The Meaning Of Self-Denial

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By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze

1. Self denial is to abandon one’s will, and do the will of God. For example, on the Sabbath Day, God said everybody should rest. Then, you can pray and worship God. You can also rest or sleep. But, many people are busy on the Sabbath Day, doing their own will, which are personal opinions and collective decisions. They are busy moving about, buying and selling, doing all kinds of works, engaging in meetings and occasions. They do not know that by so doing they are excluding themselves from the kingdom of heaven, which kingdom exists in silence and as Sabbath (rest). Every wise group does not accept disobedient ones as its members.
   


2. You have to perform all your duties and works as service offering to God Almighty. You mop the floor to the glory of God. You cook, because the food is for the children of God.
   


3. You have to render selfless services to God and humanity, without expecting rewards, thanks, praises force or persuasion. One minister of God came to the office, complaining of all those who are against him. He was talkative, endlessly in mentioning very important personalities and successful men he had assisted in the past, complaining that none of them is ready and willing to help him. Even those who invite him to their houses, in order to help him, end up doing nothing or just giving him money that is meaningless.
   
   Such a person is in error. He has not denied himself. And he does not depend solely in God. He goes about expecting people to pay him for services he should have rendered free to God.
   


4. You depend solely on God.
   


5. Keep all your wisdom aside. Then, listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His guidance, from day to day.
   


6. It is your duty to live the principle of God first, in theory and in practices. The world often say, “God first,” but they do not live it in practice. Thereby they make themselves hypocrites, who cannot be trusted. Those who are called as ministers, you have to live the principle of God first, by leaving whatever you are doing, and face God’s work.
   
   As you are working in the Lord’s vineyard, God will be working in your own farm (for your own good). God will take care of your problems, your children’s education, etc.
   
   People say God first, but do not practice it. In the schools, the teachers, lecturers and students are everyday doing whatever they like. In the banks, the bank manager and staff keep God’s word aside and manipulate accounts anyhow they like. During occasions, people forget about decency and wear all kinds of indecent dresses. They have all turned their back on God, and have abandoned the word of God.
   


7. You have to keep aside your church, likewise your religion, all man-made laws and doctrines, your cultures, your customs and traditions and do what God says, to follow the Truth and abide by it. In various places, they reject the Truth and are busy doing whatever they like. The same thing happens in the diverse churches, ministries and fellowship.
   


8. In every situation or condition, first think of the good of others and attend to their needs. When you strive for the good of others, it is unavoidably for your own good also. In Nigeria, for example, every politician or government worker is after his own pocket, to drain public treasury into their private accounts. Properties are not well taken care of. People are stealing time by absence and lateness, and by attending to personal business engagements during office hours.
   

1. Break the Sabbath, by surfing on their phones.
   


2. They keep themselves busy, answering phones or making calls, with the intention that nobody sees them. The Holy Spirit does not need witness, because Himself is Truth.
   


3. The disobedient ones keep themselves busy, buying and selling, travelling, going to occasions and ceremonies, cooking and working on the Sabbath day. The obedient ones save their lives, here on earth, and gain everlasting life in which are abundant treasures and pleasures. All the everyday efforts and services, of the obedient people, which the world considers as waste, turn into life and blessings for the obedient ones. Many gain all the pleasures of the world, but loose their souls to hell fire. They go into forbidden places and entertain themselves with all kinds of worldly music, but at last, are cast into the hell fire.
   

1. You have to stop placing yourself first.
   


2. Instead, you place God first.
   


3. Next, you place the interest and welfare of others above your own.
   


4. Avoid attachments to persons, places or things.
   


5. Avoid regretting for lost items, missed opportunities, wasted years, etc.
   


6. Stop paying so much attention to yourself.
   


7. Stop minding what people say about you.
   


8. Stop bearing grudges, which means to stop counting offences people committed against you.
   


9. Stop telling stories of this person did this and that person did that.
   


10. Develop the ability to forgive and forget.
    


11. Stop defending your respect and honour.
    


12. Stop expecting thanks, rewards, praises, force or persuasion.
    


13. Do not mind events or situations, where you are not regarded or honoured.
    


14. Stop calling attention to yourself.
    


15. Stop being selfish. Every time, my car, my house, my phone, my children, my school, my money, my …..
    


16. First attend to the needs of others.
    


17. Avoid unnecessary insistence.
    


18. Offer necessary assistance, where such does not go against the will of God. Do not spend God’s time attending to people, doing family deliverance, when you should be in the prayers or worship.
    


19. Do not spend your time regretting, crying or weeping, because somebody said something about you.
    


20. Ignore mockery.
    


21. Ignore what people say about, ignore their bad comments.
    


22. Ignore gossips.
    


23. Ignore anything that will make you deviate from doing God’s work.
    


24. Etc.
    

1. Crying because somebody said something bad against you.
   


2. Becoming unduly offended because somebody laughed at you.
   


3. Always looking at yourself on the mirror.
   


4. Etc.
   

1. Always complaining.
   


2. Always nagging.
   


3. Always murmuring.
   


4. Being offended, being easily offended.
   


5. Having unforgiving spirit.
   


6. Refusal of corrections.
   


7. Always quarrelling.
   


8. Always seeing others as your enemies.
   


9. Etc