Prayer Meeting 23/7/2024

A Call To Self-Denial -Part 2

(Thomas Manton)

Watch the Full Sermon HERE.

Well last time we started looking at the work of Thomas Manton on Self-denial, where he wrote a massive treatise: an essay, a paper, a work a discourse, and argument and defence within a written work. Manton covers this in 115 pages packed with wisdom, clarity, and a depth that’s mind blowing, on the subject he calls ‘A Treatise For Self-Denial’. Which is also in an individual book, which I’ve only seen on amazon, called ‘The Way Of Surrender’.

Manton’s scripture he draws from is:

Matthew 16:24

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.”

Of course, I said last time we will but only scrape the surface of this. But even that will be wonderfully impacting.

I also said this:

No other work is greater in a Christian’s life after salvation than that of becoming one who utterly self-denies and serves Christ with complete abandonment. It truly encompasses and ought to epitomise all that a Christian is. Who showed more self-denial than anyone in history but our Lord Jesus Christ Himself?

If you had to look at every area in which you lack peace, or have a lack of patience, or a lack of compassion, or where you neglect your spiritual devotion. Or as we said on Sunday where you isolate, and don’t have the same mind as that of your brothers and sisters - behind it all, and within it all, will be a lack of self-denial.

Okay, let me read our prayer for this teaching. And what a prayer it is, I could, as I said last time, believe that this is Manton’s prayer on this very subject. Of course we don’t know that. But it sure is on point.

Our prayer is from ‘The Valley Of Vison’, page 132 in the leatherbound version and page 74 of the paperback, and is entitled ‘Self-Deprecation’.

O LORD, My every sense, member, faculty, affection is a snare to me, I can scarce open my eyes but I envy those above me, or despise those below. I covet honour and riches of the mighty, and am proud and unmerciful to the rags of others; If I behold beauty it is a bait to lust, or see deformity, it stirs up loathing and disdain; How soon do slanders, vain jests, and wanton speeches creep into my heart! Am I comely? what fuel for pride! Am I deformed? what an occasion for repining! Am I gifted? I lust after applause! Am I unlearned? how I despise what I have not! Am I in authority? how prone to abuse my trust make will my law, exclude others' enjoyments serve my own interests and policy! Am I inferior? how much I grudge others pre-eminence! Am I rich? how exalted I become! Thou knowest that all these are snares by my corruptions and that my greatest snare is myself. I bewail that my apprehensions are dull, my thoughts mean, my affections stupid, my expressions low, my life unbeseeming; Yet what canst thou expect of dust but levity, of corruption but defilement? Keep me ever mindful of my natural state, but let me not forget my heavenly title, or the grace that can deal with every sin.

Manton states early in his writing that

A man’s own self is a bundle of idols.

Manton adds:

That all we have that is ours in life, will set us up as a snare, all possessions and comforts, inward and outward must be denied.

Isn’t it true that so, so many things are a snare to stop us from denying ourselves? Even when we act like what we are seeking is spiritual and for our good, its can become a snare and an idol.

Often I say to people, you need to stop reading and seeking God only for solutions, and answers to your problems and dilemmas. That in itself is a snare that leads to, and is often driven by self-idolatry.

When in fact, seeking God not for stuff but for Him is a way and a process of self-denial and what leads to true worship. Not seeking God for who He is, but what He does and/or can do for you, is a snare and in itself a lack of self-denial.

Okay, let’s again dip into some of Manton’s treatise. Tonight I want to go to two places. First what people with self-denial act like and seek. Then how we can apply and go about making self-denial easier. Both are challenging; the first more brutal.

Okay, here are four behaviours and actions of those who can’t self-deny. Manton writes more but I’m giving four of them:

1. ‘We can’t cope with being crossed, in opinions, interests and accomplishments.’

Manton adds:

Our own affections contest with everyone else’s affections.

In other words, nothing is more important than my needs. This is the behaviour of one who won’t self-deny.

Manton writes:

When men have set a high price and value upon themselves, they are vexed when others won’t come up to their price.

Again in other words: thinking way, way too highly of ourselves, that we think we merit the praise, and never merit anything but praise and attention.

When we don’t get it, when we are not the centre of the universe, and others don’t see us that way. We take resentments and character assassinate them. Because there must be something wrong with them to not treat me like how I value me.

2. ‘They want a gospel without charges’

In other words, they don’t want anything to cost them, they want things given as a right. They are so deserving. They don’t mind serving, provided it doesn’t mess with their plans and desires.

In other words: they don’t want it to cost them anything. If it’s not feeding them, then they have no heart to do it.

Manton then writes about (I will paraphrase as it’s quite wordy.) But what he was explaining was that people who can’t self-deny, only like easy paths. Paths that are smooth. That don’t cause much exertion, that are not hard to navigate. They want easy. They would rather opt out than opt in. They would rather not be pressed or challenged. They like to not nominate themselves. They hope not to be asked.

They don’t want what Manton says ‘a strait path to heaven’. Meaning a narrow path. It puts pressure on them to show up and be challenged, and to not be able to hide. This is the behaviour of one who can’t self-deny, but they are good at hiding it, behind just being quiet and humble.

3. ‘When the heart is grieved for the good of others, it’s a sign self is in dominion.’

Those who have real self-denial issues, or a lack of it, struggle when others are getting the praise or the attention.

Unlike those I mentioned before who hide: some don’t hide but are doers, and gain great esteem from doing, as long as no one else is doing it. They struggle to praise others for doing the work of the Lord, or anything for that matter; it’s as if its stealing their praise.

Manton writes:

Oh consider such a temper is a sign that self is way too dear and way too near to us.

Manton adds:

When we envy the gifts and graces of others and their esteem in the world, it’s a sign self remains in sovereignty and dominion.

He then adds this:

Many want to shine alone and so are apt to blast and censure (disregard) the repute of others, and malign the graces wrought in them. Whereas we should rather rejoice with them.

Okay last one….

4. ‘When we do not care how things go with the public.’

In other words, we are too focused on self to care to think about being a good example to others.

Like in Corinth, they did not consider what a stumbling block they were. Their own wants, and desires never considered others’ weakness, or the effect on them.

Remember Saul in the old testament, where he caused his men to be greatly weakened due to his selfish anger and ambition?

1 Samuel 14:24-30

And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, “cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground. And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened. Then one of the people said, “your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘cursed is the man who eats food this day.’ ” and the people were faint. But Jonathan said, “my father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the philistines?”

Oh how selfish, how much was Saul not considering anyone but his own desires, wants and resentments? Others lost out on victory, God lost out. Yet Johnathan wasn’t there and God provided great provision.

A lack of self-denial, denies others victory and the much needed resources God provides.

Amen.

Okay. Let me share four things Manton says about how we can make it easier to apply self-denial to our lives. As it is, for most, such a difficult thing to do, and to do it for a sustained time. We can all self-deny, but the question and desire ought to be, can I do that continually and not sporadically, or only do so provided I don’t feel loss, or pain, or distraction?

Okay here 4 points on what Manton calls ‘means of self-denial’.

1. ‘Lessen your affection for worldly things by making Jesus your prize.’

Manton adds, and this will give more clarity to point 1:

Whenever anything begins to sit too close and too near to the heart, it’s good for a Christian to be wary, and ask this question: how shall I deny this for God?

How quick do we spot when things, possessions, people, wants, are starting to get all-out attention? We all, if we are honest, know when we are seeking things outside God way too deeply and way too long. We give it way more time than we ought.

It’s in those times we need to deny these things for God. Not ask God to help us not think of them, or desire them, or desire it more healthy. But to put it aside and seek Him for Him.

Often people say ‘it’s okay to have money but money not have you’, while talking about money. Already that’s become way, way too close and near to your heart, bargaining doesn’t take it further away.

Have you ever bargained over your wants, your obsessions? That’s not swapping it for God, and denying things for Him. Its keeping it close and hoping He can make it healthy.

It’s like the men who Jesus meets and asks them to follow Him:

Luke 9:57-62

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to him, “Lord, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” Then he said to another, “follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow you, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “no one, having put his hand to the Plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The things of the world were too close and near to their hearts, that they wanted Jesus to wait. They wanted Jesus with their stuff. They had other things too close to their hearts, and wouldn’t let it go to seek and follow Christ.

They were like Lot’s wife. She kept looking back while fleeing Sodom. She had more concern for what she was leaving than Whom she ought to be trusting.

Okay, point 2 in ‘means for self-denial’.

2. ‘Seek self in God.’

Manton adds:

When we cannot weaken the affection, change the object.

In other words, if you’re thirsty and hungry for approval, seek God for it. If you’re hungry and thirsty for affection, seek God for it. ‘Change the object’, means change the source.

Manton asks:

Are you looking for praise? Then can we have any better than to be praised from God’s own mouth?

How does God praise us: well He calls us, ‘no longer strangers, but co-heirs to the throne’.

“We are a chosen generation.”

“ We are set apart for good works”

“ We are God’s people”

“ We are His sheep whom He will never leave of forsake”

“We are loved so deeply and widely.”

Ephesians 3:18-20

That you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

That’s changing the source.

Now don’t confuse that with, ‘well, they don’t love me, they don’t give me attention, honour, respect, so I will just go to Jesus and get it from Him’.

No, Jesus is not your rebound. He is your source, He is whom you need to seek first. And seek when idols get close and near you.

Okay, point 3:

3. ‘Resolve to please God in the worst of times.’

Often it’s in times of trial and of pain, that we seek our idols more. It’s in times of loneliness, in times of insecurity, that self-denial is at its lowest point. It’s in these times we must resolve to please God, praise Him, seek Him in all circumstances.

Apostle Paul writes:

Phillipians 4:12-13

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Paul sought Christ in all circumstances. When you do that, you will not be so easily ensnared in trials, and pain, and temptations.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Again comes to mind.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Notice: ‘every weight. That so easily ensnares us’. Every trouble, everything we place too much value in.

4. ‘Stop confining your welfare to outward means.’

It sounds like the rest of the other points but Manton means: stop looking for God in others and seeking God through others. Instead seek God from God.

It’s not that we should never seek guidance, or counsel. The one who does not do that and has an ‘I have God, and I just seek God, and never man’s advice’ attitude, is a man who is a sitting duck.

Because the moment he is not on it, he very quickly sinks into sin, with no life belt.

But to only see God; and seek God when with godly people, or at church and nowhere else, will not sustain you in trials.

Manton writes:

The first thing we must depend upon is the all sufficient God, not God in first.

He adds:

‘Prize God first in himself not in his creatures.

So many people have devotion by association. I don’t listen to a great deal of podcasts. I don’t listen to a whole lot of sermons. I read and seek way more

We will not grow in our relationship with God purely by association with Christians, by attending church, by coming to a service, by being around believers.

It’s a good thing, but seeking the Creator is better than seeking the creatures whom He created.

Manton does say, where people and relationships are concerned:

That they are pipes that deliver and convey the supreme cause.

But we must:

Still prize God in himself before God in the creature.

Amen.