Deny yourself and take up your Cross

What does it really mean to deny oneself and take up their Cross? For me, that means I have to give up the life I have known for the last 20 years and submit fully to His will. Being Human, I’m stubborn in ways, but I know that it must be done or I am done. What does it mean for you? I welcome all replies. God bless you All!

The only way that a humble Believer can deny themselves is by placing and maintaining their Faith exclusively in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary's Cross ONLY! This allows the Holy Spirit to carry out progressive sanctification in our lives (Rom. 8:2).

No other way will God accept anything from us but Faith in His Beloved Son and His Sacrifice ONLY.

For me it means searching for God's will to guide all I dofor what I think and do, not a fleshly will. I'm told that my work doesn't save. God's ways are holy, my ways are not and of course my work doesn't save me, it is Christ's work that saves. Christ died for me so I can live eternally and truly live now in this world.

I do a poor job of living without the Lord's direction. God's direction frees me to joy, to being creative, to building solidly. I try to let God work through me. When I'm told that working for Him and being a "Sabbath Keeper" is not saving me and I'm criticized I let them talk and listen for the Lord's voice.

Jesus' cross was the cross where He gave His human body as a sacrifice to take away our sins, and said it is finished and then died.

The whole purpose of Jesus was to fulfill the law, preach the Gospel, do miracles testifying of Him and the love of God, and to give His life at the cross.

The purpose that God gave Jesus to fulfill.

So taking up your cross means to deny yourself and only do the purpose that God has for you which can vary from person to person but will always include accepting Jesus, and being led of the Spirit.

I love your conclusions but I would add a lot to "Christ gave his body". Christ did something wonderful that only a God can do, He paid for our sins so we need not let our sin cause our spiritual death but can live. With our acceptance of what Christ did for us we take on His spirit and desire for righteousness.

I think some people can do it without even being aware at an intellectual level. Instinctively I mean. Have a natural compassion for the poor for example. Or do a job requiring lots of patience with other human beings.
Some people are doing Gods work without even realising it. The benefit of that is there is less chance of spiritual pride.

To me it means that I must let go of all I think that isn't what God thinks!!

Harder to overcome our flesh and self righteous will and submit to His righteousness!

It must be done,however in following Him!

The good news is we don't do it alone but the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities in prayer and guidance in the word!


For EVERYTHING He has made a way for us to accomplish living in Him!

GOD is not near as easily judgmental and harsh toward us as we are to one another nor ourselves!

He sees us through the blood of Jesus and His own great love!

To deny ourselves is the only way to Christ. True disciples who follow Christ must deny themselves. Putting Him first, letting go of worldly and fleshly desires. Lust, anger, violence, addictions, pride, selfish ambition etc. This process of being conformed to Christ is what all the brothers and sisters in Christ must go through. This is the only way, Jesus Christ is the only way, and Jesus is the door. Anyone who enters into the flock another way is a liar and a thief.

Many are called but few are chosen, we must seek Gods approval. Living Holy and putting God first and foremost above all else. Until someone is ready to let go of everything and everyone, that person is still lost. For he who seeks to save his life will lose it. He who gives up his life will gain life. For those of us who live in Christ have died with Christ on the cross, and now live in the Spirit. We died in the flesh, meaning we deny ourselves, killing our flesh daily, our old nature being put off and the new man put on. That new nature being the Holy Spirit.

@Aerials1978 Im glad you gave up your old life for something new. Jesus will be with you always. Your life will now be abundant. We have Gods favor and He gives us His Holy Spirit. Have you received the Holy Spirit yet?

Yes I have. I see the world in a much different way. Thank you for your kind words. May the Lord bless and keep you!

Awesome.. likewise. Care to share your testimony?

Absolutely. About 16 years ago I became a believer. I was red hot for God. Did everything that a new Believer was suppose to do. Life was grand. Blessing of a Wife and Children, a good home to live in.

As the years passed, I became like-warm in my walk. The burdens of the world and my old nature became appealing again. I went from luke-warm to all our wicked.

As fews month ago my Wife decided it was time leave me. I had been so wrong to her that her heart was actually harden. She left. I fell in despair.

One night I was alone and completely drunk. I wondered about my place for hours thinking, I don’t even know. What I do remember is having a loaded gun in my hand and I was walking about yelling at unclean sprits saying “ You finally got me. You finally destroyed me”

I remember sitting on my couch, rubbing the gun against the side of my head and finally ending up in my mouth with finger on the trigger. You know what bothers me the most was that I wasn’t scared. Either I was too intoxicated or didn’t care enough.

I passed out for the night. The next few days were hazy. I felt like a stranger in a strange land. People whom I have known were now like shadows passing by.

One day while I was sitting at my desk, I decided to listen to a sermon on divorce. The first video that popped up was one called “ Why God allows marriages to fail” The Man who did the video was passionate about his testimony. He was a Man that lost everything and was involved in a brutal divorce that lasted 5 years.

He message was that if we do indeed want to follow Christ we need deny ourselves and embrace and praise God for the pain that has come about. How can we truly be a follower if we had to never endure suffering or loss.

At the video I prayed and really thought what I heard. The next day as I was standing outside looking at the clouds I said “ Lord, God, Father! I give everything over to you. I don’t know what that will mean or be, but there is no other way. Take me for good or for bad and use me to your Glory!”

The next fews days I prayed, cried, repented of the sins I had committed to God and my family. Slowly, Gods grace and sprit descended upon me.

I walk with the Lord everyday now. The hurt and pain are still there, but God gives me comfort. I don’t know what my future holds, but I know I am in the Mighty Right Hand of Jesus. Whatever comes about, my thinking is now for eternity and His kingdom. It’s a hard concept to grasp for a finite being like myself.

Thank you for listening and pray for me. I will also pray for you!

Thank you brother. Thats a strong testimony. God will use you to reach other prodigals. Im a prodigal myself and suffered very similar consequences to my rebellion. I lost it all 2 years ago. But what the devil meant for evil, God meant for good.

If it hadnt been for my downfall I wouldnt be the man for God I am today. So even though I lost home, wife, family. I gained Christ. I found true love in God that only He can give. The world cant give you that. Even though we look and we try. Yielding to our own way that ends in destruction and death. Jesus Christ is the only way.

Im glad He found you. Even if it takes a fathers correction, He corrects those He loves. Lets us know we have a Father who loves us. Just like were taught not to spare the rod. God is good. He doesnt let us wander too far or for too long. He loves us too much.

All love of Christ brother. Im glad God kept you through all your pain. I was suicidal myself. Until one day He gave me a new heart and that old heart full of pain and suffering and bitterness and anger finally was and is gone. A miracle for sure. When I read scripture that shows God will give us a new heart I know this to be true because it happened to me! All glory to God!! Ill pray for you too. Things are brighter ahead brother. He has us covered.

Yes! “ For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord” Thank you again for your listening ear. God uses the broken for his purpose and glory. Praise HIM even the middle of the storm!!! Good journey Bother!

Yea bro were not alone. Theres more of us. I have 2 brothers im in close contact with who go thru similar trials. Its a blessing to have one another to help encourage and support one another. Thats why its important for the body to be in fellowship. Its nice to have met you. Im here if anything bro. Question in the bible or any advice I can give or just listen. Im more than willing. Its what we do. You know?

Are you part of a bible study where you live?

1 Peter 5:6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

I haven’t found a Bible Group as of yet as the Lord has asked that I stay still for now. I know He wants me be with true believers. Unfortunately many whom I assumed were of the Body were not. One of the reasons I stopped going to Church. I found to be all so superficial. I’m glad you’re here. I plan keeping in touch and want to encourage others to find Jesus. There is no other way.

Lol thats wassup. You really do have the Holy Spirit. Same here bro I left the "church" as well. Theyre all false bro. We are the church, Us who have the Holy Spirit belong to the body of Christ, Were the church.

I stopped going myself to their little church system but I still go to the bible studies to fellowship. Thats been one way God has used me to reach others in the body. The church system we have is all wrong. Its up to us as true believers to stand and speak up for the true gospel. Not this watered down fraud of a christianity thats offered. Its counterfeit. Thats why were in such a fallen state. The devil has many decieved believeing that theyre walking in truth when theyre following a different Jesus. "Santa clause Jesus" as Pastor Jerry Flowers said on a sermon about it.

It all starts in the pulpits, theres so many false pastors its like cancer. No one does anything about it. People get all crazy when you question their beliefs. You notice any of that?

I agree!
I haven't been to a " church" for many yes except by family request however I still assemble with the believers in fellowship.

If the Lord leads me I will go and join but the christians at Antioch worshiped in home fellowships ,among rocks ,catacombs or where ever the Holy Spirit led them to assemble and share the bread of life!

I believe a lot of Christendom are fed up as well with the many traditional man made buildings of congretations and doctrines!

Blessing on both of you may He richly bless your faith and lead us ALL!

Yes. It’s more about getting people in seats as opposed to saving and serving souls. The feel goodness of “Hyper-Salvation” is great if your only living for the now. The Church I went to when I first came to Christ was awesome. Very much about preaching the Bible, Church planting, and Ministry. After a few years the head Pastor and the Elders decided to become a Mega-Church. Oh how the money begin to roll in. The decision to leave came when we received a letter from the Church asking people sell property, get a 2nd job, sell off positions in order to fund the new Ministry. I was disgusted and saddened. Since then, I never really found a church that was interested in preaching the Gospel. Leave to Man make things his way.

Bless you too!

This is the crazy part. Because think about it. Can someone truly have the Holy Spirit and then turn to mammon? Or was mammon always in their hearts? One cannot serve two masters. So it makes me questions if their motives all along were selfish ambition. Money is the root to all evil.