john 12 23 and this is jesus predicting his death jesus replied now the time has come for the son of man to enter into his glory i tell you the truth unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies it remains alone but its death will produce many new kernels a plentiful harvest of new lives those who love their life in this world will lose it those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity anyone who wants to serve me must follow me because my servants must
be where i am and the father will honor anyone who serves me now my soul is deeply troubled should i pray father save me from this hour but this is the very reason i came father bring glory to your name it's my prayer that we would be given not just the ability but the desire to say jesus spend my life for your glory pour me out as an offering every last drop when i stand before the heavenly father i want to be able to know that i did everything i gave everything i tried everything that
i possibly could to bring him glory i want to leave no gift unused no command unfulfilled no assignment left undone i want to be planted by the hand of god like a seed in the ground now the scripture says we just read it that unless that seed is planted it will remain alone what is jesus talking about he's talking about the multiplication that comes from a seed that is planted into the ground if i keep the seed and never plant it it will never become a plant and if it can never grow as a plant
it can never produce after its kind i don't want to be a seed left unused i don't want to be a life unplanted now when god plants you in the ground there will come a season of loneliness because in order to be planted please remember this in order to be planted as a seed by the hand of god you must go to dark places in order to be a seed in the ground you must go to places you may not want to go you must do some things that you may not want to do see
i think that we have this misconception concerning the gospel and i think that the misconception tells us that god will work everything around our desires that god will work everything around our comfort and we even have key words that we use in the body of christ and we don't even realize what we're saying i believe that god is the god of breakthrough however that word breakthrough has become a term in the church that we use to describe the day that we never have to struggle again [Applause] we use the word breakthrough to describe the day
that we never have to be uncomfortable people of god the gospel is not about your dreams it's about god's will jesus did not shed his blood on that cross so that you could be comfortable in fact he said you have to come after me you have to follow me you have to go along the path that i go along and if jesus our savior lord and master suffered if he was persecuted if he was hated if he was rejected why shouldn't we be now i'll never forget when god first began to call me into the
ministry i've shared before about when i met the holy spirit as a person and how knowing the holy spirit as a person transformed my life and it is that friendship with the holy spirit that really has resulted in everything that you see at least on the outside but you know there's so much more to that i remember during that season of my life when things weren't always 100 percent clear i tell the good parts to inspire you and tell you of how the holy spirit can move and you know you can't share your entire life
story every time you share your testimony so i share the important parts but you know i was terrified to go into ministry in the first place i didn't really think of myself as someone who had much talent me and my friends weren't considered the in-crowd we were the outcasts so to speak and we would be made fun of for the way we looked for the way we talked for the way we dressed and i think that's partially what helped me to form such a strong bond with the holy spirit is that in him i found
a friendship and i could relate to him in that he knew what it was to be rejected but i remember hearing miss katherine coleman talk about the fact that she felt she had nothing to offer and she would say to the lord lord if you can use nothing here it is and i remember hearing that statement and i thought i think i'm in the same boat i think we have the same starting point and i know many of you feel the same way where you come to the lord you see what he's calling you to
do you see the need in the world and everything in you says i don't think i'm qualified to do that i don't think i have much to offer we're like moses who's like lord here are all my excuses as to why you can't use me imagine telling god that to his face you can't use me because or isaiah the prophet who when he encountered god saw heavenly visions the train of gods robe filled the temple angelic beings were flying about the temple shook to its foundation what a wonderful sight but he didn't look at that
heavenly sight what did isaiah notice when god showed up himself woe is me for i am undone and i think that sometimes in the face of what god is calling us to do we can come to that place where we say things like i am undone or lord surely you should choose another or lord surely you don't mean me so i remember being terrified of the call just all of these insecurities just so many constantly moving even when i would speak i would i would be did i say that weird and i come across this
way i just constantly constantly it was a battle and i remember one night just tossing and turning tossing and turning you ever have those nights where the holy spirit is speaking to you and you wish he would just stop saying what he's saying don't look at me all religious and spiritual you've been there because we're not always so cooperative of what the holy spirit wants to do and i remember i was tossing and turning because i just sensed it burning in my heart the holy spirit's saying preach preach preach the gospel and i'm tossing and
turning and i'm going well what if this is an impure motive what if i'm just being what if i'm just being self-centered well how do i know this is really you well well what are people going to say aren't they going to think i'm arrogant or what if they make fun of the way i talk what if they make fun of the way i do things what if they make fun of the way i look well do i really need to start right now isn't this something that can wait and i remember there were several
nights in a row where i just could not sleep i would break out into sweats wondering holy spirit is this you so i said okay holy spirit if this is you i know you'll confirm it so i go up to my youth pastor at the time i'll never forget this it was in the parking lot of a church service on a wednesday night after church i go into the parking lot you guys know i'm eddie vargas pastor eddie vargas i go up to him i say can i talk to you for a second he says
sure i say you know i just been filling in my heart i was prepared to tell this long story mind you it's wednesday night i'm just got my list i'm like i'm i'm here's what i was expecting i'm gonna tell him my story then he's gonna say okay here's some of the things we need to do to align this and so forth and so on and mind you i've been serving in the church for a while so i was expecting you know okay in a few years we'll pray about that and this and what i
was expecting i tell him i've been up at night this has been keeping me awake i think this is the holy spirit i feel like i need to preach the gospel he says okay you're going to preach next thursday my heart just sank i said okay holy spirit let's do this so i started to put together my notes i went my dad is a pastor so i took all his sermons and started looking at how he did his outlines and i tried to recrea even down to the highlight system i was like okay i'm going
to use this highlight system and i still remember the title of my first sermon our relationship with god almighty it was a real fancy title and i preached on king david and three of the more popular stories in his life and i to this day don't really even remember much of what i talked about other than the fact that i talked about our relationship with god and it wasn't delivered with eloquence i didn't have the best presentation skills all i remember is that same presence that i had known privately in my room for hours on
end year after year when i began to preach that message that same presence filled the atmosphere and that's when i realized that when you live the crucified life the holy spirit will help you to do it i often pray before i get on the platform holy spirit if you don't go with me i'm done you imagine i get on this platform and the holy spirit wasn't with me i could give you a nice sermon but there's no replacing that tangible touch of his presence and power those people who drove nine hours 14 hours to be
here tonight they didn't drive because they wanted to hear me preach they could watch me preach on youtube without having to drive 9 to 14 hours people of god you came here tonight because of the presence of the holy spirit you came here because you're hungry for a move of god and the message to you tonight is simple it's time to surrender everything no more games no more compromises the hour is calling for people who will be fully committed not just fully committed but completely crucified sometimes what we do is we place ourselves on the
altar we say lord you can have me and then moments later we step right off the crucified life is one of intimacy with god philippians 3 10 says that i may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death if you were promised a perfect life when you were saved you were lied to we hear so much preaching on how you're going to succeed you're going to succeed you're going to succeed oh if you push a little further you'll succeed why are we so focused
on success god has a wonderful plan for your life tell that to stephen the martyr was that not god's wonderful plan for his life when we picture the will of god when we picture god giving us breakthrough when we picture god finally moving in our lives what in fact do we picture does everything god does through us and around us and for us benefit only us do we imagine that everything about the call of god will fit neatly into the plan that we've made for our own life do we imagine that there will never be
a disruption never be a call to sacrifice and that's a question every believer should ask themselves when was the last time i had to give something up to follow jesus no really when was the last time following jesus cost you something the promise of the gospel is not a perfect life it's union with god yes we are blessed but we're not consumed by blessing there will be some trouble there will be trials there will be persecution but the promise is in the middle of all of that he will never leave you nor forsake you [Applause]
there was a point in ministry where i had been preaching about four or five years and then i hit this crossroads many of my friends were beginning to move on to careers college universities and i remember coming to this crossroads in my life and calling everybody i knew to call and and i was asking them is it possible to still do this this and this and preach the gospel and please understand i'm sharing my testimony this isn't the model for your life in principle i'm just talking about decisions if god calls you to go to
school go do it if he doesn't then don't it's just that simple but here i had this crossroads i wanted to pursue something i knew i wanted to do something i had this skill set that i wanted to apply and pursue something that would better me and i began to realize that in order to pursue these things i would have to begin cutting back on the ministry side and i wrestled with that and it wasn't just this oh okay i guess i'll do this no no no there was an intense emotional mental wrestling within me
i remember i would go on long walks like hour long walks and then at the end of the walk just sit down and just stare off at the city or the landscape wherever i was thinking and praying and talking to the lord and i realized that if i was going to pursue the call i would have to lay down my hopes and dreams we don't want to hear this kind of preaching when we hear god has a wonderful plan for your life we think it involves everything we ever wanted and i had to give that
up but i can stand here today and tell you i'm so glad i did coming to that place of decision what do i do because in this world on this side of eternity you get one life and you know living for the lord completely is demonstration that you actually believe in a heaven if there's no heaven i messed up that's what paul said if christ did not rise in the dead we're the most miserable lot indeed but he did and there is hope beyond this world there is an eternity for which we will live not
everyone will be a preacher but everyone will have a cross what's your cross what's god asking you to bear i'm not talking about legalism i'm not talking about religion or superstition i'm talking about what the holy spirit is actually asking of you what does the holy spirit require of you jesus said if you try to cling to your life you'll lose it but if you give up your life then you gain it a crossless gospel is a christless gospel what did jesus pray when he was in the garden lord if it's possible if it's possible
let this cup pass from me nevertheless not my will your will be done that's what god is looking for his eyes are searching the earth right now right now in this moment and this moment in history is calling for people who will lay down their lives for the sake of the gospel this moment is ours to seize this moment has been given to us by god himself what will you do with this moment that you've been given what will you do with this life that he's gifted to you what will you do with the gifts
and the talents and the time that he has provided what will you do with the breath that he gave i don't want to live for me i don't want to live for money i don't want to live for the world i want to live for the gospel of jesus christ and i want to give my life for his glory god is dropping heavenly mantles upon a generation i don't know about you i'm not going to miss my mantle i'm not going to miss my mantle i know what god has imparted to me and i will
protect that nothing is worth that precious anointing on your life no compromise no sin no distraction nothing is worth that anointing on your life the crucified life is a powerful life the crucified life is a soul-winning life the crucified life is a life that glorifies god his eyes are searching who will go for us who can i send who will go and tell the world that jesus saves who will send those that will tell the world that jesus saves who will lay down their life for the sake of the gospel it's time that we crucify
our laziness it's time that we crucify our pride our ego that sense of competition our fear our doubts our offense our disobedience it's time to put it on the cross and leave it on the cross don't let it off the cross again your flesh wants a resurrection don't give it one the bible says this in galatians 5 verse 24 those who belong to christ jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there you know you read of enoch the bible says he walked with god and he
was not for god took him when i read that i said to the lord lord i want to be a was not too. when moses ascended the mountain the bible says and as he ascended the mountain he disappeared into the cloud oh god let me disappear into the cloud john 3 30 says i must decrease but he must increase you know why john the baptist said that he said that because his ministry prophesying the coming of the messiah was now taking a back seat since the messiah had arrived so people weren't coming to him to
hear his teachings anymore not as many john's crowds were dwindling jesus crowds were growing people's focus on john was shifting to their focus on jesus that's why he said i must decrease he must increase when people look at you do they see jesus do they see the glorious image of the son of god god wants to use you there is no limit to what god can do with a life surrendered to the holy spirit there's no limit take those limitations off it's not about how gifted you are it's about how surrendered you are even as
i'm talking i sense a great stirring in you there are people of god with gifts and talents and abilities that if only we would lay down our lives i don't want to build what god told me to crucify what i'm describing is not an easy thing there was a group of people came up after the service last night and they asked me to pray for them and they said to me one of them the first one who i prayed for he said i'm ready to pay the price i'm ready to pay the price you remember
that and i told him do you even know what you're asking he said no but i'll pay whatever the price is and when we begin to pray the power of god came on them when god calls you to pick up your cross it's going to be something you don't want to give up that's the thing about the cross it's never what you like but tonight there's power waiting to be imparted upon people who will say take all of me do you want that lift your hands begin praying in the holy ghost right now as i
said i want to pray for those who sense a call of god on their lives i said this last night the ministry is not just fivefold i'm talking about the call everybody praying in the holy ghost all across the room jesus [Music] steve how about that song you are worthy of it all let's just have the team play it for now is he worthy [Music] jesus you watching online ask the holy spirit to search your heart it's time to lay things down [Music] tonight's message was a simple one sometimes i teach sometimes i preach sometimes
on nights like tonight i just share what i'm sharing with you is something you can experience something you can have power from on high power from on high [Music] the power comes upon the surrender [Music] patrick bring these two women right there keep going keep going keep going keep going keep going those two on the end right there bring them here i looked at them i don't know who they are i just looked at them and i saw that i need to lay hands on them both you lift your hands both you lift your hands
in the name of jesus father let there be an anointing an impartation from on high everybody praying in the holy ghost now come on ladies what i want you to do is just say jesus say take it all now receive of that power receive of that power thank you jesus i sent such a strong anointing here close your eyes [Music] receive his touch that's the power of god here rest you lift your hands pray in the holy spirit [Music] tonight you're here you want god to use your life you're ready to lay it all down
all of it [Music] come and kneel at these altars quickly now they're open the power of god is flowing [Music] it's a moment of surrender a moment of surrender condor jesus we honor you if you have to kneel in the aisles just kneeling the aisles that's okay [Music] just as long as you're responding just as long as you're responding [Music] church it's time lift your voices the power of god is here [Music] foreign [Music] so leave it at the altar this is a moment of repentance this is a moment of purity he's purifying the people
lay it all down lay it all down lay it all down jesus you can have it jesus you can have it you in your homes lay it all down you and your homes get on your faces before god in your living room in your bedroom wherever you are centering center [Applause] center [Music] every voice lifted down give it all to jesus as we worship him [Music] you are worthy of it you are worthy of it [Music] you deserve the glory [Music] you are worthy of it all you are worthy of it all from you are
all things and to you are all things you deserve the glory you are worthy of it all you are worthy of it all from you are our needs and to you deserve the glory [Music] [Applause] you are worthy of it all you are worthy of it all for from you are softly singing it now every voice singing you are worried [Music] lift your voice and sing and make it your prayer tonight church you are worthy [Music] [Music] sing it out church you are worthy of it [Music] you are worthy of it all [Music] you deserve
the glory [Music] holy spirit these are lives laid down a little softer on the keys a little softer these are lives laid down [Music] you know as you kneel here before the lord there are many of you who are dealing with insecurities [Music] there's a gentle flow of the spirit now [Music] you're filled with insecurities about who you are many of you about the things you've done you wonder can god use me you know he just wants one thing i love you lord [Music] and i lift my voice it's all he wants to worship you
oh my soul rejoice take joy my king in what you hear [Applause] and let it be a sweet sweet sound in your ear it's all he wants church forget about everything else now as we softly sing i love you lord [Music] and i lift my voice to worship you oh my soul rejoice take joy my king [Music] in what you hear [Music] let it be a sweet sweet sound in your ear just give it to him would you just tell him that you love him just tell him that you love him he just wants your
love he'll take care of the rest i promise you he will take care of the rest i promise you he just wants your love and those who love him obey him just give him your love lift your voices and just begin to tell him that you love him tell him that you love him he'll take it from there i promise you i promise you i promise you he'll take it from there bring this guy here everybody keep praying on the holy spirit keep keep ministering to the lord keep ministering to the lord he just wants
your love he just wants your love he just wants your love he just wants your love [Music] that's your friend that guy with the polo shirt on bring him here i love you lord now play with me ish i know i'm a little all over the place i'm just worshiping right now and i lift my voice oh wow to worship you oh my soul lord i rejoice i just want one thing lord that you would take joy my king i used to sing this to the lord when i was like 12 and 13. sometimes you
forget about the older songs [Music] wow these are lives laid down [Music] sweet sweet sound in your ear [Music] jesus we love you jesus name above all names oh just love him right now church don't worry about a thing just love the lord [Music] beautiful save yourself [Music] [Music] bring him here you want god to use you lift your hands father let him receive of that touch now in the name of jesus bring that girl up here name above all names beautiful savior that's the power of god you'll never be the same you'll never be
the same you'll never be the same emmanuel [Music] what a beautiful moment in his presence [Music] what a beautiful moment in his presence [Music] just wait just wait ask him to use you church ask him to use your life [Music] jesus jesus we're just waiting on him now just waiting on him just waiting on him [Music] said jesus lift your hands and say this say jesus spend me spend my life for your glory [Music] no no no no no just a moment just a moment just a moment i know it's overwhelming it can feel so
overwhelming at times but just just a moment right now it's a different flow many of you are feeling the power of god in ways you've never felt him before bring this woman up [Music] jesus [Music] lord let her receive of your touch [Music] that's the presence of jesus [Music] that's the presence of jesus you know my my team will play steve and then we'll do these worship songs these classics we call them because these were the songs that marked my life and and they bring me back to a certain place thank you jesus bring this
guy up here jesus we honor you [Music] right here lift your hands father let there be fire from heaven that comes upon him let there be fire from heaven that comes upon him in jesus name thank you for watching encounter tv don't forget to subscribe and click the notification bell also help us spread the gospel of jesus christ in the power of the holy spirit make a one-time donation or become a monthly supporter by clicking on the donate link now [Music]
