So, Luke 9:23 says you have to die.  You have to lose your self-will.  You have to stop thinking you know better.  There are no alternative ways.  The world wants to tell us today that there’s a better way to love people and to help people than introducing them to the love of Jesus Christ, and that’s a lie of the devil.  The greatest message of love for people is stop loving yourself, die, surrender to Jesus’ lordship.  He bought you with His blood, you’re no longer your own, praise God!  So, as this message came forth in power.  Many people will tell us, “Well, this was a special work for the 12 original apostles,” and the very next chapter goes on and speaks toward that and says, “He took another 70 and He sent them two by two, and He told them ‘The harvest is truly great, but the labourers are few’” (Luke 10:2).  And He commissioned them, and He began to send them forth and He says in verse 19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Get rid of the fear in your life.  “Nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  “Well, I’m afraid if I start praying, then these demons are going to jump on me.”  Are you a believer or are you one of the seven sons of Sceva?  “Well, I don’t know, maybe I got a little Sceva in me, you know.”  For them it was religion.  They went to the demon-possessed guy, and they said, “In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches, come out” (Acts 19:13).  And that demon spoke back and said, “We know Jesus, we know Paul…”  If ever a demon speaks and says, “Who are you?”  Run!  We know who we are; amen?  I know who I am.  I’m a son of God.  I’m an heir and joint heir with Christ Jesus.  I’m endued with power from on high.  I’ve been given the anointing of the indwelling Holy Spirit in me that gives me power over all the power of the enemy; amen?  That’s who I am.

We’re almost talking like the passage there in Acts where it starts off with the healing of the lame man, where it says, “Look on us” (Acts 3:4).  And then later the response was, “Why look on us as if by our own power (amen?) we’ve done this thing (verse 12)?”  You guys need to know it’s in the name of Jesus, whom you crucified, whom God has raised from the dead that this man stands before you whole.  Saying, “I know who I am,” is not arrogance; it’s the greatest humility that recognizes the finished work of Jesus Christ and I’m not afraid.  I don’t have the “spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).  I will preach this gospel.  I will lay hands on the sick.  I will cast out devils and God will be glorified; amen?

Father, we thank You for Your Word and we ask that You would continue to empower us, to encourage us, to enlighten us with this great finished work.  We want You to receive the glory and the honor.  But Father, we ask, in true humility and in faith, help us to love more.  I don’t love these people enough.  You are touched with the feelings of our infirmities; let us be touched.  The consequences are eternal damnation.  Help us to do something that’s an expression of Your love and Your finished work.  And Father, for all of that, we’ll give You the glory, and the honor, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.