Memory Verse: 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.”
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| Revival – A Ministry of the Holy Spirit |
Taking up the cross to follow Jesus Christ means to knock out your old self, desires and behavior to act according to the commandments of God.
To take up your cross means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Text: Romans 8:5-8 – “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Introduction: A man that is controlled mainly by his senses is a man that is still alive to self. If a man refuses to die to self, the power of revival will be very far from him.
There can never be spiritual growth in the life of a man who is still alive to self because self will not allow any man to be obedient to God’s commands.
Meaning Of Self
- Personal ambition outside God’s own counsel. Jonah 1:3 – “But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord , and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”
- The real you that yearns to commit sin
- The Adamic nature that wants to force itself on others
- The lust in man. James 1:13-15 – “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
- The you that keeps record of the sins/wrongs of others
- The you that wants to be proud at any given chance
- The you that intentionally break the commands/laws of God
- The you that distastes spiritual exercises
- No longer obeying the commands of the flesh
- Giving God the space to lead
- Declining to your own desires and conveniences. Matthew 10:38 – “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
- Always making comparisons between your actions and the word of God
- Obedience to the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 – “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
- Saying NO to compromise the standards of God. 2 Timothy 2:19 – “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
- Standing firm when temptation comes
- Way to humility
- Necessary for following Jesus Christ. Matthew 16:24 – “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
- Pathway to the life of Christ
- Fulfillment of Christ’s purpose in our lives. 1 John 3:8 – “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
- Prepare Christians for the rapture
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| Psalm 25:14 – “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” |
- God will not reveal secrets to the person. Psalm 25:14 – “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.”
- Wrong decisions all the time
- The person’s life will repel revival
- It will be difficult to walk in the spirit. Galatians 5:17 – “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
- Impossible to grow spiritually
- Spiritual armour becomes too feeble to resist and conquer the enemy
- Sexual Immorality
- Impurity
- Lust
- Greed
- Anger
- Malice
- Foul language
- Pride
- Slander
- Master how to say NO to self
- Move according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 – “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
- Be dependent on God for directions, even if you have it all planned out. Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
- Always check your goal(s) and compare it/them with the word of God
- Love always
- Resist the devil. James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
- Be prayerful. Luke 18:1 – “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
