“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'” (Matthew 16:24).
Self-denial, Faithful Obedience, and Daily Surrender of Our Will and Desires To God Is Taking Up Our Cross
“When we choose to let God’s Will become the dominant prevailing force over our will and desires; we are carrying our cross.”
The Plan of Redemption: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).
Jesus gave His life on Calvary’s Cross to fulfill the Plan of Redemption required to save humanity: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:30–31).
Reflection: “What must I do to be saved?” is answered by God in the Holy Scriptures.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
“Salvation is received strictly through personal faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, not through human effort or good works:”
“If you love Me, keep My Commandments,” (John 14:15).
“Harmony with God’s Law: Grace and the Moral Law (the Ten Commandments) do not oppose or cancel each other out. Instead, Divine Grace works in harmony with the law, empowering believers to overcome evil, resist Satan, and render pure, heartfelt obedience.”
Grace Requires The Human Effort of Cooperation With The Holy Spirit: Self-denial, Faithful Obedience, and Daily Surrender of Our Will and Desires To God.
“Grace is not a passive substitute for human action. It operates in cooperation with a surrendered human will, earnest prayer, self-denial, and a living faith.”
Sanctification is the dally spiritual process of spiritual growth and transformation, requiring total cooperation with God, the Holy Spirit. We pray and obey God’s directives.
“O Lord, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself; It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life].” (Jeremiah 10:23, Amplified Bible).
Letting go of self-reliance and consecrating ourselves to live a life of faithful obedience is the only way for the Holy Spirit to [Sanctify] transform our mind, character, and personality into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character [Matthew 22:37-39; Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:32].
Jesus Proclaims His Faithful Obedience and Daily Surrender to God, His Father: “I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:28-29).
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46). Faithful Obedience Is a Requisite to be saved and inherit our reward of Eternal Life.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, ESV).
Loving God more than ourselves is the spiritual catalyst that reveals itself through daily surrender and unwavering obedience to the will of God.
We can come to Jesus just as we are, but we cannot stay that way. “Be holy, for I Am Holy.” Jesus tells us that we can do nothing without Him. To abide in Christ requires daily surrender and a sacrificial life of self-denial and faithful obedience.
Sanctification is not Behavior Modification: We cannot change ourselves.
Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” “God reveals that He is the One who performs the internal heart transformation that humans cannot do for themselves.”
Sanctification requires the Human Effort of daily surrender, faith, and obedience, and the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit’s transforming Power, required to receive our reward of Eternal Life.
God commands us to live a sacrificial life of self-denial. Every morning we consecrate ourselves to think and live a life based on God’s Plans, which reveals His Higher Thoughts and Ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Self-denial: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).
Reflection: Are we willing to live a consecrated life devoted to worshiping, following, and obeying our Faithful Shepherd?
The Shepherd Knows His Sheep: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28).
Daily Surrender is required to hear Jesus’ Voice: Our lifestyle and choices reveal whether or not, we are following Jesus and worshiping God in spirit and Truth.
“Reflection: Religion is not to be confined to external forms and ceremonies. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that will lead to God.
“In order to serve Him [in spirit and Truth], we must be born of the Divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us a new capacity for knowing and loving God.”
Loving God and following Jesus Christ invites the Holy Spirit to perform true heart conversion and sanctifying us, resulting in giving us a willing obedience to all His righteous requirements. “This is true worship.”
“PRINCIPLE: Wherever a soul reaches out after God, the Holy Spirit’s working Power manifests, and God will reveal Himself to that soul. For such worshipers He is seeking.”
What Is Worship? Worship is a lifestyle of daily surrender and faithful obedience to our Savior, Redeemer, and Heavenly Intercessor God, Jesus Christ.
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24).
“Worship is the response of your whole being [mind, body, and soul] to the Glory of God. It is the submission of all our thoughts; our mind, and our nature to the Will and Word of God.”
“True worship is willing and faithful obedience to the Will and Word of Jesus; it is obedience to the Will and Word of the One you hold in highest reverence.”
Lord God, with love, we express gratitude for Your Love, Grace, and Mercies freely given to fallen humanity. We ask You to forgive us for our sins, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and to anoint us with the Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit. In faith, we consecrate ourselves to follow Jesus on the Narrow Path of Righteousness with faithful obedience. Lord, we cannot do this using our own strength and power; therefore, we ask You to give us the wisdom and discernment to perceive life through spiritual eyes, and to empower us with Your strength to persevere in our journey with Jesus. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
© 2026 STEPS 2 Success With Spiritual Solutions Ministry
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