1) WHAT GOD DOES IN US WHEN WE DENY OURSELF
(Luke 9:23) “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
The word DENY means to abandon, forsake, surrender and cast aside. It is standing in total harmony with God and understanding the will of God is of upmost importance. We are nothing apart from Christ.
John 15:4-5 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
2) BEARING YOUR CROSS MEANS DENYING YOURSELF
(Luke 14:27) “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
(Galatians 6:3) “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
As we humble ourselves before a Holy God, He changes us on the inside and helps us to bear our cross. We realize we are dependent on Him and just can't live without Him. This is the ultimate denial that transforms our heart to be like His.
