Over Self, by Pastor (Mrs) Ekundayo Aruwajoye, was delivered on January 28, 2018.