Deny Yourself
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Theme of FOLLOW
We want to Follow Jesus to Lead Others to Jesus
Three parts Matthew 16:24
“24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Deny Yourself
Take Up Your Cross
Follow Christ
The three components form a progression. Jesus defined a true follower in three ways, and each builds logically on the previous one rather than standing as separate demands.
Understanding DENY YOURSELF
Self-denial comes first—to deny oneself with this depth means to live without self-centered thought, devoted exclusively to Jesus and his work. This establishes the foundation of discipleship: reorienting one’s entire orientation away from personal interest. There is an important distinction: denying yourself isn’t about self-hatred or self-punishment. Rather, it’s surrendering the authority you’ve claimed over your own life.
Denying oneself turns us from self-centeredness to God-centeredness—self is no longer in charge; God is, and Christ rules our hearts. Listen to what emerges in the outcome: the more you live for yourself, the more miserable you’ll be, but the more you say, “Lord, I’m going to live for You completely, wholeheartedly, and totally,” the more abundant your life will be both now and eternally.
This morning you read from John 1:19-28
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,
27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Jewish religious leaders sent priests to interrogate John the Baptist, asking five questions primarily to determine his identity. John denied being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. (John 1:19–28) Instead, he identified himself as “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” quoting Isaiah. (John 1:19–28) John’s role was to prepare God’s people for the salvation coming through Jesus Christ by calling them to repent and believe. When asked why he baptized if he wasn’t the Messiah or other expected figures, John answered that someone stood among them whom they did not know, and he wasn’t worthy to untie his sandal. (John 1:19–28) Throughout the conversation, John’s humility stood out in contrast to the officials’ condescending tone, as he simply pointed them to Christ.
John the Baptist humbly points away from himself and toward Jesus, preparing the way for the Messiah. He emphasizes Jesus’ superiority and his own role as a witness.
In John 1:19-28, John the Baptist is introducing Jesus and preparing the way. By John 3:26-30, Jesus has been revealed and His ministry is flourishing. John now steps back with joy and humility, willingly decreasing so that Christ can increase.
This shows John’s consistent character: He always knew his role was temporary — to point people to Jesus and then get out of the way.
READ JOHN 3 WITH ME:
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
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Let’s Pray
Big Idea: Follow Jesus to Lead Others to Jesus — It starts with denying yourself.
To get to the place of LEADING OTHERS TO JESUS, we must first FOLLOW JESUS. Before that You must Deny Yourself.
There are three moments from the passage that will teach us how to deny yourself.
Distractions
Distractions
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
A great distraction in the Christian Life is COMPARISON. John’s disciples approach with a comparison statement. They were the guys that everyone was approaching. As soon as Jesus came, “where did everyone go?” “Why are they surrounding Jesus?” “They were just with us.”
We aren’t Jesus. We aren’t holy. We aren’t righteous. We aren’t pure. We are sinful, broken, weak, helpless humans.
Often times its not that other people view us highly, but we view ourselves of great respect and stature. THAT IS A DISTRACTION. To follow Christ, is to DENY YOURSELF.
Remove the counterfeit crown
Remove the replica of a royal robe
Remove the twisted title of ruler in your heart
Comparison is a distraction! We are not JESUS and cannot be equally compared, because…
we are sinners with no hope on our own
He is Creator and Savior who died for you and offers FOCUS THROUGH WHAT HE GIVES
Focus
Focus
27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
Without Jesus giving, you and I have nothing & are nothing except broken sinners with no hope. Here in vs28 there is some who comes after John’s proclamation — the One who gives a gift for you and I to receive. What is this gift? Oh its the gift of salvation!
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
When we DENY OURSELVES and PROPERLY PLACE JESUS in our lives, we transform from nothing broken sinners to NEW CREATION — CHILDREN OF GOD. Our once distracted and blurred lives now have FOCUS!
FOCUS that John the Baptist writes about! Focus that invites you into the KINGDOM and be a child of the King. Oh what focus to have that the PERFECT KING came for a nothing broken sinner to transform.
Do you have that FOCUS? This focus comes by invitation from JESUS and a personal decision of your heart.
Do you still live with this FOCUS in your life? Have you begun to elevate yourself within your life and mind? Do you prioritize your plans and positions above King Jesus? Maybe this morning… you need to reFOCUS.
It’s through FOCUS or reFOCUS that we see the OBVIOUS…
Obvious
Obvious
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
What does it mean increase/decrease?
Not enjoy sports/hobbies?
Become dumb?
Become ugly?
Have less friends?
Be sad/depressed/angry?
THAT’S NOT THE LIST… This a start
Magnify the Maker not making money
Rejoice in God not getting recognition
Praise the Holy One not piling on hobbies
Awe of God not your accomplishments
Rave over the Savior not self recognition
In all the areas of your life — ALL THE AREAS OF YOUR LIFE — WHAT AREAS? ALL OF THEM. Christ must increase and you must decrease. What does this include? Sacrifice - peer pressure - fear - anger - missed friendships - stopped relationships.
Closing
Closing
Remove the Distractions of Comparison
Let Christ set the focus of your life
Capture the Obvious: Jesus must Increase and we must Decrease
Did you realize we walk through vs 29 without deeper explanation? There is an interesting lesson:
Who knows the term “wingman”?
*one memory of wing man
The church is called the “BRIDE”
Jesus is called the “GROOM”
John is our middle man to get the bride ready for the groom.
The exact imagery is a wedding. John is the best man who has prepared for the wedding day.
John’s pleasure came not only because the “wedding” was successful—because he’d done his job—but because the one whom he needed as a Savior for his sins had come. The one he was longing for and hoping for, the promised Savior, was present. John’s sin would be paid for by Jesus.
The lesson teaches that genuine fulfillment in ministry comes not from recognition or influence, but from witnessing Christ’s work and knowing Him personally as Savior.
You may have some personal Distractions of Comparison and need to Let Christ set the focus of your life and Capture the Obvious: Jesus must Increase and we must Decrease
Through these steps, God wants to send you out like John to prepare people for the coming groom.
Ask yourself: “Is there something I need to step back from so Jesus can be seen more clearly in my life?”
