Author: Daryl Pint

Saved by Grace, living by faith

Deny Self

What does it mean to deny self or renounce all we have? Deny self of what? We battle self and desires all the time that are not pleasing to God.  Some of this is temptations from Satan and some of it comes from our sinful nature.  Our culture waters down the cost of following Christ and living to honor and glorify God.  Our culture would say that serving God and denying self means giving up Sunday morning and attending church.    Following Christ is not one morning per week activity.  It is not a one hour per day daily devotional.  It is so much more than this. The cost (if it is truly a cost) is heart, mind, and soul deep.  It is a true desire  and choice to live for Him.  Denying self is to stop seeking what pleases my interests and start understanding and doing that which honors and glorifies God.  Deny self for how money is spent, how thoughts are fermented, how time is utilized.  Denying self is a daily battle that can easily be lost.  Check your heart – what are it’s desires?

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul

Matthew 4:10
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve

2 Timothy 2:12
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us

Luke 14:29
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple

Psalm 49:7
Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice

Set Your Mind on Things Above

We see, we hear, and we want. The temptation to keep our eyes on what we can see is always before us.  It is understandable.  Yet God wants us to see with our heart open to what His word is telling us. He wants us to listen to His leading (that quiet small voice speaking light into our life). He wants us to want (desire) Him.  This world would tempt/tell us that life is about us and getting what we want here.  God tells us that we are just passing through this world and there is a place in heaven for those who choose, in this life, to live to honor and glorify Him – denying self and humbly serving/following Him.

Matthew 16:23
But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man

Romans 8:5
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace

Philippians 3:18
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

A True Heart

What comes out of the mouth originates in the heart.  Do you find yourself at times saying things that should not be said?  Are there thoughts that come to your mind that are wrong and expose an area of darkness in your heart?  What goes into the the heart and mind are what is most likely to come out.  Commit to daily feeding both your heart and mind with God’s word.  Desire to have Him the center of all you do. Try this for 7 days and see if your thoughts and what you say doesn’t change.

Matthew 15:10
And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.
“Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.

James 3:8
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Psalms 140:1
Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
preserve me from violent men,
who plan evil things in their heart
and stir up wars continually.
They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,
and under their lips is the venom of asps

Live for God

Do we do a “pretend” church life of honoring and glorifying God?  A life where we think honoring and glorifying God boils down to a single event of making sure we are in church on Sunday.  The purpose of being in church is to corporately  worship God.  Somehow I think many miss this purpose and instead use Sunday as a means to be right before God.  God wants our entire life’s desire to be Him and His plan/purpose in our life.  This desire is 7 days per week not just one.  Don’t water down the gospel in your life – keep it pure – live all seven days of the week for God.

Matthew 15:7
You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men

Matthew 23:15
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves

Colossians 2:20
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world,do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” ( referring to things that all perish as they are used) —according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self- made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh

Ezekiel 33:31
And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain

Why Wait

Why do we read such verses of healing and not think God is able to heal a broken heart, or relationship, or financial hardship, or friendship, or a life purpose of serving Him?  Do we limit God working in our life because of our lack of faith in what God can do?  Besides these verses there are multiple references to the omnipotent power of God.  One I like and remind myself of is in Ephesians it says that “He is able to do more than we think and much more than we can imagine”.  Why wait – turn it over to Him and trust in him alone!  People implored Him and were made whole.

Matthew 14:34
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

Matthew 4:23
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people

Mark 6:55
And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well

Take Heart

How many times do we need to be reminded that we are not on this path of life alone?  Pursuing a life that honors and glorifies God will undoubtedly take us our of our comfort zone to places we feel so unequipped that we allow fear in.  Sudden fear is a natural reflex but sustained fear of the unknown will rob us of seeing God’s hand at work and, as well, our ability to hear the quiet voice of His leading.  Replace fear with “Clinging to, Trusting in, and Relying on Him alone

Matthew 14:27
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Isaiah 41:12
For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you

Deuteronomy 31:36
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you

Joshua 10:25
And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous

1 Chronicles 28:20
“Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished

Treasures

I wonder what treasures I truly seek.  Are they treasures that are offered by this world?  Are they treasures for eternity? How can a person know?  If we search what our heart’s desire is this will give us a good understanding of the treasures we seek.  A very good place to start is captured in the 139th Psalm – Search me, oh God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting.

Matthew 13:44
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field

Proverbs 2:1
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding

Philippians 3:7
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant.

Mystery Revealed

Thank you Lord for opening our eyes to see the mystery that had been hidden for ages past.  You have blessed us with knowledge of Christ and of Your grace, mercy, and love.  Strengthen our hearts and mind in finding our purpose serving you every day this side of eternity.

Matthew 13:35
This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world

Romans 16:25
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen

1 Corinthians 2:12
For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned

Ephesians 3:9
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God

Colossians 1:25
the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory

Choose this Day

How many times in our life do we chase after riches (more stuff) or get caught up in the cares of this world over living in victory above it all?  Is it possible to see fruit with yields hundredfold from the way we are living?  There is so much in our culture that is a constant pull away from a life that honors and glorifies God.  I wonder if we truly believe a time is coming when we will be held accountable.  If we choose to want to see fruit in our lives we will need to deny self and listen and obey. Desire time with God.  Seek His purpose for your life.  Listen for His leading.  Obey His direction.

Matthew 13:22
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.

Matthew 13:30
Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn

Matthew 3:12
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire

Malachi 4:1
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts