Embracing Self-Denial in Discipleship Journey
Summary
In this third week of our "Come, Deny, Follow" series, we delve into the challenging concept of self-denial as part of our discipleship journey. We began by exploring what it means to come to Jesus, and now we focus on the call to deny ourselves, a crucial yet difficult step in following Christ. Our primary scripture is Galatians 5:24-27, which emphasizes that those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. This passage invites us to consider what it means to deny ourselves in practical terms.
Self-denial involves crucifying the flesh, which can be understood through three key areas: talents, treasures, and time. Our talents, the gifts God has given us, should be used not for self-promotion but for the advancement of God's kingdom. Similarly, our treasures, whether abundant or scarce, are to be offered cheerfully for God's work, as exemplified by the story of a modest ring given during a capital campaign. Lastly, our time, a precious resource, should be spent wisely in service to God, as the psalmist reminds us to number our days to gain a heart of wisdom.
Living by the Spirit is the second aspect of self-denial. Many understand the Holy Spirit doctrinally but lack a personal relationship with Him. The Spirit is both divine and personal, guiding us, comforting us, and enabling us to live a life of denial for Christ. John 16:8-10 highlights the Spirit's role in convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Thus, living by the Spirit means aligning our lives with His guidance and allowing Him to transform us.
As we reflect on our spiritual lives, we are challenged to assess whether we are living by the Spirit or the flesh. The path of discipleship is narrow, and we need each other to identify areas where we must deny ourselves. Together, as a community, we can support one another in living the crucified life.
Key Takeaways:
1. Crucifying the Flesh: Denying oneself involves crucifying the flesh, which means surrendering our natural desires and inclinations to follow Christ. This is a daily commitment to prioritize God's will over our own, using our talents, treasures, and time for His kingdom. [02:15]
2. Talents for the Kingdom: Our God-given talents are not for self-glorification but for serving others and expanding God's kingdom. By using our gifts for His purposes, we align ourselves with His plan and experience true fulfillment. [02:15]
3. Cheerful Giving: True self-denial includes giving our resources joyfully, not out of obligation. When we give cheerfully, we reflect God's generosity and participate in His work, trusting that He will provide for our needs. [04:09]
4. Living by the Spirit: The Holy Spirit is both divine and personal, guiding us in truth and empowering us to live a life of self-denial. By cultivating a relationship with the Spirit, we can discern His voice and follow His leading. [05:44]
5. Community Support: The journey of self-denial is challenging, and we need the support of our church community. Together, we can encourage one another, hold each other accountable, and grow in our walk with Christ. [09:40]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:15] - Crucifying the Flesh
[04:09] - Cheerful Giving
[05:44] - Living by the Spirit
[06:45] - Misunderstanding the Spirit
[08:30] - The Spirit's Role
[09:40] - Community Support
[10:30] - Conclusion and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Galatians 5:24-27
- Romans 12:5-6
- 2 Corinthians 9:7
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Galatians 5:24, what does it mean for those who belong to Christ to crucify the flesh? How is this concept explained in the sermon? [02:15]
2. How does Romans 12:5-6 describe the use of our talents within the body of Christ? What practical examples were given in the sermon about using talents for God's kingdom? [02:15]
3. What does 2 Corinthians 9:7 say about the attitude we should have when giving? How was this illustrated in the sermon with the story of the ring? [04:09]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in living a life of self-denial? What are the two truths about the Holy Spirit mentioned from John 16:8-10? [08:30]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to "crucify the flesh" in the context of modern-day discipleship? How can this be applied to our daily lives? [02:15]
2. In what ways can using our talents for self-promotion conflict with using them for God's kingdom? How does this align with the message in Romans 12:5-6? [02:15]
3. How does cheerful giving reflect God's generosity, and why is it important to give without compulsion? What does this reveal about our relationship with God? [04:09]
4. How can believers cultivate a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, and why is this essential for living a life of self-denial? [05:44]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you struggle to deny yourself and crucify the flesh? What steps can you take to prioritize God's will over your own desires? [02:15]
2. Consider your talents and gifts. Are you using them for self-glorification or for serving others and expanding God's kingdom? What changes can you make to align your talents with God's purposes? [02:15]
3. Think about your attitude towards giving. Do you give cheerfully and without compulsion? How can you cultivate a heart of generosity that reflects God's love? [04:09]
4. Evaluate your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Do you feel you have a personal connection with Him, or is it more doctrinal? What practices can you incorporate to deepen this relationship? [05:44]
5. How can you better use your time to serve God and others? Are there specific activities or commitments you need to reassess to ensure your time is spent wisely? [04:09]
6. In what ways can your church community support you in your journey of self-denial? How can you contribute to creating a supportive environment for others? [09:40]
7. Reflect on the narrow path of discipleship. What challenges do you face in staying on this path, and how can you overcome them with the help of your community? [09:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Crucifying the Flesh: A Daily Commitment
Denying oneself involves a conscious decision to crucify the flesh, which means surrendering our natural desires and inclinations to follow Christ. This is not a one-time event but a daily commitment to prioritize God's will over our own. It requires us to examine how we use our talents, treasures, and time, ensuring they are dedicated to advancing God's kingdom rather than our personal ambitions. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's purpose and experience a deeper sense of fulfillment and peace. [02:15]
Galatians 5:24-25 (ESV): "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."
Reflection: What is one specific desire or habit you need to surrender to God today to better align with His will?
Day 2: Talents for the Kingdom: Serving with Purpose
Our God-given talents are not meant for self-glorification but for serving others and expanding God's kingdom. By using our gifts for His purposes, we align ourselves with His plan and experience true fulfillment. This involves recognizing the unique abilities God has entrusted to us and seeking ways to use them for His glory. Whether through acts of service, creative expression, or leadership, our talents can be powerful tools for advancing God's work in the world. [02:15]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Identify one talent you have been using for personal gain. How can you redirect it to serve others and glorify God this week?
Day 3: Cheerful Giving: Reflecting God's Generosity
True self-denial includes giving our resources joyfully, not out of obligation. When we give cheerfully, we reflect God's generosity and participate in His work, trusting that He will provide for our needs. This mindset shifts our focus from what we lack to what we can offer, fostering a spirit of gratitude and abundance. By giving with a joyful heart, we become conduits of God's love and provision to those around us, impacting lives in meaningful ways. [04:09]
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 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."
Reflection: Consider your current attitude towards giving. How can you cultivate a spirit of cheerful generosity in your daily life?
Day 4: Living by the Spirit: Cultivating a Personal Relationship
The Holy Spirit is both divine and personal, guiding us in truth and empowering us to live a life of self-denial. By cultivating a relationship with the Spirit, we can discern His voice and follow His leading. This involves spending time in prayer, studying Scripture, and being attentive to the Spirit's promptings in our daily lives. As we grow in our relationship with the Spirit, we become more attuned to His guidance, enabling us to live in alignment with God's will and purpose. [05:44]
John 14:26 (ESV): "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
Reflection: How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit this week? What practices can you incorporate to better hear His voice?
Day 5: Community Support: Walking Together in Faith
The journey of self-denial is challenging, and we need the support of our church community. Together, we can encourage one another, hold each other accountable, and grow in our walk with Christ. Being part of a faith community provides a network of support, wisdom, and encouragement, helping us to stay committed to our spiritual journey. By sharing our struggles and victories with others, we build a sense of unity and strength, enabling us to persevere in our pursuit of Christlikeness. [09:40]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to for support and accountability in your spiritual journey? How can you also be a source of encouragement to others?
Quotes
"Westover is great to be back again and this is for week three of our Come, Deny, Follow Churchwide series and again if you're just joining us on week three and you've found a group, I hope you find a place of community, hang out with us to the end of this series, and continue to grow in your faith in Christ. So first couple of weeks, we looked at what does it mean to come to Jesus? We looked at that Christ issues an invitation to people to come to follow Him. Now, as we think about a discipleship pathway, we think about if any man wants to come after me, he must first deny himself and take up his cross and then follow." [00:00:20] (45 seconds)
"The talents, the God -given talents, and also the affinities that you have, we can use them to elevate ourself, maybe our posture. But the denied life, the crucified life, means that we use the talents that God has given us for the furthest of the kingdom. So using your talents. Secondly, your treasures. What resources can you use for the kingdom? 2 Corinthians 9 .7 says, Each one must give as he decided in his own heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion. Someone twisting your arm. For God loves a cheerful giver. What does that mean? It means that the resources that we've been given, whether it's a lot or a little, should be used for the furtherance of the king. There's a denying yourself." [00:03:20] (49 seconds)
"There's a denying yourself in some way, not under compulsion, not because you're guilted into it or some ritual, but because God loves a cheerful giver. Give an example of this. We were in a capital campaign. If you don't know what a capital campaign, it means we're just trying to get funds to increase the ministry that God had given us at a church. As we were giving. The offering plates were passed, and in that, we found a ring, and that ring was not very expensive, but through a couple of enterprises and relationships, we found that it was all that someone had to give that day and cheerfully gave that. We give of our treasures, but you also give of your time." [00:04:09] (55 seconds)
"The psalmist says this, teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Time is probably one of the most coveted elements and treasures that we have. How do you use your time? God has given us a vast number of days, some shorter than others, but we use those days in our lives. Heart of wisdom. In those three areas, there will be times and opportunities that you will have the opportunity to deny yourself for the kingdom, crucifying your own wants and desires for the kingdom of God. But the second thing that we see is that dying yourself means living by the spirit that we, as this passage says, we keep in step with the spirit." [00:05:04] (52 seconds)
"What does it mean to live by the spirit? Now, for many people, you think about the Trinitarian. Or the Trinity is that we, if you go to church or maybe you've just happened into one of our groups, a lot of our songs we sing are about Jesus. We can talk about the Father in a way that some people can understand and grasp that. But the Holy Spirit, there is so much. What does that mean to live by the Spirit? My kids love singing and they've loved singing for a long time. And so they would always sing in the back of the car when they were little. And I can remember there's this worship song and maybe many of you remember. It says, I want to live life abandoned. That was what the song said." [00:05:55] (48 seconds)
"This is the actions of the Holy Spirit. And so we deny ourself, very practical ways that we deny ourself by our times, our treasures, and our talents, and then we live into the Spirit. So what does that look like? I want you to think about your life for just a minute. How would you write your spiritual life? As you're pondering that, mostly a lot of us, we don't want to give ourselves a really low rating, but definitely you want to see holier than others and give ourselves a high rating. So a lot of times what we do, we give ourselves like a four or five, maybe a six or seven. You know, I could do better in my spiritual life, but maybe, you know, I'm not as bad as this person. Do you know what the reality of the Bible is in the picture it paints?" [00:08:48] (49 seconds)
"Either a zero or 10. You're living by the spirit or you're living by the flesh. And so as we lean into Jesus and think about denying ourself, this is the really hard part. Christ's invitation is a broad invitation. But my friends, the road of discipleship is narrow and few fight. So why do we do church together? Why do we do life together? Because we need one another to help us see the spots in our life to where we need to deny ourselves. So there's some questions together that you guys can come together as a group, talk through to help one another as we seek to live the crucified life." [00:09:40] (45 seconds)
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