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 over a month. 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).
Today we will, once again, focus on Paul’s closing statement in this passage – the last two lines. Paul said, “When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new!”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The day you were Born-Again everything changed for you. God’s plans did not change, because He made those plans for you before the world began. But you changed and God positioned you to accept and experience His plans for your life.
2. The day you were Born-Again is the day human limits were no longer limits for you. Once God’s Spirit is IN you, He can overshadow you and empower you to do what you could never do without Him. That’s called grace!
3. The day you were Born-Again sin no longer became an issue for you. Sure, the devil will still attempt to get you to focus on sin, but God wants you focused on His divine purpose for your life. Everything changed. Everything is new. The Bible says this all happened SUDDENLY! Your life changed forever the INSTANT you made Jesus your Lord!
4. Your Spirit is NEW, but your soul has to catch up.
a) The moment you gave your life to Christ your spirit was changed INSTANTLY, but your soul did not change and your body did not change.
b) Your spirit WAS changed instantly, your soul (which is comprised of your mind, emotions and will) is BEING changed progressively, and your body WILL BE changed eventually. One day you will have a glorified body.
c) Since your spirit WAS changed and your body WILL BE changed, the focus of your life should be on the renewing of your soul. Your soul contains your mind (the way you think), your emotions (the way you feel), and your will (the way you make decisions). While you are new in your spirit, you must put yourself through the process of learning God’s ways so you can change the way you think, feel and make decisions.
d) The moment you were Born-Again everything changed in the spirit. However, you must endure the discipleship process necessary to learn how to CARRY THE WEIGHT of the assignment you are called to. You are called to great things, but God can’t release them to you until you are able to CARRY THE WEIGHT of the assignment.
We will discuss this further next week.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. I now realize that everything changed for me the MOMENT I was Born-Again. The old things are already gone. Everything is new! There are no limits for me, because You live in me. I don’t have to worry about opposition, because greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. If you are FOR me, who can be against me? My spirit WAS changed and my body WILL BE changed. My singular focus right now is my soul. My soul is BEING changed daily. You are discipling me to align my thinker, feeler and chooser with You. Once I change the way I think, feel and make decisions to align with Your ways, I will be in position to CARRY THE WEIGHT of the assignment to which I am called. I declare that I get there. I am able to carry it, not by my power, only by Your Grace! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
