Proverbs 29:28

    He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

      In Solomon's day cities were built high on a hill and were surrounded by huge walls. 

    High on a hill so the enemy could be seen coming.  They not only would now have to fight an uphill battle but they would have to find away over or through the huge walls that surrounded the city.

    A city that is broken down and without walls is a city that has been over run by the enemy.  The walls are torn down to keep the city from regaining any sort of defensive position.  Late at night there was nothing to keep out lions, bears and wolves.  These creatures could just have their way with the city

 

  Thesis; Solomon said that a man who will not employ any sort of self control in his life is just like that city.  

    A disciplined man, even more a man that is maturing in his walk with the Lord will have a constant battle with him.  But a man who will not control his passions is an easy prey.  Satan has come to Kill, Steal and destroy. 

 

Three reasons for suffering

1. We suffer because we are children of Adam.

2. We suffer because we serve Jesus

 

These two are covered in 1Peter 5

     8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

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  Peter is saying, Satan is your enemy and he is out to get you, but turning back will not help the situation, our afflictions are common to every man.

3. We suffer because we will not control our passions.

Galatians 6:8  He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. But he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

 

Romans 13:12  The night is far spent the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

 

Paul says, "You've wasted enough time, But it's not too late to put on the armour that will keep you from being annihlated by Satan. 

I think a good definition of the flesh would be, "I want what I want and I want it now."

A man in a rage will cut his nose off to spite his face!

There is no limit to how low a man with an addiction will stoop. 

Our protection from this onslaught is the fruit of the Spirit.

 

Galatians 5

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

David leaves a promise to a man whose passion is to serve the Lord.

Psalms 91:7  Though a thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand, it shall not come nigh thee.

I'm reminded of Muhammed Ali.  He would brag about how pretty his face was; saying that other boxers had not landed many or any blows.

When we take unto us the whole armour of God, When we hunger for the fruit of the Spirit, though things sometimes look very bad in the end we can say to Satan, "You never laid a glove on me."

Never forget when the Hebrew Children came out of the burning fiery furnace, there was not even the smell of smoke on them.