Read Matthew 16: 24 – 28 some of this we will look at in our sermon on eschatology, but we want to look at the phrase “Deny yourself take up your cross and follow me”
What thoughts come to your mind when you think of denying self and taking up your cross?
If we are like most people, we think of fasting more or praying more.
We live in a self indulgent society that believes, when I am totally satisfied, then I will be able to give to others. The problem being, we are never satisfied with things we pursue.
What is God asking of us when He asks us to deny ourselves? We are going to look at the life of Moses to help us understand this area.
Read Hebrews 11: 24 – 27 and see how the action verbs of Matthew 16 are worked out. (Deny, take, and follow)
Moses Denied himself…
- position Vs 24
- pleasure Vs 25
- prosperity
Enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season does not mean doing bad things. It means falling short of what God has for us. We are made to be complete in Him and living below that standard is empty even though events of the day stop us from thinking about it.
Moses took…
- Affliction Vs 25
- Reproach
- Did not fear the wrath of kings.
Why choose reproach? What would be a benefit of that? 1 Peter 2: 21 says that this is the pathway that Christ is calling us to. If we want to hear from God, we need to follow in His footsteps.
Moses followed…
- a great reward Vs 26
this reward was not something or possession, it was God himself. Read Hebrews 12: 2
Challenge
- How is God calling me to deny myself in this age of self indulgence
- Consider Luke 12: 1, 2 What would it mean in my life to put in everything in my pursuit of God? What would that look like?
- What are the biggest fears that come to your mind when you consider this for your own life?
- What are you prepared to do?