The Lord says: "I am opening the spiritual eyes of My people to see in the Spirit. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see what I want them to see in the Spirit. They shall see My glory and they shall see My plans, purposes, visions for their lives."
The Lord says further: "To be pure in heart so that you can see what I want you to see even regarding the future, My people must be ready to die to themselves. Die to your sins. Die to your pride. Die to your lust. Die to your greed. Die to your yearning for fame and name. Die to your fleshly, sinful desires. Just as the seed must die before it sprouts and grows good fruit, so shall My people be."
Let me be clear here. When the Lord says 'die to yourself', it doesn't mean to kill yourself. No! But rather, die to anything in your life that hinders your walk with God, die to anything in your life that hinders the glory of the Lord from being shown in your life, or die to any area of your life that hinders God's plans, purposes, or visions for your life. That's what the Lord meant by 'die to yourself'.
In Matthew 5:8, Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The word 'pure' here is 'katharos' in Greek, meaning 'clean, clear, pure'. In other words, 'Blessed are those who are clean, clear, pure in their heart'. Why? So that they shall see God!
What does 'they shall see God' mean here? The word 'see' here is 'optanomai' in Greek, from the word 'optomai'. By the way, the word 'opto' means 'to see (with your eyes)', and it can also be your spiritual eyes. So, 'optanomai' here means 'have a vision (of God and what God sees)'. In other words, 'you see what God sees'. Not only you see the glory of God, the majesty of God, or the light of God, but you also see what God sees! So, over here, Jesus meant that to be pure in heart is so that you can see God - see His glory, see what He sees, or see whatever He wants you to see in the Spirit! And this includes seeing His plans, purposes, and visions for your life!
Now, in order for this to happen, the Lord has spoken today that we need to die to self. You see, many people want to know God's plans, purposes and visions for their lives, but they are not willing to die to self.
Psalm 32:8 says, 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.' The word 'eye' here is 'ayin' in Hebrew. It speaks of God's sight for you, or God's vision for you. So here David wrote that God promised to instruct, teach and guide His people. Guide with what? Guide with His sight for you, or His vision for you!
But for you to receive Psalm 32:8, David also wrote one verse later in Psalm 32:9, 'Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle...' Now that's the condition for you to see in the Spirit, or to see what God wants you to see.
But why did David mention horse and mule? These are examples of animals that are not easily guided. In other words, they can be stubborn. They need the bit and bridle, and sometimes rigorous training from the master, before they can be of good use. Bit and bridle basically function together to give control of the horse's head, so that they can stay in the race, and not stray.
I know today's message may not be popular, unlike messages on prosperity, wellness or wholeness. There's nothing wrong with these messages of course, because God wants us to live a good life, to prosper, and to have good health. But what I mean here is God also wants us to walk in purity before Him, and to die to self. In fact, God has spoken this is a very important time for us to die to self.
In John 12:24, Jesus says, "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." See the words 'if it dies'? Unless the seed dies, it cannot reproduce or produce many more seeds. So, the seed must die. When the seed dies, it will then sprout, grow, and bear good fruit.
What are the areas in your life (that you know) you need to die to yourself? Each of us is answerable before the Lord. Indeed this is a time of soul-searching. You may want to ask Him, "O Lord, is there any area in my life that You want to change me, train me further, or uproot from me?"
Galatians 2:20 says, 'I have been crucified with Christ; It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.' These are the words of apostle Paul. And you know that apostle Paul had to die to himself. You know that he was a Pharisee of Pharisees, well learned, and well trained by a great tutor Gamaliel. But after the Great Light experience that led to his conversion, he had to count all those in the past as rubbish (Philippians 3:8). He had to die to all those reputation, fame, and even being respected by the people those days. And that's when he wrote that it is no longer he who lives, but Christ lives in him. And mind you, that takes a lot of dying to self. And apostle Paul understood this.
Indeed, whatever you are to become in Christ, whoever God wants you to be, and to walk in the fullness of His destiny for you on earth, this can only come about if you 'die to yourself' (in the areas that God wants you to die to yourself).
You may have to die to your pride or ego. You may have to die to your stubbornness. You may have to die to your lust. You may have to die to your greed. Or even die to the expectations of men or the status quo. So, it's not just dying to your sins.
For some of you, it may be dying to the yearning for fame and name. For some of you ministers of God, will you still be ministering faithfully and give all your heart to serve even if there's no big stage? Even if it's just a small group of 2 or 3 persons that you minister to, and nobody else is watching? Even if there's no 'glamour' of big stage where hundreds or thousands of people are watching you? But I tell you what, God is watching your heart. This is the time God is testing many of His people. You know why? Because God is getting ready to promote many of His people and move them into the next level of anointing and authority in Him!
Jesus Himself set this example of dying to self. In fact, not only He died to self, He gave up all His divine privileges. Now, look here in Philippians 2:5-8, 'You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges. He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.'
So you see, Jesus has set the example of dying to self. He could have saved Himself. And He could have come down from the cross by Himself. But He didn't. He went through it all. Why? For you and I. Now look here in Philippians 2:9-11, 'Therefore, God elevated Him (promoted Him) to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' Hallelujah!
Jesus did not withhold anything. He gave it all. He said, 'Not My will', but My Father's will be done'. Blessed are you, people, if today, you can come before the Lord and say to Him, "Not my will, but God, Your will be done. Whatever You want to do in my life going forward, here am I, use me."
What are the other examples of dying to self?
Die to your 'smart in your own eyes' plans or ambitions. Die to your certain fleshly or sinful pleasures. Die to selfish ambitions. Die to certain wrongful relationships. Or even die to a certain relationship that is detrimental to God's plans for your life. For example, a certain toxic relationship that God wants you to uproot and cut it off.
Let me show you the contrast to Jesus. It's about Lucifer. Isaiah 14:12-15 says, 'How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depth of the Pit.'
Here, Lucifer became so impressed with his own beauty, his intelligence, his own power and position, that he began to desire for himself the honor and glory that belonged to God and God alone! This pride represents the actual beginning of sin entering the universe, and this precedes the fall of human, Adam.
But what the fallen angel Lucifer had failed, Jesus did it right. Jesus reversed it. And you, in Christ, you can reverse it as well. By the blood of Jesus Christ, you are washed, cleansed, forgiven, and you can start afresh and anew.
Right now, will you allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your conscience? Let Him speak in the inside of you. Let Him show you if there's any area in your life that you need to let go and change? Is there any area in your life that God wants you to uproot? Is there any area in your life that God wants you to die to self? Different people may be different.
Now, this is not a condemning message. In Christ, there's now therefore no more condemnation (Romans 8:1). But what I'm saying here is God loves you and God wants you to walk in the fullest of all that God has for you on this earth, fulfilling His destiny for you on this earth.
Heaven is rejoicing when you make that decision today. Blessed are you! And that's what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:8! 'Blessed are those who are pure in heart (clean, clear in heart), for they shall see God!' They shall see God's glory! That's how when you say, "Lord, show me Your glory!", the Lord is going to show up in many ways, the Lord is going to speak to you, the Lord is going to enlighten your spiritual understanding. Your life begins to be so clear, and you will know what direction to take in life.
You see, there's no shortcut here. Many people want quick fix in this modern days. But there are certain principles of heaven, in the spiritual realm, there's no quick fix. You just have to die to yourself in those areas. I know it's not easy to die to yourself in some areas. But if the Lord says let go, you let go. You are blessed, because that's when God is going to promote you to the next level.
So, this is what the Lord has spoken in this time and season. This is not a message of condemnation. This is a message of restoration. Because God wants you to see what He wants you to see, and God wants you to see His plans, purposes, and visions for your life, going forward.
Prayer: "Father God, we want to thank You today, because You are opening our spiritual eyes to see in the Spirit. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see You, and they shall see what You want them to see. They shall see Your glory, they shall see Your plans, purposes, and visions for their lives. So we ask that You show us the areas that we need to die to ourselves. Because the seed must die, before it sprouts and grow good fruits. We know that You mean well for us. You want to restore us. You want us to walk in the fullness of Your destiny for us. Not to condemn us. But so that Your glory will be shown in our lives in greater measure. Teach us, train us, change us, and correct us, in any area of our lives. In the name of Jesus. Amen."
