Self-denial

[MatthewG]

Here is a list of a bunch of scripture pertaining to self denial. While it’s possible such as myself to deny myself drugs now today having been someone whom has used them before, I still struggle with lust, I struggle with disdain, I sometimes struggle with my own pride. When it comes down to mortifying the flesh, it is a cause and case for denying oneself.

If lust comes up, I must resist the temptation.
If hatred comes up, I must resist the temptation.
If pride comes up, I must resist the temptation.

Though I struggle with these things and Yahavah/God is well aware of these problems as I’m able to go and talk to him about them freely, that’s the liberty we have with direct connection and communication with the Father in heaven.

I don’t always resist the temptation. I’m an openly admitting failure when it comes to doing anything rightly, the only thing that comes from me which is heavenly only comes by and through the Lord Yeshua whom as people who will read in the Bible. “Abide in me for without me you can do nothing.”

Our strength for our weaknesses comes by and through the one whom we serve, the Lord Yeshua, and loving his Father first with all our mind, heart and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourself.

Sounds extremely hard, however even though things can be hard and you won’t deny yourself all the time, we have God to go to talk to and even ask him to help us by the Holy Spirit. To help us have mercy, to forgive, to be kind, to suffer with the people we may be around, and the like.

If we could be perfect in this flesh we wouldn’t need to the help of the Lord Yeshua, you see what I’m saying. Anyone saying they are perfect or that they are without sin, it is simply not true.

There is a Bible verse which states “there is no one on earth who is righteous and is without sin.” You can hide on the internet. You can’t really hide the way you may talk to people on the internet or how you communicate sometimes communication seems self-righteously indignant, at least to me sometimes people can come off that way. It’s all probably a miscommunication on my own part and sometimes I respond in a way that is from my flesh and not the spirit of Christ at all.

It’s difficult to learn these things especially if your a new person that has just now seeking out God in faith and don’t really know what the Bible says anyway concerning these things, people can put scripture well enough together to suggest “you can become perfect in your flesh.” That is simply not true.

You’re actually able to resist the temptation to do something if you captivate the thoughts in time and bring them to God and ask him to help you. You’ll never do it on your own, though there are somethings you have to make a choice to perhaps stop doing such as me and my love for the drug life which I no longer use. Either way it goes, no matter how hard you try.

You’ll never just stop messing up, because you will fail from time to time but what you’ll do is build up the spiritual life of Christ in you and those old things and ways you use to do things over time will tend to slowly die. It’s not easy road, if it was Jesus would have said so.

God bless you on your journey.

 

[MatthewG]

Self denial is hard. To not argue or try to downplay someone who just said some awful to you. The LAW of Israel says fight back, but Jesus said something completely different.

““You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus is quoting from the Old Testament here, let’s go back and see what Law stated concerning the people of Israel who in that day would be commanded by Law to stone their own son or daughter if they did not care about the family who was a drunkard.

“But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise. “If a man hits his male or female slave in the eye and the eye is blinded, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. And if a man knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭21‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is typically how people get even. However Jesus is saying much differently now, not to resist an evil person. That takes a lot of spiritual strength to walk away, perhaps call the cops to get help. People will use violence mentally upon a person and even psychically. Just recently I saw a video on YouTube where a person could have chosen to get up and get out of the apartment from the abuse decided to murder them.

Jesus states now,

““You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭48‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How can we be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect? The answer to put it so plainly is by and through the strength of Yeshua.

Paul writes to the Corinthians in his second letter,

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In our weakest times, where we desire to get even, it’s a choice to capture our thoughts and lean in and pray and ask God to help us by the strength of his Son by the spirit of Christ within us, and allow his working to measure up compared to our own, difficult? (Yes!) A choice? (Yes!)

Paul mentioned this to the people at Corinthians a few chapters back from the previous quote.

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Self denial is similarly to partake in Christ sufferings. When he was hit he did not hit back, when he was spit in the face he did not shout… spiritual maturity is where this leads us.

“Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!” Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭65‬-‭68‬ ‭NLT‬‬

From Jesus quoting Exodus, until his dying breath, he fulfilled the most great and important commandment. Fulfilling all of the Law and Prophets.

“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭40‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Law leads us to Christ and abiding in him leads to spiritual maturity from a babe to a Son or Daughter of God. It’s not some easy road, otherwise Jesus would have said “hey man, it’s easy” but he didn’t he stated “it is difficult.”

 

[MatthewG]

It’s amazing that I just had a revelation of how Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets it’s because he loved God and he loved others.

 

[Lambano]

I think...

Self-denial is more than not doing the things we're not supposed to be doing anyway, though that is important.

I think...

It has more to do with laying down the plan we have for our lives and the things we want to do in order to do things that need to be done and that God wants to be done.

I've only had glimpses of this, and it's easy to get frustrated trying to figure out what God wants to be done.

 

[MatthewG]

hey @Lambano?

Reading the Bible is a hard thing to do. I told Tammy that the other week. Anyone who says it’s easy is a liar.

I’ve heard of people just flipping to a certain section of the book to reading a little and say that’s all they need.

Anyway what is all your saying total up for you personally if you like to share. We do have lives to live with work and feeding our selves and paying bills. It’s good to do those things. I think.

 

[MatthewG]

Hey here is a scripture of what I think involves Gods will for people in their life. Even though we will have ups and downs. My friends mom just died yesterday.

“Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Life’s hard …

 

[MatthewG]

And whats interesting about all this, while it sucks his mother has passed away.

What follows suit within the American construct, if a person didn't have life insurance? The family is expected to put up money for the burial, pay for any debts that were not paid off; making a person face x10 times what they may have be faced with in the first place.

Another reason why to put God first, and trust him, and just be lead by the holy spirit, to do what is right in and through Jesus Christ who helps us get through this life.

 

[MatthewG]