Embracing Joy Through Self-Denial and Generosity

 

Summary

The question we must ask ourselves today is, "What can I give?" This inquiry leads us into a deeper understanding of self-denial, as discussed in Dallas Willard's "Renovation of the Heart." The essence of spiritual life is found in the death of the self, not as a loss, but as a gateway to a new, richer life. Jesus, the greatest teacher, invites us to let go of our old attachments—our desires for personal satisfaction, reputation, and control—and embrace a new vision that grows stronger as we progress. This transformation is not about deprivation but about gaining a life filled with joy and fulfillment.

Self-denial, as taught in Matthew 16:24, is about surrendering a lesser self for a greater, eternal one. This is not a path of harsh asceticism but a journey toward true personal fulfillment. The cross we bear is not a burden but a means to integrate agape love into our lives, leading to a whole and eternal existence with God and others. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and we are called to do the same by putting our obsessive desires on the cross.

Central to this transformation is the act of giving and forgiving. These acts are not about sacrifice or loss but about expressing our vitality and strength. Giving is the highest expression of our potency, filling us with joy and a sense of aliveness. This understanding of giving is supported by the reality of God's kingdom, where we give not from our own strength but from God's abundance. As we live in the joy of self-denial, we are called to be on the lookout for opportunities to give, whether through tangible gifts, words, or acts of kindness.

Reflect on the people in your life and consider where you can give today. It might be a family member, a friend, or someone in need. Giving is not just an act of kindness but a participation in the divine equation, where through our wounds and sacrifices, we are healed and made whole.

Key Takeaways:

1. Self-denial is not about losing the old life but gaining a new, richer one. As we let go of our old attachments, we make room for a new vision that grows stronger and more real. This transformation is about embracing a life filled with joy and fulfillment. [01:10]

2. The cross we bear is not a burden but a means to integrate agape love into our lives. By putting our obsessive desires on the cross, we open ourselves to a whole and eternal existence with God and others. [03:22]

3. Giving and forgiving are central to a divinely restructured life. These acts are not about sacrifice or loss but about expressing our vitality and strength, filling us with joy and a sense of aliveness. [05:36]

4. We give not from our own strength but from God's abundance. This understanding is supported by the reality of God's kingdom, where we are cared for and watched over, enabling us to give freely and joyfully. [08:43]

5. Reflect on the people in your life and consider where you can give today. Giving is not just an act of kindness but a participation in the divine equation, where through our wounds and sacrifices, we are healed and made whole. [10:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:36] - Foundation for Spiritual Life
- [00:58] - The Essence of Self-Denial
- [01:22] - New Vision and Old Attachments
- [02:23] - Surrendering the Lesser Self
- [03:13] - The Cross and Agape Love
- [03:53] - Joy Set Before Us
- [04:07] - Obsessive Desires on the Cross
- [05:16] - Beauty and Power of Self-Denial
- [05:36] - Centrality of Giving and Forgiving
- [06:50] - Misunderstandings of Giving
- [07:30] - Giving as Expression of Potency
- [08:28] - Support for Giving and Forgiving
- [09:08] - Living in Joy of Self-Denial
- [10:29] - Sacrificial Love and Healing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"
2. 1 Peter 1:8 - "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."
3. Hebrews 12:2 - "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Jesus mean when he talks about taking up one's cross in Matthew 16:24? How does this relate to the concept of self-denial discussed in the sermon? [03:13]

2. According to the sermon, how does Dallas Willard describe the process of letting go of old attachments and gaining a new vision? [01:22]

3. How does the pastor illustrate the concept of giving and forgiving as central to a divinely restructured life? [05:36]

4. What example from the sermon demonstrates the joy that comes from giving, and how does it relate to the idea of living in a universe built on love? [10:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the idea of self-denial in Matthew 16:24 challenge common perceptions of personal fulfillment? What does the sermon suggest is the true path to fulfillment? [02:58]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that obsessive desires can hinder one's spiritual growth, and how can they be put on the cross? [04:07]

3. How does the pastor's story about forgiveness illustrate the power of giving and forgiving in transforming one's life? What might this suggest about the nature of divine love? [06:20]

4. How does the sermon connect the act of giving with experiencing a sense of aliveness and joy? What does this imply about the nature of true strength and abundance? [08:43]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: What are some old attachments or desires that you might need to let go of to embrace a new vision of life? How can you begin this process today? [01:22]

2. Consider a situation where you have been holding onto bitterness or anger. How might the act of forgiving transform your perspective and bring healing? [06:20]

3. Identify a specific area in your life where you can practice self-denial. How can this act lead to greater joy and fulfillment, as suggested in the sermon? [02:58]

4. Think of a person in your life who could benefit from an act of kindness or generosity. What specific action can you take this week to give to them from God's abundance? [08:43]

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced joy from giving. How can you cultivate a lifestyle of giving that aligns with the sermon’s message of living in a universe built on love? [10:00]

6. How can you incorporate the practice of self-denial into your daily routine in a way that strengthens your relationship with God and others? [03:22]

7. What steps can you take to ensure that your acts of giving and forgiving are motivated by love and not by a sense of obligation or sacrifice? [05:36]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing a New Vision Through Self-Denial
Self-denial is not about losing the old life but gaining a new, richer one. As we let go of our old attachments, we make room for a new vision that grows stronger and more real. This transformation is about embracing a life filled with joy and fulfillment. The process of self-denial is not a harsh rejection of self but a gentle release of the things that bind us to a lesser existence. By surrendering our desires for personal satisfaction, reputation, and control, we open ourselves to a life that is more aligned with the teachings of Jesus. This new life is characterized by a deeper sense of joy and fulfillment, as we are no longer weighed down by the burdens of our old attachments. [01:10]

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25, ESV)

Reflection: What is one attachment or desire you can let go of today to make room for a new vision in your life?


Day 2: The Cross as a Pathway to Agape Love
The cross we bear is not a burden but a means to integrate agape love into our lives. By putting our obsessive desires on the cross, we open ourselves to a whole and eternal existence with God and others. This journey is not about suffering for suffering's sake but about transforming our lives through the power of love. The cross symbolizes the ultimate act of love and sacrifice, and by embracing it, we allow ourselves to be transformed by that same love. This transformation leads to a deeper connection with God and others, as we learn to love selflessly and unconditionally. [03:22]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one obsessive desire you can place on the cross today to experience a deeper love for God and others?


Day 3: The Vitality of Giving and Forgiving
Giving and forgiving are central to a divinely restructured life. These acts are not about sacrifice or loss but about expressing our vitality and strength, filling us with joy and a sense of aliveness. When we give and forgive, we are participating in the divine nature, reflecting the character of God in our actions. This participation is not a depletion of our resources but an expression of the abundance we have received from God. As we give and forgive, we experience a renewed sense of purpose and joy, knowing that we are living in alignment with God's will. [05:36]

"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person you can forgive or give to today, and how can you express this in a tangible way?


Day 4: Giving from God's Abundance
We give not from our own strength but from God's abundance. This understanding is supported by the reality of God's kingdom, where we are cared for and watched over, enabling us to give freely and joyfully. In God's kingdom, we are not limited by our own resources but are empowered by the limitless resources of God. This perspective allows us to give generously, knowing that we are not depleting our own reserves but tapping into the abundance of God's provision. As we give from this place of abundance, we experience the joy and freedom that comes from living in alignment with God's will. [08:43]

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you rely on God's abundance today to give more freely and joyfully to those around you?


Day 5: Participating in the Divine Equation Through Giving
Reflect on the people in your life and consider where you can give today. Giving is not just an act of kindness but a participation in the divine equation, where through our wounds and sacrifices, we are healed and made whole. This participation is a reflection of the divine nature, as we join in the work of God in the world. By giving, we are not only blessing others but also experiencing healing and wholeness in our own lives. This divine equation is a reminder that our acts of giving are not isolated events but part of a larger tapestry of God's work in the world. [10:54]

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can give to today, and how can this act of giving bring healing and wholeness to both of you?

Quotes


the question for today for me for you is what can i give what can i give today we are learning about the foundation for spiritual life from dallas willard's book renovation of the heart and it really is death to self the denial of the self dallas has talked about how jesus is the greatest teacher that ever lived part of what he does is to put things in a way where you have to keep working on them and they have to keep working on you and you can't rush too quickly to a definition or an answer that lets you just cross it off the list [00:00:26]

the new vision the life that i am gaining as i let go of the old one the new vision becomes an attachment and takes on ever greater reality as we progress and that in turns pushes the old attachments towards the exits of our lives the old things where i demanded my stuff my way my reputation the satisfaction of my desires and my time frame which we then are not sad to see go indeed we're happy about it we come to want to not want what we now want [00:01:17]

the self-denial of matthew 16 24 and elsewhere in the gospels is always the surrender of a lesser dying self for a greater eternal one the person god intended in creating you confidence in this is the occasion of greatly rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory that's from first peter 1 8 jesus does not deny us personal fulfillment but shows us the only true way to it he doesn't deny us personal fulfillment he shows this is the only way to get there is to die to that lesser self that would get in your way [00:02:29]

the cross we must take is laid upon all obsessive and partial desires so that the broad reach of agape love can integrate for us a whole and eternal life with god and human beings jesus is not some harsh ascetic who practice or imposed pain for its own sake he did not choose death because it was good in itself but for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross and despised the shame [00:03:23]

over this last week there have been many times when in my mind i have just wanted to ruminate and obsess over something that was written over something that seemed to be unfair and there were moments when it was really clear the right thing to do is to just let go of that to leave that in this little room and then come and be outside and take a walk with my wife nancy and enjoy the beauty of creation and talk about things that will bring love and joy and grace into life [00:04:19]

giving and forgiving are of course central to the divinely reconstructed life to the divinely restructured life as we take on the character truly suited for the human soul now giving and forgiving are both related to each other giving for giving is actually an instance a branch of giving i mentioned to you a while ago a pastor here in california in a very under-resourced area who came home to discover that his wife had killed all three of their beautiful little children and attempted suicide which did not work so she is still alive and i just found out last week he met with her and said i forgive you for taking the lives of our three little children [00:05:34]

the most widespread misunderstanding is that which assumes that giving is giving up being deprived sacrificing people whose main orientation is a non-productive one feel giving as an impoverishment the virtue of giving to them lies in the very act of acceptance of sacrifice how awful i got to give and that dallas notes fits with the purely negative understanding of self-denial but from goes on for the productive character giving has an entirely different meaning giving is the highest expression of potency in in the very act of giving i experience my strength my wealth my power the experience of heightened vitality fills me with joy [00:07:01]

the necessary support for giving and forgiving is abundantly supplied by jesus through the reality of the kingdom of god that he brings into our lives i don't give out of my strength i don't give out of my abundance i give out of god's strength i give out of god's abundance he watches over the sparrows he takes care of and dresses the lilies of the field and he does that for me and you every day and it is out of the knowledge the conviction that there is a god who watches over me and cares for me that i'm able to say how can i help you what can i give you [00:08:36]

be on the lookout where does god enable you to give today i was at breakfast last week with a good friend who loves to golf guy came over to the table my friend didn't even know this guy but he recognized my friend and my friend in that moment set up the opportunity for this guy who loves golf to play in one of the golf meccas in the world that is like apparently if you're a golfer it's like going to the vatican if you're catholic or something this guy was just beside himself his his heart's palpitating he's like in tears [00:09:20]

it is giving that looks like it is the denial of self instead of using this stuff to enrich myself i will use it for somebody else that produces the great joy because we because we live in a universe that is built on love and to enter into love is when we give i opened up an email this morning from malia himalaya and she was reflecting on those words in scripture about jesus and this sacrificial love and that somehow somehow somehow by his stripes through his wounds we are healed and that when we hurt when we suffer or when we give we become part of that divine equation [00:10:06]

as you walk through it think about the people in your life maybe family members maybe friends maybe somebody at work maybe somebody in need maybe somebody who has less where can you give today maybe it's a tangible gift maybe it's words maybe it's finances maybe it's to somebody that you'll never know on the other side of the world give guard your heart [00:10:54]

and it really is death to self the denial of the self dallas has talked about how jesus is the greatest teacher that ever lived part of what he does is to put things in a way where you have to keep working on them and they have to keep working on you and you can't rush too quickly to a definition or an answer that lets you just cross it off the list and it's that way with self-denial i just feel like i am learning and having to think about it a lot and today we talk about how giving is central to it because the main thing in self-denial is not the old life that i'm losing it's the new life that i'm getting [00:00:40]

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Transcript
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