John 15 is a beautiful picture of the Husbandman’s nurturing and pruning of us as living branches. “Every branch (or, believer) in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” A branch that is not bearing fruit will be cut off by the Husbandman. Another branch, on the same vine, may be bearing fruit but needs purging. The purging is only for the purpose of enabling the Vine to produce more fruit through that branch. Verse six continues: “If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” A man seeking to live independent of the Vine is just like the barren twigs of a branch. Both are unhealthy detractions to the fruit-bearing branches.

It is crucial to note that denying self is not self-denial.  Self-denial is to deny one’s self things as a form of obedience in order to project an image of a person who is bearing fruit. But on the inside, everything remains all about you.  If this sounds like you, you may look alive externally, but you are not abiding internally in the Vine.  You look alive on the outside with your sacrifices painting a well kept facade, but you are dead on the inside.

Self-denial is what we choose when we obey rules for the purpose of outward conformity to a set of standards as proof of our righteousness to people.  That is symbolism.  Paul warned us of these type of Judiazers when he said beware of dogs, evil workers and those of the concision (Phil 3:2).  These people groups stressed faith through outward conformity alone.  Outward conformity should not be onlystressed, but rather should be expressed.  Conformity is an outward expression of your inward Possession – Christ.  Outward conformity should originate from what the Word would suggest; our minds are able to ingest so our hearts can digest.  Then our spirit will impress and the soul, at rest, will beautifully express.  Conformity should be an expression.  Not simply dogmatically stressed by leaders.   When it is only externally stressed, it creates a mess in which your followers regress and eventually digress.  Standards are important (self-denial of your preferences to adhere to particular biblical, spiritual, or professional standards.) Self-denial is admirable and profitable.   But still, outward conformity to the God’s law is not denying self.  It’s only selfish denials.

Self is defined best as “one’s own fondness for their private interests whereby they obtain a sense of personal identity.” It is who you think you can be if you could only be what you wished you could be.  Denymeans “to contradict.” To deny self is simply contradicting that person within us that seeks our own private interests over the interests of the Christ living within us.

We find a perfect picture of One denying self in a garden, on a dark and sobering night. One Man found weeping. His agony is so intense that He is literally sweating drops of blood. His crying words must have shaken the courts of heaven, as His Heavenly Father listened to the weeping cry of His only Son—“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42) He knew the agony of having his own private interests, yet being willing to contradict His flesh and yield to the interests of His Heavenly Father.  There is no better example of One dying to self.

Foreknowing His cross to bear, the Lord Jesus cried out to His inquisitive followers: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up my cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) Denying self demands a death. It is a death to the portion of our branch that doesn’t need the Vine—the self life. It bears no fruit. And if it gains control of our being, our entire branch will be full of its death.  But the branch that will remain connected will not be rejected; its life will not be neglected.  Denying self does not look for deliverance of the impending death of self.  But denial of the self life realizes it is the only way to the Life found after the cross. Denying self recognizes it is for the sake of others who may never appreciate it or utilize the benefit of it. Denying self begins with awareness to the emptiness of self and is fanned by a passion to yield to the greater Life living within.

Any spiritual fire that is struggling for oxygenation is being suffocated by the presence of one element—the presence of self. A suffering spiritual flame is in some form or fashion holding on to a private interest whereby one obtains his sense of personal identity. Whatever it is for you, my suffering friend, it is slowly snuffing out your spiritual blaze. You may know in your head that you need to let go. You know the words to say, “I just trust the Lord.”  But in your prayer garden, your words to your Heavenly Father are questions, wondering why He would allow such a threat to your private interests. Sure, they may even look spiritual. But nonetheless, they are yours. And you won’t let go of whatever it is. Friend, it is such a person who has mastered self-denial, but has no clue in denying self.

This principal of denying self lays the foundation to the Crucified Christian Life. When one has discovered it, he too can proclaim as the Apostle Paul, I die daily! Denying self will keep the embers burning of a consistent flame. Denying self will revive a dying flame. And denying self will keep the barrenness removed from our branches.

{ 1 comment }