Deny Yourself

“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” —Jesus 

(Luke 9:23)

This verse is among the many 'hard sayings' of Jesus.

A lot of people try to explain away a hard saying, claiming it was merely symbolic, or the ridiculous notion that Jesus didn't really mean what He said.

And so, here we find ourselves, in the midst of the foretold great apostasy—the Falling Away, or defection from the truth of God's Word, very prevalent among today's post modern Christianity.

I find it extremely noteworthy to point out that the first words in this passage are, "And He said to them all..."

This directive from Jesus wasn't made to just His inner circle of Peter, James and John, who  accompanied Him to the Mount of Transfiguration. These words from Jesus were spoken to any of His disciples and followers standing by who desired to come after Him, or follow Him.

He said it plainly then, and today as well; "If anyone desires to come after Me."

Jesus, being the Lord of Glory, possessing all wisdom and knowledge, able to read the thoughts and intents of men's hearts, knows that all men will not desire to follow after Him. And the Gospels show that to be so. There were the multitudes who came only for the healing, the food, and the miracles. 

But the true disciples of Jesus were there because they knew He was the One who offers Himself as the rivers of living water that will quench a man's soul forever. And they wanted more of Him. They left all and followed Him.

Isn't that what your heart truly longs for? More of Jesus. To be closer to him? To know Him more?

A lifetime of pursuing more stuff only left me thirsty and starving for more of Jesus. More stuff does not and cannot ever satisfy. This land of prosperity is a parched, dry and thirsty land. A spiritually barren wilderness of empty riches.

Jesus, knowing all, is giving us a precious gift and the ultimate freedom by calling us to deny ourselves, leave it all behind, and follow Him. All the stuff we work so hard to obtain is a trap and a chain around our soul. 

He also invites us to "take up your cross daily."

Why daily?  

Because we need to die to 'self' every single day. Our selfish desires and the lust of the human flesh needs to be nailed to the cross daily, if not every single minute. The old sinful nature is a hungry beast who can never be filled—a blood thirsty, ravenous wolf, always looking for his next kill. Always hunting, never satisfied, never at rest.

God is certainly not calling every person to leave their family, job, and everything else and go wandering around the globe as itinerant evangelists.

What He is calling us all to do, is to deny ourselves. Stop being selfish with our time, our resources and our hearts. If we are living only to please ourselves and acquire more stuff, more titles, riches and prominence, we will ultimately lose that life, one way or another.

Jesus said:

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” (Luke 9:24-25)

The late Jim Elliot, who was one of five missionaries killed in 1956, while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador, was quoted with this now famous saying:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Jim literally lived out the calling to lose his life for Jesus' sake, and he would find it. 

As I stand at the threshold of sixty years of age, I am painfully aware that I am not long on this earth. Much of my life as a believer I wasted on selfish pursuits. And I can never get those wasted years back.

But what I can do is make the most of the short time I have left by denying myself in every situation, and take up my cross daily—which simply means dying to selfishness—and follow Jesus and His example and calling to share the Gospel with all those to whom He sends me. Help those in need with what is truly needed. Love as Jesus loved.

One of my favorite sayings of Jesus is:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

That, is what this message is all about.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.

Beware of False Prophets

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” —Jesus

(Matthew 7:15)

Why would God give us several warnings in the bible about false prophets and false teachers?

Because it is a very real and present danger. 

It was 2,000 years ago. And it is even more so today.

So how do we know who the false prophets are?  

Jesus tells us.

"You will know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:16)

Here's a current example. Bethel Church in Redding, California, which is also the origin of the global music craze "Jesus Culture." Don't take my word for it. Research their teachings, and the so called prophets and prophetesses that speak at their church. Some very bizarre and satanic practices have occurred at their meetings and conferences. Deceiving spirits are the principalities and powers underneath and behind this so called ministry. But it didn't start at Bethel. The same dark spirits that permeate Bethel today were also alive and present in the mid 90's during the "Toronto movement." People there bark like dogs, howl like wolves, cackle like chickens, get "drunk in the spirit" and flop around on the floor like fish out of water. A popular occurrence at Bethel, also present at Toronto, is what they call "holy laughter." They also report seeing "glory clouds" and gold dust falling from the ceiling at their concerts and meetings. I watched a video of a young man screaming in terror on the floor at Bethel when a well known so called "prophetess" was speaking there, "imparting her spirit" to the unsuspecting people present. The head pastor stood by watching but did nothing to help the young man screaming in agony.

This dark spirit which they originally called the "Toronto Blessing" has spread around the world, infecting and deceiving millions. Again, research this for yourself. There are volumes of information out there to confirm what I've said here. This article is a good place for a general overview (see link). 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Blessing 

But none of this should surprise us.

Carefully read Paul's warning about the perilous times coming in the last days:

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. These resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all.” (2 Timothy ch 3)

One of the fruits of the Spirit is self control. But people flopping around on the floor, laughing hysterically and uncontrollably are demonstrating the exact opposite of self control. (See Galatians 5:22-23). However, the "spirit" infecting these people (like at Bethel and Toronto), is not God's Holy Spirit. But it is a very real and very dangerous spirit. A deceiving, demonic, lying spirit.

And yet today, millions of people are absolutely crazed in love with Bethel's "Jesus Culture" music and movement. My question is, where is the biblical and Spiritual discernment here?

People will argue that the Jesus Culture songs and lyrics themselves sound good and even harmless. 

Consider the source.

Jesus said:

“Nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:18-20)

Bad fruit comes from a bad tree (or source).

Consider this: no matter how good the Jesus Culture songs may sound on the surface, if the source (Bethel) is leading millions of people astray with it's spiritually dangerous and heretical teachings and practices, then do you think it's good to continue to support the source of those dangerous teachings by buying and singing their music? By pointing people to the music by singing and playing it, you are unknowingly being a part in helping the source lead people astray. 

Again, why would God give us so many biblical warnings about false teachers, false prophets and deceiving spirits unless the danger was very real and present?

Here's some more scriptural backup:

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” (1Timothy 4:1)

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways.” (2 Peter 2:1-2)

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

Bethel and Jesus Culture is just a small piece of the much larger deceptive under workings of the Enemy of our souls. 

Satan is the Oz behind the curtain, calling the shots, pulling the strings. He is the father of lies. He is the deceiver of the brethren. Jesus said Satan only comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. And remember, Satan can also transform himself into an angel of light, as can his underlings.

Of these deceivers Paul wrote:

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:15)

This is why it is critical to test every spirit, ever ministry, every book, every band and their songs, no matter how spiritual and holy they may appear on the surface. Paul said Satan's ministers can also transform themselves into angels of light.

Think about that.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:19-25)

You will know them by their fruit.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.