All In
Week 1: Deny Yourself

Scripture: Matthew 16:24; John 10:10; Psalm 139:23-24; John 16:13; Mark 10:17-22; Genesis 19:26

The principle of denying yourself is one that is absolutely paramount when it comes to our relationship with Jesus Christ.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

If we want to experience abundant life and even eternal life, we have to commit our lives to Jesus Christ, being guided and directed by the Holy Spirit all along the way! This means that we have to go All In for Jesus if we want to live like Him and for Him.

Matthew 16:24 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

The question we are trying to answer today is this: What does it mean to deny ourselves?

1. Looking Introspectively

Now prior to the coming of Jesus Christ here on earth, there was the Old Testament. We read about all that happened before His entrance into humanity. And one of the key things we see is that God communicates with certain people, rather than everyone as a whole. For instance, God raises up leaders that He talks with on behalf of His people Israel. And one of these people is David. David is a man of God who seeks to do things God’s way as much as possible. He was, at one point, the King over all of Israel. When we look at the Old Testament, however, we don’t just read about David, but also some things that David wrote, which can be found in the Psalms…

Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

It would have been pointless for David to merely look within himself to try and figure out what needed. He wanted God to play a role.

John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

God desires to lead us into all truth. This truth is found in Scripture.

2. Living with Open Hands

Mark 10:17-22
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack, ”he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

3. Don’t Look Back

This is a simple statement that can be the game changer for you. Don’t look back at the things you have chosen to leave behind.

Genesis 19:26
But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

The question we have to ask is not “why did she get turned into a pillar of salt?” The question we must ask is “why did she look back?”

In verse 26 that we just read, the original Hebrew word for our English “looked” means “to regard something with favor, pleasure, or care.” Lot’s wife looked back and saw her comfortable place of residence, the place she knew for a while. This was the reason she cared so much for it. However, the Lord looked at this city and destroyed it because of its constant disobedience.

When the Lord points something out that must be left behind, we must be willing to leave it behind and never look back. God doesn’t want us focused on what’s behind us. Now, there’s no doubt He reminds us of just how far we have come. But His ultimate desire is that we fixate our focus and energy on that which lies ahead of us.

As we finish up today, I want to share a verse from the book of Philippians that highlights the importance of looking ahead;

Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

What’s holding you back today?
What part of your past are you holding onto with clenched fists?
What are you afraid to let go of?