The Mystery & The Ministry Of The Cross -Theme TALK 2

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Telephone numbers 0703 03636 59 0703 76811 98 Email address lsmedia at livingseed.org or visit our website at www.livingseed.org Let us sit back and listen as the servant of God brings forth the Word of Life. This morning we are going to be deliberately looking at the mystery and the ministry of the cross at work in the life of a man that God wants to use in order to preach Christ and him crucified. Now, talking about the cross, there is so much that several people have either said or understood or propounded about the cross.

But this morning all we want to start doing is to search scriptures as much as we can just to discover what exactly is the mystery and what is the ministry of the cross and what is the power that it conveys into our lives when we bear that cross upon us daily. You will notice that the Lord Jesus Christ insisted that if any man wishes to come after him, if any man would be part and parcel of what he is doing, let him say no, let him forget self, let him deny himself. Take up his cross daily and follow me.

And as we are looking at that, we saw that the Lord Jesus Christ was raising this matter as a precondition, as a prerequisite for any man to really, really want to follow him and serve his purpose on the face of the earth. There are a few passages that I would like to refer you back to. We may not be able to study all of them in their fullness, but they give us a pointer onto something that we can begin to hold before we now come to conclude on bearing that cross, living the crucified life from day to day.

Now, you remember that when we first arrived, the passage we read was 1 Corinthians 1. Do you remember that? And I said we were not going to study it in depth, we just want to peruse through it to bring us a welcome. But this morning I felt we should take it a bit more and then pick a few issues out of it as we go ahead. Now, may I first note with you from 1 Corinthians 1. If you can quickly come to 1 Corinthians 1, verse 17 and verse 18.

Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is fully to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Now, without going so far or deep, I just want to first highlight that brother Paul understood something about the cross.

That the cross has power. That there is a power of the cross. And that the cross has a powerful effect that must not be emptied with our preaching.

It must not be obscured with our preaching with enticing words. That the cross actually has power. I just wanted us to highlight that before we go ahead.

We are not yet going to discuss that power. But let it be settled in our heart that the cross is not a mere thing. And the cross is not an empty symbol.

And the cross is not just something we wear on the neck. The cross has power. And that the power of the cross of Christ must not be emptied, must not be made of none effect, through sugar-coated, eye-sounding, eloquent preaching with the wisdom of words.

Even though the word of the cross or the preaching of the cross to them that perish is foolishness, it appears like foolishness. But to those of us who are being saved, it is the power of God. So I'm praying that God will help us as we study the mystery of the cross this morning.

That you will first of all experience the power that is released from the cross when you encounter it. In the name of Jesus Christ. Now one of the things that I believe the devil does not want us to say about the cross, that makes him to blackmail the cross.

You know that many of us, the way we talk about the cross, we talk about the cross with a basic misunderstanding. For example, if somebody is married and his wife is troublesome, when we want to cancel him, what do we say? Say, that's your cross, that's your own cross, carry it. Everybody has his own cross, that's your own cross.

That's a blackmail of the cross. The cross of Jesus Christ is not first of all a problem. Even though the people that don't understand the mystery of the cross, they may ridicule us because we are committed to the cross.

And they may make us to suffer persecution because of the cross. But let me tell you, the cross itself, are you hearing me, is not just a suffering. It's the power of God.

The greatest thing that has happened, that has baffled the devil, is the cross. He doesn't want the cross to be preached. Because every time we preach the cross of Christ in his context and in his dimensions, we tell a story of the defeat of the kingdom of darkness.

And we evoke the power of the kingdom of God upon our lives. Brothers, as I begin like this, I want you to know, that whereas you might meet people that think that when we talk about the crucified life, that it's a life of suffering. It's a life that is old fashioned.

And that when we talk like that, we are simply just bringing people to poverty. May I say to you, that a man that has come to the cross, is the only man that has access to the power of God. You want an effective ministry that will affect men in an enduring manner.

The power of such ministry is only the power that has emanated from where? From the cross, the cross that has walked upon your life. When you meet prosperity preachers, who are dressing big, and who are using all kinds of gimmicks to collect money, and to make themselves look prominent. You might be mistaken to think that they are powerful.

They are not. They don't have power with God. They may have the power of the media.

They may have the power of mammo. They may have the power of human publicity. They may seem to have the power of charisma.

But when you talk about power of his resurrection. Power that takes a man from the kingdom of darkness, and positions him for heaven. And keeps him going to heaven.

They don't have such power. Even though they may gather a crowd. If gathering a crowd is what you know as the essence of success in ministry.

I would have been so surprised because the man you, eh? That footballer, those footballers. Do they gather a crowd more than a preacher? Eh? If that is it. If it's just a crowd.

If Ebenezer will come to this town and begin to play his old juju music. What's going to happen? He will carry a crowd. Look at the crowd that used to follow Fela and Nicola Kukuti in those days.

Even though what he is saying is nonsense. But see the crowd. If it is the crowd that is the measure of spirituality.

Then we will have gone to learn all the methods. That attracts crowd. But here brother Paul is saying.

I determined to know nothing among you. Except Christ. And him what? Crucified.

They knew. That the power of his resurrection is the only authentic power for life and for ministry. But you can never experience power of resurrection if there is no death.

You don't talk of resurrection where death has not occurred. Am I right? On the day when Jesus rose. The testimony of the angels.

Was that they told the women. Come and see. He is no more here.

This was where he was buried and laid. He is no more here. He has risen.

If we cannot. Come to a point and say. Come and see.

This is where my old life was terminated. This is where my old life Mr. Flesh died. This is where it was crucified.

And behold he is no more here. Why are you looking for the dead among the living? If we cannot point to that. Then we do not have.

The power. Of his resurrection. At work.

In our lives. And our ministry. And brother Paul recognized.

That there is power of oratory. There is power of eloquence. There is power of public speech.

That many people used to applaud. People used to clap for. This man is a great speaker.

But brother Paul said. Such kind of thing. We do what? We empty the cross.

Of his power. So I decided not to do it. I decided not to engage.

In high sounding speaking. Analytical grammar. That makes people excited.

But leaves them deflated. Once you are gone. Sometimes you are preaching in the church.

People will stand up. And begin to hold their chair and say. Yeah.

And the man of God thinks he has already got power. But ten minutes after that. The people that were shouting.

They are deflated. They are going back to the same problem they came with. Because there is no power there.

That is not the power that will resurrect them. And raise them from their confusion. And Paul said.

I have seen the power of the cross. I have seen the power of the cross. It looks foolish.

To those that are perishing. But to those of us that have been saved. What is that? The power of God.

I just want to highlight that. Before I go ahead. To say.

That the cross. Even though it appears rugged. It sounds foolish to those who are ignorant.

It does not appear attractive. To those who only have eyes. For that which is flashy.

But to those of us. It is. The power of God.

It is. The power of God. And that preaching.

We must never preach. In a manner. As to rob the cross.

Of its power. And of its effect. On the hearts of men.

So my first submission to you is that. The cross. Is what? Is powerful.

Is the power of God. And that those who come. To experience the cross.

They are also the people. Who are coming to experience. The power.

Of its resurrection. And any power. That any preacher wants to have.

In order to affect men. In order to change them. In order to break the shackles of sin.

And of the devil from their lives. It has to be the power. That emanates.

From the cross. If it is not. It is going to be.

A fake power. Can I go away from that point? So that we can move on. There are many issues I need to raise.

So I want you to come with me. In 1st Corinthians chapter 2. 1st Corinthians chapter 2. Apart from. The 1st 2, 3 verses.

Where our brother Paul. Made it as a personal determination. I determined.

I resolve. To know nothing. Or to be acquainted with nothing.

Or to make a display of the knowledge of nothing. And to be conscious of nothing. There is nothing among you.

Except Jesus Christ. And him what? Crucified. I realize that.

If it was not a determination. If you are not determined to preach the cross. There are many many synagogue sermons.

That you can preach. Are you hearing me? If you are not focused. On what God called you to do.

There are many many many many many sermons. That you can fill your puppet with. Sermons.

That doesn't carry anybody anywhere. Sermons that only maintains the audience. And keeps them happy for a while.

But does not make them holy. It does not prepare them for heaven. And it does not make them.

Heirs. Of the kingdom. Disciples.

Who are bearing Christ's life about. So Paul said look. I could have come among you.

I could have displayed some other knowledge. I could have been discussing other issues. But I determined.

I resolved. To know nothing among you. To make a display of nothing among you.

To speak about no other knowledge among you. I determined and I resolved. Never to be conscious of nothing.

I don't want to be conscious whether you are a chief. Or you are a governor. Or you are an army general.

That's not important to me. Only one thing I determined to know among you. What is that? Christ.

And him. Crucified. But.

If you follow me. Now down to verse six. Where Paul began.

To now speak. He now said. How be it.

We speak wisdom. So permit me to note. That even though.

Correct preaching. That does not. Obscure.

Or rob. Or repudiate. The cross.

Of his power. Is not with wisdom of words. Is not with eloquent.

High sounding speech of intellectualism. We must say. That preaching of the cross.

Is not simplistic. Hallelujah. Because you as a preacher.

One of the problems you may be facing. Is that. If I'm only preaching Christ and him crucified.

If I'm only preaching the cross. Will I not appear as if I know nothing. Will I not appear.

When the intellectuals come to my church. Should I not display to them. How much Greek I've studied.

How much philosophy I've gone through. Will I not appear as a simpleton. Someone who does not know something.

Shouldn't I show them. How much English I also know. And you know how intimidating it is.

That sometime you come. Under the influence of these. High sounding preachers.

And you start being ashamed of yourself. And you start saying. I don't know why my own message.

Is always just this simple. About Jesus Christ. And about him crucified.

Why can't I talk about high sounding something. How can I. You know a man of God came and said. Let us do exposition about.

About the beards of Aaron. The beards of Aaron. That when the.

It's like the dew. It's like the dew of Ammon. That pours upon the head of Aaron.

And cools upon his beard. And went to the skirt. Hallelujah.

The beards of Aaron. You know when somebody says something. That looks so high sounding.

You say wow. Is there something in the beards. Of the high priest.

That I have not known. No let's sit down. And take a very serious exposition.

Nonsense. Nonsense. You that you have not known.

Enough of Jesus. What do you want to know about Aaron. Whom God has discarded.

Aaron expired before he died. And if the priesthood of Aaron was useful. There will also be a need.

To set up another priesthood. After another lineage. So let me say that.

Even though. The preaching of the cross. That releases his power.

Must not be raw. Of his effect. Because of eloquent.

High sounding. Intellectualism. I want to say that the preaching of the cross.

Is not simplistic. It is actually. Look at what Paul said in verse 6. Yet among the mature.

We do what. We do what. We speak wisdom.

Among them that are perfect. Yet not the wisdom of this world. Nor of the princes of this world.

That come to naught. But we speak the wisdom of God. In a mystery.

Even the hidden wisdom. With God ordained. Before the world unto our glory.

Which none of the princes knew. Which none of the princes of this world knew. For had they known it.

They would not have done what? They would not have crucified. The Lord of glory. Brothers.

The cross. Is the strategic. Mystic wisdom of God.

The cross. Is the strategic. I say mystic.

I say mystic. But I would have loved to find a word to say. It is a mystery.

It is something that baffled the devil. The devil did not know. What God.

Meant. When he introduced the cross. If the princes of this world had known.

What did the Bible say? They would not have crucified. The Lord of glory. I wanted to know that the cross.

Is the mystery. That God kept. It has been established from before ages.

It was ordained for our glory. So let me inform you now. That the cross.

Is a mystery. That God ordained. For our glory.

So when brother Paul said. God forbid. That I should glory in anything except the cross.

I wanted to know that. When your eyes open. To see the glory.

And the mystery of the cross. Then you will know. That the cross actually.

Was what God ordained. For our glory. Sometime.

Sometime. When my eyes suddenly see. The victory.

That emanated from the cross. The authority. That came.

From the cross. The anointing. That is released.

Onto a man's life. Because you have come to experience the cross. The release.

The supernatural uplifting. That comes to a man's life. Because the cross.

Has crushed. Mr. Flesh from his life. And the cross.

Has opened the gate. Onto the flooding. Of the very life of Jesus.

Into our hearts. I have no other reason. To be excited.

I'm excited. And I would like you to see that quickly. Because all of this.

They are just first. Issues. Background issues.

For us to come to where we need to go. The crucified life. Preaching.

The crucified Lord. The crucified life. But I want you to first note all of this.

Before we draw the application of it. On our lives. And on our ministry.

He said. The cross. Is a mystery.

Is the wisdom of God. Is the hidden wisdom of God. Ordained before the ages.

For our glory. Which the princes of this world did not know. When we say the princes of this world.

Whom are we talking about? The principalities. And the powers. The rulers.

Of this present darkness. The God of this world. If they had known it.

They would have done everything to avoid the cross. Unfortunately. They thought.

That the cross. Was going to terminate Jesus. And that they would disgrace him.

And that they would discredit him. And they were wondering why. He who is the son of the living God.

Was mute. And did not speak. He was dumb.

Like a sheep before his shearers. They were wondering. Even Pilate was surprised.

The thief on the left was surprised. If this man is the son of God. Why should he be allowed to be crucified? He is the son of God.

Let him come down now. And Jesus kept quiet. Jesus kept quiet.

I know that the kingdom of darkness. They couldn't understand. At first they thought they were winning.

They thought they were gaining ground. They thought that we have finally finished this man forever. They didn't understand the wisdom of God.

Let me show you that wisdom. Very quickly. Very quickly.

Before we move to the next. Can you go back to John chapter 12? John 12. John chapter 12.

Please. Move quickly to verse. 30, 31.

John 12. You know in John 12. That was a very very.

Difficult but interesting passage. Where people came. From everywhere singing.

Hosanna in the highest. Do you remember? And now some Greeks came. Even great men of wisdom.

They were coming now. And they went and met Philip. And Philip went and told Andrew.

And they said sir. We will do what? We will see Jesus. And that was the height.

When Jesus was riding on the earth. And everybody was singing. Hosanna in the highest.

Hosanna in the. You know it was looking like. The climax.

Of Jesus ministry on earth. And do you remember? How the Pharisees. And the Sanhedrin council.

Were biting their tongue. And say wow. You see now.

The whole world. Has gone after him. We tried to finish this man.

We couldn't finish him. See everybody is singing about him. Out of that annoyance.

They came out. They saw all the children. All the women.

Those that carry palm fronds. Those that carry their hair tie. Those that carry leaves.

And they were. You know put everywhere on the road. They were so annoyed.

They said. Keep your mouth shut. Why are you singing like that to this man? Stop.

And Jesus looked at them and said. Even if this man. Were to shut up their mouth.

Stones. Stones. Uncountable number of stones.

Would jump up. And praise me. But you see at that point.

Listen to me. This is the mystery. This is the mystery.

The people said. We will see Jesus. And Jesus.

At that point. In chapter 12. Chapter 12.

You know I wanted you to read verse 30. But I want you to read verse 23 now. Jesus answered them saying.

The hour. Did you see? The hour. Is come.

That the son of man. Should. Did you see the word should? This is the hour.

That the son of man. Should. Be glorified.

Do you know the meaning of the word should? What would have been the difference between should and shall? If you had said the hour has come. When the son of man shall be glorified. And the hour has come.

When the son of man should be glorified. What is the difference between those two statements? If I say I should be glorified. I shall be glorified.

What is the meaning of that? Which means. This is what ought to have happened. Which will not happen.

When he said the hour has come. When the son of man should. Be glorified.

It means. This is actually the hour. That I ought to.

Have been glorified. But it will not happen now. Did you understand that? If he said the hour has come.

When the son of man shall be glorified. What would that have meant? It means it's going to happen now. So I saw Jesus.

At the height of only glory. At the height of only applause. Which if you don't understand.

You will say yes. This is the climax. But Jesus saw something else.

And what he saw was in verse 24. Verily, verily, I say unto you. Unless.

Or except. A cone of wheat fall into the ground. And die.

What does it do? It abides alone. But if it dies. What does it do? It bring forth.

Much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it. And he that hateth his life in this world.

Shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me. Let him follow me.

And where I am. There shall also my servant be. If any man serve me.

Him will my father honor. Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father save me from this hour.

But for this cause. Came I unto this hour. Father glorify your name.

Then came there a voice from heaven saying. I have glorified it. And I will glorify it again.

The people therefore that stood by. And heard it. Said that it thundered.

Others said that an angel spoke to him. Jesus answered and said. This voice came not because of me.

But for your sakes. Now. Is the judgment of this world.

Are you there? Now. Shall. Did you see the careful use of shoes? And shall.

Now. Shall. The prince of this world.

Be cast out. And if I. I. If I be lifted up from the. From the earth.

What will I do? I will draw all men. Unto me. This is said.

Signifying what death. It should die. Did you understand that passage at all? Eh? You don't.

Now you see the cross. Jesus could have gone to heaven. Without passing through the cross.

Eh? But he would have been. Alone. He would have been.

The only one. But if he was going to bring many sons unto glory. If he was going to have plenty much fruit.

What must happen to that corn of wheat? It must die. And God said to him. Look.

This is the hour. You should be glorified now. And it is your right.

But. Here is the cross. That will do something.

That will cause you to draw all men to yourself. That will bring many more sons to glory. That will finish every tyranny of Satan over mankind.

Can you make a choice? Whether to go there. Or to come up. And if I would say Jesus.

Seeing the glory. That was said before him. What did he do? He endured.

The cross. Despising. The shame.

Permit me to tell you brothers and sisters. And this is very important. For us to catch.

What is the mystery of the cross? You see. The cross. I'm first talking about.

That of Jesus. Before I would talk about. My own cross that I must be carrying every day.

If I'm also going to be relevant. In the purpose of God. The cross.

Was that. Instrument. To bring this corn of wheat.

To death. In order that it might bring many, many, many sons. Unto glory.

And so Jesus said. It's okay. It's okay.

Except the corn of wheat falls to the ground and dies. I'm not sure the Greek. That wanted to see Jesus.

That sent Andrew and Philip to go and see him. I'm not sure. Philip and Andrew went back.

To tell them anything. Because. What they heard Jesus say.

Was baffling to them themselves. Am I right? Eh? Said. Oh, sir.

Some Greek want to see you, sir. And the master said. The hour.

Actually has come. When the son of man should be glorified. But very liberally I say unto you.

Unless the corn of wheat falls to the ground and dies. It abides alone. But if it falls down and die.

It bringeth forth much fruit. He that loves his life. Shall lose it.

If I should love my life now. As to preserve it. I will lose it.

But whosoever shall lose his life. He shall have it. If anyone follows me.

Let him follow me. If you want to serve me. Follow me.

Hey. Brother. Do you want to serve Jesus? Follow me to the cross.

Follow me to the place of death. Only those. Who allow their lives to fall down and die.

Can multiply. Only those. Who will allow the cross.

To crush. Them. As if it's going to finish them.

They are the only people. That can bring many many others. To the kingdom of God.

Do you want to serve Jesus? Let me ask you. How many of you want to serve Jesus? Let me see your hand again. You really really want to serve him.

And you want to serve him effectively. Hey. Then I ask you.

Follow me. That's what Jesus said. Follow me.

Where I am. And the one that serves me. Him.

My father. We do what? We honor. And you know from that point.

He didn't elaborate beyond that. Because he was going to face this matter. But you see.

As soon as Jesus agreed. He said for this hour. I came.

What should I say? Father. Save me from this. But for this hour I came.

This is the main reason why I came to the earth. I came to come to this point of the cross. In order to deliver man.

From every power of darkness. Are you with me to this point brothers? We are coming gradually. So when Jesus Christ.

Said father. Glorify thy name. I'm going to face this crisis.

I'm going to face this cross. I'm going to face this death. But you will not leave my soul.

In hell. To see corruption. And the father said.

I have both glorified it. And I will glorify it again. Brother.

If you accept. To come to the cross. And to agree.

With the crucified life. There's a glory before you. If you agree that death will walk in you.

There's a glory. That you will begin to enter into. Not only the glory of going to heaven.

By the grace of God. Even here on earth. You will start seeing the glory.

You will see. That the cross releases. On the men and women.

That decided to bear it. Praise the Lord. Are you with me? Do you think I can go ahead? So Jesus made an announcement in that verse.

And I want you to have. A bit of insight to that. Quiet announcement.

When the master said. Now. Now.

Is the judgment of this world. Now. Shall.

The prince. Of this world be cast out. And I. If I be lifted up from the earth.

I will draw. Some men. I will draw many men.

What did he say? All men unto myself. And that. Which he said there.

So that you will not. You will not misunderstand it. He meant.

The death. That he should die. The death of the cross.

When Jesus Christ. Agreed to go and taste death. For every man.

He has gained the authority. To draw all men. To himself.

Now me and you are sitting here. And that we have been given the apostleship. To call all men from all nations.

Unto the obedience of Jesus Christ. Was because of the cross. So permit me to say that.

The cross. Was what authenticated. The authority of Jesus.

To call all men to God. It was because of the cross. When he had gone on the cross.

And he had. You know finish. Finish on the cross.

And he had. He had now been raised. God has said.

All authority. In heaven and on earth. Is what.

Is given to you. I don't know how to put it to you brothers and sisters. Authority for ministry.

Authority to call men to obedience. Is always the authority that comes. Comes.

Out of death. So you know why Baba Okafor led. Philippians 3 this morning for us.

And he came to that verse 10. 310. And Paul was saying something that looked so strange.

He said. My determined purpose. Is that I may know him.

That I may be. A partaker. Of his suffering.

That I may be made conformable. Unto his death. And that if possible.

I might share. In his power of resurrection. That lifts me.

Up from among the dead. If somebody will help me read that passage. Philippians 3 verse 10.

And verse 11. But this time read it for us. Someone with amplified Bible will also help us.

For my determined purpose. That's. Aha.

Amplified. Yes. That I may progressively become more deeply.

And intimately acquainted with him. Yes. Perceiving and recognizing and understanding.

The wonders. Of his person. More strongly.

And more clearly. Aha. And that I may in that same way.

Come to know. The power at flowing from his resurrection. The power at flowing out of his resurrection.

Aha. Which it exerts over believers. And that I may so share his sufferings.

As to be continually transformed. In spirit into his likeness. Even to his death.

Aha. In the hope. In the hope.

That's first. Go on. Go on.

Go on. You know it has not finished. That's impossible.

Aha. I may attain to the spiritual and moral resurrection. That lifts me.

Out from among the dead. Even while in the body. You see.

I can't understand. The kind of prayer this brother is praying. The kind of desire.

That he was looking for. The level of understanding. That God had granted this kind of brothers.

He said look. I know. That the authority.

That emanated from Christ's resurrection. Is the one that gave him the keys. Of hell and of death.

To call men and to draw all men. To himself. If I were to walk.

In that footstep of Jesus. If I also become conformed to his death. If I also share in the kind of suffering that he had.

If I also experience the death to self. By any means. I also.

I may attain. Into that kind of resurrection power. That exerts over believers.

That I also come to that resurrection. That lifts me up. From among the dead.

Even while I'm still in the body. So you know he wasn't talking about when we get to heaven. He was talking about a life.

That exerts spiritual authority. Over men. Not by shouting.

How can I become a man. That when I speak the word of God. Men will be irresistibly drawn.

To God. That even if you don't like me. You cannot ignore what I'm saying.

Even if you decide to block your ears. Your heart will pierce. Because.

There is an authority. Flowing. But that flows.

Out of the crucified life. I recommend brothers to you. That rather than going up and down looking for money for ministry.

Rather than going up and down looking for posters to print. Rather than writing letters here and there saying come and support us. I recommend.

That let's go to that place. Let's go to the cross. Let me recommend that you should come with me.

Because I'm also going there. I have found that that's the only place I can remain all the time. I want to be.

A man who carries nothing. But the crucified life. The crucified life has authority.

Authority to bear. Upon the hearts of men. Authority to subdue.

The hearts of men. And draw them to God. If we are going to make disciples for God.

We need an authority of life. That is magnetic. That compares.

Obedience. As the spirit of God walks. In a man that has been broken.

That life of Christ. Is being released. To draw men to God.

So when Jesus said. Now is the judgment of this world. That's the next point I need now to raise.

Apart from that Jesus I would draw all men. That the power that comes out of the cross. Gives him authority.

To draw men. Authority in heaven and on earth. To draw men.

To make disciples of all nations. He didn't come by any other means. He came out of death.

And his resurrection. And those of us who want to preach. To see souls saved.

To see men converted. To see men. No matter how high they are in the world.

When they come face to face with you. Preaching the word of God. They melt.

They forget their position. They crawl to the altar. And say.

My heart has been torn apart. What must I do to be saved? I know you like that kind of ministry. Do you like that kind of ministry? Eh? Not a beggarly ministry.

Not a ministry when you stand there and say. You know man. I want you to help me.

Don't disgrace me. This thing that we are building. We have to finish it.

So do your. Do your utmost to assist us. Eh? Chief.

Don't forget us. Eh? Please. It's a long time you came to church.

I wonder whether I have offended you. Eh? Please. And if I have offended you, please pardon me.

You know I am a young man. I may not have experience. Eh? Don't leave this church.

It's your church. Eh? Please. Assist us.

And then the man put his hand in his pocket and said. Eh? Yes. You are now reasonable.

When you first came and you are shouting, shouting, shouting. We said. Maybe he didn't know.

Now I am happy that you are learning. Eh? Alright. Next week.

By next week. I would ask them to send a trailer of cement. Eh? To the site.

And I follow it up with 500,000. Ah! Then you almost prostrated. Even with your cassock.

Can you imagine that? Having been roped to serve God. I see you prostrating. For an uncircumcised man.

Because of his pocket. What is the problem? You may say. But what can we do? What can we do? Come to the cross.

Come to the place. Where the power of God. Is released over a life that has been crucified.

Come to that place. That's where the power of ministry is. That's where the power.

That convict sinners come from. And that's where the power. That draws men.

And attracts them. And keeps them following. That's where it comes from.

And I do recommend to you this morning. As I have. Embraced it from my own heart.

That God. I will not stop coming to that place. I will not stop pressing to that place.

I have come to know very very clearly now. That when you have come to that place. And you keep getting there.

People will hear about you. Demons. They will be told.

That there is another man there. Who is. Who is pursuing this power.

Of his resurrection. We fear him. Let's do something to quickly get him out.

I pray. That you will come. To the place.

Where God. Releases genuine authority. Over the lives of his servant.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Now.

I will draw all men. But now I want you now to see. That statement said.

Now shall the prince of this world cast out. It was because. At the cross.

Jesus did not only. Finish with our own nature. Mr. Flesh.

That is the internal obstacle. To the move of God. The cross also dealt.

With our external adversary. The devil. Please get what I'm dealing with.

I said the cross. What did he do first? It dealt with Mr. Flesh. Those that belong to Christ.

What have they done? They have crucified the flesh. With his passions and desire. And as the cross.

Is working internally. In each one of us. We will be reading that when I come to the application.

We will need to read that because. It's a very important part of our study. As the cross works internally.

In each one of us. To release the life. The crucified life.

I want to also say now. The cross. Has also worked externally.

On our external adversary. Even the devil. Look at the bible very well.

If you move out. Of that John 12. Which even if we did not have another scripture.

We would have settled there but. God has given us other scripture that could help us. So that in our study.

We can have. A wider context. Hebrews chapter 2. Verse 14.

I have skipped from verse. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Which.

Was dealing with what we have been talking. But verse 14 now. For as much then.

As the children. Are particles of flesh and blood. He also.

Who is that? Jesus. Also himself. Likewise took part of the same.

So that. You will see the word that. Did you see the word that? Eh? Other version may say.

In other that. Another version may say. So that.

Eh? Thank you sir. That through death. He.

Might. Destroy him. That did what? That had the power of death.

That is. The devil. And deliver them.

Who through fear of death. While all their lifetime. Subjects.

To bondage. Did you understand that verse? Eh? That Jesus Christ. In the same manner.

Took part. Of the same nature. That we carry flesh and blood.

But he did this. So that. Through death.

And which death? The death on the cross. He might. Destroy him.

That had the power of death. Who is he that had the power of death? Do you notice that? The word of God is very interesting. They did not say.

Eh? That he might destroy him. They did not say that has. Can you check your Bible? That they did not use the word has.

What did they use? Had. What is the meaning of had? Past perfect. He used to have power.

But can I tell you? Now. Now. Is the prince of this world cast out.

The power that he used to have. At the cross. What happened? Finished.

Brothers and sisters. When you come to the cross. You have not only come.

To end. The weakness of the flesh. That keeps confronting us.

Day and night. You have also come. To end.

To enter. Into the victory that Jesus Christ. Acquired for us.

Over the devil that used to have the power of death. So as we are talking now sir. Because of what happened at the cross.

Satan no longer. Has the power of death. In his hand.

Am I communicating? And that. Because through death. Jesus destroyed him that had the power of death.

And has delivered us. Who because of the fear of death. Was subject to bondage.

All our lifetime. So you see. The cross.

The mystery of the cross. Is that actually. When Jesus went to the cross.

And he said. It is finished. We could just.

Settle down on that word. It is finished. And begin to ask.

What was finished? And then we start looking at what was finished. The enmity between us and God. Finished.

Mr. Flesh. That never allows us to walk with God. Finished.

The devil. Who had the power of death. Finished.

The veil. That stood between us. That made the way into the oneness of all.

Inaccessible. What happened at the cross? Finished. At the cross.

The old natural life. What happened to it? Finished. At the cross.

Even the accusations. Or the record of deaths. That the devil had been compiling.

Against us. That stood contrary to us. That blocked our way from making progress.

What did the Bible say happened to it at the cross? That it was discarded. It was ignored. It was put away.

No limits. To his cross. Every time I have to preach Christ and him crucified.

Satan. Gets very confused and depressed. If he could stop my mouth, he would like to.

He said, why do you always talk about my defeat? Why do you capitalize on reminding the men, these people, that I don't have the power again? Why do you always want to preach the cross? Talk about money. Tell the people to come and look for money. Yes, this money is in my hand.

At least I will be more important. Tell them about death. About the fear of death.

That if they don't come for deliverance, they will die. So people that are preaching demons. People come to your church.

And the only thing you tell them. About the witches that will not let them be promoted. You have not told them of the man of Calvary.

You are a servant of Satan. People come to your church, they become more conscious. They become more fearful.

They forget the man of Calvary who died for their sake. Because you have not preached Christ. You have preached about your mother-in-law.

That has decided to pluck all your eggs. And at the last time you went home. When your mother-in-law came.

Do you remember he put a hand on your stomach? That was when she removed all your eggs. And before you know it. That sister.

Began to hate. Her mother-in-law. The Bible says, whosoever hates his mother.

Is a murderer. That one has no eternal life actually. So when they are ready to pray.

Oh God, even my mother-in-law. Is a killer. How can somebody pray that kind of prayer.

Go to heaven. All such preachers. They are servants of Satan.

They are not preaching the man of Calvary. And Satan is happy for that. Satan will gather more people there.

You see them going up. And I say, you have no ear. Pray for me.

You never pray for me. Please Lord. Please Lord.

They say, I will not make it. I will not make it. They say, okay.

Don't worry. White fasting. Yes.

The woman said, hey. I have never known white fasting before. Which one is white? Which one is red? Which one is wet? High standing nonsense.

Just to confuse. When the woman started shivering. She said, okay.

Don't worry. That's why we are here. You see, God has raised me up to do such kind of all manner of fasting for your deliverance.

The only thing you need to do. Just provide. Something for the man of God to open his mouth.

That's all you need to do. You know, God. God.

God raised us here for you. And there is no problem. Yes.

But 7 p.m. Every evening. Come for prophetic declarations. Prophetic declarations.

What's the meaning of that? What does that actually mean in the New Testament faith? That you have been called to preach. Except that you want to say something that makes you look important. So that people can also fear you.

So that we can say, ah, man of God, man of God. Has the man of God blessed you? Has he blessed you? He has no heart to come on my way, oh God. I've been coming for 4 days.

The man of God has no heart to pray for me. Let me beg him, let me beg him. So, they are even paying bribe.

To someone else. So as to connect with you. What ministry is that? My brother.

When the cross came. Jesus disarmed. Principalities and powers.

Is that what the Bible said? Please read it. Read Colossians 2. Very quickly. And read verse 14.

Colossians 2. And verse 14. Once I finish now. I will now move back.

Trusting God that. We will be looking. At the application.

The crucified life. Yes sir. Aha.

Against us. Which was contrary to us. And took it out of the way.

He took it out of the way. Kneeling it to his cross. Did you see that now? All ordinances.

All ordinances. That was written against us. All those ancestral spirits.

All those ancestral ordinances. I don't know whether you are hearing me at all. All the causes.

All the ordinances. That somebody said they place on your great great great grandfather. When you come to Christ.

And when you come to him crucified. All ordinances. All arrangements.

That stood against you. That were contrary to us. What did Jesus do to it? He took it out of the way.

Kneeling it to the cross. So when we preach him crucified. In that message.

Are you hearing me? Every deliverance was settled. When we preach Christ and him crucified. I want you to know.

That every. Covenants. Made by the living or by the dead.

With whatever blood. It was made. At the cross.

What happened to it? It was nullified. Taken out of the way. Kneeled.

To the cross. No man can come to Christ and him crucified. And go away in bondage.

If he was properly preached. If we actually brought men to meet him. And him crucified.

You will have seen that there. The people will be walking away in liberty. Even when the people will gather.

In their confederacy. As Isaiah 40, 54 said. In gathering they will gather.

But it's not by me. When they gather. And they are beginning to look for.

The weapons. That they have fashioned. Against the child of God.

What did the Bible say it will not do? It shall not prosper. You know why? He said for me. Is their righteousness.

Where was that righteousness coming from? From the man of Calvary. It is at the cross. That his righteousness.

Was imputed. To us. Said God made him who knew no sin.

To become sin. For us. That we might become.

The righteousness of God. In him. Where did God make him sin? Who knew no sin.

Where? At the cross. If we will preach him crucified. I want to inform you.

In preaching Christ and him crucified. There is all sufficiency. To meet the need of everybody.

But something I have told you. That we can only preach. The crucifixion of Christ.

During the passion week. And when we finish that. We say okay let us now face reality.

Those of you. You have been walking. They have not promoted you.

And you are wondering why? There is a confederation. That was called. That you will never be promoted.

And at the beginning of the month. When your star was about to come out. Somebody programmed your star.

See what you are preaching now. You are now a star gazer. So you now said.

New moon prayer. New moon deliverance prayer. Yes sir.

Everybody that has programmed your star. Then your church member said. Amen.

And you are thinking you are a powerful preacher. You are a preacher for Satan. If we don't call it like that.

You may not know. Anybody who obscures Christ. And what he did at the cross.

Is an enemy of the cross. Anybody. Who occupies the pulpit.

And will not point men to the man of Calvary. Who died and rose again for them. And was pointing to stars.

New moon. Peeping into things that you don't understand. The Bible said.

Let nobody sit on you. In judgment. Over food and drink.

New moon. Sabbath. For the substance.

Is Christ. These are all shadows. How could you be pointing men to shadow.

And you have loved the substance. Such that our church members. Though by notional confession.

They are Christians. But they are idol worshippers in their hearts. They know nothing.

About the salvation. The true salvation. Because.

What we occupy them with week after week. Week after week. That this irrelevance is.

That the cross. Are you asking. If I preach Christ and him crucify.

Will my church members. Be prosperous. Yes.

So this book of the law will not depart from your mouth. Then you will have. Good success.

And you will make your way. How. Prosperous.

Baba you have not finished reading. You read up to verse fourteen. I want you to go to fifteen.

Yes sir. And having spoiled principalities. Having spoiled principalities and powers.

He made a show of them openly. Triumphing over them. And it.

In the cross. Thank you. Let no man.

It's okay. I know you want to read let no one. That's verse sixteen.

Where we are saying let no man therefore. Rob you. Defraud you.

Judge you. Say new moon. New moon.

New moon. What is it? I see so many. Young preachers of nowadays.

Some are carrying sand. Sand to the church. They carry sand.

Say go. Go. Go and bring the sand.

From your father's grave. What do you know. What do you.

What do you know that means. That's witchcraft. So you move up and down.

Move up and down. Maybe you get. Go and get black currant.

And put it as it is. Carry that sand now. Scatter it.

Scatter it. As you are scattering it. Everybody.

Who sat on your destiny. They are scattered. That's witchcraft.

That is. What? Witchcraft. Witchcraft.

That's not the word of God. That's not Christ. And him crucified.

Sometimes you say they should go and bring ashes. Ashes. So when they bring it.

How could you not blow ashes and it will scatter. And it blew everywhere. And then everywhere I say yes.

As they are flying everywhere. That's how your favor will fly everywhere. That's witchcraft.

Witchcraft. Why do you think I need to talk about this today? Because. Even those of us in the mainline churches.

You have been tempted. Because a desire to gather crowd. You are saying these are the things our people are going to learn.

Let's do it for them here. No, no, no, no. You don't learn bad manners.

Christ. And him crucified. Is the sufficient message.

To deliver men. And to set them free. Hebrew chapter 8 said.

Of all that we have said. Christ. Is the sum.

Of all things. It is God's answer to every need. And when he say it is finished.

Actually all sufficiency is in him. Praise the Lord. Are you with me to this point? Now.

We could go on and on and on looking at the cross. The mystery. And the ministry of the cross.

But I don't want to leave it hanging like that. It must come to you now. We have to now look at.

What does that imply for me. Brother Billy. Who is living in the 21st century.

Called. To preach the gospel. How does that.

Now come upon my life. Now. We read.

The next few verses. Of scripture. That will deal with.

And it will give us a hook. For the continuation of this message tomorrow. Now.

Turn now. To Galatians. You know we read Galatians chapter 5. You remember.

Right. We read Galatians chapter 5. So I want you to go back to Galatians. We read Galatians 5 verse 24.

But now we will now come back and read Galatians 2. And verse 20. And see how the Lord leads us. Galatians 5.24. We just mentioned it to remind you.

But Galatians 2.20 is where we are going to read now. Galatians 5.24 says. And they that are Christ's.

They that belong to Christ. What have they done? They have crucified. The flesh.

With their affections and lusts. How does that work out? Chapter 2. Verse 20. Let's go with me to Galatians 2. From verse 20.

Are you there? Okay. Verse 20. I. Am crucified.

Crucified with Christ. I. Am crucified with Christ. ESV.

New. King James will say. I have been.

Crucified with Christ. Nevertheless. I live.

Brothers let's catch. What we are not talking about the crucified life. Have been crucified with Christ.

I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless. I live.

Nevertheless. I am walking up and down. Nevertheless.

I live. But did you see the next word in that Bible verse? What is it? Yet. Not I. Yet.

Not I. But who? But Christ. Lives. In me.

We need to study that verse 20 very carefully. Because. It's now going to give us.

The platform. For bearing this life. This crucified life about.

For all that God will have me and you do. In the ministry. But I decided to say for what God will have me and you do in the ministry.

But I would like to have said. For what the Lord God will have you do in life. That you see.

The cross. That has. That has come upon our lives.

That has. Brought us to the experience of death. And deliverance.

This is not an historical cross. Praise the Lord. It's not something that happened.

And we have forgotten it. It is that which. Continuously.

Releases. Christ's life. But within us.

I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live. Yet.

Not I. But Christ. Lives where? In me. And the life.

Look at that scripture now. And the life. Which I now live in the flesh.

I live it. By the faith of the Son of God. Who loved me.

And gave himself for me. Can we please take that to read. From other versions.

That we might have. Very quickly. Yes sir.

Good news. If you are reading good news. You have to read from the last line.

Of verse 19. Okay sir. The last line.

I've been. Put to death. Yes.

With Christ. On his cross. I have been.

Put to death. With Christ. On his cross.

Brothers. Wait. I want God to settle that with me and you.

That for us to live for God on earth. The life. The natural life.

The human nature that we carry. Has to come to where? To the cross. I have been put to death.

Yes I am born. So that. It is no longer I who live.

But it is Christ who lives in me. Wow. This life that I live now.

I live by faith in the son of God. Who loves me. And gave his life for me.

Alright. Are you following something there? Please. Brother.

Repeat. That verse. I will ask you to stop at the right point.

I have been put to death with Christ. On his cross. Yes.

So that. It is no longer I who live. So that.

It is no longer I. Who is living. But it is Christ who lives in me. But it is Christ.

Who lives in me. Let's stop you there. Any other version that somebody will help us read.

Let's. Okay. Let's begin with New Living Translation.

Verse twenty. I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer.

I myself no longer live. I myself. No longer live.

May God. May God give you that testimony. Amen.

But Christ lives in me. Let's. Let's wait.

Okay. I pray that you can read the scripture very well. He said.

I. Have been crucified with Christ. I myself. No longer live.

I myself. No longer live. I'm no longer the one who is preaching.

But who? But Christ. Does what? Lives. His life.

In me. That's one of the greatest. Exchange of the cross.

When the cross took place. It took down. Our old nature.

It took down. The man we used to be. So that.

It will no longer be I. Who is living. Who is running up and down. But who? But Christ.

Who lives in me. Thank you brother. Wait.

Do we have contemporary English version? Or easy to read? What are you reading? Easy to read. Verse 20. I have been nailed.

To the cross. With Christ. I have been nailed.

To the cross. With Christ. So I am not.

The one living now. Wait. Did you hear the Bible? What did it say? I am not the one living now.

I pray that. I will have preachers. Who are no longer.

The one living. The one speaking and shouting. I pray.

That what God long for. Is for Christ. To find a space.

For in our mortal body. So that he. Can do his work.

In and through us. Baba read on. It is Christ living in me.

It is Christ living in me. I still live. In my body.

Yes. But I live by faith. In the son of God.

He is the one. Who lost me. And gave himself to save me.

Thank you sir. Any other version? Bible in present day English. I have been put to death.

On the cross with Christ. Still I am living. No longer I. But Christ is living in me.

Christ is living in me. And that life. Which I now am living.

In my flesh. I am living by faith. The faith of the son of God.

Who in love for me. Gave himself up for me. Thank you sir.

Thank you. The other man wanted to read something. What were you trying to read? Contemporary English.

CEV. Yes sir. I have died.

Aha. Hallelujah. I have died.

Aha. But Christ lives in me. But Christ lives in me.

And I. Now live by faith. In the son of God. Yes.

Who loved me. Aha. And gave his life for me.

Thank you. I have died. It's no longer I. That is living.

But Christ. Lives his life in me. So where is the amplified man? Amplified.

That is in him I have. Shared his crucifixion. It is no longer I who live.

It's no longer I who live. But Christ lives in me. But Christ lives in me.

The life I live. The life I live now. In the body.

I live by faith. Aha. By adhering to.

Relying on. And completely trusting. In the son of God.

Who loved me. And gave himself up for me. Amen.

What is this crucified life that we are talking about? I no longer live. But Christ. Is the one do what? Living his life.

But in me. The message. Wanted to read.

And I said you should wait for us. Now you read now. Message.

Indeed. I have been crucified with Christ. Indeed.

This is not just a mere talk. I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central.

Baba. Are you hearing that now? Aha. Your ego is no more central.

It is not important. Yes sir. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you.

Aha. Or ask your good opinion. Aha.

And I am no longer driven to impress God. I am not. Christ lives in me.

Christ lives in me now. The life you see me living is not mine. The life you see me living now is not my life.

But it is lived by faith in the Son of God. Who loved me and gave himself to me. Did you hear what we are talking about? I am not going to go back on that.

Don't go back on that. Don't go back on that. That is the life we are talking about.

That it is no longer I. that lives. But Christ that lives. And why is it that you are struggling to to to claim a right when you are no more there? You are dead.

Those who have come to experience this that the only peoples are who are free to carry Christ everywhere. They are the only people that it doesn't matter whether they ate, whether you greeted them or not, they are not living to impress you. They are not even living, struggling to prove a point.

They are dead. A man who is dead, can you, can you, can a dead man fear death? Talk to me now. I'm dead.

We will not promote you. And so what? I'm dead. I'm dead to promotion, I'm dead to demotion.

I'm dead to applause, I'm dead to abuse. I'm only alive now because Christ lives in me, doing what he wants to do. Would this be where we could stop for today? Can we conclude at this point and say, yes Lord, if this is what you did at Calvary, to terminate my old man, so that it is no longer I, I, I, I, I, no more.

It's Christ now who lives his life, doing his work, pursuing his own glory, but in my mother body. And that passage that we would have loved to narrate, to connect it, to show that this is a daily matter, daily experience, such that it is not what human nature tells you to do now. That human nature, what has happened to it? Crucified.

He's dead. It will be what Christ, the living Christ, who is now in me. That's what will matter.

It is the one I'm carrying to the pulpit. It is what he says that now matters. It is him that men must hear, it is him they must see, and it is him they must honour.

Not me, not my name, not my convenience, not my pleasure. It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me. It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me.

In me, in me, in me. Jesus is the life in me. Hallelujah.

It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me. In me, in me, in me. Jesus is the life in me.

Hallelujah. It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me. When these men came to this point, something was released in them.

So you hear Paul constantly saying, God forbid that I should believe in anything except in the cross of Jesus, through which I have been crucified to the world. And the world is crucified to me. As you see me now, I bear in my body the marks of Jesus Christ.

So when it comes to a place, here is a man carrying nothing but Christ, and he is interested in knowing nothing apart from Christ and him crucified in the people. If we are going to preach well, this must be your experience. And so this morning, we are going to pray again, and then we shall go and be alone with God.

When you get to be alone with God this morning, because we are going to have some more minutes than we had yesterday, and I am asking you to do two things there. First, the cross of Jesus Christ was God's mercy for my deliverance and yours. When he went to Calvary, it was our old man that he carried to be nailed there.

And he did that so that we will no longer live, but Christ will be the one living his life for you. And at the cross, I want you to know that everything is finished. All that must emanate from your life now will be out of that experience of Christ at Calvary for you.

When you get onto the place of prayer, anything that belongs to Mr. Flesh, anything, all those things that he used to brag about, Paul said, all things that were given to me, what did they become now? Rubbish. Honestly speaking, I want to tell you the truth. May God help you to see the glory of Christ and the glory of what he did at Calvary.

It is there you will see that all the things that we used to brag about, they are useless. Nothing. Nothing.

We bragged about many things. We bragged about age, we bragged about where we come from, we bragged about what is the meaning of that? A dead man. Dead.

The glory that you are seeing now is Christ in you. Is that what the Bible said? It said Christ in you. The hope of glory.

If it is Christ now that lives in me, that everything that anybody says to me or says about me, it doesn't matter again. All that matters is Christ and him crucified inside of my life. Are there people that you have kept malice about? The man that used to keep malice, what has happened to him now? Crucified.

He is dead. Even before we finish, just take your pen or your text and text this person and say, brother, the man that was quarreling with you died. He is finished.

Your wife that is not here, please call her and say, I am sorry. The very, very aggressive man, what has happened to that aggressive man here? He died. You are carrying another life home.

Which life would that be? Christ himself, Jesus, living his life, doing his work, but in you. Everything that cannot pass through the cross must be buried at the foot of the cross. Are you hearing me? Everything.

This is how to walk into this crucified life. That will bring power, bring authority, bring glory and bring effect on the ministry we hereby discharge. Please rise with me as we pray.

We'll pray for this few minutes and then you will now go to be alone with God for 20 minutes. Just want you to be there with God and say, Lord, this thing that you are beginning to do in my heart, this thing that you are beginning to show me, this life that you are pointing at, even though I've been a preacher for 10 years or for 15 years or for 20 years, it has been my struggle. The man that struggles has come to the end today.

As you say, it is finished, Lord. By faith, I also agree with you. It is finished.

Would you like to say to God, thank you for the cross. Thank you for going to Calvary. Thank you for accepting for the corner way to fall down.

Otherwise, there will have been no way for the prince of this world to be cast out. There will have been no way for the judgment of this world. There will have been no way for men like me and you to be drawn to God.

Lord, thank you. Do you know that at Calvary, all the record of our sin and our misbehavior was canceled and made to the cross? Do you know that at the cross, all the ancestral spirits, all the ancestral covenant, everything that people used to say, and they tie your umbilical cord and all of those things, finished. At the cross, I want you to know it, that there is no such power that can hold you down again.

There's no such arrangement. Even if they take your name back onto the family shrine, when they call your name, they say, sorry, we can't see it again. We can't locate him again.

He has been translated. All we are seeing now is the cross. We are only seeing the cross.

We can't see the man again. The cross has finished with him. All our records are canceled.

We can't oppress him again. Even him that had the power of death was disposed. He was discarded.

He was disgraced. He was disarmed. Satan would not like me to announce this, but I must announce it.

At the cross, you were disarmed. You lost the key. You lost the power.

You lost the authority. Where are you, O Satan? Where is your sting, O hell? Where is your power, O death? Where are you? When the master says it is finished, it is finished. It is finished.

It is finished. Look at this up and down, up and down, up and down. Yesterday you were under an oppression of a demon.

Last week they were pushing you. It is finished. Declare it at the cross.

It's finished. It's finished. The enemy within was abolished.

The enemy without was canceled. Father, we thank you for the cross. Thank you for going to the cross.

If the prince of this world had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. Look at every chain on your neck, broken. It is finished.

But the greatest thing at the cross is the exchange of his life. No longer are you going home, but Christ living his life in you, wanting to show God his glory in your life. Father, thank you.

Thank you this morning. Thank you. Thank you for what you are doing now.

Thank you for the work that you completed at Calvary. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord. It is finished.

It's finished. Father, we ask you that as we go now, even to be alone with you and to press this matter, the light of your glory will shine. You will bring the scenes of Calvary before our eyes.

The liberty that broke forth at Calvary, the power that emanated out of the cross, the power that raised him from the dead, that same power will surge through your people from this afternoon in the name of Jesus Christ. It is finished. Holy Spirit, please shine the light upon our hearts and let this lead to a greater commitment unto carrying Christ's life about, the crucified life, preaching and bearing about Christ's life to help men out of their bondage.

In Jesus Christ's name we have prayed. Amen.