This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Focusing on Dying To Self”. A couple of weeks ago I introduced you to the following passage and we have been walking our way through it. Let’s get back to it today.
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).
We have been focused in on the line: “But we don’t think that way now.” Flowing in this vein, I shared several scriptures with you last and I briefly discussed each. One of the scriptures was Ephesians 1:17,18. The Apostle Paul knew the importance of being able to see in the Spirit. He could not have accomplished what he accomplished without an ability to SEE. So this was his prayer for the believers in Ephesus: “I always pray to the great and glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that he will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The Spirit will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better. I pray that God will open your minds (other translations say, “Flood your eyes with light”), to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious.” (Ephesians 1:17,18). Paul prayed that believers would be able to “see”. This is absolutely critical, because we will never take possession of things we can’t SEE in the Spirit.
So what does this mean to you today? I have a lot to say about this passage. I will simply share a few things this morning.
1. Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus to have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.
a) Paul did not accomplish what He accomplished with head knowledge. Paul was able to accomplish what he was able to accomplish because of heart knowledge.
b) The Spirit-led believer is possessed of God and he knows it. He is led from the inside by the presence, power, wisdom and revealed truth of God Himself.
c) The Holy Spirit can provide divine wisdom and spiritual insight that gives you an advantage over those without God’s Spirit.
d) God made plans for you before the world began and part of the role of the Holy Spirit is to reveal those plans to you.
e) The Holy Spirit can reveal what to others is concealed and this revelation equips you to experience divine success in the earth, so you can glorify God.
2. Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus, asking the Holy Spirit to provide revealed truth, so they could know God better.
a) Paul was unashamed about the role of the Holy Spirit. He said, “The Spirit will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better.”
b) Not only will the Holy Spirit reveal things to you about God, but He will also give you the divine insight to understand what He revealed.
c) God Himself lives in you and you should live like it. God never intended for your post-conversion life to be limited to human limits. Once God Himself (in the person of the Holy Spirit), took up residence inside of you, you became a spiritual being living in a natural world, called to demonstrate the supernatural on this planet. People are supposed to experience heaven on earth through you!
I will stop here for today and continue tomorrow.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. I develop my ability to SEE in the Spirit. I am born from above. Your Spirit lives IN me. I am no longer limited to operating as a mere man. I am a God-man. You live IN me. Your Spirit gives me wisdom and revelation from Your realm. You are able to give me insight from heaven. You are able to reveal things to me that I could know no other way. I am able to discern things I could not learn. So now I don’t just live by education or worldly information. I live by revelation and spiritual understanding. Your Spirit gives me an advantage over those who do not know You. I declare that Your Spirit speaks to me as I seek to make the most of every meeting, conservation and activity I engage in today. I am empowered to SEE into Your realm and that Spiritual insight blesses me to maximize this realm. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
