The call for self-denial teaches the pursuit of satisfaction in God. If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ( Mark 8:34 34 And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. –36) The reason we have to take up our cross and deny ourselves is not because we are liable to have too much pleasure in God, but that we are so liable to find our pleasure elsewhere. And that bent must be crucified and denied over and over. Many people who start to like Christian Hedonism, fail to see this side of it. Find the full resource at http://www.desiringgod.org/deny-your-way-to-greater-joy This clip is from John Piper’s Indulge Conference message, Fifteen Dreams for the Future of Christian Hedonism. Find the full resource at http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/fifteen-dreams-for-the-future-of-christian-hedonism