Deny yourself, let His will not your will be done,humble yourself, do what Jesus did and more,Don't gratify your flesh, Do good unto others with no expectations,Keep up the faith throughout all seasons, strive for purity
Explanation:
Jesus says in scripture one shall deny herself or himself and follow him
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’” Matthew 16:24-25.
- my personal interpretation this means a person following Jesus deny themselves , they can't continue being whoever they want to be but they have to follow his will nomatter what that will is, being guided by the Holy Spirit of God.
Jesus set an example when he denied his will and choose to die for all , he could have chosen to live but still took the will of the Father
Let me refer that to a scripture
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42.
- This can't be done without any assistance which means a person need to seek a help from above and to be baptized by the whole spirit. Act 2 tells us about how the 12 apostles had to wait for the Holy Spirit for them to be equipped with heavenly power.
The point is to work towards being like Jesus but it doesn't mean someone will reach perfection in this world or they are doing this with their own power but the power of the Hole Spirit equips an individual and guides them towards the right path what ever that path is according to the word of God and the leading of the Spirit.
The person is also supposed to humble themselves and not take any form of greatness on earth but remain down on earth such as Jesus did.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8.
One does need to be a faithful follower because Jesus was faithful up to the end and he asks His followers to be like him and not try to save their lives refer to Matthew 16:24-25 above and ,. “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42.
I personally believe any one who is following someone the reason they follow them is to be like them and so they learn and take who these people are and practice it in their own lives
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
– John 3:16 so for one to enter into eternity he must first believe , Believe means you feel certain that something is true or that somebody is telling the truth hence you will have to do those words that this person says which will take you to a promised place otherwise if you don't do as they say this may mean you don't actual believe them.
This means you will remain faithful to their words not because you feel forced to do so but because it is a personal choice you made to believe in them.
