This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing with our new mini-series entitled, “Focusing on Dying To Self”. A few days ago I highlighted six believers in scripture who had to die to their old identity in order to become the person God called them to be. One of them was Peter. I said the following about him:
“Simon had to die to his identity as a fisherman in order to become the Apostle Peter. All his life Simon had perfected his craft as a fisher of fish and he had to walk away from everything he was comfortable with in order to become a fisher of men. He was not perfect. He often made mistakes. He was top-tempered and quick to ‘fly off the handle’, but he was called and he accepted the call. He died to Simon the fisherman and become Peter the Apostle.”
Once again, Jesus said: “Any of you who want to be my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me. Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for me and for the Good News will save it.” (Mark 8:34,35 ERV).
Let’s seek to learn a few things from the life of the Apostle Peter this morning.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. As a fisherman Peter was part of a culture that produced rough and rugged men. Simon the fisherman was not polished, refined, cultured or sophisticated. But he was called to reach the religious elite. So by the grace of God, Simon the Fisherman died to self and in the process he became Peter the Apostle, the leader of the New Testament church. Peter is a grace-case and so are you. As you die to self you get to live for Christ and the life you will live is the life God planned for you, from the foundations of the world.
2. Simon the Fisherman was willing to pay the cost of discipleship. He left everything to follow Jesus. What did he get in return? His destiny!
3. In order for Simon the Fisherman to become Peter the Apostle he had to be willing to leave the life he had for the life Jesus was offering him. Peter made the choice, he paid the cost, he made the sacrifice. Are you willing to do the same?
4. Godly success is not a matter of more trying, it is actually a matter of more dying. Simon had to die to self in order to become Peter, and you will have to die to self in order to become the person God called you to be.
5. God is not looking for perfection, but He is looking for authenticity. Peter never tried to be anyone but himself. He was far from perfect, he made a myriad of mistakes, but God was able to anoint his authenticity. See, God’s anointing only flows through the authentic. God does not validate unauthentic behavior with His blessing.
6. When you come to know Jesus as the Messiah, as Your Lord, you are then in position to come to know yourself. One day Simon the Fisherman received revelation from the Father concerning Jesus’ true identity. When Simon revealed Jesus’ true identity as Christ, Jesus turned around and revealed Simon’s true identity as Peter.
a. You will never find yourself (your true self), until you find Jesus.
b. You will never find yourself until you find Jesus.
c. You will never walk in your divine purpose until you find Jesus.
d. You will never experience true success in life until you find yourself in Jesus.
e. Simon discovered Jesus and in the process he discovered himself and his life’s purpose.
7. Discovering your purpose is one thing, but you will never WALK IN IT until you die to self. Peter had to die to Simon, Abraham had to die to Abram, Paul had to die to Saul and you will have to die to self. God understands what He is asking of you. When God asks for ALL OF YOU, it is no small request, but if you comply what you will get in return is ALL OF GOD!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by dying to self. You made plans for me, You put Your divine empowerment IN me, You orchestrated my success, and You have given me divine favor. All that stands in the way of my divine success is ME! In order to become the person You birthed me to be, I must be willing to give up the person I became on my own. Before coming to know You I picked up habits, characteristics, customs, practices and ways that conflict with the life You birthed me to have. I grew accustomed to things that are now counterproductive to my divine assignment. You have a great destiny for me and I have a life I have grown accustomed to. In order for me to become the person I am called to be, I must be willing to die to self and give up everything that is not Your will. Your grace is there, but You are waiting to see if my faith will be there. I declare that it is. By faith I die to me and my old ways. I decrease that You may increase in me. And as I do, You flow through me, and I become the person I was always intended to be. I am willing to pay the price for Godly success. That price is giving You my life! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
