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Written by Kathy Shaw 1 Contents: Dying to Me pg. 3 Brokenness Pg.6 Mourning our Sin Pg.9 Humility brings Exaltation Pg.11 A Pure Heart Pg.14 Disqualified but Chosen Pg.17 Strength in Weakness Pg.21 2 Lesson One -Dying to Me A. When we talk about ME, we are talking about the fleshly carnal part of me. Jer 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Rom 8:7 (AMP) The mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God's law, since it cannot. Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 1. We are talking about THE END OF ME!!!! The carnal nature that needs to be put into the casket!!! (JT PUGH prayed, “Lord, save me from myself”) Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. B. ME is a problem! Me wants to be in charge, be first, be petted, be protected, be right, have the last word, react, say what I want to say, retaliate and more. 1. The ME battle is all centered around our pride. Satan had this problem and we inherited it from him. He was cast out of the heavenlies. Is 14- I will ascend, I will exalt, I will sit… I will be like… it was his nature and it is our nature. C. The enemy is always lurking to devour the ME! He will use our offenses, hurts, wounds and relationship problems as his bait to lure us and to bind us to our own destruction. 1. When someone rejects us, betrays our trust or we’ve suffered abuse, or loss in a relationship, something happens to the ME. Me reacts and responds! **** OUCH!!!! My pride is wounded, I am insecure, I have self doubt, fear, anger, low self esteem…. 2. My focus then is all on ME! A wound draws all of our attention to itself. But this is a problem because then we are not able to fulfill scripture. Luke 9:23 …..If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (If we are to deny self then we cannot cultivate anger, my rights, my harsh feelings, my grudge, my fear, my self pity) D. Self-pity is a big ME problem that hinders us! 1. Jeremiah- His message was rejected and there was opposition! Jer 15:10 Woe to me, my mother, that you have given birth to me to be a man of strife and a man of contention to all the earth! I have not loaned, nor have men lent money to me, Yet everyone curses me. Jer 15:19 Therefore, thus says the LORD [to Jeremiah], "If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace] So that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative]. 2. Many in the Bible had self- pity and low self- esteem, yet God never tried to build that up with good praise or adoration or self-help tips but he directly affirmed HIS POWER AND PURPOSE. Their focus was to be on God and what HE was gonna do through them, not themselves and their abilities. 3 3. Offenses, hurts and wounds will always cause us to take our eyes off of God onto the ME. Then we blame, become entitled, and lose sight of Gods calling and bigger pictures. God has to realign us! We have to REPENT. We have to remember God always cares more about his purpose and plan then our personal comfort. Jh 12:24 “Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone but if it die it brength forth much fruit. What the Lord was speaking during Saturday morning prayer after putting this study together. You are called to be like ME! I love, I give and laid down my life on the cross. You are called to love, prefer, serve, honor and give to others. You cannot be like me when you give in to PRIDE and allow your pride to rise up and take over. Your pride rises up when you get hurt, rejected, misunderstood or offended by others. Then, the result is that your left with WOUNDED PRIDE. This wounded pride develops into a VICTIM MENTALITIY. Victims who have been wounded, lash out, defend, protect at all cost, blame and retaliate. They become full of SELF-PITY. This leads to anger restlessness, bitterness and then gossip with others. This is what the ME does…..the flesh! But Lord how do I let all this stuff go? How do I stop this pride that leads to all these problems? You RESIST PRIDE! James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. You apply HUMILITY! James 4:6 God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble. When you embrace humility, you are SURRENDERING. You are dropping and laying down all your rights because you TRUST in me to be your defender, protector and rewarder. E. Humility brings a ‘stillness’ in our spirit! A quietness, a refrain. It deliberately waits for GOD to accomplish and fight our battle. Exo 14:13 And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today…. (No rushing off to defend yourself, gossip, have a pity party or to get angry. This is the ME that needs to be crucified!) F. Humility causes us to ‘surrender’ our rights to retaliate! When Jesus was betrayed by Judas, he did NOT ACCEPT THE RETALIATION of Peter. He had full humility and trust with what the Father was doing within the bigger picture. Luke 22:48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him. 1. When he was insulted, oppressed and afflicted he DID NOT REVILE or OPEN HIS MOUTH. 1Pe 2:23 When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly. (AMP) Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. 4 G. Humility causes us to ‘forgive’ those that have hurt us. We let go of what they owe us. Col 3:13 Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Luk 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. H. Humility causes us to ‘trust’ in the Lord to defend, protect and use our rejection, loss, and suffering for the bigger picture of his glory and purpose within us. Luk 22:42 Saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Jas 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing . Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Rom 12:16-20 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.Therefore "IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD." 5 Lesson Two-Brokenness Isa 57:15 For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. A. Broken means to be shattered. Contrite means to be crushed and bruised. 1.