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The Enemy Of Self
You open the fridge and there before you is a magnificent piece of chocolate cake. One piece of cake may not hurt you, yet you are trying to lose weight so you are on a strict diet. It matters little, however, to the cake that you are doing so. Somehow, within seconds of the door being opened, the cake finds its way to being lifted to your mouth. This circumstance may have played out in your life. Or perhaps it has played out in other areas with different items. Thus we have the statement, “The person in the mirror is the worst enemy you have.”
John Newton, author of the famed hymn, Amazing Grace, wrote, “This is the worst enemy we have to deal with: self will, self-wisdom, self-righteousness, self-seeking, self-dependence, self-boasting.” It is true that when temptation comes we must bring every thought captive to the Word of God. Everything we do should be filtered through the Word of God. Yet sometimes we don’t allow God the chance to help us, we simply override the situation because of our own desires and wants. This is when we become our own worst enemy. The Message of the Hour was sent to turn our faith back to the Word as it was in the faith of the Apostolic Fathers and, in doing this, we can have faith in the Word of God instead of our own thinking. We, as Believers, must get past the thinking that we can deal with things on our own, but that Christ is how we overcome self-will, and self righteousness, and our self-seeking. It is only through Christ that this can be done. Try getting yourself out of the way more and putting God in the center always, by placing your faith in the Word and by hearing the Message of the Hour. Don’t let yourself get mixed up, and don't let your heart be deceived, let God be the center. I used to preach over in the Baptist church a little sermon; I called it, "Let Loose And Let God." That's right. Just let loose and let God; as long as you got yourself into it, there ain't no way. You know who the biggest enemy I got's William Branham. He's always in God's way. If I can just get him out of the way, then God can go to work. That's your worst enemy is yourself. Just get yourself out of the way, and then God can go to work. Now, be careful of your associates when you get out there, and get among the people, and this one begins to tell you this, and this one, that. Then you get yourself all mixed up; you don't know what you do believe.
55-0228 - "“Separation From Unbelief”" Copyrights are held by Our Daily Strength
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