CLM | Christ Is Lord Min. | Ap Prince Seloise
Podcast Summary: Deny Yourself and Take Up Your Cross ✝️ Easter Message Matthew 16:24 (KJV) "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." The Heart of Easter Easter is more than celebrating the cross — it is responding to the cross. Jesus did not only die for us… He also called us to die with Him. Easter reminds us that Christianity is not just about receiving salvation — It is about surrendering our lives. If we want to truly follow Jesus, He gives us three clear instructions: * Deny Yourself * Take Up Your Cross * Follow Me 7 Powerful Truths From This Command 1. Denying Yourself Is The First Step To Following Jesus Jesus said: Matthew 16:24 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself…" Before the cross… Before the miracles… Before the power… There must be self-denial. No man can be full of God while they are still full of themselves. Denying yourself means: * Rejecting self as your master * Choosing God's will over your own * Surrendering control to Jesus Luke 22:42 "Not my will, but thine, be done." Sometimes: * You want revenge → God says forgive * You want comfort → God says pray * You want silence → God says speak Denying yourself means choosing God over your feelings. 2. Denying Yourself Means Denying The Flesh Galatians 5:24 "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh…" Your flesh wants: * Comfort * Recognition * Pleasure * Pride But denying yourself means: * Praying when you're tired * Forgiving when you're hurt * Giving when it's hard * Obeying when it's uncomfortable Easter reminds us: Jesus denied His flesh… So we must deny ours. 3. Denying Yourself Involves Discipline And Pursuit Of God Denying yourself means: * Fasting * Praying * Seeking God * Pursuing spiritual growth * Seeking God's face Psalm 27:8 "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek." When you seek God's face, men will seek your face. Mark 1:37 "All men seek for thee." When you don't seek God's face, men will be sick of your face. King Saul is the primary biblical example of a man who lost the presence of God and was rejected. Easter is a call back to spiritual hunger. 4. Take Up Your Cross — The Cross Is A Place Of Death Jesus said, "Take up your cross…" The cross means death. The cross is: * Not comfort * Not convenience * Not popularity Luke 14:27 "Whosoever doth not bear his cross… cannot be my disciple." Taking up your cross means dying to self. Easter reminds us: Jesus carried His cross… Now we carry ours. 5. Taking Up Your Cross Means Crucifying The Flesh Galatians 5:24 "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh…" To crucify the flesh means: * Denying what the flesh demands * Refusing sinful desires * Choosing obedience over comfort The cross calls you to: * Pray when you're tired * Forgive when you're hurt * Give when it's difficult * Obey when it's uncomfortable 6. Taking Up Your Cross Means Dying To Sin Romans 6:6 "Our old man is crucified with him…" Easter is about: * Dying to sin * Dying to pride * Dying to selfishness * Dying to the old life Romans 6:11 "Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God…" Many want resurrection life without crucified life. They want: * The victory, but not the sacrifice * The crown, but not the cross * The breakthrough, but not the breaking But resurrection only came after the cross. * No empty tomb without crucifixion * No victory without sacrifice Before resurrection life: * There must be dying to self * There must be surrender * There must be obedience Because: * When you die to pride → resurrection brings humility * When you die to fear → resurrection brings boldness * When you die to your will → resurrection brings God's purpose The same cross that looks like loss today… Becomes resurrection tomorrow. 7. When You Deny Yourself And Take Up Your Cross — You Follow Jesus Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…" This is the goal of Easter: * Not just celebrating the cross * But living the cross Deny Yourself — Say no to you Take Up Your Cross — Die to you Follow Jesus — Live for Him Conclusion Easter is not just about: * Church attendance * Celebration * Tradition Easter is about transformation. Jesus carried the cross for you… Now He calls you to carry yours too. Because: * Denying yourself decides who leads your life * Taking up your cross decides what you endure * Following Jesus decides where you're going This Easter, may you: * Deny yourself * Take up your cross * Follow Jesus fully Because the cross was never meant to be admired… It was meant to be carried.
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