Self Denial

John 15:14

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Even though self-denial is a prominent characteristic of Jesus Christ, some who have this man living in them have refused to walk in this key element of the faith. Self-denial is the mandate of walking in the spirit. Some of us still believe that we’ll never be as Christ is, we don’t walk in the boldness that says that we are as He is in the earth today (1 John 4:17).

Ezekiel 28:15

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Look at the scripture above, Satan was created bearing many precious stones. He was also the anointed cherub who responsible for ensuring that the word of God was fulfilled. He was full of wisdom and was made perfect in all his ways. Then, one day, Lucifer became so impressed with his beauty, wisdom, power, and position that he began to desire the honor and glory that belonged to God alone. The sin that corrupted him was self. Let’s go further, in the garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:5-6

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The same thing was taking place in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were made the bishops of the earth, when the devil made the suggestion that their eyes would be opened, Eve's wantonness caused her to give a thought to what he suggested. Iniquity was found in her and immediately the fruit became pleasant to her eyes, and she ate. Self will cause us to disregard the laws of God. Self seeks to please itself. That’s why when Jesus came here on earth his first commandment to any man who wants to become his disciple, to deny himself. If you receive the Lord, He will destroy the concept of self in you, and make you one with the entire body of Christ. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatian 2:20.

As we established earlier, in order to walk in the glory and the righteousness of the Lord, we first have to deny ourselves by ourselves as dead (Rom 6:11). It is impossible to work the works of the Lord and serve ourselves at the same time. When God says that he’s going to show principalities and powers his manifold wisdom he saying that He would use those who are in total obedience to His will and purpose. Those are the ones He refers to as His friends. Are we His friends today? Well, let us allow him to live and interact with the people around us.

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