Victory over Self: The need to get self out of the way:

    My fleshly self is always in the way. Everything I see, hear, taste, smell, touch, think and feel comes to me through the filter of my fleshly self and always distorts, giving it a spin that will get me to think or feel  in a way that is in its favor. It even lies to me to get what it wants, which is to be gratified.
    This study is my attempt to look at what I, as a disciple am up against, so I can be better on guard when my fleshly self seeks to influence my every thought, feeling and action, at the heart level and then to successfully enter battle for control of my heart and defeat self with the power that can only come of God.
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Pg 1   Intro                                                              Pg 7   Warnings
          Table of Contents                                        Pg 8    Applications
          Key                                                                 Pg 9    The Source of Help is Christ:
          Key Verses                                                    Pg 10   I Must Have Love
Pg 3   The Greek Definition of Love:                    Pg 11  Conclusion/Applications
           What God Thinks of the Human Heart?              Practicals:
Pg 4    Part of my Flesh Demand to be Heard    Pg 13  Extra Verses
Pg 5   The Need to Grow in Maturity:                  

KEY:
Words in Bold Letters: I make certain words bold for a number of reasons.
-    Words in Bold Red: are positive qualities found with God and are part of being in the
      light; Spirit, love, humility, Etc. (See key verse Rom 8:5-7, pg 2)
-    Words in Bold Black: Important words
-    If/Then – verses that have these words. I highlight them to show cause and effect
              When a verse has the word if but not the work then I added (then) it.
-    Words inside () I add names and identify who is speaking or what is being referred to,
      to clarify the context of the verse.
-    Footnotes are Roman numerals inside [IV] located at the bottom of each page. 

4 KEY VERSES:  
The Battlefield is in the Human Heart:
Rom 7 The Law and Sin: (v7-25)
14 We (disciples) know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to son. 15 I do not understand what I do, for what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 A it is, it is no Ionger I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is in my sinful nature. (Or my flesh) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do- this I keep doing. 20 No if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, bu it i sin living in me that does it.

#   So than in my mind I have choosen to be a slave to God's law, but in my sinful nature (Or in the flesh) I am still a slave to the law of sin.

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Pg 2
 
Rom 8 Life Through the Spirit: (v1-17)
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

1 Cor 9 The Need for Self Discipline: (v24-27)
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we (disciples) do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I (Paul) do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I  strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Gal 5 Life by the Spirit: (v13-26)
13 You, my (Paul’s) brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh [I]; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
 
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
 
#   Contrast these qualities with the following qualities that have their origin from God.
 
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patient self-control; restraint and tolerance), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
 
#  The first list are treats that focus on satisfying self, while the second is a list of qualities that are outward focused, off of self onto others.
    From the contexts the second paragraph shows additionally that the flesh is not focused on love; except perhaps in a lustful way that exclude; joy; peace, patience, self control, tolerance, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, etc.
 
1 John 2 On Not Loving the World: (v15-17)
15 Do not love the world or ANYTHING in the world. If anyone loves the world, (then) love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.’
 
#  The word love here in connection to the world I do not think it is a very positive form of love, instead I think it is more like lust, a self gratifying form like Eros.
 
FOOTNOTES:
[I]  Gal 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit;
 
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Pg 3

   Look at the 4 Greek definitions of love: Agape, Eros, Phillia and Storge.
The Greek definitions of Love: (Wikipedia)
Agape: Means "love: esp. charity; the love of God for man and of man for God."
                  Agape is used in ancient texts to denote feelings for one's children and
            a spouse.
 
Eros: means "love, mostly of the sexual passion
 
Phillia: means "affectionate regard, friendship," usually "between equals. It is
          expressed variously as loyalty to friends (specifically, "brotherly love"), family,
          and community, and requires virtue, equality, and familiarity
 
Storge: Means "love, affection" and "especially between parents and children" It's
              the common or natural empathy, like that felt by parents for offspring
 
What God Thinks of the Human Heart: (4 verses)
Gen 8 When Noah built an alter and burnt offerings on it:
21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though [or humans, for] every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

 Matt 15 That Which Defiles: (v1-20)
17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts--murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
 
Luke 6 A Tree and Its Fruit: (v43-45)
43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn-bushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
 
#  This verse leads into the next regarding winning the battle for the heart and so being able to determine what we allow to come out of it.
 
2 Cor 10 Paul’s Defense of His Ministry: (v1-18)
3 For though we (disciples) live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish (worldly) strongholds. 5 We demolish (human) arguments and every pretension (assertion by human thinking) that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
 
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Pg 4
 
The Parts of my Flesh Demand to be Heard:
James 3 Taming the Tongue: (v1-12)
5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
 
#   The tongue, because of its desire to speak, is unwilling to let the person listen, being too quick to speak and too easily to become angry. James 1:19-20 [I] striving to express what it, the flesh wants first.
 
The Eye:
Job 31 Job
1 “I (Job) made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman”.
 
#   Even though I am in my mid 60’s I still need to make a covenant not only with my eyes but with other parts of my flesh on a heart level so that when I see a woman and my eyes and flesh start voicing their desires that I stop them as soon as possible. The origin of both is the sinful heart voicing its desires. I am called to a standard that says I must take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:5 [ii]
 
The Flesh:
Eph 2 Make Alive in Christ: (v1-10)
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
 
#   The flesh is influenced by the world and then influences the other parts of the body on how to think and feel. that is where the Lust of the eye and flesh comes from, 1 John 2:16 [III]

The Sinful Heart:
Jer 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
 
#   The heart is beyond cure, by me, but not beyond God. This desire to be self focused is very much centered in the heart, It shows the lack of Spiritual maturity, so that is where the battle must be fought in order to win the heart away from the influence of the flesh and presenting it to Christ to be remade and used by him.
 
    I sometimes think of the heart as having the nature of a small child, that never grows up, being very selfish, who will continually throw fists and screams making constant demands to get it way or what it wants, showing a total lack of any maturity, or having any discipline,
 
FOOTNOTES:
[I] James 1 Listening and doing (v19-27)     
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

[[II] 2 Cor 10:5 We (disciples) demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

[III] 1 John 2:16 For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world.

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Pg 5

The Need to Grow in Maturity:
1 Cor 13 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. (But) When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
 
#   This is very much like what a parent does and is called to do by God, to change the heart of a child, from one who is totally self-focused, lacking any sign of maturity and self control,  to one that is outward focused, first toward God and second to others. 
Prov 22:6 [I], Prov 22:15 [II], Eph 6:4 [III].
    Our heavenly Father does the same thing to teach us his way of thinking and feeling on a heart level. Heb 12:7 [IV]
 
    A child is at the first stage of maturity. It does not have a very good concept of time, they want NOW!, there is no next year, next month, next week and even tomorrow can seem to be forever.
    An adult generally understands, thought may be happy about it, that there is a deed to wait for what they want. I must work 2 weeks before I get my pay check.

    A good illustration of this is the saying, "There are no child farmers."

    as an example, I was told that when my older sister was about 4, she was given some flower seeds to plant. After putting them in the dirt and watering them, she sat down expecting them to start growing immediately.
   It takes an adult with an adult's viewpoint and understanding to accept the need tow work in the fields starting in May and to continue till the fall harvest in brought in.
    The adult is will to "delay gratification", where as the child is not. It is the same with my sinful flesh, it too is not willing to delay anything.
    The last stage in growth of maturity is to develop spiritual maturity, which looks even longer into the future, being willing to look from God's viewpoint of eternity, seeing the consequences of my sinful life and be willing to do what it takes to change it, by being willing to submit to God's will and wait on God to receive the promises, some of which are delayed until I enter heaven, others are Immediate, but not what my flesh desires most, Matt 19:29 [V]
    For more on this subject see my study on "Eternal"

The Mind is Influenced:
Rom 8 Life through the Spirit: (v1-17)
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
 
9 You (disciples), however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the  Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

#   It is my choice who will influence my mind, my flesh or the Spirit.

FOOTNOTES:
[I] Prov 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

[II] Prov 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. 

[III] Eph 6:4 Fathers, [Or Parents] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

[IV] Heb 12 God Disciplines His Children:      
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

[V] Matt 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife (some do not have wife) or children or fields for my sale will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

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Pg 6
 
Prov 27:22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.
 
#  This is not something man can do. It will require to power of God working in the heart to change them so the person is pursuing righteousness not the desires of the flesh.
 
Prov 18:2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding (spiritual wisdom) but delight in airing their own opinions (fleshly/worldly thinking).
 
#   I think that this goes back to being quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). The person who can do this has spiritual wisdom and is therefore, outward focused instead of self focused. Another verse is 1 John 4:1 [I], which call me to test every spirit to see if it is from God. I would include in this, to test every human thought, especially my own, to see if it is from God or from self or the world.
 
The battle inside me:
James 4 Submit Yourselves to God: (v1-12)
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you (disciples)? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
 
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
 
#   Paul is writing to disciples under the leadership of James. I think that perhaps the people wanted to be friends with both the world and God. Trying to make a compromise so they could enjoy worldly pleasures and still have an acceptable spiritual relationship with God, which does not work. 
 
The Condition of Man's Heart:
Rom 1 God’s Wrath against Sinful Humanity: (v18-32)
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people (sinful man) are without excuse.
 
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile (worldly) and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools (worldly wisdom) 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

#   This such an obstacle to overcome that only Jesus dying on the cross to provide any form of hope.

FOOTNOTES:
[I] 1 John 4 On Denying the Incarnation: (v1-6)
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

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Pg 7
 
Warnings:
About sinful people:
Prov 1 Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men: (v8-19)
10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
 
1 Cor 15 The Resurrection of the Dead: (v12-34)
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” [From the Greek poet Menander]
 
From God’s Chosen Leaders:
1 Cor 6 Sexual Immorality: (v12-20)
12 “I (Paul) have the right to do anything,” you say--but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”--but I will not be mastered by anything.
 
#   This is freewill exhorting itself over the desires of the flesh and choosing freedom in Christ.
 
What Does God call me to do?
Reject the influence of the Flesh and Become like Christ in Heart:
Eph 4: Instructions for Christian Living:  (v17-32)
22 You (disciples) were taught, with regard to your former (sinful) way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness..
 
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
 
Phil 2 Imitating Christ’s Humility: (v1-11)
1Therefore if you (disciples) have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my (Paul’s) joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
 
Col 3 Living as Those Made Alive in Christ: (v1-17)
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry
 
#   This is putting it on the Cross, being crucified with Jesus, every day. Every day I should make it my goal to die to self so Jesus can fully live in me Jesus Gal 2:20 [I]
 
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Pg 8
 
Turn to God to get Help:
Ps 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your (God’s) word.
29 Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.
 
# -The self that must be removed is the fleshly part of me.
   -The surest way to limit the influence of my flesh is humility before God and others..
   - The flesh lies to me, don’t trust it, instead I should remove self.
 
APPLICATIONS:
Controlling my Tongue:
1 Peter 3 Suffering for Doing Good: (8-22)
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
 
“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.
 
Controlling my Thoughts:
Phil 4 Final Exhortations: (v4-9)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

FOOTNOTES:
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who lived in me and gave himself for me.
 
Eph 4 Instructions for Christian Loving: (17-32)
22 You (disciples) were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the New Self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

#  The Lack of humility & love leaves an inward focused heart:
    What humility brings or remove leaves a heart that is outward focus for the individual.
 
Matt 23 A Warning Against Hypocrisy: (v1-12)
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
 
#  It is much better for me to humble myself before God then to have God do it, and to let
    God exalt me than I exalt myself.

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Pg 9

The Source of Help is Christ:
Heb 12 Faith in Action: (v11:1-40 - 12:1-3)
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
 
Phil 2 Imitating Christ’s Humility: (v1-11)
1 Therefore if you (disciples) have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my (Paul’s) joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
 
What to take away from this verse:
          -Spiritual wisdom is a much better substitute for worldly wisdom.
                   The removal of:                                Adopt:
          -Selfish ambitions,                            - Be Like Minded with Christ
          -Vain Conceit                                     - Have the same Love, Spirit
                                                                       - Have the same concern for others.
          -False Humility: Col 2:18-23 [I] (seeking merit with God by works)
 
Eph 4 Instructions for Christian Living: (v17-32)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

#   So I am to imitate the heart and character of Christ.
     Some other positive qualities of His heart: Compassion, Kindness, Gentleness,
                                                          Patience, willing to Bear with each other
                                                           Gal 5:22-26 [II], Eph 4:1-3 [III]
 
    In all cases, the addition of or the removal of these qualities are dependent on me exercising my free will, by how I choose to live. Submit to the truth of God and live in the light as Christ’s bond servant or to embrace the lies of the world and my fleshly self and so live in darkness as a slave to sin. John 8:34-36 [IV] Rom 6:16-22 [V]

FOOTNOTES:
[I] Col 2 Freedom From Human Rules:
18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angles disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great deal about what they have seen; they are puffed up with ideal notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, gorws as God causes it to grow.

[II] Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

[III] Eph 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

[IV] John 8:34 Jesus replied, "very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

[V] Rom 6:16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that , though you use to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
 
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Pg 10

James 4 Submit Yourself to God: (v1-12)
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
 
I must have Love:
1 Cor 13 Indispensable Love:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is (Human) knowledge, it will pass away.

#   Look back at the Greek definitions of Love. The love we are to be focused on is the highest for of outward, sacrificial love.

Col 3 Living as Those Made Alive in Christ: (v1-17)
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
 
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
 
2 Tim 1 Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel: (v6-14)
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
 
FOOTNOTES:
[I]  Gal 5 Life by the Spirit: (v13-26)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
 
[II] Eph 4 Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ: (v1-16)
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
 
[III] Eph 4 Instructions for Christian Living: (v17-32)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
 
[IV] John 4 Whose Children are Jesus’ Opponents
34Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
 
[V] Rom 6 Slaves to Righteousness: (v15-23)
16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
 
#   The question: "Can "I" achieve victory over self", is a clear no, however Christ already has for me. Now I need to do my part by seeking his help and striving to carry out verse 5 says to put to death whatever my earthly nature. The only way I can see doing this is to nail it to the Cross daily, as in     
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
 
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Pg 11

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS/APPLICATION SUMMERY:
    The world I live in and must relate to is a world that comes to me, filtered through my fleshly self. My flesh by nature will take all of this input and will bend and twist it. It will constantly present in ways that will help it get it wants as it attempts to gratify its desires. That is, if I let it do this. I can surrender and so give in to the will of the flesh and become its slave, or attempt to resist using my own strength to exhort my freewill and subdue the flesh. Sadly, this is not possible, certainly not for long, if it were, then as Paul said, Christ died for nothing Gal 2:21 [I]
 
    Instead, I should approach the relationship with my fleshly self as a hustle one, one that needs to be continually subdued on a daily basis,  I need to make it my unwilling but obedient servant. Therefore, I must strike the first blow, beat it into submission as Paul describes. 1 Cor 9:27 [II]
    The difference for is disciples is that we realize that we can’t overcome our fleshly desires with its worldly thoughts, however, God can and has through Jesus Christ by allowing me to nail them to the cross daily, Mark 8:34 [III] and live for and him through me. Gal 2:20 [IV].
 
    The battle is for and in the heart and mind and so I therefore need to fight there against the fleshly and worldly thoughts/feelings where they have their birth Matt 15:18-19 [IV] and since I am incapable of truly keeping my fleshly self in submission I use a much higher power by taking captive every thought and making it obedient to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. 2 Cor 10:5 [V]
    Also, it is not enough to just fight a defensive battle by attempting to stop worldly/fleshly thoughts, I need to get my mind and heart new food to consume, nourishment that only can come from God; the Word and the positive qualities that are found in and with God and in the world.
 
Practicals:
Step 1: Recognize my great need:
     Recognize that the flesh lies and deceiver every chance it gets, Jer 17:9 [VI] therefore, question everything the flesh tries to tell you. Seek out the good advisor, the Holy Spirit, The Word and other disciples who have true concern for you.

Step 2: Recognize too, my inability, my sinful nature keeps me from overcome it without Christ. Therefore, humility before God must come first, because, if my freewill is not doing this then my fleshly self is still in control and I remain a slave to my sinful nature. My inner self must submit to God first.
 
Step 3: Striving to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ means I am fighting a defensive battle. I also need to provide my heart and mind new thoughts and feelings to replace the raging thoughts and feelings of my flesh. I should be pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (1 Tim 6:11-12) and the things that come from God Phil 4:8-9 [VII]

FOOTNOTES:
[I] Gal 2 Paul Opposes Cephas: (v11-21)
21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,
      Christ died for nothing!”

[II] 1 Cor 9:27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

[II] Mark 8 The Way of the Cross: (vs 34-38)                
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
 
[III] Gal 2 Paul Opposes Cephas (v11-21)         
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
 
[IV] Matt 15 That Which Defiles: (v1-20)
18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts--murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
 
[V] 2 Cor 10 Paul Defends His Ministry:  (v5-11)
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
 
[VI] Jer 17: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

[VII] Phil 4 Final Exhortation: (v4-9)                                        
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
 
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Pg 12
 
Step 4: The goal is spiritual maturity. I see the flesh as a very spoiled demanding child that will never grow up. Spiritual maturity brings discernment to the heart. ???? One that can know the truth about what others are attempting to teach about God, but about everything, especially what my flesh is trying to put pass me through its very slanted fleshly and worldly view and desires. Heb 5:11-14 [I]
 
    Much more can be said there are 11 verses that warn me to be on my guard against false teachers and my sinful nature. Plus there are many others verses that can be used.

    As a final thought about the need to feed my inner self with spiritual food and starve my fleshly desires
 
A Parable attributed to the Cherokee Indians:
 
                            The Tale of Two Wolves:
                  A grandfather is teaching his grandson about life and says;
 
         “There are two wolves in each of us which are always fighting with each other. 
 
          One of them is a good wolf which represents things like kindness,
       bravery and love. The other is a bad wolf, which represents things like greed,
       hatred and fear.
 
              The grandson stops and thinks about it  and then he looks up at his
                  grandfather and asks, “Grandfather, which one wins?”
 
                         The grandfather quietly replies, the one you feed.
 
    Feet your inner self from God’s table and deny your flesh the gratification that comes from the world.

EXTRA VERSES AND COMMENTS:
    -All of these treats of the heart are the result of how I relate to the outside world. It is either filtered through a selfish, self centered view of the flesh or being outward more giving view that can only come from God..
 
    -It is human nature to be prideful; it does not credit God, but self for our many accomplishments and blessings.  Deut 8:10-20 [II]
 
    -I get distracted by and start focusing on so many things in the world. When this happens, then I am no longer focusing on God and Christ my Lord, but on what I have around me, because God is no longer my focus, but self is. Therefore, I should strive to keep my eyes on Jesus, my source of strength in this battle Heb 12:2 [III]

Gen 6 Wickedness in the World: (v1-8)
5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

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Pg 14

Luke 6 A Tree and Its Fruit: (v44-45)
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

 Heb 5 Warning Against Falling Away: (v11-14)                          
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
 
Deut 8 Do Not Forget the Lord: (v1-19)
10  When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
 
19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20 Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.
 
Heb 12 God Disciplines His Children: (v4-13)
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
 
Surrendering to the Flesh:
Ps 52:3 You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
4 You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue!
 
The Flesh corrupts the thinking and makes people fools:
Prov 12:16 Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
 
#   The fool is quick to become defensive and voice their opinions.
 
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Pg 15

Prov 14 Of David.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
 
Eph 2 Made Alive in Christ: (1-10)
3 All of us (disciples) also lived among them (the sinful) at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh [I] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Col 2 Freedom From Human Rules: (v16-23)
18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head (Christ), from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
 
20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Ps 34:13 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
13  keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.