Traits of the Self Life

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there is any wicked way in me." (Psalm 139:23-24)

"I have been crucified with Christ; and I am no longer living, but Christ is living in me..." (Galatians 2:20)

The Holy Spirit as the believer's Helper is concerned about the traits of the old self-life which manifest themselves in the life of the believer. In order to help you identify these traits read this material prayerfully, asking God, the Holy Spirit, to expose your self-life.

Are you ever conscious of:

A SPIRIT OF PRIDE? - an exalted feeling over other people because of some success or promotion; perhaps being congratulated for a "wonderful Sunday School class"? - because of your excellent training and natural abilities? - because of your "good looks" and personality? - a spirit which loves human praise? - which has a longing to be noticed? - which loves supremacy even in little things? - which draws attention to itself in conversation?

AN INDEPENDENT ATTITUDE? - which says, "If you won't help me, I'll do it myself!" and then complains and feels hurt when no one notices the sacrifice!?

AN IMPATIENT DISPOSITION? - which you feel is justified when your family makes you late for Sunday School? - a touchy spirit when someone doesn't say what you expected them to say? - a spirit of resentment and retaliation when someone disapproves of your actions or contradicts what you have said? - a desire to use barbed words to put yourself back into the proper light?

A SPIRIT OF SELF-WILL? - a stubborn, unteachable attitude? - a spirit that is self-sufficient and knows everything and yet is insensitive to those around? - an argumentative spirit even when the facts are not known? - harsh, sarcastic expressions when talking about others? - an unyielding, headstrong attitude which doesn't see the other person's point of view? - a driving, commanding spirit which whips God's people into service rather than leading them? - a disposition to criticize and pick out flaws when you are set aside and left unnoticed? - a peevish, anxious, unreasonable spirit? - a disposition that loves to be coaxed, humored, and asked twice!? - a spirit that seeks only its own interests to please itself?

A SPIRIT OF FEAR? - a shrinking from ridicule and responsibility? - reasoning around the difficulties of life? - a shrinking from ministering freely to those who are rich and hold public office? - a fear of embarrassment before someone you respect? - a compromising attitude?

A JEALOUS DISPOSITION? - a spirit of envy? - "I can sing better than that!" - a bitterness in view of the success of someone else? - a disposition to speak of the faults and failures of those more talented and used than yourself?

A SPIRIT OF DISHONESTY? - the evading and covering-up of the actual truth? - the hiding of your real needs? - creating a better impression of yourself than what is actually true? - false humility? - exaggeration? - deceitfulness?

AN UNBELIEVING ATTITUDE? - a spirit of discouragement in times of pressure and opposition? - a lack of confidence in God's dealings? - a disposition to worry and complain about problems? - an anxiety whether everything is going to come out all right?

A SPIRIT OF FORMALITY? - a lack of concern for unsaved neighbors? - dryness in your devotional life? - indifference to a living relationship with Jesus Christ? - a lack of power in prayer?

These are only some of the traits which mark a believer who is walking in the flesh and not walking under the control of the Holy Spirit.

The truths which can lead you into a Christ-centered life include:

1. Daily acknowledging your spiritual union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, (Romans 6), which was effected when you were saved. This also includes the fact that you have been set free from the power of sin (as a ruling monarch) in your life.

2. Daily asking the Holy Spirit to renew the spirit of your mind (Romans 12:2) so that your sub-conscious thought-patterns will be changed.

3. Daily realizing your responsibility to keep filled in your spirit with the Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18). God filled you at your conversion. He wants you to keep full!

4. Daily realizing that the blood of Jesus Christ keeps on cleansing you from all unknown sin (1 John 1:7) while you must confess known sins to receive cleansing and forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

"Oh, to be saved from myself, dear Lord,
Oh, to be lost in Thee!
Oh, that it might be no more 'I',
But Christ who lives in me."
-Revised