7th January 2020
EVENING CONTEMPLATION
TOPIC: LET HIM DENY HIMSELF PT 3
TEXT: MATT. 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.'' Â
A saint must be slain under the power of this conviction; that: before any draws to God, he must first be drawn by God: 'Draw me, we will run after thee...' (Song 1:4) As the water by falling; metal by sinking; dry leaf by floating; fire by ascending and stones by downward motion, so the heart of man freely, effortlessly and naturally streams toward evil. Gen. 6:7. No man can desire after God except by grace. This stand we have made known in our most previous contemplation. God is the sole giver of the desire after or for Him; the same God would that those blessed with this desire, should deny themselves. Who can deny himself? can the hynna change its nature? can ox long for flesh? can the lion eat grass? Man's self or nature is entwined with him. Man cannot renounce his lusts and sin except by mercy. To deny self, is not by human effort, God who draws us after Him in the first place must be there to help us deny ourself. Only Him can help us turn our back on ourselves; renounce our darling passions and lusts. Self consists of all that a man is: his grace, parts, gifts, societal stands, relations &c. Who can freely give up his position except by divine influence. Friends, self-denial is extreemly requisite in following Jesus; it is a condition precedent to an acceptable walk with and for God. He who cannot say NO to himself, cannot follow the man of calvary. It is impossible to let self go completely. This demand of Jesus is universal and must be exercised over every thing. Brothers, our desire to follow Him is a pledge from Him that He would assist us to deny self. The first mercy from Him that capacitated us to run after Him, is only but a down payment for the mercy that would enable us deny ourselves. If He saved us in six troubles, He will sure save us in the seventh and always. Are you bound by habits, sins--constitution or complexion sins, and you see no way out? He can forgive you and also enable you to say no to their appeals. From start to finish; from the planting to fruition God is over all! Am delighted that I cannot fight self, but only by the power of God. When Jesus says that the eye, leg and hand that allure a man to sin should be violently put away, He knew with men this is impossible: who can be so monstrous to himself as to gauge his right eye out; beastlsy and melancholy insane to chop off his right hand all by himself; and unaffectionatly takes away his own leg? All would agree with me that it requires forces external to a man to do this; witness that man possessed with legion of demons, who cut and brused himself with sharp stones. He was under the influence of another external to him. Those who lie in His bosom, know that any time He requires a thing of any mortal man, He wispers to same this: 'with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible! Without me ye can do nothing!' To be continued