Luke 9:23 He said to all of them, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses every day, and follow me. Luke 9:23 is Jesus’ clearest, most uncompromising definition of what it means to follow Him: a daily surrender of self‑rule, a willingness to embrace sacrifice, and a continual choosing to walk in His footsteps. IN THIS VERSE JESUS GIVES THREE COMMANDS: 1. Deny yourself 2. Take up your cross daily 3. Follow Me 1. “Deny yourself” — Surrender your own rulership This is not about denying your identity or worth. It’s about denying the old self that wants to run life on its own terms. Meaning: Say “no” to the impulses, desires, and habits that compete with God’s will. Lay down personal agendas, pride, and self‑centeredness. Choose obedience over comfort. 2. “Take up your cross daily” — Embrace the cost of discipleship In Jesus’ time, the cross was not a symbol of inconvenience—it was a symbol of death. He is saying: “Die to your old ways every day.” “Expect sacrifice.” “Expect resistance from the world.” “Expect spiritual warfare.” Daily means this is not a one‑time emotional decision. It’s a lifestyle. 3. “Follow Me” — Walk where He walks This is the positive command. After denying self and taking up the cross, Jesus says: “Now walk with Me. Learn from Me. Obey Me.” Meaning: Follow His teachings. Follow His example of humility, love, endurance, and obedience. Follow His path even when it’s costly. The Heart of the Verse Jesus is not calling you to misery—He is calling you to freedom. Self‑denial breaks the power of the flesh. The cross breaks the power of sin. Following Him leads to life, peace, and purpose. This verse is not about losing yourself—it’s about losing what destroys you so you can gain what gives life.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND RECEIVED FROM THIS QUICK STUDY. ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
Exodus 23:2 Never follow a crowd in doing wrong. When you testify in court, don’t side with the majority to pervert justice. 1 John 2:15–17 Don’t love the world and what it offers. Those who love the world don’t have the Father’s love in them. Not everything that the world offers—physical gratification, greed, and extravagant lifestyles—comes from the Father. It comes from the world, and the world and its evil desires are passing away. But the person who does what God wants lives forever. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Keep away from every kind of evil. Proverbs 4:14–15 Do not stray onto the path of wicked people. Do not walk in the way of evil people. Avoid it. Do not walk near it. Turn away from it, and keep on walking. 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the Lord’s cup and the cup of demons. You cannot participate at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 I have found only this: God made people decent, but they looked for many ways ⸤to avoid being decent⸥.” Psalm 19:13 Keep me from sinning. Do not let anyone gain control over me. Then I will be blameless, and I will be free from any great offense. Proverbs 11:20 Devious people are disgusting to the LORD, but he is delighted with those whose ways are innocent. Proverbs 2:7 He has reserved priceless wisdom for decent people. He is a shield for those who walk in integrity Proverbs 10:9 Whoever lives honestly will live securely, but whoever lives dishonestly will be found out.
ALLOW THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
Proverbs 11:25 A generous person will be made rich, and whoever satisfies others will himself be satisfied. This proverb teaches a spiritual law woven into God’s design: generosity creates a return, not because of luck, but because God Himself honors those who pour into others. This is not a prosperity‑gospel promise. It’s a principle of God’s kingdom: Generosity opens the door for God to supply more. God entrusts more to those who use what they have to bless others. This verse is not just talking about financial blessings it includes: peace, joy, favor, relationships, and spiritual vitality. “Whoever satisfies others will be satisfied” The Hebrew picture is of watering someone else’s field—and God making sure your field gets watered too. This means: • When you refresh others, God refreshes you. • When you lift others, God lifts you. • When you give strength, God gives you strength. • When you meet needs, God meets yours. It’s a divine cycle: You pour out → God pours back in.
REMEMBER THIS: WHEN YOU HELP SOMEONE YOU ARE HELPING YOURSELF. WHEN YOU REFUSE TO HELP SOMEONE YOU ARE HURTING YOURSELF. THINK ABOUT IT. HELP OTHERS AND BE BLESSED BY GOD.
1 Peter 1:14 Because you are children who obey God, don’t live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn’t know any better. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. 1 Peter 4:3 You have already lived long enough like people who don’t know God. You were immoral and followed your evil desires. You went around drinking and partying and carrying on. In fact, you even worshiped disgusting idols. DON’T GO BACK TO WHERE GOD BROUGHT YOU FROM. Acts 17:30 “God overlooked the times when people didn’t know any better. But now he commands everyone everywhere to turn to him.” Colossians 3:5–10 teaches us to Put to death the old nature; put on the new.
LET US NOT BE WHO WE USE TO BE, BUT NOW LET US BE WHO GOD CREATED US TO BE. AND THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD, AMEN AND AMEN
Revelation 22:12 “I’m coming soon! I will bring my reward with me to pay all people based on what they have done. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “All of us must appear in front of Christ’s judgment seat. Then all people will receive what they deserve for the good or evil they have done while living in their bodies.” John 14:3 If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am. Acts 17:31 He has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice, and he will use a man he has appointed to do this. God has given proof to everyone that he will do this by bringing that man back to life.” Matthew 16:27 “The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory. Then he will pay back each person based on what that person has done.” Romans 2:6 “He will pay all people back for what they have done.”
LET US NOT FORGET THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK. WILL YOU BE READY?
WHAT IS IN A NAME Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust you, O LORD, because you have never deserted those who seek your help. The name always stands for character. They that know God will put their trust in Him. This is most natural. You do not put your trust in one whom you do not know; and the great trouble is that so few know God. They have heard much about Him, but when the strain comes, then the hold is so slight, the acquaintance so superficial, that there is no reality, and so God is nothing to many people in trouble. We must know God, if He is to be anything to us when we most need Him. O, how we need someone whom we can fully trust in the great emergencies of life and death! Let us make a business of believing, and we shall know God. Psalm 91:14 “The LORD says, ‘Because you love me, I will rescue you. I will protect you because you know my name.’”
ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE.
Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was gone because God took him. We read in the New Testament a little more of the character of Enoch than these few words convey. In Heb.11 we are told what was the principle of Enoch’s character by which he “pleased God.” It was “faith,” he walked by faith, not by sight, he, by faith, beheld Him who is invisible, and set God always before him. St.Jude, in his epistle says, moreover, that by faith he foresaw the second coming of our Lord to judgment, and prophesied of it to the men of that corrupt and wicked generation. The expression “walked with God” implies that he was at peace with God; “for how can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos3:3.) He led a life of communion with him, desiring only his will and pleasure, and striving to fulfil all God’s designs upon himself and others. And he received this special testimony of God’s favour, that he was “translated,” removed from earth to heaven without dying. Do we thus walk with God? Do we live as in the divine presence? Do we maintain communion with God, are we in a state of friendship with Him, do we converse with him in the retirement of our own hearts, and approach him with holy boldness and freedom? “The Lord’s hand is not shortened,” and his grace which enabled Enoch thus to walk is sufficient for us if we seek it through the merits of our Redeemer, and though we cannot escape death we may yet look forward through death to a joyful resurrection.
WERE YOU ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM THIS QUICK STUDY? DID YOU ENJOY THIS QUICK STUDY? SHOULD WE CONTINUE THESE QUICK STUDIES. LET US APPLY THIS WORD TO OUR LIFE.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Paul knew the temptation to fall into the surrounding culture. He knew the struggle that the early church was having to conform their beliefs to culture, rather than the other way around. He reminds them that God’s will has nothing to do with culture or what is going on around them. They need to focus on the Holy Spirit’s work within them and use that as guidance rather than earthly measurements. One of the easiest arguments to make against the standards that God placed in the Bible is that these moral standards were cultural rather than permanent and that this somehow means the Bible is irrelevant today. Paul says here that these standards did not even match the cultural norms of the early church. God’s standards have nothing to do with culture and have no connection to culture; and in fact when we allow ourselves to be distracted by culture, we lose our ability to discern God’s will. When we focus on God alone, the truth of right and wrong is clear and unquestionable.
GOD’S WORD IS FOREVER!!! WE MUST STRIVE TO WALK AS JESUS WALKED. WE MUST BE SURE TO ALLOW THE WORD OF GOD TO GUIDE US, AND NOT TODAY’S CULTURE.
Good reputation is more valuable than wealth. Proverbs 22:1, NIV. “”A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Betraying confidences can give you a bad reputation. Proverbs 25:9-10, NIV. “If you argue your case with a neighbor, do not betray another man’s confidence, or he who hears it may shame you and you will never lose your bad reputation.” What qualities guarantee a good reputation? Proverbs 22:4, NIV, “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” Colossians 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside ⸤the Christian faith⸥. Make the most of your opportunities. ALLOW THIS WORD FROM GOD TO BE A GUIDE UNTO YOUR LIFE. Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com http://www.youtube.com/@andrahigginbotham8096 PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
