This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Focusing on Dying To Self”. We have been walking our way through the following passage for weeks. 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 said, “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).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Holy Spirit provides revealed knowledge. We’ve been talking about the revelation we can and should receive from the Father, through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can tell us things that we need to know, when we need to know them, so that we can maximize whatever situation we are in. He has provided me information at critical times — for both personal and professional situations — that has helped to produce outcomes that glorify the Lord. This issue of hearing from God is an issue I hear people struggle with all the time, but it should not be a struggle. Spend quiet time with the Father. His sheep are supposed to hear His voice. Open up your heart and allow Him to speak to you. What you hear will be what you need to hear, when you need to hear it, if your heart is open to hear.
2. The Holy Spirit provides revealed wisdom. When the Holy Spirit provides revealed knowledge it is awesome, but not as awesome as revealed wisdom. Knowledge is information about something. Wisdom is how to apply it. Not only can the Holy Spirit reveal something to you that you did not know about any given situation, but He can then turn around and give you the wisdom concerning WHAT TO DO with the information you just received. This is how we are supposed to live. We are supposed to be led from the inside-out. Our daily lives are supposed to be an outpouring of the internal. This is how Jesus lived. This is the life He modeled for us. This is how Adam lived before the fall. Adam never went to school to learn. What Adam did was discern. Adam received both knowledge and wisdom by revelation from the Father. Once you start living this way you will never go back to living based on human ability alone.
3. The Holy Spirit provides revelation so you can know God better. Paul said, “The Spirit will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better.” Did you catch that last statement? Why does the Father reveal truths to you? Why does He help you understand the truth He revealed? Why does He give you revealed knowledge and the wisdom to apply it? Paul gives us the answer: “So that you will know him better.” The goal of everything you do with, in and for Christ should be getting to know God better. Our God is not a cold, distant or despondent Lord. No, He is a loving, caring and sharing heavenly Father who yearns for a deep and intimate relationship with You as His child.
a) The Father does not want you to be afraid of Him. He wants you to get to know Him. He gave you His Spirit so you could know Him intimately.
b) Jesus did not die so you could have a cold, rigid and ritualistic religion. No, Jesus died to restore to you what Adam had. The Garden was not about rules, it was about relationship. Adam walked with God and God walked with him. Adam received revelation daily and that revelation equipped him to exercise dominion and authority in the earth. This is how we are supposed to live today.
c) Get to know the God who loves you SO much that His Son died for you and His Spirit moved inside of you. Once you do, your life will never be the same.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. In whatever ways my life has been about me, I REPENT! In whatever ways my relationship with You has been cold, robotic, ritualistic or religious, I REPENT! Jesus did not die so I could live my life based on rules. Jesus did not die so I could live my life based on a cold religion. Jesus died so I could have a warm, intimate and loving relationship with You, as my Father. Your Spirit lives in me. He reveals things to me; things I did not learn any other way. He then gives me the wisdom to apply what He revealed. He actually tells me what to do on a daily basis, so You can be glorified in my life. And He does all of this so I can know You better. My only desire to is to walk with You and for You to walk with me on a daily basis. I declare that we walk together today and every day. As I enter this day I refuse to enter it alone. I go with You and You go with me. Together we are going to change this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
