Phil 2 JSC, Choosing Self-denial

This message originally delivered on August 4, 1991.  The message starts in Matthew 16:24-27

Episode Transcript

Kimber Kauffman (00:00):
Take your Bibles and open them to the 16th

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chapter of Matthew. Matthewchapter 16.
The 16th chapter of Matthew,follow along as I read. And
every time we have started thisseries on the beam, and this is

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now our sixth week, if you don'tknow what the beam is, you'll
find out in a little bit. Butevery time we started this, we
started from a different text,because they're all over the
place. And several of you thathave been studying the Bible,
after hearing this and beenreading the Bible on your own
have said, I cannot believe itpops up everywhere. I've had
many of you telling me that.
Well, look what it says here inMatthew chapter 16, starting
with verse 24. Then Jesus saidto His disciples, if anyone

(00:44):
would come after me, he mustdeny himself, take up his cross
and follow Me. For whoever wantsto save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life forme will find it. What good will
it be for a man if he gains thewhole world yet forfeits his
soul? Or what can a man give inexchange for his soul? For the

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Son of Man is going to come inHis Father's glory with His
angels, and then he will rewardeach person according to what he
has done? Listen, this littlestory which explains how a lot
of people have misunderstood thetruth about the Bema in this
day, Jim had been a Christianfor only a short time. Last

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night in a group Bible study, hewas introduced to the subject of
eternal rewards. This morning,he is excited to the thought of
running a victorious race forGod. On his break at work, Jim
share some of his newfoundinsights with a fellow Christian
named Frank rewards. Hmm, saysFrank, isn't that just a little
bit selfish? But what do youmean Jim replies it didn't sound

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selfish last night. Well, what Imean is this Frank begins with a
slight tone of condensation,excuse me, con dissension
conversation. One more in mybloopers here. We really ought
to serve God because we love himand are grateful for what he has
done for us. We don't needrewards to motivate our
Christian life. Oh, says Jim,you can feel the air going out

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of his balloon. Besides Frankcontinues, you don't really
think some Christians are goingto be a lot better off in heaven
other Christians, do you? Well,I hadn't quite thought about it
that way, Jim admits with atrace of dejection in his voice.
Look, Jim Frank pursues histheme good works are What Every
Christian does just as a naturalresult of believing in Christ.
That's part of what it means tobe a Christian in the first
place. But we're not saved byworks our way? No, of course

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not. But the Bible says A treeis known by his fruit so if you
really saved the Krishna, Leah'swill be naturally bearing fruit.
What does that have to do withthe gym wants to know, it's
simple, Jim Frank moves in forthe kill. If Christian living is
a part of being a Christian, whyshould God reward us for it? You
mean, there's no rewards at all?
No, I don't mean that. Exactly.
But all Christians areovercomers. And all of them will

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will crown someday, you know,all that stuff. But Christians
failing and being defeated isjust a bunch of nonsense. Don't
we all fail sometimes, Frank?
Jim, is just a little put off bythe whole discussion? Of course
we do. Frank's tone is edgedwith frustration. But good works
are our Christian duty. And ifyou're not doing them, then you

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want to examine whether or notyou're saved. So you're telling
me that are real? No, really nolosers in the Christian race? Is
that it? Jim is very skepticalabout that idea. That's right.
Jim. Frank is emphatic. The onlyreason people talk about rewards
a lot is because they reallydon't understand what the
Christian life is all about.
Hey, wasn't that the whistle togo back to work? Yes, I guess it
is. And Jim was actually glad toget back sort of discouraged.
And the writer goes to say, ashadow had crossed his path. In

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fact, that shadow was very mucha part of the evangelical scene
within which Jim now moved, hisdarkening effects were in
evidence everywhere. To put itplainly, Grace was an eclipse.
Did you know so many Christianshave never considered the fact
that the place of the beam ofjudgment for believers is to
have a major impact upon theirlife. In fact, as we can

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remember, and review quickly,Wilbur Smith said this, and
let's don't forget, the wholesubject of rewards for the
believer is one I'm afraid,rarely thought of by the
ordinary Christian. And that thetruth, many Christians have
never thought of this idea thatwe will be rewarded for our
works done in the body. Nowwe're not saved by those
remember, but we'll be rewardedfor the work done in the body or

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even the average student of thescriptures but it is both a
joyous and solemn theme thatshould serve as a potent
incentive for holiness of life.
Now just to show you what we'retalking about when it comes to
the great judgment, we need toremember that there is at death
two judgments one for believerand when I say two judgments,
they may be at the same timethey everyone's been asking

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about the time of this I'll bequite honest with you. That's
not important during the studyat this point. Okay, that's
that's, I don't even see thatmissus makes us miss everything
else if we start worrying aboutthat, but consider this the Bema
Seat and the Great White Throne.
the Bema Seat is for believers,the Great White Throne is for
unbelievers. The Bema Seat forbelievers is a reward or loss of
reward. In other words, when yougo stand before this throne, you

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will not go to hell you will goto heaven. But how you lived,
your Christian life will eitherbe rewarded or loss of reward,
as the Scripture clearly teachesin many places, not just that
Corinthians 510. But manyplaces. The Great White Throne
Judgment is for unbelievers,everyone will go to hell. But at
the Great White Throne Judgment,it'll be a matter of degrees of
punishment. In other words,people that have lived

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incredibly wicked lives will bepunished more severely in hell
than those that lived may besomewhat of a good moral,
upright life. But to make sureyou keep the distinction clear,
let me show you this. It's veryimportant to see salvation is by
faith. It's a free gift. It'sall of grace. It's God's work
for man effects, one's eternalposition, it's based on one

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event, and forgiveness bringsentrance into heaven. salvation
is by faith, you cannot earnyour way to heaven. The biggest
difference between Christianityand every other religion in the
world is this. Every otherreligion in the world says you
do good works in order to findsome materials favor with God,
and then he will accept youpossibly into heaven.
Christianity says no, you aresaved solely by grace, by God's

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kindness by his love, not savedby anything you do. But please
notice after you're a Christian,there is a judgment, a judgment
that has to do with heavenlyrewards, by works of service
compensation doctrine of works,it has to do with man's work for
God after your Christian, itaffects one's eternal

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possession. Notice this one isbased on a one time event when
you repent of your sins and cometo Christ to become a Christian.
But this one is based on alifetime after salvation. Okay,
this one is forgiveness. Thisone has to do with fruitfulness.
And notice to have the quickquotes the Scriptures teach that
the happiness or blessedness ofbelievers in a future life will
be greater or less in proportionto the service of Christ in this

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life, you do little you receivelittle, and rewards are such as
to make you leap to think upon.
And we should remember withexceeding joy, never think that
is contrary to the Christianlife to rejoice and be glad for
them. So the fact that God willreward Christians as to how they
live should have a big impactupon our life. Now, a couple of
things I want us to remember, aswe review what we have covered.

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We started off six weeks ago,covering the great white throne
in the Bema. And seeing whatthose had to do with our
Christian life and thedifference we wanted the
details. And if you'd like moreinformation on this, you can get
tapes and handouts and thingslike that, that we have. The
Bema is also we started in thesecond week, absolutely
foundational to our Christianfaith. Remember, I hate to keep
quoting verses, so you becomefamiliar with them and don't
like them anymore. But I willsay this, it says By faith isn't

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without faith, it's impossibleto please Him. And then the come
to God must believe that Heexists, and that He rewards
those who diligently seek Him.
Matthew, 619 and 20. Don't layup for yourselves treasures on
earth, but lay up for yourselvestreasures in heaven is to be a
big part of our life. We alsoconsidered how you can lose the
reward. And very clearly thescripture says there is going to
be tremendous loss and sufferingChristians will be repaid for

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the wrongs that they have doneat the beam of judgment.
But one thing which mostChristians hadn't thought about,
and this is exciting is this.
How does God motivate motivationshould be a big part of our
Christian life. Notice in theOld Testament, this is a quick
review there is you aremotivated by fear of punishment,
by hope of reward and by love ofGod. And there's the some of the

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scriptures to prove that thereare many more than just these.
But notice in the New Testament,Christ as He speaks the loving,
meek and lowly Jesus, hemotivates by fear of punishment,
by hope of reward by the love ofGod, and even the apostles in
the New Testament, fear ofpunishment, hope of reward, love
of God. But please remember onething is this hope of reward,
the fact that we'll be rewardedfor obeying God and living a

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life for Him ought to have animpact on us. But you know what
we do the gravity because shegoes, Oh, yeah, someday really
doesn't matter now. And we a lotof Christian teaching is turned
around, hey, do this, and God'sgonna put money in your pocket.
Hey, do this. God's gonna blessyou now. But the main idea of
motivation is this. Do this eventhough no one else may
understand you do this, and Godwill reward you in eternity one

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day, then we considered lastweek, the Bema as it relates to
how you treat others. And it'samazing as I grouped all the
passages of Scripture and writethem out and start to consider
different main themes that areemphasized. One of the main
themes at the beam of judgmentwill be this how did you treat
other people. For instance, inrelation to your enemies, it
says your reward will be greatif you love your enemies. Now

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naturally, I don't want to lovemy enemies, who want to fight
back in my enemies. Jesusteaches something quite radical.
How about in relation to thosewho are in authority over you,
even those with scoliosis? Doremember even the crooked and
harsh and diverse you got someboss that's wicked and mean and
cruel and unjust and unfair andtreat you doesn't give you the
bonuses or the things youdeserve? Even then you treat
them right you do service asunto the Lord, it says and He

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will reward you also in relationto doing good to all people,
especially those who areChristians and helping people
that are needed and God will notfor Get what you have done. And
then lastly, in relation toother believers with whom you
disagree, clearly the beamerteaches that you better treat
people with whom you disagree.
Right. Now, having said all thatas a quick about seven minute

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review, I want to say this toyou this week, I want us to
consider something that I foundseven New Testament passages on
and you know what that is theBheema as it relates to self
denial, the Bema specifically asit relates to self denial. Now,
when I say self denial, I'm notsure what's going through your
mind. It could be various andsundry type of concepts. Because

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when people think of selfdenial, they automatically start
thinking, Oh, no, I'm gonnaleave here heavy hearted and
burdened down. As soon as Istart talking about that, oh,
no, this is gonna be one ofthose difficult days where you
have to just endure pastorKaufman's ranting and raving
about this subject. Now listen,one of the questions that will
be asked you at the beam ofjudgment, I am convinced of is
this one of the criterias forjudgment will be this. Did you

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live by your impulses? Did youlive by your passions? Did you
live by your hormones? Did youlive by all that the body
entices you to live by? Or didyou live by the principles found
in God's Word? Now how do youcross the line? Self Denial? You
see, if you don't know muchabout self denial, then you

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don't know much about NewTestament Christianity. Just
true. That made me sound likeoh, you know this this sounds
like one of those ones. Youknow, it's the good old Baptist
message he's gonna pound outabout don't do this. Don't have
any fun. God wants us to justsort of walk around being
miserable. If you think that'sthe case, you missed it again.
That's not what it's abouteither. The greatest joy the

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overcoming your life is tolearning that you are free you
truly free when you deny allthat is against God and all of
the wickedness that it wants todo. And you say yes to the
things that God wants you to do.
That's when you're going to bethe happiest and the freest. You
think what it basically comesfrom the view of God that says
God is so mean ogre that reallydoesn't want me to be happy. If
I have to obey Him, and it'sgonna be miserable. Now listen,

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one man says I am convinced themain reason why we are not
impacting our generation forChrist is our refusal to be
honest about Christianity, getthis. This is American
Christianity. And listen, wehave offered the world a gospel
without sacrificing suffering.
We've done everything we can toapologize for Christ demands and
explain them away. We've toldpeople that Jesus didn't really

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mean what he said that they canhave Christ without his cross.
The result is we have apologeticdefense of shallow Christians
who can't turn the next corneralone. Everything poured out
from us in the media is theopposite of self denial. Is it
not about this? Search yourself.
demand your rights. You deservethis. Get your instant credit

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now. Satisfy yourself now go forit. Now you may not be around
tomorrow, no idea of Yeah. Ifyou're not around tomorrow, what
does that mean? Why wait, whenyou can have it now, even this
sexual looseness? Hey, we'vecome to realize in our society,
that sexual looseness brings onphysical problems and diseases.

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So to make sure that you canstill give in to your
impulsiveness, when it comes tosex. wear a condom. That way,
you won't have to worry no,nothing to do with good morals.
Instead, just protect yourselfso you can still be impulsive.
You see, self denial definedaccording to the Bible. And if

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you notice, it says in Matthew624, Jesus said this look again
to your text in front of you.
Then Jesus said to Hisdisciples, if anyone would come
after me, do you want to be afollower of Jesus? Well, look
here, he must deny himself. Whatdoes that mean? It means to
almost forget that you exist, tocease to consider your own
interest, even to the slightestdegree. It is the strength to

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get this it is the strength fromGod at work in your life so that
you can say no to ungodlinessand worldly loss. Let me say it
again, to say no to what wemight love to do or experience
because God is authoritativeover our lives. Self Denial, I'm
going to live by a higherprinciple. Yeah, I would like to
do this. Yeah, I would feel goodto do this. Yeah, it's so much

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easier to stay home at night andbe comfortable. But I've been
called to sacrifice for Christ.
Self Denial and important partof the Christian life now. It's
all around us. Last week,Charles were spoke in Sunday
school. I mean, it wasfantastic. I've never heard
quite such a response to oneSunday school lesson before. And
he spoke on still proverbs 2918Where there is no vision the

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people perish. And ideas therewere there is no revelation from
God. When there is no authoritycoming from God, the people cast
off restraint and live anywherethey want. And that's the
opposite of self denial. Yousee, if Christ is our authority,
if the Word of God is ourauthority, then we will say
this, I will not live the way Iwant to live. I live according
to His Word. Let me give you anillustration. We don't need to

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illustrate this too much. It'sall around us. But an
illustration is Mike Tyson. MikeTyson was just in town last
week. I'm reading from August1 1991. Indianapolis Star Tyson
spent weekend here being treatedlike a champ. Get this. This is
seems to be the epitome of whata great life should be. And it's
also a perfect example of notliving according to self denial.

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Listen, by the way, I'm gladhe's not here. I probably
wouldn't say this to his face.
I'll be honest with you. Okay.
From the moment formerheavyweight boxing champ Mike
Tyson stepped off the plane inIndianapolis he was treated like
a king, a chauffeur drivenstretch limousine, whisking from
place to place he stayed in apremium downtown hotel suite
drank the finest champagne andwas seen with a recording star

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in his arm. interviews withpeople affiliated with Indiana
black black Expo in the midstblack America Pageant held in
Indianapolis in mid July revealhow Tyson spent much of his
brief stay here. In less than 48hours Tyson skipped out on a
sick $380 Bar bill and didn'tbother to tip a waitress
according to the bar owner hefound old and said perverted
things to last year's Miss BlackAmerica. And she as you said and

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a contestant in this year'spageant was has filed a formal
complaint alleging she was rapedby Tyson Skippack few paragraphs
and it says this. Denis Hayesmanager of southern
entertainment Hall was his hostTyson arrived in Annapolis at
430 He says he was supposed tocheck in Tyson at the Canterbury
hotel downtown but Tyson orderthe limo driver to head for the

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Holiday Inn i 70. east 690 East21st Street there Tyson visited
singer dancer Angela Boyd whosestage name is B NGB. Tyson was
at the hotel for about threehours that hotel manager Tom
Howard boy was unavailable forcomment his personal manager
confirmed she is a friend ofTyson's and that he has attended
several performances. About 8pmTyson's white limousine pulled

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up in front of Sutherland 3100Southern avenue to pick up haze
party, which now numbered abouteight they went to I can't
pronounce the name of thisnightclub and your intersection
of 71st Street in Michigan road.
Tyson and BMG be on his arm andhe bodyguard Dale Ellis, a
Cleveland policeman at a sidebar employee said the bar owner
mark somebody Richie or somebodysaid Tyson was given a

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complimentary bottle of howchampagne Tyson said he wanted
Dawn Perry on hope that's howyou say, Richie said so the
owner made arrangements to bringin three bottles costing $90 A
bottle. Tyson drank with B NGBand drank three or four bottles
of Corona beer about 1230 andTyson and the others left he
just brushed out of the doorwhich he said our photographer

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tried to take his picture and Ican't read what Tyson said to
you to him. No one in the Tysonparty paid the bill brindar
waitress didn't even get a tipshe was afraid that we're gonna
make her pay. So the managersays after leaving the bar, the
limo and at least one other cartransporting the party went
downtown to the Mirage Southreedy street Tyson's head of the
bar and drink another Corona.
Tyson exchanged phone numberswith some of the contestants in

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the Miss Black America Pageant.
And then later on at the Hoosierdome he was hobnobbing backstage
with performers. He was cheeredby the audience and greeted by
be NGB. The

show ended around 1 (17:58):
30am Miss Black American contestant is
alleged to Tyson's limo driverpicked her up and drove her to
the Canterbury now. Pretty wildlife, isn't it? I mean, he's not
the heavyweight champ, althougheveryone probably thinks he is.
wildness, that's that's typical.
That's sort of the idea. Justlive by whatever you can
drinking, women dancing wildnessdo all that you possibly can do.

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That's the real life. There'sonly one problem with that. Mike
Tyson will stand before the Kingof Kings one day and give
account of himself. And one ofthe questions he's gonna be
asked is this did you denyyourself all the things that I
say are not good? Will you? Didyou deny yourself? Who's in
charge of your life? Are you thecaptain of your soul? Well, then

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you don't have to deny yourself.
But if Jesus is the captain ofyour soul, you need to live
according to His Word and Hisprinciples. Boy, this changes
everything. Charles Spurgeonsaid this, listen, when it comes
to the beam and self denial,there will be no crown, where's
there who were not crossedbearers here? You see, a quick

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illustration of that is this manas created by God, all of his
life revolves around God. That'sAdam and Eve, man has fallen,
all of life revolves aroundself. The believer, this is
supposed to be the picture here,more and more surrendered to
God, Jesus Christ is the center.
I don't know if you can see thatvery well or not. There. The
goal is the Jesus Christ at thecenter of your entire life. But

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notice what happens if you'renot a Christian, I guarantee you
this, you're living foryourself. If you are a
Christian, there's the struggleto have Jesus in control of your
life, or have Jesus less andless in control of your life and
there's a lot of tension thatresults that's part of the
Christian walk, what are wesupposed to deny? Listen, we're

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supposed to deny all of thatwhich is in us, which is a
rebellion against God in whichsays that we want to do things
in contrary Are you to His wordfor instance, let me just give
you a few just to see if youneed to deny anything in your
life. Okay? How about this thedesire to get revenge you're
supposed to deny, complainingand arguing instead of praise

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and thanksgiving, what comesmore natural to you complaining
or arguing or praise andthanksgiving? You're supposed to
deny the hurt to your own prideso that you can confess to God
and others that you were wrongwhen you were wrong. Laziness,
you're supposed to deny thatapathy, impulsiveness, lust,
self pity. gloating arerejoicing over the fall of an

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enemy line in order to get aheadin this situation, jealousy,
overeating, any dominatingunhealthy bodily habit, anything
that's done out of moderation,gossip and slander, to make
decisions in disregard of God'sword selfishness. Not loving the
training and disciplining yourchildren, anything. Obviously,
this is just a minor littlelesson. It could be anything but

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over and over the scripturesteaches that self denial is to
be a part of our life. Andlisten, it's for our good, I'll
tell you something you want toknow the most secure the most
happy people in the world. It'sthose that learn the importance
of self denial, and understandthat the word of the Lord when
lived down and follow it eventhough it's painful, and you

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have to kill yourself at times,I mean your flesh. Yet in the
long run, you'll be so muchbetter off than when you give
in. You want to see the mostunhappy people in the world. You
just watch the people that dowhatever they want. You will
find them to be the most youknow why? Because you're not
living the way God told you tolive. Now when it comes to this

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idea of the Bema as it relatesto self control, consider with
me some of these fantabulousscriptures. Look what it says
all the scriptures arefantabulous but in particularly
notice these would you firstoff, and don't go too far ahead
of me. They're just show youthis. First off, consider the
beam as relates to self denial.

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Look at First Timothy four,seven and eight, the Scripture
says this, train yourself to begodly. Now that is the word
where we get gymnasium to workout. And actually there's a part
then in which you have to workout you talk to Kurt Thomas, or
you talk to these people down atthe Pan Am Games. You talk to
anybody that's ever done regularexercise, you know what it is?

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It's pain, staking ly difficult.
I was working out with my friendPat the other day at his house.
And I said, Pat, this is the setthat you wonder why are you
doing this? Because you'reaching all over and you sit on
the bench and you want to workout? And why do we do something
I still haven't figured out allthe time. But it's that idea to
work hard. And notice this, thevery next verse gives you the

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Bema look what it says forphysical training is of some
value. But godliness. If you'retraining yourself to be godly
godliness has value for allthings holding promise, both in
the present life and the life tocome. Hey, godliness brings
benefit in this life. Plus, Binaat the Bema there'll be profit
to godliness. Now, you probablythink I'm running this verse on

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the ground. I'm telling you,this is one of my absolute
favorite passages and you happento know since I'm the pastor, my
favorite passages you have tohear again and again. Okay, and
look what it says Hebrews 11:24through 26. Moses made decisions
in his life, based upon the Bemalook what it says By faith Moses
when he had grown up, it says herefused. The word refuse there

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means this to say no to deny todeny himself a pleasure, he
refused to be called the son ofPharaoh's daughter. He refused
that high ranking position inEgypt, why he chose notice that
word chose, he chose that as theemphasis upon he made a human
selection of human decision tobe mistreated, rather than to
enjoy sin for a short time orenjoy the pleasures of sin for a

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season or the passing pleasuresof sin as the numerator standard
says, Did this he regarded Now Ilove this Do you know what the
word there is? He regarded itmeans this he led before his
mind he esteemed he valued, hemade a conscious decision that
listen disgrace with the peopleof God was of greater value than
treasure in Egypt. You know whathe said? He looked around he

(24:16):
said, hey, it would be, it'd bemuch better for me to be
disgraced. With and suffer withthese people that are the
outcast, then it would be toenjoy all of the prestige of
Egypt and all the beautifulwomen all of the wonderful
things that I could have he madea conscious decision. Now let me
tell you, we can say all youwant about religion, you know

(24:38):
what most of you think most ofyou think this? If you really
have the Spirit of God, it'sgonna go like this. You're gonna
go whoa. And you're just gonnafeel like doing something that
listen, that is true. You wantto so many people think they're
gonna get zapped. So many peoplethink it's just gonna come along
and they're just gonna walk andboom there. always gonna feel

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this way, do you know some ofthe most godly things that you
can do is to lead before yourmind, the key before your mind
that, hey, I want to make thisdecision rather than this
decision. Because notice this,he was looking ahead to his
reward. I'll do it because ofthe day of judgment. God will be
pleased. You show me somebodythat continually gives into

(25:22):
sinful pleasures. And I'll showyou somebody who does not leave
before their mind the beam ofjudgment. You can't do it. Next
time you're tempted in somearea, then next time you're
tempted to get into some degreeof lust. I want to just tell you
something, you're going to castout thoughts about the Bema,
because you want it or you'regoing to lead before your mind.

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Thoughts about the Bema. AndI'll tell you something you'll
be able to choose, you'll beable to refuse because if you
regard the Bema in a specificplace, I'll tell you it all to
have an impact upon self denial.
Moses denied himself pleasuresbecause of the Bema. That's what
the Scripture says, Are theremore than this? Yes. Here's

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another one. Notice what Paulsaid in First Corinthians 924
through 27. He says this, Run insuch a way as to get the prize,
what prize the prize of theBema. Everyone who competes in
the games goes into stricttraining. Here's this idea of
heavy workouts, difficulttrainings, and self denial.
Therefore, I don't runaimlessly. I don't fight. I

(26:28):
don't just beat the air. Theidea is this. I just don't I
don't do this. You ever seen aguy that tries to get in a
fight? He doesn't know what he'sdoing. He just does one of these
just to wail the arms actuallywhat it means? No, I've got
purpose in what I'm doing. Why Ibeat my body, I go into strict
training. Listen, you to me, youmay take me wrong. And you may

(26:50):
think I'm putting the burden onyour back, my friends, I'm not.
But I want to tell yousomething. The Scripture says,
If you want to live so you'll bepleasing to God at the Bema if
you want to live so that youhave joy in your heart. Now you
can't allow yourself to justlive without self denial.
There's got to be stricttraining and discipline. No man

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that worth untangled themselvesin the affairs of this life, the
hard working farmer. All of thisis illustrations of godliness
training, working out, that hasto be a place in our life. So
many people say this, I justdon't know my Christian life
just doesn't seem to work forme. I'm all the time discourage
them all the time. Yet theydon't want to put the work in.

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They don't want to give the givethemselves wholly to God. And
you may say a little this just alittle bit too much, right?
That's fine. Go find someplaceelse. We'll
teach you some on biblicalChristianity. But this is the
truth. And the truth is this hasgot to be a place in our life,
where we understand that Christis the Lord of our lives, we are
not the Lord of our lives. Andwhen we understand that, then

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notice it says this, why does hedo all this strict training they
do to get a crown that will notlast we do it to get a crown
that will last forever. He saysI make my body my slave.
American Christians have theirhave their bodies, their
servants. He makes his body aslave instead of serving the
body it becomes a slave so thathe will not be disqualified for
the price. How about this? FirstPeter one three through 11. If

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you ought to mark these down, ifyou want them you can look at
them later. But as this makeevery effort to add and do this
and do this with increasingmeasure why? Look at verse 11.
And you will receive a richwelcome into the eternal kingdom
of our Lord and Savior, ChristJesus, a rich welcome will be
yours. progressivesanctification How about no
wait, let me now turn to Hebrews12. I want you to see this go to

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Hebrews 12 at this point becausejust in case one more time, I'm
trying to take away any excusethat you could possibly have to
say, Oh, Pastor, your Can't yougive us something to make us
feel good. You're alwayspounding this down. Please help
us. Okay, well, I'm gonna dothat. But what it says in

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Hebrews 12 By the way, I wantyou to notice something. The
idea of reward for obedience,and the blessings of heaven was
even what motivated JesusChrist. It says this, Jesus
endured the cross, why? For thejoy set before him. Now, when it

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comes to the self denial, I wantyou to see if Jesus practiced
it. Let's go. Look at verse twoof Hebrews 12. It says this, let
us fix our eyes on Jesus, theauthor and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy setbefore him, you're supposed to
consider Jesus, you're supposedto fix your eyes on us. How many
of you have said, Oh, I've gotmy eyes off Jesus, I need to get

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it back out to you. Sorry, Iwill get him back on Jesus and
then consider this in regard toself denial. That for the joy
set before Him, He endured thecross scorning its shame, and
sat down with the writing Underthe throne of God and get this
verse three, consider him whoendured such opposition from
sinful men so that you will notgrow weary and lose heart.

(30:10):
What's he talking about? As youpersistently deny yourself the
grudgingly grind of Listen, howeasy would it be not to be a
Christian? Or how easy it is tobe a carnal Christian? You know
why there are so many moreapathetic Christians than there
are diligent, godly Christians?
Because it's so easy to be thatway. Billy Graham said 95% of
all Christians are livingdefeated alive. Do you know why?
Because it's the easiest thingin the world to live a defeated

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life. No accountability, no selfdenial. Now you've given to your
whims given your power. Youdon't have to painstakingly Get
on your knees and confess toGod, how much you need his help.
You don't have to keepconfessing your sins. You don't
go through any kind ofstruggles. You just say I'm free
from the happy condition. I'msaying maybe you consider him
who endured such opposition. Whyso you don't grow weary? Don't

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get tired of that. By the way.
If you don't know what I'mtalking about, either you're a
very young Christian or you havenot been battling the way you
should. If you do know what I'mtalking about. Then you will say
Oh, yes, I gotta consider Him.
Jesus. He went throughdisseminate Jesus went through
Calvary Jesus endured suchopposition Jesus so mistreated,
spit upon beaten and all thatwhy because of what he stood up

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for, were supposed to be likethat as we consider the Bema.
Then one last place, I want youto see, and that is this.
Matthew 16. That's what we justlooked at. Notice what it says,
you want to be his disciple.
Deny yourself, take up yourcross, follow me. Why? Because

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look at verse 27, in thispassage, for the Son of Man is
going to come in His Father'sglory with His angels, and he
will reward each personaccording to what he has done.
According what he's done, thisloses his life. Forget that
that's supposed to be over here.
Okay. Self Denial, in light ofthe Bema. Woman said this

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concerning this Matthew sixpassage, listen, every person is
confronted with the choice ofeither denying himself together
with his own reputation, desiresand comforts, or living for
himself and the world. And sodenying Christ and get this on
this choice, there depends notonly the deepest, inward

(32:20):
happiness of man in this life,but also the divine verdict on
each of us in the day of Christwhen everyone will be judged.
Now, let's do this. Let's havesome fun. We we work through
some of these texts, and let'sdo this. Let's just take self
denial and implemented into therealm or to the arena of
marriage. Okay, let's do that.

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Let's just start with you gomeant we could go work, we could
go all kinds of other things.
Well, let's just say marriage. Irecently read a book. And the
man said this in the book,listen, he's a well known
Christian counselor, he saidthis, listen to these comments.
I've recently heard from fourindividuals each in a different
troubled marriage. Wife, A, it'sgotten to the point where I

(33:04):
can't take it anymore. I've gotto start thinking to myself, I'm
totally unhappy as a wife. Iwant to be able to hear her
saying that husband beat after26 years of no affection, I've
had it if just once, she wouldwarmly reach over and show an
interest in giving me pleasure.
I could stick it out. Wife see,I just don't feel alive anymore.

(33:25):
Somewhere along the line, Idied. He thinks the only reason
I exist is to supply him withfood, sex and clean shirts. I've
got to break out of this coffin.
Or husband D. I'm not sure why.
But life doesn't mean muchanymore. I love my wife, but not
the way I used to the spark justisn't there. Everything seems so
boring. There's got to be moreto life than this. Obviously,
these people are deeply hurting,right? When you say that. But

(33:51):
now listen to what thisChristian counselor says. This
is amazing. This is not thenormal Christian Council where I
quote, by the way, so don'tthink of that. He says notice
something else. Notice somethingthat seems almost unkind to
point out something so terriblyobvious that we might pass over
it. Please listen. The forcespouses regard their hurt as the

(34:16):
most important problem. They arecommitted first of all to
themselves. Each one withoutblushing holds fast to an
overriding concern for his orher own well being. Other things
may matter, but nothing mattersmore than their own happiness
and personal satisfaction. WhenI talked with these four men and

(34:38):
women, it became clear that notone thought of his or her self
centeredness as a seriousproblem. When he thought about
his commitment to self at all,it seemed only as natural as
breathing but entirelyjustified. What is wrong with
these with these wives andhusbands and countless others
like them, who know very littleof the enjoyment marriages

(34:59):
suppose To provide is the coreproblem they get this is the
core problem. The personaldamage that patterns of poor
relating had produced. In otherwords, he says if you understand
the whole book that he'swriting, he says, is the real
problem the fact that they wereabused as children? Or that they
were denied this as children? Orthat they were somehow

(35:20):
mistreated along the way? Isthat the real problem? Or is
there a problem within them thatis worse than whatever wounds
they carry? Is their selfinterest that is not healthy and
normal, but destructive andwrong? What tell you, I don't
know about you. This passagedeeply convicted my life.

(35:44):
Listen, when self interestcontinues as the dominant
commitment of our lives, when wedevote our energies to serving
ourselves above all others, thenwe are wrongly self centered.
And this form of self interestis far more serious and a
dangerous problem than thewounds we suffer at the hands of
others. But very few people evennotice their commitment to self

(36:08):
interest. And among those who doeven fewer are deeply concerned
about it more often selfcenteredness is encouraged look
out for yourself what else whoelse is going to now here's the
illustration he gives. I'mtelling you. This one nailed me

(36:28):
to the wall. A husband and wifeare wandering the aisles of a
grocery store together. She isin the lead he is pushing the
cart behind her. He did not wantto come grocery shopping but his
wife for reasons unclear to himexpressed a strong desire for
his company so feeling noble heagreed to go stopping in front

(36:48):
of a large display of spices thewife methodically scans each
row. I'm afraid to try toannounce the common coriander
cloves cream of Tarkir Iprobably pronounced one of them
wrong. He wonders why the searchis taking so long and asked with
poorly concealed and patientswhat are you looking for? She in

(37:09):
articulately motors, the name ofa spicy would not recognize if
clearly pronounced. He feels asudden urge of irritability.
What do you need it for? Anyway?
I'm really getting hungry. Hehad hyperglycemia probably
saying listen, throwing him awithering look of disbelief. She
snaps back. I don't know why Iasked you to come and tears off
down the aisle hurt and angry.

(37:33):
Suppose just after the Spice wasincoherently pronounced, and the
husband first became aware ofhis impatience, he had thought
to himself, I'm really annoyedthat she's taking more time than
seems necessary to look for onespecial spice. I know I'm
feeling a bit more noble foragreeing to come. I was tired

(37:53):
after a long day at work. I feelthat she really ought to be
sensitive to my fatigue andappreciate that I came and
therefore move faster. I'masking her to look out for me
but God wants me to deny myselfand look out for her. All of a
sudden, the situation changes weare so easily caught up in

(38:13):
ourselves. It comes sonaturally, when we prattle about
on our lives in a mood of I'vegot it harder than anybody else.
No one really listens. And allbut the most seasoned travelers
sense that any display ofinterest from others is at best
polite. We end these dolefulconversations feeling uncared
for believing that our friendsare selfishly insensitive, the

(38:35):
thought of reaching out to themseems unbearable, they should
come to us to prove theirfriendship. creatures like us
who are so prone to excusing ourlack of love for others by
reminding ourselves how poorlyothers love us need to see that
God when we hurt them mostcommands us to respond with
unstained love. So self denial,even in marriage. So when I say

(38:58):
self denial, I am convinced I amconvinced of this just exactly
what this writer said and youknow what it is that more
important than some wounds youhad from childhood more
important than some some fatwound that some guy cramps or
just memorize these verses andeverything's gonna be okay. More
important than any of that kindof stuff is this. That we see

(39:19):
how much we have to deny when itcomes to self denial. Man,
you've ever been sitting on thecouch watching the ballgame in
the afternoon when your wifecame in with the groceries and
you heard the car pull in thegarage. And you know she's got a
trunk full of groceries. Andyou're sitting there pretzels
and coke in hand rested withyour feet up and you have to

(39:42):
wait until she's stumblingdropping cans on the floor and
holding two bags before you getup to help her the big lie that
has led to so much apathytoday's churches this since I'm
a Christian, no trouble thejudgment NO NO NO for those who
given to their passions andtheir whims those who refuse to
deny themselves it'll be asorrowful time. You know, when

(40:02):
we have something, what is thesign of the last days? perilous
time she'll come? Why? Becausepeople will be self centered.
What will be written as anepithet on our country's grave
someday you know what I thinkit's going to be? Listen.
They've forgotten God and livedonly to please themselves. Last

(40:25):
week we consider this. How youtreat others is going to be a
criterion at the Bema. And thisweek, we're considering this,
how you deny yourself will be acriterion. Right? You're just at
the Bema. Let me just take 3040seconds until this closing
story, you may have heard itbefore Chuck Swindoll tells it
and I love it. He would bedriving from his office back

(40:47):
home and one of the busy streetsof Los Angeles. And he happened
to look up in a second storeyapartment. And they're in the
window. There was a man in awheelchair, just smiling as big
as he could. And every time hewent by, you saw that guy just
smiling as big as he could. Andhe would it got to be after a
while, but he would look forthat guy. And there was the guy.
And every time the guy in thewheelchair looked like a guy

(41:10):
that was quite sick. Is itgiving the best smile he
possibly could? He couldn't takeit any longer. One day you
stopped in, saw the guydeveloped the guy was
quadriplegic and ask or gothimself pulled over that window
every day because he said I'm aChristian I love the Lord I
can't get out. He goes by wantedto have some kind of ministry
because I want to please my God.
And so I discipline myself tospend four hours here to during

(41:35):
morning rush hour to duringevening rush hour just to smile
at people. I don't know whatelse I can do. I want to do all
that I can let me tell yousomething. At the Bema he's
gonna be judged on how he usedwhat he had. He already had with
a smile. He's gonna be judgedfor how he treated people what

(41:55):
was his concern to help others?
And I'm gonna tell yousomething. It wasn't comfortable
for him to sit there two hoursthe morning two hours a night
but he discipline themselves todo he denied himself. Quite a
let's learn from this. So webecome the kind of people God
wants us to be. Let's pray. OurFather, we are thankful to you,

(42:20):
that you your Son, Jesus deniedhimself. He did not want to
become sin. In the Garden ofGethsemane, He prayed made this
cup pass from me but then headded the great prayer of self
denial, not my will, but Yourwill. May that be true for the
people that come to this churchstarting with this pastor? May

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it be true that we are our liveswould be such that we could say
this not my will, but Your will.
I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.