This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Focusing on Dying To Self”. Last 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 continue to focus in on this line: “From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people.” Yesterday I made a reference to not focusing on people’s outward appearance. I mentioned exercise, makeup and clothes. I received some feedback that helped me to believe some may have misunderstood the message. I am not against working out. I believe many believers have cut their lives short by not taking care of their physical bodies with diet and exercise. I’m not against dressing nice. I personally like fashion. I’m not against makeup. I would much rather see a woman well made up, than not. The point Paul is making is that as a believer you must not simply “know” people from their outward appearance. The true person is living on the INSIDE that body. Don’t get enamored by the body, get to know the person. Once you know the person, you can HONOR the person for whom God called them to be. The goal is to esteem others properly. I think we can all give two or three examples, of the top of our heads, of people this world exalts just because of their outward appearance. Whereas, on the inside, the quality of their character does not match their outer beauty. God sees these people much differently than the world does.
The Contemporary English Version of this verse reads, “We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be.” As a Born-Again believer, the Bible teaches us to relate to people by their God-given identity.
So what does this mean to you today? A will highlight two major points today.
1. There is more to people than what ‘meets the eye’.
a. As a believer, filled with the Holy Spirit, the Father expects you to see people the way He does. He wants you to see them for who they really are.
b. The Father wants you so tuned in to a higher reality (His reality), that you relate to people the way He would.
c. Sometimes God will allow you to see things in people that they can’t even see themselves. He does this so He can use you to help bring out the glory He placed inside of them.
d. When you are led of the Spirit God can make you a gold-digger. You can dig deep down inside people and help bring out the treasure God placed IN them from the foundations of the world.
2. You won’t be able to receive spiritually from those you can’t see spiritually.
a. We all need people we are submitted to. True authority is derived from submission. We need people in our lives who already are where we want to be. God uses these people as examples for us and if we are humble and open, God can use these people to pour into us the things He has already poured into them.
b. You won’t be able to receive from the anointing on another human if you can’t HONOR that person for whom God called them to be.
c. If you only see your Pastor(s) as a human, only relating to him/her after the flesh, then you will have a hard time receiving from the God in them.
d. It’s healthy to be around people whose anointing makes you feel inadequate. I don’t mean inadequate to the point of low self-esteem. But I do mean that you should be around people who are so close to God that you realize how much you still need to grow. But you will never acknowledge their closeness to the Father by simply looking at their outer-man. You must be able to discern the anointing on their lives. You must be able to SEE them in the spirit, and not the flesh. You must be able to SEE them for whom God called them to be.
I will stop here for today. I have a lot more to say about this.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. You are showing me things I need to change. You are showing me areas where I need to recalibrate my focus. How I relate to others is one of those areas. I embrace Your grace to see others the way You see them. For those that come to me for advice, counseling, coaching, teaching and mentorship, I see them the way You see them. I look deep inside them, by Your Spirit, and I help bring out the glory You placed in them from the foundations of the world. For those You have called me to go to, to submit to, and to receive leadership from, I also declare that I see them the way You see them. I honor the anointing on their lives. I don’t see them as mere men. I see them in the Spirit. I acknowledge their relationship with You. I consider the outcome of their walk with You. I learn from them. I humble myself before You and them. I open my heart to receive, so You can use them to pour into me, the things You have already poured into them. Living this way I am relating to people the way You want me to, and I am living by the Spirit and not the flesh. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
