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).
I am going to focus in on the line, “I pray that God will open your minds to see His truth.”
The New Living Translation reads, “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand…”
The Holman Christian Standard Bible reads, “I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know…”
The J. B. Phillips Translation reads, “That you may receive that inner illumination of the spirit which will make you realise…”
The Message Bible reads, “I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- The Father never intended for you to attempt to maximize your purpose and potential while living off of human effort, strength or intellect. He gave you His Spirit so that you can perceive and receive the things He has already planned for you to have and do.
- God never intended for you to attempt to “do life” without clarity or divine focus. He provided you His Spirit so you could SEE what to do and how to do it.
- God is able to provide inner “light”. This light is designed to enable you to live life with clarity, focus and spiritual perception.
- Before you were Born-Again chances are you perceived God to be a distant and disconnected Lord who governed the universe from heaven. But now that you are Born-Again, the Lord wants you to see Him as a loving, caring and sharing heavenly Father, who loves you enough to take up residence inside of you. He gave you His Spirit so that you could live your life connected to Him, receiving insight from Him on a daily basis.
- The Father wants you to live your life focused and clear. He wants you to know what you are called to do, how He wants you to get it done, and how He will be glorified through it.
- Once your inner mind is open to see God’s truth, once your inner-eyes are flooded with God’s light, once your perception is illuminated with divine revelation, not only do you live your life with clarity, but you also have peace. You won’t have all the answers, because there is a certain level of mystery to walking with God. You are going to have to trust Him when You don’t know what He’s doing. But for the most part, you will live your life informed by the Holy Spirit. This insight equips you to make decisions that line up with God’s will, so you can experience divine success in the earth, enjoying life along the way.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. I declare what You have already decreed. The eyes of my understanding are flooded with light. You open my mind to SEE Your truth. You provide me the inner illumination of the Spirit on a daily basis. You bless me to live my life FOCUSED and CLEAR. I know what You called me to do. I know why I am on this planet. I know You will be glorified through me. I know I am here to honor Your name. I know I am going to heaven, and I also know You have many things for me to do before I get there. So You give me dreams while I sleep, You give me visions will I am awake, You speak to me when I pray, You send people to me to give me Words from You, and You whisper in my inner-man throughout the day. I CAN SEE into Your realm and this insight gives me the clarity and focus I need to make 2016 the best year of my life. Not by my power, but only by Your grace! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
