Luke 9:23 ( And he said to them all if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me)
For every mission there is a price to be paid and sacrifice to be made; the price of our salvation was paid by Christ on the Cross, and the sacrifice for following Christ was highlighted in this passage for every believer who desires to become His disciple.
The first and paramount thing on the list is self-denial.
The nature of every human being is self-centered; we inherited this trait from our first parents when they tried to shift blame in Eden for what they did.
Selfishness is a trait that only the power of regeneration can break permanently in a man.
It’s the desire of the body against the spirit, thereby war against each other for supremacy.
No one can be self-centered and egocentric and still love; Jesus broke this circle on the Cross by giving up his life for a man to live the example of what He did.
By dying to self, we died to the world, and its entanglement; we died to the lust and the pride of life.
Self is a behavior that won’t go by modernization or civilization; even education can’t destroy its power.
It will only turn us into educated or modernized sinners; it is the power of illumination by the Word of God that will open our spiritual understanding to acknowledge our wretched state and make amendments.
Selfishness is the opposite of love; we do things for gain that works in our favor, thinking of material or emotional gain before we help; we ask, “How does this one help my mission” even in a Christian circle where things are supposed to be lesser that’s where it’s exhibited most in the name of spirituality.
We give to receive praise when Christ says; we shouldn’t allow the left hand to know what the right hand is given “.
If the praises of man aren’t involved, we won’t involve ourselves.
We marry for the gain and the benefits; we can’t live without conditions attached; our love is based on what is brought to the table.
Selfish, unregenerate man can’t love; all the love displayed on social media between couples can only be genuine if the two of them have experienced the love of God by becoming a new creature.
We do things that boast our ego; we seek men’s approval to do the things of God for selfish reasons.
Most of the motives of the things we do in God’s house are self centered; how much gain will I see? What does it profit me to preach on that pulpit?
That is what led to the sowing of a seed that has eaten deep into our religious circles to mock the name and the competency of God.
Selfishness has made us merchandise the gospel, trading the word for gold and silver.
We advertise miracles, signs, and wonders to exploit people who come to our service and turn the church of God into a place of trade.
What causes war and battles in the world today is when we are trying to trample on the rights of others to reach our goal.
Self is what we need to deny most before we can attain the level that God wants for us by following Him all through.
It’s hard for us to love and give without the fringe benefits attached.
Someone who needs help won’t speak out to protect his ego till it degenerates and claim his life.
Most of the churches established are out of selfishness, which is what denied the move of God in such congregations.
When you can’t deny self in working for God, surely the presence of God shall be denied you.
A man who was accused in his church and went and established his own instead of obeying the authority and serve his punishment, what will that kind of person preach to his congregation or what will be his excuse by the time he reach the gate of heaven to give an account of his deeds?
Or a man who was sent to establish a church in the name of another denomination and later changed the name to himself and proclaimed to be a servant of the most high?
How will the presence of God appear in a congregation built on selfishness?
Selfishness is ravaging the church of God; instead of admitting to our fault,, we are shifting blame to others for our predicaments.
Most divorce cases are based on self-centeredness on the side of both spouses; if you always think of yourself and not about the convenience of others in the union, you will go against the ordinances of God.
Selfishness is the essence of all sin, which needs to be rooted out and nailed to the cross for the nature of God to prevail and dominate.
Self and holy spirit can’t inhabit the same temple; one must bow out for the other to reign.
It’s the ladder of self that Satan needs to ascends and torment life; when the self is broken and destroyed, Satan won’t have what to feed on.
The Bible says, love your neighbors as yourself; this is the law and the power that breaks this dreaded dragon for man to prevail in life.
It’s by loving God and your neighbors that you’ll truly love yourself; no one ever love himself when he doesn’t love God and his neighbors.
The love you exhibit to yourself without the love of God and for your neighbors is destructive and toxins that can end life if it isn’t arrested.
If you are an enemy of Jesus Christ, it’s impossible for you to love me; whichever love you exhibit is with ulterior motives; if you’re not a friend with Jesus, it’ll be difficult for you to love your neighbors beside you; that kind of love is based on selfish reasons.
The only solution to the problem of selfishness is crucifixion; it’s the old nature that needs to be buried and receive the new nature at calvary.
Jesus Christ nailed self to the cross to become new at his resurrection, this is the essence of new birth to receive the incorruptible nature of Christ….to be continued
Prayer: Father Lord, by the power in your blood, I destroy the nature of the serpent in my life in Jesus name
