The Basis For Following Jesus - Page 2

Digging4Truth · #11 03-27-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron

This is good. Interesting points you have presented here.
I guess I will get more blunt.

Do you think we are to deny the "flesh?"

In what ways can one deny the "flesh?"

I am sure there are many more...

Deny the flesh in sex outside of what God has ordained.
Deny the flesh in eating.
etc.

But the ones above are also denying the flesh.

The flesh wants vengeance.
The flesh wants to lift itself up
The flesh doesn't want to be just a part of some amalgamate body but would rather be seen & heralded.
The flesh doesn't want to bless those that persecute.
The flesh loves evil
The flesh doesn't want to prefer his brother to himself
The flesh doesn't want to feed his enemy
The flesh doesn't want to distribute to the needs of others
The flesh doesn't want to be patient in tribulation
The flesh wants to be high minded
The flesh doesn't want to live peaceably with all men

And the list goes on...

Margies3 · #12 03-27-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron

King James Version
Matt 16: 24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Amplified Version
Matt 16:24Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [[a]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

This verse is repeated in three Gospels, and outside of Acts 2:38 forms a basis for ones walk with God.

One question-Deny what?

I talked with another Minister I won to the Lord twenty years ago.
I was surprised at his response.

Your thoughts?

Ron, when I read this verse, perhaps I'm reading more into it than it's actually saying, but what I am hearing is, "he must deny himself" meaning "he must put himself last. God must come first. Then others. Then himself. I'm not seeing that He is saying to deny yourself any particular thing. Just prefer God first, then others.

Digging4Truth · #13 03-27-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

The term interpreted as "deny" has this said about it in the Lexicon

I think they all work well with what this verse has to say but the last one really stands out to me.

Deny my own interests...
I taught this past Sunday on Romans 12 where it told us to "prove" (put to the test) what is that good, & acceptable & perfect will of God.

Then the rest of the chapter talks about different things that are His ways (and are certainly not my ways)

Love without hypocrisy
Hate evil
Love good
Prefer your brother to yourself
When your enemy hungers... feed him
If he thirsts... get him water to drink
Distribute to the necessity of the saints
Bless
Curse not
Bless them that persecute you
As much as possible live peaceably with all men
Don't seek revenge...leave it to God
Condescend to men of low estate (that doesn't mean to be condescending btw

)
Don't be high minded
Be patient when you have tribulation
Recognize each others ministries and the importance of each
Work as one body as each ministry supplies what the others need to grow and be healthy and full of love

If one were to want to know what it meant to take up their cross and follow Jesus... then one would simply need to look up the things Jesus taught his disciples...and.... as the verses above display...what the apostles then taught others.

His way is different from ours. We will want to deal with things differently.
But we have to deny our own selves and follow His way.
Put it to the test. Prove it.
It works.
Because He is wise.

I am sure there are many more...

Deny the flesh in sex outside of what God has ordained.
Deny the flesh in eating.
etc.

But the ones above are also denying the flesh.

The flesh wants vengeance.
The flesh wants to lift itself up
The flesh doesn't want to be just a part of some amalgamate body but would rather be seen & heralded.
The flesh doesn't want to bless those that persecute.
The flesh loves evil
The flesh doesn't want to prefer his brother to himself
The flesh doesn't want to feed his enemy
The flesh doesn't want to distribute to the needs of others
The flesh doesn't want to be patient in tribulation
The flesh wants to be high minded
The flesh doesn't want to live peaceably with all men

And the list goes on...

Also... we could deny the flesh entertainment because this is an entertainment driven society.