Victory Over Self Rev. Barry Auch
When Joshua crossed the Jordan, he had not only defeated the kings that were on the east side but now also on the west (Josh. 12:14, 7-24). We see there was still a great conflict of the higher Christian life even in the place called the Land of Promise. As Christians, we may face conflict as well in obtaining the higher Christian life. It wasn't a battle of grosser forms of sin, for they were left behind when they crossed the Jordan. This new adventure was coming into the land of holiness, obedience, and rest. However, Joshua's battles in the new land were real and arduous, and they have helpful insights for us. Surely, we would think that no consecrated Christian would dare to indulge in willful disobedience or sin (before the crossing). These grosser forms were put away at Calvary (work of the cross). As Joshua led, he found there are other giants (kings) more subtle, whom with he fought so long and perhaps plague us. The Apostle Paul gives descriptive words of the Christian's conflict: "...that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Cor. 5:15). Now you may be wondering "What are these other, more subtle giants (kings that Joshua fought) that plague us?" They are the many areas of our self-life which, while not perhaps directly and willfully sinful in a grosser sense, are still opposed and run contrary to the will of God. They must be slain before we can ever go any further in perfect harmony of His Divine will to the higher Christian life. These things are monsters, tyrants, which if allowed to go unchecked and remain, will ultimately bring us into subjection of sin, bring us into a spirit of leanness, and will separate us from our Lord. Oh, how well Joshua understood this and sought to eliminate the cause of its source. To Joshua there was one progenitor (forefather), all of one family, that being Arba, the father of Anak (Joshua 14:15; Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites). Then the land had rest from war. The name Arba means "the strength of Baal." Baal was the Ancient Sidonian god of nature, and Arba stands for the natural heart, in all the force of its self-will and sufficiency. His son Anak, signifies in Hebrew, "long-neck," representing pride and self-will. What character these two names represent of the whole family. Self-will (Arba) is the head of the dynasty in our lives. It expresses itself as: I will, I shall, I'm too busy, I don't have time to pray, I don't think that it is important enough! All the excuses of our lack of consistency with the Lord begin with "I." Never does our neglect begin with "God," e.g. “God said, I was too busy to pray today!” You see, it recognizes no king but its own imperative choice. Arba must die before the city of Hebron can be won and given to Caleb. Self-will (Arba) must die, and ‘yieldness’ must be the watch word before the gates of holiness and peace can be established. We have become so willful that God cannot move in us as He wills. He has often to crucify us to our own will, for no apparent reason other than to break us, and make us self-surrendered, and wholly subjected to His control. ‘Yieldness’ must be the watch word before the gates of holiness and peace can be established. God has great gifts and power to bestow but is looking to pour into clean vessels. Can you imagine drinking out of a vessel that contained milk and then reused with a carbonated beverage before cleaning? What an awful taste and an unwillingness to be used. How does a Holy God pour out His gifts that are righteous, pure, and holy, into a defilement of a vessel, and expect them to remain pure? The answer is He doesn't! Have you wondered why you possess little power, why you can't seem to get victory over little things, how easy it is to drift into thoughts that are hideous, how the spirit of the world has come into your home and you don't know now to get it out? Does your vessel need to be cleansed? Beloved, often in our lives, we have had to surrender something to Him which He really wished us to have. We could have been yielded to the Lord to break us, so He could in return give to us what we really wanted! In like manner God had to take Isaac from Abraham, and then give him back as no longer Abraham's Isaac but God's. The will thus surrendered becomes a stronger will, but not our will, but His within us. Then when we choose, we choose with the strength of God, and He chooses forever. Have you yielded your will and received His? Has the city of Arba become the city of Hebron, and the home of His love? Christian, allow God to have His way in the smallest decision that you make. Allow Him to truly show Himself strong unto you in every facet of life's decisions. Have you completely surrendered in total abandonment unto Him? Allow God to fulfill the scripture "...that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him...". He is waiting for your surrender in spirit, soul, and body (I Thess. 5:23,24). We are so grateful for all of you, your prayers and support! Every blessing, Elizabeth Metz Elizabeth Metz on behalf of the Evergreen Center Staff
4 Comments
HigherThanYou
9/17/2021 07:03:10 pm
Is this foolishness written by Ouch or Metz? You'd think people this magnificent could be clear about this. What dopes.
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HowBeligerantAmIAllowedToBeOnHere
10/4/2021 08:06:30 pm
I spent a little bit of time with auch when I was a kid. He's a dope. Just another pathetic doofus who desperately needs to feel special. He's not special, just another loser.
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InCaseYoureWondering
10/4/2021 08:09:50 pm
Barry is a humorless, sullen midget. The definition of ridiculous.
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DougMustveDiedByNow
10/4/2021 08:22:09 pm
Is doug dead yet? How about john collins? What a couple of dopes.
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