SELF DENIAL BY GODWIN

When one forbears to gratify his own carnal appetite and desires, he is said to practice SELF DENIAL. This is a virtue. To be a great achiever, you must be prepared to deny yourself pleasures, comfort and many good things of life, at least for some time.

To live a morally sound life, you also need to abstain from habits and things that are capable of pulling you. Jesus said, “if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”( Matt. 16:24)

Things to Deny Oneself For Righteousness sake 

1. Dent your flesh pleasure in order to feed your soul with the word of righteousness (1 Peter 4:1,2)

2. Deny yourself of your own selfish will and do the word of God(John 5:30, Mark 14:36)

3. Help others sacrificially, even when it hurts you.(Psalm 15:14)

4. Deny yourself food and drink for the sake of God and to help others (Gal. 5:21)

5. Deny yourself of inadequate affection (Lust) e.g sex (Col.3:5 )

6. Deny yourself covetousness (Col.3:5)

7. Be prepared to bea4 reproach because of God and others (Heb. 13:13)

8. Even when you are right, you can turn the other check for righteousness sake.

Examples of Self Denial

1. Abraham- Gen 13:9, 22:1-12

2. Moses – Heb 11:25, Num 16:15 

3. Esther – Esther 4:16

4. Samuel -1 Sam 12:3-4

5. Apostles – Matt 4:20,22, Lk 5: 27,28

6. Widow of Zarephat-1 Kings 17:8-16

ERIC LIDDELL (1902—1945)

As a student Eric joined a Bible class at school and eventually become a founding member of Crusader`s Christian Union. He was known by all as a sincere Christian and was often invited to speak to others about his faith. At the 1924 Olympics, one of his favorite events(100 meters dash)was scheduled for Sunday, the time he was supposed to be worshiping God in the Church. He refused to run.

He was later offered the 200 and 400 meter events. A few minutes before the race, a man gave him a note which read ``in the old book, it says, he that honors me I will honor”(1 Samuel 2:30). The scripture verse boosted his confidence.


Success story
Though he had not run the 400 meters race in any international event, he “flew around the track to the amazement of all who saw him run”. He won the gold medal and set a new world record.

Instruction
Deny yourself wordly pleasures in order to achieve true greatness which will bring Godly pleasures.s