The Lord is Only Where I Deny Myself

2004-12-06 00:18

"Then he said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23).

No one can, without denying himself, follow the Lord. If a servant acknowledges himself, his relationship with his lord is over. Therefore, in the relationship between the Lord and me, if I acknowledge my presence, everything is vain.

There is only one in the world who cannot deny himself: the Lord, the image of God. It is written, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 2:13).

Those who deny themselves have already listened to God and learned from Him before they meet the author of faith. So, the Lord said, "It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me." (John 6:45).

Only those who know God and listen to Him and learn from Him can receive Jesus Christ whom He has sent. It is written, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13).

Because God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have already been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, those who don't accept this teaching cannot receive Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

The Bible said about it, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20).

Therefore, the Lord said, "Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me." If anyone would come after the Lord, he must clearly deny himself, saying "I'm nothing," before God's eternal power and divine nature. Without this self-denial, he can never carry around in his body the death of Jesus.

Many people inwardly burn, being unable to do away with their self on the cross with Christ, because their self-denial is unclear and the yeast of their self still remains.

The Bible says, "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!" (Hebrews 5:12).

The elementary truths of God's word means the self-denial. When he was 40 years old, Moses didn't know what the elementary truths of God's word are. And so, he didn't deny himself and killed an Egyptian, thinking that God would deliver Israel by his hand. It is written, "For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand." (Acts 7:25).

But later, while he lived as Jethro's son-in-law and servant who tended his flock for 40 years until he turned 80, he listened to God and learned from him about God's eternal power and divine nature through what had been made, and finally came to know the law of truth of self-denial.

He denied himself even to the extent that God's anger burned against him. It is written, "But Moses said, 'O Lord, please send someone else to do it.'" (Exodus 4:13).

Therefore, the Bible testifies, "Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3).

Without knowing of the truth of self-denial, no one can be with Christ. That is because his yoke is the yoke of gentleness and humility with self-denial. It is written, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29). Without denying himself, no one can follow Christ; without following him, there is no cross where he can do away with his self; he doesn't believe the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness, and in the end come to false salvation.

The highest perfection of self-denial is pouring out one's soul unto death. It is written, "Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12). Amen. Thank you, Lord.

Brother of the End, Kim Yun-gu.