The Death to Self — Michael Koulianos

Can we just remain standing and and you know what to do. Let's just start praying in the spirit. Come on for about a minute here. Come on. Just lift your voice. You can sing in the spirit pray in the spirit.

Praise you. We bless you tonight. Come on. Just put your put his praise on your lips just for a few more minutes. Blessed blessed blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Just lift your voices with your voices keep blessing and let's go straight into his presence.

I'm here. Holy. Holy. Holy. I'm keep blessing and keep blessing all over all over the room. Holy holy holy. And I Sing that together. Eyes right where you are. Lift our hands to heaven. Lift your voice.

I love you Lord My let's lift it one more time David. I love you Lord every voice. Come on everything in your time David. Come on, let's pour it out. Just one more time hands lifted tonight in your presence.

We declare as a family speak Lord for your servant is listening as we sit at the feet of Jesus tonight like Mary. Hearing your word. We ask you to speak to us and touch us and don't leave us the same.

Shake every ounce of repetition and monotony out of us and Electrify our hearts for Jesus. Touch us deeply tonight Lord in the places that only you can get to. Those inexplainable places. Lord, let us feast tonight on the food that the world doesn't know of the bread of heaven.

And you said I am the bread of God who's come down from heaven. Why don't you ask him tonight for a fresh revelation of Jesus. The Lord speak to us touch us. Anoint us afresh for these last days. Light us on fire tonight Lord.

We are your people the sheep of your pasture and we worship you. We all say great is the Lord and greatly to be praised there are none like you there are none beside you none in heaven. None on the earth.

There's no one like you Lord. Oh Just one glimpse of your beauty changes everything. So we come lowly tonight Lord the best we know how because you come lowly. Teach us Jesus tonight in Jesus name. Amen.

Can we seal that with praise? Come on? Let's look at praise To do all the glory. All the glory. All the glory just one more come on lift the praise we give you all the glory. Thank you Lord, thank you Lord.

Thank you Lord you can be seated. Thank You David. Oh It's good to be back. I've missed you guys it's been about a year Unless you count the end of the year event, but it's been about a year since I've been back here.

It's such a privilege to be here. Are you grateful for Jesus tonight? I Also want to thank Michael and Larissa for being just the cream of the crop God has given you guys The best pastors so we can we thank the Lord for them really there they are.

An incredible blessing Not only to you all but to the nation's to to my wife Jess and I to our children we've spent so much time together in the presence of the Lord and all over All over the place vacationing together.

They are such blessings to us personally and the Bible says that those who teach us the Word of God are worthy of double honor and It's one of the things I'm watching the devil trying to steal from a generation.

Especially you Gen Z who by the way have a mighty calling and mandate on your lives the devil is trying to remove remove the beauty of honoring those who teach us the Word of God and We must recover that this faith has been handed down once and for all and it is right to honor Those who teach us the Word of God and shepherd our souls Into the heart of Jesus.

So can we all please? Thank Michael and Larissa for all they do. I love you. Love you. All right well, I Feel like God gave me a sword tonight. The best ones are the ones that cut you open while you're preaching.

So I want to be cut open as well, it's good to see the seedmen's here Chris and Tara. I love you. They were just at my house last week and Gosh what a gift you guys are to us. Thank you. I love you both well, I'm not at Jesus image tonight in case you didn't know that and My father-in-law pastor Benny's preaching we call him master Yoda And he's teaching on the fear of the Lord tonight.

But that still is a legal message, right All right. Talk back to me tonight. Let's I need you to tap the well a little bit I want to talk to you tonight about glorious weakness and before I Get into the text.

I want to say that the church is at a crossroads right now I Realize where I'm standing. This house is so blessed my life. I have been touched all over this room this is one of the few places I come to where I'm Incredibly expectant to be touched as I'm preaching but I've had encounters with the Lord here and I understand where I'm preaching.

I understand the the The platform in the spirit that I'm standing on. I understand that the nations are watching and What is preached here and what takes place here? Seems to have a very catalytic effect and an exponential effect in that area.

And so this is a very vital house and in many ways. This is like a megaphone When it comes to the Lord wanting to release a word to his church. And so I'm aware of The seriousness of that. I'm not depressed in the least.

But I'm sober. Is that okay? For those who know me Miller will tell you I'm serious for about four hours a week. And it's usually when I'm on the platform or on the golf course. I mean they do call me the propeller whoever comes in my way gets chopped up and It's just is the way it is.

I came to preach the truth tonight. I'm very sober because the church is at a crossroads. We're at a critical juncture When it comes to God's agenda for the church and God's agenda for the ages. God has a plan and he's wanting to anchor listen carefully our hearts in the age to come.

We're too anchored here. We are pilgrims. That's what the scripture calls us. Of course God has called us to impact the nation's but our hearts Must be anchored in the heart of Jesus and in the age to come your generation is going to have to fight for truths that have been handed down and paid for in blood.

Core elements of What the Christian life is are under attack? Unfortunately, the attack is not being waged from the secular world. But now the attack is an interior attack and because of excess in some areas The church is choosing to sin on the other side of the road.

We now call discipleship Control we call reading the text reading the scriptures harsh. Yet all the while we we cling to Jesus. But it's not the Jesus of the Bible, it's another Jesus and I I Want you to leave tonight.

Knowing that there are mountains. God has called you to die on. Non-negotiables specifically. Everything hinges on this. Who is Jesus and what does it mean to follow him? I'd like you to take your Bibles to a Matthew 26 verse 36 through 42.

I'll begin reading in verse 36. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. Which is called the olive press by the way the place of crushing that place exists for everyone who Had the audacity to ask the Lord to make us like him.

Anybody who wants to be like Jesus? Will make their way to Gethsemane more than once. And he said to the disciples sit here While I go over there. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee.

And he began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then he said to them my soul is exceedingly sorrowful. Even to death. Wow. Stay here and Watch with me. Aren't you glad you don't watch alone? We don't wait on the Lord to come when we're in private.

We wait on him to manifest. We actually wait with him. Thank you Jesus for that. He went a little farther and fell on his face and prayed saying oh my father if it is possible. Let this cup pass from me nevertheless.

Not as I will. But your will be done. Say your will be done. Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter What could you not watch for me with one watch with me for one hour?

Watch and pray lest you Enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing. But the flesh is weak. Excuse me again a second time. He went away and prayed saying oh my father if this cup cannot pass away from me.

Unless I drink it. Your will be done say your will be done. Jesus joins No man's dream. Excuse me. Jesus joins no man's career. Jesus doesn't come alongside our churches. Jesus is not part of the dream.

He is the dream. I want that to settle. I want you to think of that because especially Gen Z you're being fed a Hellish buffet that is fueled in individualism and And has forgotten the epicenter of the gospel.

Which is death to self if we are too advanced or sensitive to be corrected. We've left Calvary. I'm not correcting you. I'm speaking. You know what I'm doing. That's why I said I know where I'm standing tonight.

Jesus Joins nothing and is part of nothing because he is everything. Basic math even if you were homeschooled as somebody who was he who is all can be part of nothing if you were like me and you're a professional athlete and The last thing you ever wanted to do was pop be involved in public speaking, which was my greatest fear.

God knows that it get glory doesn't he? The plan for my life was to win a bunch of tournaments and do the Tim Tebow thing and Thank the Lord when I was done with my plan. The Lord's like no, we're not gonna do that with you.

I already got Tim Tebow. He's doing a way better job than you. Jesus is an all-or-nothing God and when Jesus becomes the dream listen our dreams are Swallowed up in his dream our dreams are Swallowed by his dream and if you're wondering what God's dream is for us the father's dream in his son every plan the father has is Hemmed up in the glory of his son.

Ephesians 1 Verses 1 through 22 you don't mind if I read a bunch of Bible to you, do you? My friend of mine once said please forgive me as I teach as I read the Bible as I teach the word Ephesians 1 I'm gonna read you a bunch of Bible and break all the rules.

Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. His verse 1 to the Saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus grace to you in peace. From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God and the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ?

So it's all in Jesus friends all of it. Just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself.

Say I belong to the Lord According to the good pleasure of his will. To the praise of the glory of his grace by which he made us accepted in the Beloved In him in Jesus. We have redemption through his blood say I'm redeemed the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and Prudence having made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure Which he purposed in himself.

This is God's idea that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times. Listen now, here's the goal. He might gather together in one all things in Christ. Both which are in heaven and which are on earth in Him say in Jesus.

In him also we have obtained an inheritance. Being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. That we who first trusted in Christ Should be to the praise of his glory.

Is anyone excited tonight that the gospel is God's idea and not ours. Salvation was the Lord's idea and not ours. God healing your body is the Lord's idea not ours. God delivering you from addiction is the Lord's idea not ours.

It starts in Jesus. Therefore it is all about Jesus in him in Jesus. You also trusted After you heard the word of truth. What is the word of truth the gospel of your salvation in? Whom also having believed you were sealed with the spirit of promise.

Your redemption is incredibly secure. Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory. This is God's idea. Say this the father's dream is In his son.

Say therefore my dreams Must be swallowed up by his dream. God the father. You don't have to do that. Sorry, that's bad leadership. I should have been more more clear. God the father is crazy about his son crazy about his son.

He loves everything about Jesus. He thinks Jesus is absolutely Phenomenal, what is it about Jesus or I should say? What is one of the qualities? That makes Jesus so glorious. Go to Philippians chapter 2.

You say he's given us a lot of Bible. Let me say this tonight. You don't learn your Bible. You will not survive these last days in the spirit. You better learn your Bible more than your favorite song.

I'm talking to you now. You don't learn your Bible. You'll never allow the Lord to determine the narrative. It is time to read. No, chew and eat your Bible. Not a blogger. Not some dude who played Minecraft for 10 years and watched a few theology videos and then started a podcast.

No, I don't care if they wear flannel shirts and grow out their beard. It doesn't make them a theologian. They're like 27 or 30 have no connection of the historical church. Don't give their heart to the text have not yielded to the grand narrative of the text and our generations listen to them.

It's comical. It's a different Jesus. Our opinions do not set the captive free the Word of God does. The devil does not fear our opinions. That's why we need more sermons that begin with Chapter and verse rather than I just feel like I Appreciate how you feel, but you better give me the Word of God.

Did the stakes are high? There's just one Jesus. You do know that there's just one. So if there are eight versions of the Lord seven are wrong. There's just one the Jesus of the Bible. I Said the Jesus of the Bible.

You cannot Deconstruct him and tried to build him back. He's good. He is secure. He is the God of the ages and He'll be there when we're all done with these initiatives. He is the king of glory. The immovable rock.

And the worst part about deception is that you don't know that you are. It's like like Francis Chan said at our church. It's the very definition. He's like that's what makes it so crazy. Is that when you are deceived you don't know it.

That's the sliminess of it all and God has called you listen to me. I came here To share the Word of the Lord with you. God has called your generation to carry on in the gospel. You must receive the charge because our family our inheritance our heritage our ancestors in God died in blood.

To hand the gospel to us carry on. I said carry on learn Jesus according to the scripture. Learn of him according to the scripture. The stakes are too high and you as I said earlier You must discover the mountain that you're willing to die on as for me when it comes to the cross in Jesus.

That's a mountain I'm giving my neck to when it comes to the Word of God we must not budge. Scripture says forever. Oh Lord. Your word is settled in heaven. Philippians 2 what is this? What is it about Jesus one of these glorious aspects of.

Not the most preeminent aspect of his person. That makes him so glorious. Verse 5 of Philippians 2. Let this mind be in you. Which was also in Christ Jesus in other words. Think like this. Let your soul and your mind be renewed in this way.

Have this disposition. Who being in the form of God? Did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. Oh, I love verse 7 but made himself of no Reputation. Let me stop there for a moment when you fall in love with Jesus.

His church and I don't mean a church building or even the church you lead or pastor or work at. I'm not talking about that his church his bride Becomes more important to you than your personal preference in the immature stages of the faith.

Everything is about us. And so we choose churches. Listen carefully. That recognize our giftings really I'll go to the church That sees me and my gifting and I'll give that church just enough time to see my gifting.

And if they don't see it, I'll become offended and move to the next church. Hoping they see my gifting. There's a few things wrong with that whole scenario. One is it's not our gifting. It's the Lord's and If you've really got it like that You don't have to make room for your gifting.

Your gifting will make room for you. That's what the Bible says. So without knowing We don't know this but it's what the devil is doing is. We begin to go to church. For us if you're a worship leader a musician you go to the church.

Where you get to play the most sets if you think you're called to preach you go to the church. That you think will give you the greatest opportunity to open your mouth. Thank you. It's very funny. And if you if you have a culture like upper room, I hope at Jesus image.

That spirit it almost glows in the dark. You can smell the minute they walk in. I know that one right there. You're here To show us how great you are. Without knowing you're saying this is my house. Not the Lord's it is the opposite and the antithesis of What the father loves about his son.

He made himself of no Reputation. I've heard it a million times. I left there because they didn't recognize My anointing, of course, they didn't they weren't looking at you. They don't have time to look at you.

Miller Miller said once I love you know, you don't you probably don't remember this. He said I love Jesus image because y 'all keep the crown on his head now. Theologically the crown never leaves his head, but I know what he's saying.

You're just looking at Jesus and ascribing all glory and honor over and over and over and over again. This is what the church is. Meant to be capital C big C the church a people in one accord. Who have made themselves of no reputation?

Now that's not to say that the Lord doesn't take that person who's made themselves of no reputation and raise them up. It is to say we cannot raise ourselves up we don't call ourselves. We do not anoint ourselves we do not send ourselves a Group of friends and I we started a ministry called the send years ago and An old preacher came and met with me.

He goes you better. He said tell me about the sand. I said well, we're gonna meet it's gonna be a sending movement. It was all wonderful and then I'll never forget what he said. He goes you better get the glory of God in those sent in those in those stadiums because it won't be the sand if you don't.

It'll just be called the spend because you can't call yourself or send yourself. You better be you better get God into that stadium. And he's right. Nobody calls themselves. This isn't to Discourage you for the last day harvest.

It's just to propel you properly. It's about Jesus. I said it's about Jesus. I don't just mean it's about thinking about him. It is that that's where it begins. That's very holy. You'll never waste your time thinking about Jesus.

Ever in fact, it's pretty dangerous to begin thinking about him because you might just get caught up in adoration. I don't think about him in traffic too much. I Know I understand that you start thinking about the Lord at home and in two hours goes by and it's glorious and wonderful.

It's wonderful to think about him, but that's not what I'm talking about right now. I'm talking about the purpose of his body. It is to bring glory to him Taking the form of a bond servant and coming in the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man.

He humbled himself. Friends humility is not controlling. And neither is the call to it. It is Christian. I Said it is Christian. He humbled himself became obedient to the point of death say death. Even the death of the cross here we go now.

Therefore in other words because of what you just read Because he became of no reputation. Took the form of a servant died a death even the death of the cross. Therefore this is why in other words God has also highly exalted him and Given him the name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven of those on earth and of those under the earth and that every tongue should Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father the most glorious thing.

The most glorious thing in the heart of the Father is when the nation's bowed to Jesus as Lord. The other day I was watching someone who I've watched for a long time and I've enjoyed their teachings for a while a few years.

Somebody asked them a very clear question. Is there salvation outside of Jesus? The answer shocked me. I Watched it with my eyes. I don't believe in gossip. I Think the church is chucking stones across the aisles rather than joining hands in prayer.

We have to come together now however, when this person said of course their salvation outside of an a personal experience with Jesus I almost passed out. I Thought to myself sir, you need to not be in the ministry.

If you don't know that what do you know? How do we get there? By not reading the Bible. That's how you get there. You get there by creating your own perspectives lofty thoughts lofty ideas. Outside of the holy text we must return to the Bible again.

You said but Michael you're the Jesus preacher. I preach the Jesus of the Bible. I want to make that clear. It's the Jesus of the Word of God. The Jesus from Genesis to Revelation if we cannot answer clearly.

That no man cometh to the Father but by Jesus what are we doing. I Don't really care if someone can't answer that question. I don't care about anything else that they have to say. I'm certainly not gonna let them counsel me.

It's not meant to dishonor, but we have to draw the line somewhere. There is one name one name Under heaven and on the earth by which men can be saved the name of Jesus. To say such a thing is to not even know what his name means.

When we say that we confess Jesus as Lord We're not saying he's the most qualified leader. He is. But it's much deeper than that. To confess it doesn't mean like Jesus is a little better than somebody else who could lead you and he's the supreme leader leading the parade of your life.

No to confess Jesus as Lord is to confess him as Jehovah as Adonai as the God of the ages by whom and through whom all things were that were created. It is to say that Jesus is the God of the burning bush.

To say that he is Lord is to say that Jesus parted the Red Sea. Listen to me it is to say that Jesus had a conversation with Abraham. It is to say that Jesus was dancing in the fiery furnace. It is to say that Jesus is the God of Genesis through Malachi and Matthew the Revelation.

It is to say that Jesus is creator and king of all. Therefore He is the only one who can save. When I say the name Jesus When I even utter his name, I am declaring. He is the Lord our salvation. And any other perspective outside the Bible will create a fallen false version of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's the foundation of what I'm saying tonight now bear with me for a few more minutes. This Jesus Has revealed himself through the cross through the cross. Individualism is plaguing the church right now.

My needs my perspective my criticism. My view and dishonor is running rampant towards Leaders towards shepherds. It's a satanic plot. To rob the church of glory. To rob the church of true discipleship.

I I I well, I think I think I want I need you failed me. Individualism is Running rampant and we've forgotten that the Lord's Prayer begins with our Father our father. Yes. He's my father. But he's our father.

That means that my perspective is not King the cross of Jesus, I'm not confused. I'm just waiting. Take your Bibles to John chapter 8 verse 28, please say I want to be broken. You don't know what you're asking maybe but if you do just Ask it.

Anyways, I want to be broken. John 8 28. Then Jesus said to them when you lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I am he. Oh my. I'm gonna say that again When you lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I am He.

I'm gonna say it again When you lift up the Son of Man then and only then. Will you know? That I am. This is not speaking of a song or set. I Have the joy of leading a precious group of worshipers that many of you know.

So this isn't a criticism on music and worship. We love it. We burn for worship. Absolutely, but that's not what this text is referring to. This is not saying if you sing a song you will know that Jesus is the I am.

Now before I touch on this, I want you to look at John 12 Verses 31 through 33. Can you just give me a few more minutes? Now is the judgment of this world? Now the ruler will be cast down. Listen carefully now, and if I am lifted up from the earth, I Will draw all people to myself.

You say I thought that had to do with my favorite upper room or Jesus image song. No. The scripture tells us what this is about this in verse 33 he said signifying By what death he would die. Jesus Declares his deity by the way, he dies.

Come on. That's the opposite of self-exaltation. If we were going to show somebody that we were God We wouldn't do it or accomplish it by being nailed naked to a tree. But there's something about the way Jesus died That opened the eyes of his followers.

That's the glory of the cross and That's why the devil is trying to remove it and destroy it and burn it up in church life. Don't talk to me. Don't correct me. Don't sit me down. God spoke to me. You can't change my mind.

It's all the antithesis of what it looks like to carry the tree. It's devilish in the devil's heart. He declares. I will ascend to the hill of the north. I Will be like the Most High. What did he say to Adam and Eve in the day you eat of it what you will be like God?

But Jesus chooses a completely Opposite and different ATM code a Completely different method to declare who he is. He's saying boys watch the way I die because the way I die will prove to you that I am the Lord.

When I'm lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself. Do you know why the gates of hell are prevailing because there's a Jesus deficiency in the church. He said I'll build it. I'll build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail.

If the gates of hell are prevailing and they are in many ways It's because Jesus himself is not being declared according to Holy Scripture. When's the last time you listen to a podcast on the cross? There's not an Avenger on the throne.

There's a lamb on the throne. Yeah. Not a superhero up there. John saw glory in The crucifixion of Jesus. When we think glory we think watch me do my thing. Not watch me die. Watch me work a wonder not watch me die.

When we think glory, we don't think persecution, but we all need a limp. We all need it. We need it. We need it to be like Jesus. It's a sign of greatness. Brokenness. Humility is greatness. He has redefined greatness perfectly through Calvary.

God loves you too much To not weaken you Doesn't want us to walk with confidence in ourselves. He wants us to drag one leg behind us for our own good. This is more the faith. This I should say is the faith the cross of Jesus.

It is more the faith than most of what we set our minds to. Watch us die will bleed with love and mercy and that declares that he is king of glory. He's impossible to see outside the cross. He shrouded outside the cross the heart remains hardened and The eyes remain blind.

Outside of the man from Galilee who is God Almighty suspended Between heaven and earth to redeem mankind. We can't see him outside the cross. That's the paradox of it all. That's the mystery that we find this Crucified Lamb as being beautiful that we wage war differently Than the spirit of the age.

We are the cheek turners. That's what we do. We are foot washers. We're those who hopefully like the disciples rejoice when we're counted worthy to suffer for the name of the Lord. When we're in lack we give what we have away.

We're those who live Completely differently than the world. We love our enemies and it's so hard to love our enemies. We just choose not to have any that's the only way to do it Is to see them as vessels that God is using to make us like his son.

Paul writes in Romans 8 36 to 39 For your sake we're killed all day long. We're counted as sheep for the slaughter yet in all these things. We are more than conquerors Through him who loved us for I am persuaded that neither death nor life.

Listen to this church nor angels nor principalities nor powers. Nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other created thing Shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How many of you think Jesus loves you, how do you know I Want you to think think Bible don't think because I know don't think. Because you just know how do you know biblically he died? Well, give me a verse John 3 16 for God so loved the world that's not speaking of a mount.

That word so is not speaking of God loved me with a million pounds of his heart. No. It's speaking about method. This is how God loves. For God so loved in other words in this way. This is how God tells the world.

He loves them. For God so loved in this way. God shares his love that he gave the the Greek word. There is offered. It's priestly. It's Levitical. He offered his son as a lamb that came to die. This is how God says I love you.

He's not saying I loved you so much that I just gave Jesus away to you for 33 years. He's saying the way that I tell you I love you is by dying and I want to invite up a room into Death to self tonight.

I want to invite a generation to put your opinions aside and Die to the need to be right. I want to invite you to die to the need to win the argument and Just die on the altar. I want to invite you into the Christian life tonight to die to yourself.

So I I don't like the devil, but I'm really into me few things are more demonic. Few things are more demonic than to be really into you. It doesn't mean you shouldn't value you. Of course, you should you can't love people as you love yourself.

If you don't value you I'm not saying that. I'm talking about the will the seat of the soul the throne of the soul. Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done. Don't you see the grand mastery of it all.

Don't you see it? That Jesus dies on a dead tree as the first fruit and Adam eats from a living tree. He eats the fruit of a living tree beautiful to the eye and death comes. Jesus dies on a dead tree.

Adam says yes to himself. Jesus says no to himself. Death comes through Adam. Life comes through Jesus. It's all very masterful. It's all very beautiful. Adam says no God. Yes Adam in a garden. Jesus says no to Jesus.

Yes to the father in the garden. This is wisdom. I said that is wise. That is the definition of wisdom the very embodiment of wisdom. The wisest thing you can do is die to you and come alive in Jesus.

You know the longer you do this thing The more the more he cuts you away. You've got less to bring to the table less activity. Less ideas less activity, but more obedience. Less initiatives more simplicity.

He just slowly cuts you away. And so hopefully by the end of this thing you just look like Jesus and that's enough. I Said that's enough. I want to ask this generation tonight. Who will you be like? What will you choose?

You want to be like the spirit of this age or like Jesus? You say that but he's the crucified and risen one. I'm asking you to count the cost tonight. Count it. You say what does he want everything? It's quite the dangerous prayers.

I said earlier just say Lord make me like Jesus. It's the only reason worth living but you need to determine tonight if you'll be a cross carrier or a self carrier. You want to be like John the Beloved?

Who finds glory and the crucified Lamb of God. Will you be like Eve or like Mary? Will you be like Eve who chooses wisdom? Outside the person of God. The knowledge of good and evil. The things of this world.

Or will you be like Mary who says according to thy word? I have no idea how you're gonna do it, but let it be done in my life. Will you be like Eve who chooses consistent conversations with serpent when you could be fellowshipping with the Lord in?

The name of depth in the church. We try to come up with new ideas. Which Paul called wasteful arguments lofty arguments. Or you be like Mary? Who's enamored by the message that comes from God and is willing to be viewed as the illegitimate mother?

So that the Word of God can come into the world. Friends death is a window into divine life. Death to self is a portal. For divine life to flow through you. I want to read this verse to you and then I'm gonna pray.

Is this okay tonight? This is my third sermon of the day and I'm already tired of my voice. Bill Johnson said it's time for a break when you're tired of the way you sound. Say this the window into glory.