This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Focusing on Dying To Self”. At the beginning of this week I introduced you to the following passage and we began to walk our way through it. Let’s get back to it today and continue.
The Apostle Paul said, “The love of Christ controls us, because we know that one person died for everyone. So all have died. He died for all so that those who live would not continue to live for themselves. He died for them and was raised from death so that they would live for him. From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we don’t think that way now. When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new!” (2 Cor 5:14-17 ERV).
Today we will focus in on the words, “From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people.” This verse communicates a critical thought. So critical, that I will elaborate on it for days. Because of it’s importance, I feel led to share this verse with you from multiple translations. In all our getting, as Solomon taught us, we are attempting to get an understanding (Prov 4:7).
The AMP reads, “So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values].”
The NASB reads, “Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh.”
The GNT reads, “No longer, then, do we judge anyone by human standards.”
The J.B. Phillips reads, “This means that our knowledge of men can no longer be based on their outward lives.”
The CEV reads, “We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be.”
The Messages reads, “Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- When God looks at a man/woman He does not judge them based on their outward appearance or even their actions. God sees two things. First, He sees the plans He made for the person. He sees them the way He originally planned for them to be. Second, He peers down into the condition of their heart. He sees how yielded (or not) that person is to their divine assignment.
- Once we are Born-Again the Father expects us to be led of the Holy Spirit in all ways. Being led of the Spirit is supposed to be natural to us. In whatever ways we are NOT being led of the Spirit, in that area we are not natural (because we are already natural to the supernatural); in that area we are what the Bible calls “carnal”. Because we are living according to the “flesh” and not the Spirit.
- When Adam walked the earth before the fall he was completely Spirit-led. In this state his knowledge was not learned, but rather discerned.
- Adam never went to school to learn how to cultivate the garden, or to learn what to call the animals. Adam simply discerned what to do by the Spirit.
- While education is important, education can never come close to revelation. The Father expects us to live by the revelation He provides through His Spirit living inside of us.
- Once we are Born-Again the Father expects us to live by the Spirit, to the extent that we don’t judge anyone from merely a human or carnal point-of-view. We are not even supposed to judge ourselves from a human or carnal point-of-view. When we look in the mirror, the Father wants us to see ourselves the way He sees us.
I will stop here, because today I was simply laying the foundation for this thought.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. For years I lived my life from a human point of view. For years I relied solely on sense-realm evidence and human knowledge. I progressed my way through human education and I built up my intellect. But now I realize that You have called me to live based on a higher reality. Education cannot ‘hold a candle’ to revelation. You don’t want me to live solely by what I learn. You want me to live by what I discern. I declare that I do. Your Spirit has taken up residence IN me. As I yield, He leads me. As I open my mouth, He fills it with words. As I open my heart, He fills it with discernment. I no longer look at others, or even myself, from merely a human point of view. I am Spirit-led in all my ways. Your will SHALL be done, on earth, as it is in heaven, THROUGH ME, because I hear from heaven daily! My focus is on living each day based on Your reality and not what I see down here. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
