Let Him Deny Himself
Scripture: Luke 9:23Devotional Series: The Integrity of God's Word
Teaching: The Integrity Of God's Word pt. 5 (SUN_PM 2021-06-27) by Pastor Star R Scott
I have been in the poorest places in the poorest countries of the world. It has been my privilege to stand and preach the good news to the poorest in Haiti and in India and in Africa, and to see these masses—and how it breaks your heart when you step out of the vehicle and you are surrounded by a hundred children all begging for anything you might give them (and you can’t give to all of them): you are overcome by compassion and empathy. I’ve always just asked the Lord to give me the strength and the grace to walk in the spirit of, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have, give I thee.” I make it a point to take no money with me. “Well, why wouldn’t you take some and give to as many as you could?” The poor we will always have with us; these are times when we are not to be distracted by the temporal. We brought them eternal life and eternal food and water that can cause them to never thirst again. There is a time to distribute alms and take care, and there is time to live in that spirit realm and bring nurture to souls so that they truly never thirst again.
So, this rich man was admonished to get rid of his riches, but he was unable to do so. May I remind you of this: After he had said that he was keeping that second tablet of the Decalogue, Jesus admonished him to keep nothing more than the first commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all of thy heart”; amen? When he dropped his head and walked off it became obvious what he loved, what he treasured in his heart: it was the temporal, it was his personal wealth, and he had no intention of fully serving God. He was pious, possibly seeking, but unable to meet the mandate Jesus had required of all His disciples: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Amen?
This is what is demonstrated in this encounter. There must be that spirit in each of us: a readiness to deny ourselves as we see the different areas of our hearts and their condition. Wayside: when it’s so crusted over that we cannot receive what God wants to speak to us; we cannot unite with the truth of what we are. So, we lighten the burden: we can cast off every weight and sin that burdens in this last hour when the bride of Christ is being prepared and purified.
Beloved, we are being refined in this hour. We don’t want to face it, we don’t want to have to deal with it, but there is a refining of the church in which we must be able to clearly hear those hard sayings, and immediately be united with them, lest that seed be taken from us and Jesus’ response will be, “Sleep on; I have nothing else to say to you.” Beloved, to him who has shall more be given (Matthew 13:12). To those of us who obey these revelations, more revelation will be given. Oh, what a need there is to hear and to do the Word of God!
Jesus, in the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount enlightened them to the two paths. As I was in prayer, suddenly the Spirit of God spoke and it came up in my spirit, “Why do you count Me as common?” I said, “Lord, what are You saying?” He said, “It’s that spirit: If some well‑known preacher were coming this morning, there would be excitement and anticipation.” For some of us who were so involved in Trump’s life, if he were going to come and visit this morning, people would be excited to see and possibly meet this man. I have had that opportunity. I spent time with him, and it was very interesting. But whether it’s a celebrity or whoever, the Lord was just sharing with me so that I could share with us.
Are you counting the presence of God as common? Do you anticipate His presence? What are we doing to prepare for His visitation when we gather together? Do you believe that, if Jesus were going to show up in our presence in His resurrected body, you would have a greater anticipation to come and meet Him? We are praying for revival, but I wonder how precious to us that revival is. What are we doing to prepare for that visitation? Do you think that you would have more of an ear to hear Him if He stood here and spoke audibly to you rather than speaking to us through His eternal Word? Let me remind you that there are many who heard Him teach in their cities and He said of them, “I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity!” (Matthew 7:23).
So, this rich man was admonished to get rid of his riches, but he was unable to do so. May I remind you of this: After he had said that he was keeping that second tablet of the Decalogue, Jesus admonished him to keep nothing more than the first commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all of thy heart”; amen? When he dropped his head and walked off it became obvious what he loved, what he treasured in his heart: it was the temporal, it was his personal wealth, and he had no intention of fully serving God. He was pious, possibly seeking, but unable to meet the mandate Jesus had required of all His disciples: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Amen?
This is what is demonstrated in this encounter. There must be that spirit in each of us: a readiness to deny ourselves as we see the different areas of our hearts and their condition. Wayside: when it’s so crusted over that we cannot receive what God wants to speak to us; we cannot unite with the truth of what we are. So, we lighten the burden: we can cast off every weight and sin that burdens in this last hour when the bride of Christ is being prepared and purified.
Beloved, we are being refined in this hour. We don’t want to face it, we don’t want to have to deal with it, but there is a refining of the church in which we must be able to clearly hear those hard sayings, and immediately be united with them, lest that seed be taken from us and Jesus’ response will be, “Sleep on; I have nothing else to say to you.” Beloved, to him who has shall more be given (Matthew 13:12). To those of us who obey these revelations, more revelation will be given. Oh, what a need there is to hear and to do the Word of God!
Jesus, in the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount enlightened them to the two paths. As I was in prayer, suddenly the Spirit of God spoke and it came up in my spirit, “Why do you count Me as common?” I said, “Lord, what are You saying?” He said, “It’s that spirit: If some well‑known preacher were coming this morning, there would be excitement and anticipation.” For some of us who were so involved in Trump’s life, if he were going to come and visit this morning, people would be excited to see and possibly meet this man. I have had that opportunity. I spent time with him, and it was very interesting. But whether it’s a celebrity or whoever, the Lord was just sharing with me so that I could share with us.
Are you counting the presence of God as common? Do you anticipate His presence? What are we doing to prepare for His visitation when we gather together? Do you believe that, if Jesus were going to show up in our presence in His resurrected body, you would have a greater anticipation to come and meet Him? We are praying for revival, but I wonder how precious to us that revival is. What are we doing to prepare for that visitation? Do you think that you would have more of an ear to hear Him if He stood here and spoke audibly to you rather than speaking to us through His eternal Word? Let me remind you that there are many who heard Him teach in their cities and He said of them, “I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity!” (Matthew 7:23).