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Yielding To The Master’s Hands....$5.95
In this 68 page paperback we learn that self denial glorifies God, shows trust, and enables the church to grow profusely. Enables the individual to get reshaped into something beautiful, get God’s directions for our lives, places us in a no loose situation, and gives us contentment. Paperback

Chapter One

The Potter’s clay

I took a piece of potter’s clay

And gently fashioned it one day,

And as my fingers pressed it still,

It moved and yielded to my will.

I came again when days were past;

The bit of clay was hard at last;

The form I gave it still it bore,

But I could change that form no more.

I took a piece of living clay

And gently formed it day by day;

And molded with my power and art,

A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

I came again when days were gone;

It was a man I looked upon.

He still that first impression wore,

And I could change it never more.

Author unknown

Jeremiah 18:1-4

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: ‘Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message.’ So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”’

Jer 18:1 “This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: ‘Go down to the potter's house and there I will give you my message.”’

Why should he go to see the potter? Because God wanted to teach Jeremiah a lesson from life. God knew that a visual aid would make a more permanent impression on Jeremiah.

“...the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hand...”

Things in life don’t always go as desired by God or man.

“...so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”

Can God do what the potter does? If I fail can God still use me?

The oriental rug weaver sets above a huge canvas and sends a needle to the young person setting below. The person below is taught to send the needle upward in a spot right beside the place where it came down. Sometimes the careless youngster pushes it into a spot where it should not be. Instead of removing the mistake the master above simply weaves the mistake into the over all pattern. Because of the tremendous skill of the master weaver the mistake actually enhances the beauty of the rug.

Life is like that.

Life Is A Weaving

Life is just a weaving between my Lord and me.

I cannot choose the colors. He worketh speedily.

Sometimes he weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper and I the under side.

Not till the loom is silent and the shuttle ceases to fly

Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful, in the weaver’s skillful hands

As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

Author unknown

Just because things don’t seem to work out the first time doesn’t mean that God has failed. When life has given us a lemon, we need to make lemon aid.

Rom 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

There are three major lessons we should learn as we visit the potter’s house. Clay must be willing to yield to the master’s hand, plan and fire.

YIELD TO THE MASTER’S HAND.

Clay must be flexible, moldable, it must be responsive to the masters hand.

Matt 25:14-18,26 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.” His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?”’

Notice the lessons: They all started out with no talents. The one that didn’t use his talent was condemned. God expects to gather where He has not scattered seed, that is, He expects us to develop new talents that he does not give us on a silver platter.

Often people try to hide behind this parable. “I don’t have that talent therefore I am excused.” Your author once worked in a factory. It took quite a while for me to master the skill I needed to repair one of the machines. As soon as I really got good at it I was put in charge of a different machine. I finally learned how to repair that one and I was sent to another machine to learn and to repair. I spoke to my boss and told him that I could never make money for the company if I was constantly learning how to repair different machines. He told me that the company was now investing in my training with the hope that someday I would be able to make money for them no matter which machine I was given to repair. I am convinced that this is what God wants of all His children. We need to develop as many of our talents as we can so that no matter what situation we find ourselves we can bring Him the most amount of glory in the shortest amount of time.

We must be willing to yield to the Master’s hand.

We need to yield to the Master’s plan

Rom 9:20-21 “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”

The clay must be willing to DO the WORK that the master wants it to do.

Isa 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

Notice that Isaiah was willing to go for God even though his going might involve personal sacrifices. Often we are not prepared to make personal sacrifices in order to accomplish God’s desires. This point is graphically illustrated in the story of two different mother’s prayers for their sons who were away in the military. Both mothers constantly prayed for their sons’ well being. One prayer was like this; “Keep him from all harm and danger.” The other prayer was like this; “Sic-um Lord. Get him dead or alive.” Two boys came home from the service. The one had lost his faith, the other had became so afraid of his mother’s prayers that he had given his life to the Lord and later became an evangelist.

We need to yield to the Master’s plan.

We need to yield to the Master’s fire.

We need to ask God to “Lay me out a day. Even if it hurts, I will do my best to glorify you in it.”

Matt 8:19-20 “Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’”

We need to ask ourselves, “Am I willing to be flexible for Jesus? Am I willing to leave the comforts of home?

A traveling musician played beautiful music by rubbing the top of drinking glasses. As he was setting up for a performance one of his glasses accidentally got knocked over and smashed. He quickly went to a store that sold fine glass and chinaware and in an urgent voice said, “I need a glass that is pitched in the key of “A”. The clerk was some what amused and said, “My friend, I don’t sell glasses because of their musical qualities, but rather for their outward beauty. I am not able to select the one with a pitch in the key of “A”. The traveling man opened his satchel and produced a tuning fork; when he struck it against the counter, EVERY glass on the shelves that was pitched to the key of “A” IMMEDIATELY responded to the fork. If this was our Master calling us, I wonder how many of us would argue, “I wasn’t made for music. I was made for another purpose.”[1]

We need to yield to the Master’s fire.

TO DENY OURSELVES WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO YIELD TO THE MASTER’S hand, plan, and fire.

Chapter Two

WHAT IS SELF DENIAL?

Matt 16:21-24 “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’ Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’ Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

I would like to suggest that self denial is five things or five steps. An initial act; a progressive action; a difficult accomplishment; a conscious effort; and it is the statement, “I don’t know me!”

SELF DENIAL IS AN INITIAL ACT:

Self denial is what we do when we are born again.

Rom 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The word “lord” means master, ruler or boss. We cannot be saved if we do not deny ourselves and make him the boss of our lives.

Rom 6:2-6 “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”

Crucifying our old self is self denial. How do we do this? By saying, “I don’t want what I want. I want what you want me to want.”

Self denial is an initial act.

SELF DENIAL IS A PROGRESSIVE ACTION:

Matt 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

E. Stanley Jones, a Methodist missionary to India, told this story. “One day while I was out taking pictures I found a ‘Fakir’ laying on a mat, I think a spiked mat, and the only thing that this man owned in all the world was the mat, a begging bowl, a loin cloth, a turban, and a bag of ashes. He lay there with the ashes over him and I was going to take his picture but he protested and said, “Wait until I arrange these ashes better.” He did and then gave permission for the picture to be taken. This man had given up everything for his religion. This is self denial, but is this what God wants of you and me today?

It would be easy to overlook the fact that Jesus’ disciples had already denied themselves of their homes, their family lives, their previous occupations, a life of peace and quiet, and a life where they were in control. They had denied themselves of all these things but Jesus called them into a greater denial of self.

Self denial is a progressive action.

SELF DENIAL IS A DIFFICULT ACCOMPLISHMENT:

Matt 16:21 “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things...”

Jesus had already done a lot of suffering but his suffering would progressively get more difficult.

Matt 16:21 “...and that he must be killed...” Literally murdered by an angry mob.

Matt 16:22 “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!”’

Peter wanted Jesus to be successful. He did not want Jesus to suffer.

Matt 16:23 “Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’”

Wow what a put down. Peter you offend me. Your more of a nuisance than a help. I like the word used here in the King James Version.

Matt 16:23 KJV “...for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

My sister Marilyn taught me how to savor the taste of cream filled puffs. Balancing the puff on the tips of her fingers she would nibble all the donut/cake stuff off and leave just a delicious pile of snow white filling. Then she would cautiously touch her tongue to the filling. She held the taste in her mouth as long as she could. When the taste was gone she cautiously touched her tongue again to the cream and repeated that procedure until it was finally all gone. If we really worked at it we could hold that wonderful taste in our mouths for nearly one half hour. That is what “savor” means. Peter loved the taste of the things the world offered but did not like the taste of suffering for God. Being willing to suffer for God is what He calls us to.

Matt 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me...”

Notice “anyone.” This is the only way! All must do it.

Notice “would” (want to.) The only ones who can truly follow Jesus are the ones who truly want to follow him.

Matt 16:24 “...he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Before Christ, the cross was never used as a good luck charm. The cross was a stigma in the days of Jesus. The cross could be categorized with such words as “queer,” “pervert,” “prostitute,” or “torture racks.” Ceriso said, “Let not the word ‘cross’ be in the mouth of a Roman.” The law specified that no Roman could be crucified.

The cross ...

· is difficult. Even Jesus had to have help.

· causes pain. Gruesome, relentless, agony.

· is shameful. With thieves, the scum of the earth, naked.

· is a place where you stand alone.

· is God’s will for you. Jesus pleaded, “Let this cup pass!” God answered, “No.”

· was necessary for Jesus. Either he died in our place or we all die as the human race.

· is necessary for us to be his disciples. Matt 16:24 “...he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

God calls us to nothing less than crucifixion. Rom 6:6 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with...”

I believe it was General Paten who said to a fearful soldier, “Pretend that you are already dead.” If you’re dead you have no reason to fear at all. This should be the mind set of every Christian. We are walking dead men and women. We have crucified our own desires. We continually crucifying our own desires that we might live for God. What danger frightens dead people? We should be able to, like our brothers of old, say, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Dan 3:17-18

Self denial is a difficult accomplishment.

SELF DENIAL IS A CONSCIOUS EFFORT:

Sometimes we are Christians reflectively. This is like driving a car in a familiar area. We often pass landmarks without remembering that we were there. We often sing reflectively. We sing all the right words and have the right tune but our mind is not engaged. We often look straight at the preacher but don’t hear his message. We do good things and refrain from being bad things all out of habit. It is very good to develop good habits but commitment must be more than a habit.

Matt 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me...” “...If any man will...”- KJV. If anybody wants to.

Some might reason, “If God wants me to suffer He’ll just let it happen, won’t He? Surely I don’t have to ask Him for it.” God doesn’t just do everything He wants in our lives. For example, God is willing that none should perish, however, most people will perish simply because they don’t give God permission to save them. No one can live totally for God but we can totally surrender to God.

Self denial is a conscious effort.

SELF DENIAL IS SAYING, “I DON’T KNOW ME!”

We know what Christ denial is.

Matt 26:69-74 “Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. ‘I don't know what you're talking about,’ he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, ‘This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ He denied it again, with an oath: ‘I don't know the man!’ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.’

Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!"

Self denial is saying, “I DON’T KNOW ME!”--with emphasis. Self denial is saying, “I don’t know me! I don’t know Norman! Who is he? I DON’T KNOW THE MAN!!!! I want to serve you God, I don’t care what it costs. I don’t want a will of my own. I want your will, your desires. I don’t want what I want. I just want what you want me to want.”

Paul struggled with self denial.

Rom 7:19-25 “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

Summary:

Self denial is...

· an initial act.

· a progressive action.

· a difficult accomplishment.

· a conscious effort.

· saying, “I don’t know me!”

The value of self denial will be seen in future lessons.

Let’s think again about the FAKIR. He denied himself of everything. He wanted the ashes applied just right. He gave up everything but what he needed to give up. He had a cloth, turban, mat, bowl, bag and a bucket full of pride.

On the other hand we can keep our Grand piano, Rolls-Royce, yacht, $100,000 home, color TV. VCR, and give just what we need to give---ourselves.

At a revival, years ago, an un-educated scrub woman came forward when the invitation was extended. A few nights later the preacher preached on self denial, and emphasized that we must give everything to God. The simple woman took off like a bat. She ran right out the door and straight down the street. After the sermon, as the invitation was being extended, the doors of the church burst open and in came that old scrub lady. She marched right up to the front of the auditorium carrying a wash tub. She slammed it down and crawled inside, then with a triumphant tone exclaimed, “There God, you got all of me now!”

A sweet old song goes like this, “Come and dine the Master calleth, come and dine.” Jesus invites us all to come to heaven and dine with him but before we can dine with the Master we must take His invitation to “Come and DIE.”

I invite you to come and die to yourself so that you might raise into a brand new life where you can dine with Jesus.

Chapter Three

HOW DO WE DENY OURSELVES?

Luke 14:25-33 “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

[Hate: Strong's exhaustive concordance; “...from a primary (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less.”]

How do we deny ourselves? Do we tell our children good-by, we are leaving? No. Do we live in a cave? No. Do we stick needles in our arm? No.

TO DENY OURSELVES WE NEED TO

GET ALONE WITH GOD.

The greatest men in the Bible all spent much time alone with God. What was Abraham’s occupation? He was a shepherd. Shepherds spend most of their time alone with God. Abraham became so close to God that he was called, “The Triend of God.” James 2:23

What was Moses’ occupation during his second 40 years? He was a shepherd. He basically spent 40 years with God before he ever began the real work of his life. Moses was the greatest Old Testament leader.

Where was Elijah before and after the great contest with Baal? He had just completed nearly three years of solitary existence with God and the ravens. It was after this experience that God used him to demonstrate His mighty power. After this event on Mount Carmel Elijah spent more time alone with God on Mount Sinai. Elijah was without doubt the most powerful miracle worker in the Old Testament.

Before God publicly acknowledged David, what was his boy-hood occupation? He was a shepherd and spent much time alone with God. David’s psalms illustrate vividly that he knew the importance of being alone with God. David was the one that God called, “A man after my own heart.”

Before Solomon became the great king of Israel he spent time with God.

Where was Paul before he began his great missionary work? He was in the desert of Arabia, evidently for about three years, alone with God. (Galations 1:17,18)

Where was Jesus before he began his ministry? He spent forty days alone with God. Before selecting his apostles he spent all night alone with God praying. Before walking on the water he sent his disciples away and went to pray. Before the crucifixion he was in the garden in prayer to God.

To deny our selves we must get alone with God.

TO DENY OURSELVES WE MUST COUNT THE COST.

Luke 14:25-27 “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Am I willing to put God before my family, before my own life?

Luke 14:28-29 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” What will it cost me?

Luke 14:31-33 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” What is the cost?

There is a cross to carry. There is a way to go. There is a cost to consider. There is a choice to be made.

WHAT MIGHT THE COST BE?

The cost might be property: Job 1:14-22 “One day a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’ At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

The cost might be property.

The cost might be popularity: Imagine how popular Paul was with the Jews before he became Christian. He gave it up for Christ.

The cost might be our Children: Job 1:18-19 “While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’”

I remember of hearing stories of soldiers taking babies from their mother’s arms and tossing them into the air and catching them on the points of their spears. Would you be willing to put God before your children if it meant their death?

The cost might be our children.

The cost might be our mates: 1 Cor 9:5 “Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas.” All appearances are that Paul would have liked to have gotten married but was willing to sacrifice this privilege for the sake of Christ.

The cost might be our mates.

The cost might be hard work with little success. It appears that Noah preached for 120 years and had only seven converts. Jeremiah poured his heart out year after year but saw no response. The nation he loved, and tried to save, was destroyed.

The cost might be hard work with little success.

The cost might be a hum drum life. Four walls and dishes.

The cost might be shame.

SUMMARY:

How do we deny our selves?

· We get alone with God.

· We count the cost.

· We give God permission.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus gave it all.

Property-He gave up heaven, pearly gates, and golden streets.

Popularity - He was worshipped by the angles and became hated by the Pharisees.

Friends - Matt 26:56 “Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.” John 6:67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve.”

Wife and Children - He gave up the privilege.

Life of glitter in heaven - He led a hum drum life for 30 years.

Shame - They spat in his face. They crucified Him with the scum of the earth. He was probably crucified naked.

Power - He was boss of everything and became the servant of all mankind.

Phil 2:4-8 “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!”

Our attitude should be the same as Jesus’.

Chapter Four

GIVING GOD PERMISSION

Matt 8:18-22 “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ Another disciple said to him, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’”

WHY DO WE NEED TO GIVE GOD PERMISSION? Won’t he do what he wants anyway?

God has two wills; His expressed will and His permissive will. God’s expressed will is the recorded words of the Bible. His permissive will is what He allows us to do. God will not force against His permissive will.

2 Peter 3:8-9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God wants committed disciples but we must give Him permission.

HOW DO WE GIVE GOD PERMISSION?

Permission must come from a CONSCIOUS desire.

Matt 8:19-20 “Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ [Oh goodie goodie goodie. Someone is going to follow me!] Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’”

Before we give God permission we need to be sure we are aware of what we are doing and consciously desire commitment.

Permission must come from a conscious desire.

PERMISSION MUST BE A DAILY DESIRE.

In the movie “Gone With The Wind” Scarlet O’Hair’s famous statement was, “I can’t think about that now, I’ll think about that tomorrow.” I think this was the only sensible thing she ever said. Psychiatrists encourage their patients to live in day tight compartments. We need to live one day at a time.

Someone said, “For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life! But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to get through first, some unfinished business, sometime to be served, then life would begin. Now that I am old and ready to die I have finally learned that these obstacles were my life.” We need to enjoy life one day at a time.

Jesus was aware of this “one day at a time” principle. Notice what he taught.

Matt 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matt 6:11 “Give us today our daily bread.”

Luke 9:23-24 “Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Commitment can be hard but taking it one day at a time, one step at a time, one inch at a time, it’s doable. Inch by inch it’s a synch. Yard by yard it way too hard.

Jesus know it was too much to ask to bear the cross one week at a time therefore he said, “take up the cross daily.”

“Just for today, lay me out a day, Lord, and I will glorify you in it.”

Permission must be given daily.

PERMISSION MUST BE SPOKEN.

Notice Rom 10:8-10 “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"... it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

What do we say when we give God permission? Some may say, “I’m afraid to tell God, ‘do any thing you want.’ I’ve got things pretty good I think I’d better leave well enough alone.”’ We can trust God. He is the one that gave us all the good things that we now enjoy. We do not need to be afraid.

What should I say? Remember what Peter said when he denied Jesus? “I don’t know the man!” We need to say, “I don’t know the man! I don’t want to know me! I don’t want my desires!”

Think about what it might cost. Say something like this...

Money: “I don’t want what I want. I want what you want me to want.

POPULARITY, FRIENDS: “I want to be special to you, Father, even if it means being special to no one else.”

CHILDREN: “If you take my children away from me, God, you won’t be steeling because they belong to you.”

HEALTH: “I don’t like being hurt, Lord, but I want you to do with me as you see fit.”

DANGER: “If I perish, I perish. Your will be done.”

SHAME: “I want you to work on me. If I need to be humbled, I give you permission.”

OBSCURITY: “Fill up the cup Lord, I’ll drink it.”

Ask God to lay out a day for you and it hurts, that’s okay. Jesus asked, “Is there another way?” God said, “No.” Jesus said, “Okay, I will drink it all.”

You may say, “I say it but I don’t feel it.”

God only asks us to give what we can. Start on the outside and I promise you that if you don’t give up it will work its way in.

Permission must be spoken.

SUMMARY:

To give God permission to have his will in our lives we must...

· have a conscious desire.

· have a daily desire.

· actually give our permission.

Chapter Five

WHAT’S IN SELF DENIAL FOR GOD?

During the First World War several Turkish soldiers attempted to drive away a flock of sheep while their shepherd was sleeping. This occurred on a hillside near Jerusalem on a warm afternoon. The shepherd was suddenly aroused and saw his sheep being driven off. This particular shepherd was sympathetic to the British, and, besides he did not want to lose his sheep. Single-handed he could not hope to recapture his sheep by force. Suddenly he had an idea. Standing on his side of the ravine, he put his hands to his mouth and gave his own peculiar call to gather his sheep. The sheep heard the call, listened for a moment, then hearing the call again they turned and rushed down one side of the ravine and up the other. It was quite impossible for the soldiers to stop them, for they could not rush down the ravine in head long fashion as the sheep had done. The shepherd escaped with his sheep to a place of safety before the soldiers decided what to do. Imagine the shepherd’s satisfaction in a flock of sheep that were willing to follow him.[2] Self denial is following God.

WHAT IS IN SELF DENIAL FOR GOD?

PRAISE: We all like to be praised. That’s what worship is.

Luke 14:15-25 “When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, ‘Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.’ Jesus replied: ‘A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, `Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, `I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' Another said, `I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' Still another said, `I just got married, so I can't come.' The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, `Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' `Sir,' the servant said, `what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' Then the master told his servant, `Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.”’

Did the provider of the feast have an ulterior motive for having the banquet? I don’t think he got them there so he could sell them fire alarms yet there is no such thing as a free lunch. Why did he provide the lunch? He just wanted to be appreciated.

God is the provider of the feast. God asked one man to deny himself the privilege of...

· looking at his land, that particular day.

· testing his oxen, that particular day.

· enjoying the company of his new wife, that day.

Luke 14:21 “...Then the owner of the house became angry...”

God gets angry. He gets angry when the people He made refuses to deny themselves and show appreciation.

Rom 1:18-21 “...since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him...”

God shows His wonders so we will praise Him.

God shows His wrath so we will respect Him.

God shows His kindness so we will be grateful to Him.

Col 3:15-17 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

1 Cor 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

At work God says, “Glorify me here.”

At rest God says, “Glorify me here.”

At play God says, “Glorify me here.”

When eating God says, “Glorify me here.”

Did you know that God cares about how you eat?

1 Cor 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

A missionary in China was once living a defeated life. Everything seemed to be touched with sadness and although he prayed for months for happiness his life remained filled with depression and discouragement. He finally determined to leave his work and go to a place where he could be by himself and pray until he could find peace in his heart. When he reached the place he entered the home of a fellow missionary. Hanging on the wall in this missionary’s home was a sign that read, “TRY THANKSGIVING.” The words gripped his heart and he thought within himself, “Have I been praying all this time and not praising?” He began to praise God and immediately began to feel better. He felt so good in fact that he turned around and went back to his people and told them that praise changes things.[3]

God doesn’t ask us to carry a banner saying “I’m a Christian!” All God wants us to do is to say, “LAY ME OUT A DAY AND I WILL GLORIFY YOU IN IT.”

What’s in self denial for God? He gets praised.

SELF DENIAL IS OBEDIENCE:

Luke 14:26-27 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

God wants three things from each of us.

1. He wants to be number one in our lives.

2. He wants our love.

3. He wants to be our leader in everything.

An Englishman who was traveling in Palestine got to Nazareth in the evening when the shepherds were bringing their flocks to water them at the well. When the sheep had their water the shepherds made a call and their sheep followed them. The Englishman asked one of the shepherds it the sheep always followed their own shepherd when he calls them. “Yes.” said the shepherd, “except in one condition.” “What is that?” “The sheep that do not follow the voice of his shepherd are the sick sheep. If a sheep is healthy it will always follow its shepherd, but if there is something wrong with the sheep, it will follow anybody.”[4]

God might say, “I’m your maker, judge, savior and master. I’m your Lord anyway but I don’t want to be your Lord that way. Either I will be the Lord of all or I won’t be your lord at all.”

Is God the Lord of your life? If not, why not?

What’s in self denial for God? He is obeyed.

SUMMARY:

In self denial God gets praised and obeyed.

By self denial we show...

· that God is number one in our lives.

· that we love God.

· that we want God to lead us in everything.

Chapter Six

WHAT’S IN SELF DENIAL FOR THE CHURCH?

Many brave men and women defend their country. Some of these are wounded, taken as prisoners of war and even killed. In the POW camps soldiers are often tortured. Christians also are being imprisoned, tortured and killed in many countries today. I always wonder if I would have the courage to make the ultimate sacrifice for my Lord. Let’s consider the self denial of some of those who have gone before us.

Acts 7:51-8:1 “‘You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!’... When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.”

WHAT IS IN SELF DENIAL FOR THE CHURCH?

SELF DENIAL ENABLES THE CHURCH TO FACE PERSECUTION.

2 Tim 4:1-2 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: [order, command, require] Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.” It takes courage to preach, correct and rebuke.

2 Tim 3:12-13 “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Why are we then not being persecuted today? The answer is obvious. We are not living godly. Someone might say, “But I don’t do bad things.” The question is, do you do the good things that God requires such as preach, correct and rebuke. If we correct and rebuke we WILL be persecuted. Remember Stephen.

Acts 16:22-25 “The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

Question: What gave Paul and Silas the power to sing when they were being persecuted?

Answer: They had previously denied themselves.

TELEMOCKIS lived about 400 AD. in the city of Rome. One day the people of that city were all excited because there was going to be a very special gladiator contests in the coliseum. Telemockis heard the snarling of the wild animals, he heard the cries of those who were about to be put to death. He saw the gladiators and heard the clatter of their armor as they marched up before Caesar and he heard the familiar salute, “Hail Caesar, we who are about to die salute you.” Then Telemockis began to watch the shameful spectacle of animals devouring people, and people slaughtering each other in the name of entertainment. One featured gladiator combat was between two champions who were set against each other to fight to the death. As Telemockis watched he felt a compulsion to do something. Slowly he came to his feet and began to say, “In the name of Jesus Christ forbear.” (refrain, be merciful) There were, that day, about 50,000 people in the coliseum, most everyone was shouting and rooting for their favorite gladiator. I doubt if anyone really heard Telemockis when he first stood up. As the two gladiators tried with all their might to kill each other, Telemockis started walking up and down the isles, and as he did he kept repeating, in ever increasing tones, “In the name of Jesus Christ forbear!” Finally he got down to the wall that separated the arena from the seats, and he crawled over the wall and let him self drop down into the arena. He went out to where the two men were fighting. He shouted again, “In the name of Jesus Christ forbear.” The gladiators were startled, they stopped fighting, they didn't seem to know what to do. A hush fell over the coliseum. One of the gladiators then seemingly regained his senses and took the flat side of his spear and slapped it across the side of the old man’s face, and knocked him to the ground, and then they started to fight again. Telemockis shook his head, got his equilibrium back, then slowly got to his feet. Suddenly he rushed between the two gladiators and again shouted, “In the name of Jesus Christ forbear!” Once again the gladiators stopped, and a hush again started to fall over the coliseum. Someone from the crowd yelled, “Run him through!” and then a gladiator took his sword and ran it through old Telemockis. When the gladiator drew the sword out it was crimson red. Telemockis dropped to the grown. He was silenced forever. Telemockis he was dead. A hush again fell over the coliseum. People began to get up and leave. Finally 50,000 people walked out of that coliseum and that was the very last time there was any human combat in that coliseum. The gladiator fights were stopped by one man! A man who was willing to deny himself. Telemockis never lived to know how successful he was. He was willing to die for what he believed was right even though he had no guarantee of victory. That's self denial.[5]

Self denial enables the church to face persecution.

SELF DENIAL ENABLES THE CHURCH TO PREACH BOLDLY.

Acts 4:3,18-20, 29,30 “They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day... Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’... ‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.’.

Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Acts 5:14 “Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number..

There are a lot of church growth books today but the answer to church growth is simple.

· The reason we don’t win more for Christ, we don’t tell more about Christ.

· The reason we don’t tell more about Christ, we are afraid of persecution and embarrassment.

· The reason we are afraid is we haven’t learned to trust.

· The reason we haven’t learned to trust is we haven’t learned to truly deny ourselves.

· When we truly begin to deny ourselves the we will win more for Christ and the church will begin to grow again.

Today, the place the church is growing the fastest in the world is the place where Christians are being persecuted the most.

Self denial enables the church to preach boldly.

SELF DENIAL CAUSES THE CHURCH TO GROW.

RICHARD ROGERS sat in a hotel lobby in Burma (a small country between India and Thailand) and was reading his Bible. (Many of us are literally afraid to read the Bible in public.) A man came up to him and asked, “Are you a Christian?” Richard said, “Yep, I'm a preacher.” He said, “We are having a preacher's conference, would you like to speak to us?” Richard said, “Sure.” It was a denominational group, and Richard started teaching on Ephesians and after two or three days two fellows stood up and said, “We want to be baptized for the remission of sins.” The next day three more desired baptism. Then the rest of the group said, “We don't want you to come back, trouble maker.” Seven men then stood up and said, “We want to hear him.” So he and the seven had a Bible study to finish out the week. Those seven men headed out and began to preach. In about three or four weeks these men baptized 1,500 people into Christ. Richard wasn't doing much, just reading his Bible and a fellow recognized it and asked him to teach. How did the fellow recognize the Bible anyway? Many years earlier an old man named Adinirum Judsen, a deeply committed man, went to Burma and introduced the Bible to the people. Adinirum prayed seven times a day saying, “I don't care what you do with me God, I just want to please you.” Over one half a century later, the simple action of Richard Rogers reading his Bible in a hotel, lead almost immediately to the conversion to 1,500 people. You and I have no way of knowing what God could do with us if were only 100% committed to His cause.

Look again at the Apostle Paul’s self denial.

2 Cor 11:22-29 “Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?”

Who worked harder, was imprisoned more often, was flogged more severely, was stoned, shipwrecked and in constant danger? Who wrote nearly one half of the New Testament? Who planted more churches? Who was probably the greatest tool in the hand of Jesus in New Testament days? The apostle Paul.

And what about Stephen? Stephen died knowing that Saul was destroying the church. Stephen never lived to see Saul/Paul in action. Imagine how surprised Stephen would have been to hear of Paul’s work. Stephen left no record of success. There is not one baptism accredited to Stephen’s efforts. Stephen may have felt pretty much as a failure.

What motivated Paul to be converted, to work so hard, to endure so much? He saw Jesus, but others saw Jesus and were not motivated as he was. Might it be that the selfless life of Stephen, his self denial, his attitude when he was suffering and dying was the major motivation in Saul’s conversion. Could it be that Stephen was the motivation that moved Paul to become so great? What did Paul mean when he said that he was a debtor? Romans 1:14 KJV. Without Stephen’s self-denial there might have been no apostle Paul.

Self denial enables the church to face persecution, to speak boldly and to grow.

It may not be on the mountain’s height, or over the stormy sea;

It may not be at the battle’s front, my Lord has need for me;

But if, by a still small voice, He calls to paths that I do no know,

I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in yours, I’ll go where you want me to go.

I’ll go where you what me to go, dear Lord, over mountain or plain or sea:

I’ll say what you what me to say, dear Lord, I’ll be what you want me to be.

Chapter Seven

WHAT’S IN SELF DENIAL FOR ME?

Part one

We have talked about what’s in self denial for God and the church. Now what’s in self denial for me?

Matt 16:24-27 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.’”

Luke 18:29-30 “‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus said to them, ‘no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.’”

Rom 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

“Bodies” The Greek word means whole being.

“Living” in contrast to the Old Testament death sacrifice.

“Sacrifice” means something that is hard to do.

“Conform” Don’t take the form of this world.

“Transformed” This word comes from the Greek word “morphe” where we get the word “metamorphosis.” This is the process a worm goes through to become a butterfly. Paul is describing the procedure for us to become spiritual butterflies. Along this line we should be reminded not to open a cocoon too soon. We must have patience with our own transformation and the transformation of others.

“The renewing of your mind” To the totally committed every day is brand new day.

SELF DENIAL ALLOWS GOD TO MOLD US INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

I’ve never been too impressed when I’ve looked into a mirror but God ain’t done with me yet. Hang around a hundred years and I’ll be a real hunk.

SELF DENIAL ALLOWS GOD TO DIRECT US.

Have you ever wondered what God’s will is for you in matters not mentioned in the Bible?

How does God direct us today? Does he speak to us in a wee small voice? Does he direct us with miracles like Gideon’s fleece? Does he tell us what he wants in dreams and visions? Self denial is the key.

THE WAY GOD DIRECTS US TODAY.

Phil 2:13 “It is God who works in you to will [want to, desire] and to act according to his good purpose.”

How do I know that my will (desire) is from God?

Rom 12:2 “...Then you will be able to test (verify) and approve (certify, assure, confirm) what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

What is the test?

Rom 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Test # 1: Am I willing to deny myself?

2 John 9 “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

Test # 2: Is my desire in harmony with the Bible?

1 Cor 9:22 “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”

Test # 3: Will t