My Number One Enemy

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

have told you that I do not allow myself to consider anyone as my enemy because I know how I would behave toward them. That does not mean I do not have any enemies, for everyone has a common enemy, Satan.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(I Peter 5:8)

But he is not my number one enemy.

My number one enemy is not the person who opposes me. My number one enemy is not the person who attacks me. My number one enemy is not the one who hates me. My number one enemy looks at me every time I look in the mirror, for the person who gives me the most trouble in serving God is me.

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:15-25)

Paul was a much better man than I am.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
(I Corinthians 9:24-27)

I would like for us to look at the idea of considering our own self or self examination.

I. WE ARE TO EXAMINE OUR OWN SALVATION.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(II Corinthians 13:5)

  1. If we are not saved, we are reprobates incapable of serving God.
  2. A reprobate is unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication worthless (literally or morally):– a castaway.
  3. It makes no difference how good you are, for even Satan can appear to be an angel of light.

    For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  (II Corinthians 11:13-15)

  4. We are to examine ourselves.
  5. We are to know ourselves.

II. WE ARE TO CONSIDER OUR OWN SELVES.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. (Galatians 6:1-5)

  1. When we become critical of those who sin, we set ourselves up for a fall.
  2. I have seen a person become very critical toward someone else because of a particular sin in their life and then seen them become guilty of the same sin to a much greater degree.
  3. We all have our weaknesses, therefore, we should be doing our best to help one another to be better servants of God.

III. WE SHOULD EXAMINE HOW WE BEHAVE IN CHURCH.

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (I Timothy 3:15)

  1. We should do our best never to do anything that would harm a church that belongs to God; not everything that calls itself a church is a church in God’s eyes.

    Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
    (I Corinthians 10:32)

  2. Bad attitudes are harmful.
  3. Critical or harsh words are harmful.
  4. Discord is harmful.

    A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
    (Proverbs 6:12-19)

  5. We are to exercise godliness.

    But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (I Timothy 4:7-8)

  6. We should be sound in doctrine.

    Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (I Timothy 4:16)

    Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)

  7. We should withdraw from those who cause contention in church.

    If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (I Timothy 6:3-5)

IV. WE NEED GOD TO EXAMINE US.

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. (Psalm 26:2)

  1. We need to be honest with God.
  2. We need to be honest with our self.
  3. I’m just a sinner, saved by Grace.
  4. God loves me, God loves you and He wants each of us to have eternal life.
  5. He gave His precious Son to die on the cross, shed His blood and rise from the dead to redeem us.
  6. Have you turned from your sin (repented) and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation?

    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
    (Romans 10:9-10)


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