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Separating From the Self Life Pastor Gene Friberg Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12: 1-3 Illustration: At the time of my conversion, I was working at a carpentry shop. It was as rough as any factory or construction site would be. One of my co-workers heard that I became a Jesus-freak and wanted to find out first-hand what had happened to me. Being new at explaining it, I started by saying all that I was free from. I said: “Jesus set me free, I don’t have to smoke, drink, chase women, or any of that _____.” Having just realized that I used a swear word, I quickly added, “And I don’t have to swear anymore!” But I just had. Why? Why would I use a swear word when trying to witness for the Lord? The most obvious reason? Seven years of cussing, while only seven days of salvation! Although positionally, before God, I was perfect in Christ Jesus; experientially, here on earth, I had a lot to learn. I had to learn to die to self and be alive to Christ. There are defeated Christians today who need to know the difference between the old self life and the new life in Christ. We’re going to use a literal story of Abram and Lot to help us see the need we all have. In today’s lesson, Abram represents the new life in Christ, and Lot represents the old self-centered life in Adam. You may hear something today that will help you have the success you’ve been praying for. I. Three Characteristic of the Self Life. A. Self has a History. Self wants position of influence based on long term relationship. 1. Lot was related. He was Abram’s nephew. (12:4; 13:1,5) “And Lot went with him”. We are forced to wonder about Abram’s complete obedience to God’s command at this point. God had given him specific instructions which besides going to the “promised land,” he was to separate from his family members. (12:1) As long as Lot hung around, part of the old life was there too. We shall soon see, even what Abram was unable to do, God did for him! 2. (See Rom. 13:11-14) There is a part of us that wants to remember, “The good ‘ol days.” That part of us, however legitimate the memory, has no part of our current life in Christ. It used to be how we were related to the world around us, but now, we are to have no more recognition of it!
B. Self Doesn’t Initiate True Worship. John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." We see throughout Genesis how Abram built altars and worshipped the Lord. In about thirty references to Lot, there is not one where he is building an altar or worshipping on his own. Some people naturally like a liturgical style church service; others want excitement, a more contemporary style service. But what does God desire? True worshippers. I remember my first experience at a Charismatic service. People had their hands raised up during the song service, vibrant singing and expressive shouts of praise were all around. When I got up the nerve to try it, I was incredibly self-conscience. Why? I think it’s because self-conscience is all I knew, and God was calling me to be a worshipper of Him. Self-conscience is wondering how I look to others. True worship is concerned with only one thing, how I look to God! Freedom to worship is being God-conscience, not self-conscience! C. Self Likes Promises and Prosperity. 1. Some say: “Sinners don’t like the word of God.” Oh yes they do! As long as it fulfills their own likes and dislikes.
(That’s how Lot would have prayed too.) Lot loved to be around Abram, the man of God, as long as there was the promise of more prosperity! His greed saw only the well watered plains, i.e. the prosperity, around Sodom and Gomorrah, not the threat of wickedness too. Keith Phillips wrote that the real test of a disciple of the Lord Jesus is not how prosperous you are, but how much you die to self. “…assuming that it is acceptable to be saved without having to commit oneself to those more radical demands of Jesus, like ‘taking up the cross’ and following Him (Matthew 10:38). This assumption is grounded on the erroneous belief that salvation is primarily for man’s benefit-to make him happy and to prevent eternal damnation. While God’s gift of salvation does meet man’s most crucial need, this humanistic, do-it-your-own-good pitch completely ignores the ultimate reason Christ died on the cross. God provides man with salvation primarily to bring glory to Himself through people who have the character of His Son (Ephesians 1:12). God’s glory is more important than man’s welfare (Isaiah 43:7)… In order for Christ to be in control, I have to die. I cannot become a disciple without dying to myself and identifying with Christ… A great paradox of life is that there is tremendous freedom in this death. A dead man is no longer concerned with his own rights, his independence, or the opinions of others. When he was joined in a spiritual union with the crucified Christ, those things so highly prized by the world-riches, security and status-were relinquished. The Making of a Disciple p.18-19 II. Three Consequences of the Self-life. Genesis 13:5-7 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. Now the land was not able to support them that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.. A. Strife. What happens when too many sheep and cattle are in the same location? What would the small watering holes look like? Whose livestock gets the best grazing area? Whose get first dibs on the water? As long as Lot was around, a prosperous Lot that is, there was strife! Illustration: A man once asked me, “Why does it seem like everyone is against me? At home, work, even at church - people nit pick about my faults. Why doesn’t everyone just grow up?” He failed to recognize the one constant in all his troubles was himself! Do you have strife everywhere you go? Maybe, just maybe, it’s not others, but self that is the problem? B. Opens a door to demons. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. The Holy Spirit wrote this, why? What we read here is that the enemies of the Lord were watching. What do you think the wolfish Canaanite would be doing while the herdsmen of Abram and Lot were quarrelling? (Looking to steal the sheep). Nathan told King David, “Because of what you did, the enemies of the Lord have an occasion to blaspheme”. Exodus 32:25 NAS Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control-- for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies- Who is our enemy today? The devil is watching for every opportunity to “divide and conquer” the family of God. When church people live for self instead of die to self, the devil watches with glee for he knows that strife will soon ensue, and the wolf that he is will use it to scatter the sheep! C. Judgment. Genesis 13:10-13 NIV Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. Lot unknowingly chose what God had slotted for judgment. Keeping with the theme of “separating from the self-life,” what would have happened if Abram would have said, “Hold it, hold it; I’ll sell all my livestock and move to the plains of Sodom with you. After all, it’s peace at any price.” *There are two paths to chose and only two. There’s the straight and narrow one, and then there’s the wide, broad path. The narrow one leads to life and the wide one leads to destruction. Abram chose the narrow one; he continued to walk in God’s blessing…. Lot chose the wide one; he walked right into God’s judgment…. What are the consequences to living unto self instead of dying to self? 1.Strife in your life. 2. Open door to demons. 3. Judgment will follow decisions. Are you interested in a cure? III. Cure For the Self Centered Life. Gen 13:14-18 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are -- northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you." Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD. A. Separation. God spoke to Abram what to do all the way back in Ur. Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great. Arthur Pink writes: The declared purpose of God was to separate Abram from the land of his birth and from his own kinsmen, in order to educate him and his in the knowledge and obedience of Jehovah…In the separation of Lot from Abram, then, we see the departure of the last of his kinsfolk, and now Abram is left “alone” with God! Gleanings in Genesis; p. 153 1. Now Abram had finally done it. He has totally separated from everyone in his past, (except his wife of course). If Abram was going to be spiritually successful, he needed to do all that God told him to do. Did you know that God has the same desire for you? He wants to bless you and use you in wonderful ways, but it requires you listening to His word about separation. 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 TLB That is why the Lord has said, "Leave them; separate yourselves from them; don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you and be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters." Having such great promises as these, dear friends, let us turn away from everything wrong, whether of body or spirit, and purify ourselves, living in the wholesome fear of God, giving ourselves to him alone. Many Christians I have met are defeated in their spiritual lives. One thing is obvious as you get to know them. They are determined to defend self at all costs. If they have a conflict with someone else - it can even be their spouse; what I hear them shout from the rooftops is “their rights”. Don’t I have a right to…? They seem to ask these questions without even hearing how contrary it sounds to the way we know Christ to be. What should they do instead? These people need to separate; 1. Separate from whatever God has revealed is sin and selfishness. 2. Repent - confessing it as sin and asking for forgiveness. 3. Not only separate from your selfishness, but unto righteousness in Christ Jesus (next point). B. Obedient walk. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you." Abram’s life now took on a new dimension. He still had tests and trials, but God’s promises and faithfulness is never in doubt. What’s the first act he does upon separation from Lot? And built an altar there to the LORD. There he goes building an altar again! It’s not enough to say, I’m not going to serve myself any longer. Recognition alone is not repentance. Repentance is turning from your old way and turning to a new way. Perhaps you’ve never done this, you can do it today, at the end of this service there are people who want to pray with you… Conclusion: James 1:14-15 TEV But a person is tempted when he is drawn away and trapped by his own evil desire. Then his evil desire conceives and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. I had a friend in high school, and for the sake of his family I’ll call him Joe. Joe was my best friend for about three years, but he brought me much mischief. He taught me that alcohol was meant to be consumed in large quantities; girls were to be exploited; and that cars were to be driven fast. He was a parent’s worst nightmare - that your son/daughter would befriend the child of the devil. Because of his influence, before my 18th birthday, I lost my license twice, was in many car accidents, three different times the car I was in was totaled, and broken relationships too numerous to count. During my senior year, I either missed, was tardy, or hung-over more days than I was there sober and learning. I got “F’s” in metal shop - how does a boy get an “F” in shop class? I could have gone far, I could have been something, if it hadn’t been for “Joe,” I would have been sweet as a senior… What - you say - that isn’t what the Bible says? A person is tempted when he is drawn away and trapped by his own evil desire. That’s right! It wasn’t “Joe’s” fault, and (in context) it wasn’t God’s fault either. The blame for my sin falls right on me. I have to accept it. The good news is that Someone took my sin. And He is here today to take yours too. All you need to is:
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