1. Attitudes Toward Self Mark 8:31-38
34 “And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

2. Attitudes Toward Self Self is the obstacle to serving the Lord.
Judges 21:25 - Every man did what was right in his own eyes.
Mt. 23:25 - The hypocrite is selfish.
Acts 24:25 - Must learn temperance; self- control.
Rom. 2:8 - Those who do not obey are self- seeking.
Gal. 2:20 - No longer I (self), but Christ.
Jms. 3: Those who do not follow the wisdom from above are self-seeking.

3. Attitudes Toward Self Temptation appeals to our own desires.
Jms. 1:14 - drawn away by own desires.
1 Jno. 2:15-17 – Gen. 3
Lust of the flesh - appeals to what I like & want.
Lust of the eyes - appeals to what I want to see.
Pride of life - appeals to my view of myself.
1 Cor. 7:5 - Satan tempts us in our lack of self-control.

4. Attitudes Toward Self Constant battle over self.
Self-denial deals with the reality of life. 1 Cor. 6:9-11; cf. 1 Cor. 5

5. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Denial Is The Answer God demands it.
Passages that specifically mention it.
Mark 8:34 (Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23)
Acts 24:25
1 Cor. 9:25
2 Pet. 1:6
Passages that deal with it in principle. Rom. 6:12ff ; Gal. 2:20

6. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Denial Is The Answer
Passages that forbid anything require self- denial.
Lust. 2 Tim. 2:22; Mt. 5:28
Lying. Eph. 4:25
Fornication. 1 Cor. 6:18
Laziness. 2 Thess. 3:10
Retaliation. Rom. 12:17-21

7. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Denial Is The Answer
Passages that command anything require it.
Gentleness. 2 Tim. 2:24
Forbearing, (patience). 2 Tim. 2:24
Contentment. Heb. 13:5
Love. Rom. 12:9-10

8. Attitudes Toward Self Jesus is our example. Lk. 22:42; cf. Phil. 2:2-5
What is self-denial? Mark 8:31-39
Saying “No” to self.
“To forget oneself, lose sight of oneself and one’s own interest” “Self government” (Thayer).
“Ability to take a grip of oneself” (William Barclay).
Jesus is our example. Lk. 22:42; cf. Phil. 2:2-5

9. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Control Is The Result
Make yourself do what you know you need to do.
Cf. Rom. 7:15-23
Make yourself listen to and receive the word. Jms. 1:21
Will be teachable. Acts 17:11
Doesn’t resent being taught the truth, but accept it with humility and submission.
Make yourself think properly. 2 Cor. 10:5

10. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Control Is The Result
Put the Lord’s will first. Acts 24:25
Suppress our own will and yield to the will of God.
Change of will. Gal. 2:20
Stubbornness. Examples: Pharaoh, King Saul.
Judg. 2:19 “But it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.”
Ps. 78:8 “And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.”

11. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Control Is The Result Control our temper.
Prov. 14:17 “He that is soon angry will deal foolishly.”
Prov. 14:29 “He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly (foolishness).”
Prov. 25:28 “He whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.”

12. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Control Is The Result Control our tongue.
Jms. 1:19, 26 - slow to speak and bridle the tongue.
Prov. 17:27 “He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”
Col. 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.”

13. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Control Is The Result Control our tongue.
James 1:22 “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding your own selves…”
James 1:26 If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.
James 3 --Is your tongue being controlled by faith??? Cf. 2 Cor. 10:5

14. Attitudes Toward Self
Self-Control Is The Result
Control our tongue.
“The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver” (Prov. 10:20).
“Set a watch,O Jehovah, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).
“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Prov. 21:23).
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in network of silver” (Prov. 25:11).

15. Attitudes Toward Self Control our tongue. Self-Control Is The Result
“In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely” (Prov. 10:19).
“He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” (Prov. 13:3).
“Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him” (Prov. 29:20).

16. Attitudes Toward Self Control our tongue. Self-Control Is The Result
“A soft answer turneth away wrath; but a grievous word stireth up anger” (Prov. 15:1).
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21).
“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is (esteemed as) prudent.” Prov. 17:28

17. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Control Is The Result Treat others right.
Don’t retaliate. Rom. 12:17-21
Don’t do things that generate division. Jms. 3:14 - 4:2
Self-denial is essential to peace and harmony with others. Eph. 4:1-2, 31-32

18. Attitudes Toward Self Self-Control Is The Result Good marriage.
Self-denial is essential to harmony and happiness in the marriage. cf. 1 Cor. 7:1-5
The role of each mate requires self-denial. 1 Pet. 3:1-7

19. Attitudes Toward Self Conclusion:
When man can handle the problem of himself, he can deal with other problems.
What a contrast between the life that is self- serving and the life of self-control.
Cf. Luke 9:23 “And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”