Each day when I arise, the battle begins and continues all day until I retire in the evening. It is the battle with self and it is one of the greatest battles we will ever fight. I must give praise to God because truly His grace is sufficient when I allow it to take charge.
“The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought.
- The yielding of self,
- surrendering all to the will of God,
- and being clothed with humility,
- possessing that love that is pure, peaceable, and easy to be entreated, full of gentleness and good fruits, is not an easy attainment. …” Gospel Workers (1892), 376.
Have you ever tried to be pure, peaceable and easy to get along with while under stress? Only through God’s grace is that possible!
“The Christian life is a battle and a march. But the victory to be gained is not won by human power. The field of conflict is the domain of the heart. The battle which we have to fight—the greatest battle that was ever fought by man—is
- the surrender of self to the will of God,
- the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love.
The old nature, born of blood and of the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 141.
In other words, we must give up self or we cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The devil loves it when you refuse to surrender self to Jesus because then he can manipulate you. When you surrender yourself to Jesus to walk in the spiritual kingdom, the devil is angry and you can expect the following:
“He who determines to enter the spiritual kingdom will find that
- all the powers and passions of an unregenerate nature, backed by the forces of the kingdom of darkness, are arrayed against him.
- Selfishness and pride will make a stand against anything that would show them to be sinful.
We cannot, of ourselves, conquer the evil desires and habits that strive for the mastery. We cannot overcome the mighty foe who holds us in his thrall. God alone can give us the victory. He desires us to have the mastery over ourselves, our own will and ways. But He cannot work in us without our consent and co-operation. The divine Spirit works through the faculties and powers given to man. Our energies are required to co-operate with God.
“The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the humbling of self at every step. Our will is not to be forced into co-operation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily submitted.” Ibid., 141, 142.
Are you ready to yoke up with Jesus in the greatest battle ever fought? Let us together enroll under the banner of Christ Emmanuel—I am ready and willing.
Father: I earnestly humble myself before Thee and surrender all. I choose to walk with Thee. Please give me the victory over my evil desires and ugly habits that will keep me out of heaven. Give me the mastery over self that I may stand at all times for the right so that I may be part of the heavenly kingdom. I choose to yoke up with Jesus, to die to self, and to cooperate with You in the battle against self. Amen.