Where in the Bible does it say deny yourself take up your cross and follow me?
Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV
It means to lay our "ego strength" aside. Taking up our cross means, instead, picking up those weaknesses that we so often try to run away from in life. Taking up our cross means carrying around those places where we are vulnerable, places where we are maybe even exposed to embarrassment and shame.
Jesus, though, pictured a self-denial that included willing participation in the death of self. In short, nobody who follows Jesus can hold on to even the smallest bit of their own agenda, their own dreams, their own way of living in the world.
What could He possibly mean when He says that those who do not take up their cross and follow Him are not worthy of Him? Jesus said to those who would follow Him that they must also participate in putting themselves to death. His meaning, in the context of His other teachings, is that a believer must die to themselves.
idiom. : to not allow oneself to enjoy things or to have the things one wants. On this diet, I don't feel like I'm denying myself. I'm not denying myself the foods that I love, I'm just eating smaller amounts. He's always denied himself the simple pleasures in life.
A call to bear one's cross as part of following Jesus, then, is a call to be as submitted to Christ as the condemned criminal was to his death. Therefore, when Jesus calls for self-denial and cross-bearing, he's claiming authority. Following Christ means disowning the self and giving allegiance to him instead.
- Skip dessert when everyone else at the table is having it. ...
- Take a cold shower instead of a nice warm one.
- Give up all social media for a day or a week.
- Go 24 hours with no food or water. ...
- If you're married, abstain from marital relations and all related pleasures for a month.
You can learn self-denial when you understand the secret of Joseph's transformation. THE BIG IDEA: God teaches you self-denial by placing you in situations where you must deliberately choose between loving Jesus or loving yourself.
“To deny yourself means to deny your self-lordship. It means saying no to the god who is me, to reject the demands of the god who is me, to refuse to obey the claims of the god who is me. [It means we say] a decisive no—'I do not know the lord Me—I do not bow down to him anymore.
Denying yourself and taking up your cross is something we are called to do as disciples of Christ. Some practical ways we can do this is by constantly showing love to others, setting time aside to spend with God, and denying our sinful desires.
Where does Jesus say to pick up your cross?
Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
As Mary watches in deep sorrow, Joseph and Nicodemus lovingly and reverently touch the Sacred body of Jesus. With the assistance of John, the crown of thorns is removed and handed to Mary. Next the nails and straps that are holding Jesus to the Cross are carefully removed and handed to Mary.
Jesus emptied Himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate and it was thus that He humbled Himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a Cross!
By surrendering our lives to the Master daily, we are ensuring our denial of this world, taking up our cross daily, and following Him. Total surrender to the Lord means living a life of absolute denial of everything we hold dear in this world.
Jesus' call to follow him is more than an invitation to pray a prayer. It is a summons to lose your life and find new life and ultimate joy in him. In David Platt's book Follow Me: A Call to Die.
In addition to serving others, taking up your cross also involves living a life that imitates Christ's example. This means living a life of humility, compassion, and forgiveness. We must be willing to put aside our own pride and prioritize the needs of others, just as Christ did when He washed His disciples' feet.
We can say that self-denial is saying no to what we want to do and saying yes to the will of God. Here are a few example to help amplify the point. On the night of his betrayal, Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane and prayed. Ahead of him lay his arrest, trial and execution.
Denying yourself is not the same as self-denial. The purpose of self-denial is focused on self improvement, whereas, denying yourself is denying self-rule. Our flesh desires to sit on the throne of our lives, but only Jesus is truly worthy. Seeking to overcome self through our own self discipline is a futile effort.
Recorded prayers
Three prayers on the cross: "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34) "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34) "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46)
Jesus tells us to deny ourselves. This means we must disown and renounce ourselves and subjugate everything—all our works, interests, and enjoyments—to the standards set by God. Paul commands us to bring under our control every thought that opposes God and His way (II Corinthians 10:5).
What is self-denial spiritually?
Self-denial (related but different from self-abnegation or self-sacrifice) is an act of letting go of the self as with altruistic abstinence – the willingness to forgo personal pleasures or undergo personal trials in the pursuit of the increased good of another.
At its roots, toxic self-denial involves a profound disconnection from self that leaves us anxious, depressed, and unsure of who we are. It makes us vulnerable to exploitation and mistreatment and liable to stay too long in unsatisfying situations and relationships.
We need to turn away from our sins, believe that Jesus is God's Son and our Savior, and submit to Him as Lord of our lives. By doing so, we receive salvation and eternal life.
- 2) Submit your whole self to God and trust Him a) James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. ...
- 3) Pray and spend time with God. ...
- 4) Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you then listen and obey.
The Bible makes this clear in Jeremiah 10:23, "Lord, I know that people's lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps." When we remember that we belong to God, it's easier to surrender, which in turn makes self-control easier to submit to God and to allow ourselves to rest.
