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DYING TO SELF - WHAT DID
JESUS MEAN & HOW IS THAT DONE?
By Marilyn La Strape
INTRODUCTION
Before Jesus’ transfiguration, he began to tell his disciples
that he would have to go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from
the elders, chief priests and scribes, be killed, and be raised
the third day. Peter
took him aside and began to rebuke Jesus saying, "Far be it
from you, Lord, this shall not happen to you!" But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!
You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the
things of God, but the things of men."
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, and whoever loses
his life for my sake will find it."
(Matthew 16:23-25)
"Most
assuredly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the
ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces
much grain." He
who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in
this world will keep it for eternal life."
(John 12:24-25)
WHAT DID JESUS MEAN?
What did
Jesus mean when he said we must deny ourselves?
God’s way is the way of obedience, regardless of
whether we FEEL like it or not.
It involves dying to our wrong patterns of thinking and
wrong patterns of behavior. It means putting on the "new self" that requires
putting off the "old self", and asserting with all the
conviction that we have that we are going to go God’s way, and
do things His way, no matter how much our carnal
"self" screams and argues to the contrary!
Sin causes
us to be self-centered, shifting our hearts from God to self. The essence of salvation is an about face from
self-centeredness to God-centeredness.
The Christian must spend a lifetime denying self!
To die or
not to die – the way we respond to that decision will
determine our life direction.
It cannot be merely a matter for DISCUSSION; it must be a
matter for DECISION. When
we focus on our interests alone, our lives will disintegrate.
We must lose ourselves in the plans and purposes of God
and we will find the true meaning of our existence.
Ask God to help us to surrender our lives so that he can
fulfill his purpose for creating us. (Ephesians 1:15-19) Confess
our tendency to mar God’s image in me by preferring our will
to His.
Paul
understood this concept very well when he said, "I affirm
by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I
die daily." (I Corinthians 15:31) "Foolish
one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies."
(I Corinthians 15:35)
"If,
then, you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the
earth. For you
died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will
appear with him in glory."
(Colossians 3:1-4)
When our
attitude is that of complete and utter surrender to God and
confidence in the outcome of His purposes, then we can face
anything that comes – good, bad, or indifferent.
God gives the best to those who leave the choice to Him.
"He who did not spare his own Son, but delivered Him
up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all
things?" (Romans
8:32)
When we
fully understand what Jesus meant when He said we must deny
ourselves, which is dying to self, we can then face obstacles
and opposition in an entirely different frame of mind.
We begin to see them as Jesus saw them – as
opportunities, not obstacles. Nothing can frustrate the Christian who has died to self and
lives out the purposes of God.
"And
not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that
tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character;
and character, hope. Now
hope does not disappoint us, because the love of God has been
poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to
us." (Romans
5:3-5)
Glory – to
rejoice, to cheer, to gladden, to make merry.
"Indeed
we count them blessed who endure.
You have heard of the perseverance of Job and see the end
intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and
merciful." (James
5:11)
Spiritual
Growth vs. Spiritual Maturity – What do you want to be when
you grow up? What
is the "growing up" that must take place if we are
ever to enjoy spiritual maturity?
Growth –
Development from the simple to the complex.
Bible dictionary - made to increase, to become greater.
Maturity –
The state or quality of being full-grown.
The ability to delay self-gratification; dying to self.
STEPS THAT BRING SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Getting
thoroughly dissatisfied with yourself!
Spiritual growth cannot be made until we see a need for
improvement. An
attitude of complacency is one of our greatest enemies to
spiritual growth. We
are either growing or we are rotting. The most dramatic changes in our lives will come from God’s
initiative – not ours – "for it is God who works in you
both to will and to do according to his good pleasure."
(Philippians 2:13-14)
But we have got to give him something to work with, and
that something is US – we have got to give up self!
Determine
the areas of your life where changes need to take place, and
begin NOW to make them. What
is it that we are praying about, fasting over, struggling with,
that we are asking God to guide us through as we grow up to gain
that spiritual maturity in that area of our lives.
We don’t go from having a foul mouth to "letting
not corrupt communication come out of our mouths in a few days!
It doesn’t always have to be foul – sometimes it is
downright slanderous! Have
we grown up to the degree that we no longer argue with folks?
(II Timothy 2:24-25)
"A servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be
gentle to all. . .”
Repent (take
the view of God); recognizing doesn’t rationalize our sins. Let Godly sorrow do its healing work. Sin that we thought would be a delightful servant becomes our
horrifying master! To
be like Him is to have an incompatibility with sin.
(I John 3:9-10)
Make a
definite place in our lives for daily worship.
Do not neglect prayer and Bible study for any reason.
Don’t ever get so busy, or too tired, that we fail to
spend time in prayer to God and in study of the Word.
Linger thankfully in his presence rather than rushing on
to our next request of him.
Gratitude increases our sense of his presence in our
lives.
Narrow your
interests deliberately. We
must decide what is most important to us and invest our time
accordingly. There are many activities that use up our time and energy,
but bring us no closer to God, that hinder, rather than help,
our spiritual growth.
Begin
immediately to render some personal service to the Lord’s
work. Don’t confuse "attending services" with
"serving Christ."
There’s a huge difference in "conducting
services" and "rendering services."
Jesus said in John 15 that every branch that does not
bear fruit, he takes away.
Parable of the fig tree in Luke 13:6-9 – A certain man
had a fig tree, came seeking fruit and found none, told the
keeper of his vineyard that he had been looking for fruit on
that tree for three years, and had found none, "cut it
down; why does it use up the ground?"
But the keeper of the vineyard said, "Sir, let it
alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
And if it bears fruit, well, but if not, after that you
can cut it down."
Forgive and
pray for those who sin against you.
(Matthew 18:21-35) Develop
a Biblically-conscious pattern of thinking and acting to make
his mind our mind.
Refuse to
use the mistakes of others for conversation or gossip.
(Ephesians 4:30-32)
SPIRITUAL MATURITY – THE ABILITY TO DELAY GRATIFICATION
When you are
forgotten, neglected, or purposely made to feel worthless and
you overcome the sting and hurt of the insult or oversight, THAT
IS DYING TO SELF. (I
Peter 2:19-25)
READ verses
21-23.
As you begin
to flow in the will of God, the more mature you become. When people mistreat us, as Christians we forfeit the right
to respond from our natural feelings and are compelled to offer
a righteous response. Righteous
living is not an option; it is our way of life!
When Jesus
was arrested and the high priest was questioning him, one of the
officers did not like his response, and John 18:19-23 records
that "one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with
the palm of his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest
like that?" "Jesus
answered him: “If
I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well, why
do you strike me?" He
later told Pilate, "You could have no power at all against
me unless it had been given you from above.
Therefore the one who delivered me to you has the greater
sin." (John.
19:11)
When your
heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, THAT
IS DYING TO SELF. (Acts
5:40-42) (I Peter 4:12-13) (II
Corinthians 4:8-9) “Beloved,
do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but
rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings,
that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with
exceeding joy." (I
Peter 4:12-13)
When your
good is evil spoken of, your wishes crossed, your advice
disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let
anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it
all in patient-loving silence, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
(Matthew 5:11-12; Matthew 27:11-14;
I Corinthians 13:4-7)
"And
while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He
answered nothing. Then
Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they
testify against you?” And
He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled
greatly." (Matthew
27:12-14)
When you
lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any
unpunctuality, any annoyance, or spiritual insensibility and
endure it as Jesus endured it, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
(Luke 7:31-35) (I
Peter 5:5-11) (II Corinthians 5:14-15)
"For
John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine,
and you say he has a demon.
The Son of Man has come eating and drinking and you say,
“Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax
collectors and sinners."
(Luke 7:33-34)
When you are
content with any food, any offering, any clothing, any climate,
any society, any solitude, and any interruption by the will of
God, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
(Philippians 4:10-13)
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have
learned in whatever state I am, to be content; I know how to be
abased, and I know how to abound.
Everywhere, and in all things, I have learned both to be
full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me." (Verses
11-13)
When you no
longer care to hear yourself in conversation, or to record your
own good work, or seek commendation, when you can truly love to
be unknown, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.
(Proverbs 27:2; Matthew 6:1-8; II Corinthians 5:11-16)
"Let
another man praise you, and not your own mouth, a stranger, and
not your own lips." (Proverbs
27:2)
When you can
see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can
honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor
question God, while your own needs are far greater and in
desperate circumstance, THAT IS DYING TO SELF. (Rom. 12:9-21) Let
love be without hypocrisy; giving preference to one another;
patient in tribulation. Bless
those who persecute, bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who
weep. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil.
If possible, as it depends on you, live at peace with all
men. Do not avenge
yourselves; if the enemy is hungry feed him, if thirsty give him
a drink. Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
When you can
receive correction and reproof from another Christian who is
physically and/or spiritually younger than yourself, and can
humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no
rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, THAT IS
DYING TO SELF. (Galatians
2:11-21) (II Peter
3:14-15)
"But
when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face,
because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from
James, he would eat with the Gentiles.
But when they came, he withdrew and separated himself
from the Gentiles, fearing those who were of the circumcision
group." (Galatians
2:11-12)
EXAMPLES OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
1.
Paul and John Mark (Acts 12, 13, 15) (II
Timothy 4:9-11)
Acts 12:25
– Paul and Barnabas had returned to Antioch from Jerusalem
when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they took John Mark
with them.
Acts 13:1-13
– The Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas to the work in
several other cities. When
Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, and they came to Perga
in Pamphylia; John Mark departed from them and returned to
Jerusalem.
Acts
15:36-41 – In Antioch, contention arises between Paul and
Barnabas over John Mark. Paul
says to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our
brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the
Lord, and see how they are doing."
Now Barnabas was determined to take John Mark with them.
"But Paul insisted that they should not take with
them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had
not gone with them to the work.
Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from
one another. And so
Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas
and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of
God. And he went
through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches."
Approximately
10-15 years later, Paul writes in II Timothy 4:9-11:
"Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has
forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed
for Thessalonica –Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
Only Luke is with me.
Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me
for ministry."
2.
Paul & Peter (Galatians 2) (II
Peter 3:14-15)
In Galatians
2:11-21, the gospel is vindicated by Paul’s rebuke of Peter. When Peter came to Antioch, Paul "withstood him to his
face because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came
from James, he would eat with the Gentiles, but when they came,
he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the
circumcision. And
the rest of the Jews played the hypocrite with him, so that even
Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the
truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘You are
a Jew, yet you live in the manner of Gentiles and not as a Jew.
Why, then, do you compel Gentiles to live as
Jews?’" (Verses
11-14)
"I have
been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ
lives in me. The
life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness
comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
(Verses 20-21)
Approx. 15
years later, (II Peter 3:14-15), Peter writes these words: “…beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent
to be found by him in peace, without spot and blameless; and
account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation – as
also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to
him, has written to you."
JESUS CHRIST
His
humiliation (Psalm
22)
"Just
as many were astonished at you.
So His visage was marred more than any man, and His form
more than the sons of men."
(Isaiah 52:14)
"In the
days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and
supplications with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able
to save him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
though He was a Son, He learned obedience by the things which He
suffered, and having been perfected, He became the author of
eternal salvation to all who obey Him."
(Hebrews 5:7-9)
READ Hebrews
12:1-4
CONCLUSION
"NONE OF SELF AND ALL OF THEE" (Old Hymn)
O,
the bitter pain and sorrow that a time could ever be,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
"All of self and none of Thee."
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
bleeding on the accursed tree,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
Some of self and some of them."
Day
by day, his tender mercy healing, helping full and free,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
"Less of self and more of Thee".
Higher
than the highest heavens, deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered,
"None of self and all of Thee."
Philippians
3:13-15 – "Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended it, but one thing I do: Forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore
let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in
anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to
you."
Ephesians 4:
11-16 - And He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers, for the
equipping of the saints to edify the body of Christ.
Verse13 –
"Until we all come to the unity of the faith and the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ. . .that we, speaking the
truth in love, may grow up in all things unto him who is the
head – Christ."
This
article is copyrighted by the author. All Rights Reserved. No
part of this article may be reprinted without permission of the
author. ©Copyright 2001
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