Today, we see believers putting blames on the devil for all sin committed, we tend to ignore the root of all evil committed which is known as SELF. Our Lord Jesus had already defeated satan but had left the overcoming of SELF to us. (Col 3:5,8).  Our first enemy is SELF, the problem is not satan, the problem is what’s inside us. Satan only provokes what we carry – SELF. SELF can motivate someone to pray but for the wrong reasons. There are other synonyms for SELF used in the scripture, they are: flesh, old man, old nature, sinful nature, carnal mind etc, as we study they would be used interchangeably with SELF.

Our flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41), since it is weak, it causes us to let our guard down, causes us to open up doors that are meant to be shut, we end up making choices that are not useful to us or to the advancement of Christ influence wherever we are. As believers, “we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live”. In other to live, we must master SELF, we must overcome it, giving up what we want for what the Lord wants. This means letting go of unhealthy desires. God said and is still saying “we must master and rule over it” (Gen. 4:6-7).

Questions to pounder on.

What is your understanding of SELF? Gal.5:19-21, 1Pet. 1:14-14;

Why must we overcome SELF? Gal. 6:8; Rom.7:18-19, Rom. 8:7;

How can we overcome SELF? Gal. 5:16; Rom.12:1-2; Jam. 4:7-10, Josh.1:8.

What are God’s provision for overcoming flesh?