Reference: Luke 9:23-24
Friend, have you ever taken intoconsideration just exactly what it means to be a follower of Christ and whatyou have to give up in order to be his true disciple? I want you to noticecarefully that Jesus said that we could not be his disciple if we did not denyourself of this life. Are you aware of what it means to deny yourself of thislife? To deny yourself simply means that you must deny your fleshly body tobecome a disciple of Christ. The Bible reveals that we are either walking afterthe flesh and obeying its desires or else we are walking in the Spirit andobeying his way and desires. To walk after the flesh means that you are doing thingsto satisfy the lusts and desires of the body. To walk after the Spirit is doingthings that are pleasing to Almighty God. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:5 that we eithermind the things of the flesh or else the things of the Spirit. Are you aware ofwhat the things of the flesh are and what the things of the Spirit are? Did youknow that the things of the Spirit are one hundred percent contrary to thethings and desires of the flesh? The apostle Paul tells us what the things ofthe flesh are and he also tells us that if we do these things then we willcertainly not inherit the kingdom of God. In Galatians5:19-21 Paul tells uswhat the works of the flesh are. I want you to see the fact that Paul veryplainly says that we will not inherit the kingdom of God if we do any of themanifested works of the flesh.
Now I know for a fact that there are many falseteachers and preachers in the land today saying that nobody can cease from sin,but I want to tell you that the word of God says that we will not inherit thekingdom if we do any of the manifested works of the flesh. God's word says thatthey that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they thatare after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit. If you manifest any ofthe works of the flesh then it is a proven fact that you are walking after theflesh and not after the Spirit. Would it not be a fact that you are revealingthat you are in the flesh and prone to its desires if you manifest the worksthat is stated in Galatians 5:19-21? If you claim to be a child of God, why then do youmanifest the works of the flesh? The word of God plainly reveals that we mustmortify the deeds of the body in order to inherit the kingdom of God, but thefalse preachers will tell you that nobody can live without manifesting theworks of sin in our lives. This is a lie of the devil and denying the power ofGod. If you believe that God can do all things why then should you say or thinkthat it's impossible for man to live without sin? In order to mortify the deedsof the body you must receive and obey the truth of the word of God revealed inthe gospel. Paul tells us in Romans 8:12-13 that we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after theflesh. For if we live after the flesh we shall die: but if we through theSpirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh, then we shall live... Listen realclose to the average preacher today and you will hear them saying that it'simpossible to live without sin in your life, but the word of God proves man tobe liars and they will lead you straight to a devils hell. The reason why theywill tell you this is because they themselves are not free from sin's power.The reason why they are not free from sin's power is because they have failedto continue on in God's word for the truth that would have set them free. Theword of God reveals that we must deny ourselves of this life in order to be adisciple of Christ. To deny your life means that you must crucify the deeds ofthe flesh that loves the pleasures of sin. The things of the Spirit is contraryto the things of the flesh, but you can and you must mortify the fleshlydesires. If you have received the gift of the Holy Ghost in your heart then youpossess the power to abstain from sin, but if sin still has dominion over you thenyou are in the flesh and do not possess the Spirit of God in your life. Pleaseallow me to tell you that only one of the manifested works of the flesh willkeep you out of the kingdom of God. If you have bitterness or jealousy; orwrath; or hatred; or any other of the manifested works of the flesh then youhad better be mortifying it or else you will be taken out of the vine and youwill be burned like a dead limb of a tree. (readJohn 15:1-3) The Bible tellsus that sin shall not have power over us, but if you continue to manifest theworks of the flesh then it's either because you are not a child of God or elseyou are neglecting to mortify the deeds of the body like you are told to do inGod's word. We are told that if we do mortify the deeds of the flesh then weshall live, but if we do not then we shall die. If you fail to mortify thedeeds of the flesh you will die spiritually and fall back into a dead in sinand tresspass condition like you were in before you were quickened by the HolySpirit in your life. Jesus plainly tells us that if we fail to bring forthfruits then we will absolutely be taken out of the vine and cast forth as awithered branch. (John 15:1-3) You can only be a fruit bearing christian by yourreceiving and obeying the truth of the gospel of Christ. The price ofdiscipleship my friend, is to lose your life, which means that you must mortifythe deeds of your flesh. If you are not willing to mortify your fleshly desiresthen it's utterly impossible to become a child of God and a disciple of Christ.The land is filled with false and misleading preachers that will tell you thatnobody can live without sin, but they are the very ones that deny the power ofGod and we're told to turn away from such. Jesus said that few there will be thatfind the strait and narrow way that leads to eternal life; but many would be onthe way that leads to destruction. The way of destruction is a broad waymeaning that most people are not willing to walk in the light of the truth ofGod's holy and righteous word revealed in the gospel. The word of God says thatChrist will come in flaming fire to take revenge on them that know not God norobeys the gospel. You know as well as I do that to lose your life means thatyou must crucify the fleshly desires of your body. This can only be done byyour abstaining from sin and walking in the light of the truth of the gospel ofthe Lord Jesus Christ. You must obey every little precept that the gospelreveals. The word of God says to repent and be baptized in the name of JesusChrist for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the HolyGhost. Millions today are blaspheming the truth of the gospel and will not obeyit. You will hear the gospel to be saved or else you will hear it to beeternally doomed forever. Jesus said that this gospel will be preached in allnations for a witness against them and then the end shall come. You will hearit one way or another so you will be without an excuse at the last day. If youmanifest any of the works of the flesh stated in Galatians 5:19-21then you better be crucifying and conquering them......