This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”. This is truly a season where our focus needs to be on God. Between the political rhetoric, racial tension, and endless terrorist attacks around the world, you can easily get distracted. If the debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were not explosive enough, and if the tension between the supporters of #BlackLivesMatter and #BackTheBlue was not thick enough, the recent testimony of CIA Director John Brennan, warning the United States that ISIS is as dangerous as ever, just adds fuel to the fire. If you are Born-Again, this is not the time for you to lose your focus. Let’s look at a passage in Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae as we seek to hear what God is saying to us this morning.
“You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth. Your old self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. Yes, Christ is now your life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Jesus lived His life on earth connected to heaven. He acknowledged what was going on in the earth, but He received His marching orders from heaven. That is how we are supposed to live.
- The only way God’s will is going to be done ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, is by you setting your heart and mind to hear from heaven on a daily basis. You are called to live on earth, connected to heaven, hearing what heaven has to say and then performing it in the earth.
- As an Ambassador of heaven on the earth you are called to represent God’s Kingdom in this world. The Bible teaches that you are DEAD in Christ. You don’t even have a right to represent yourself. You are called to represent God. But if you allow yourself to get caught up in the flesh, and you allow your emotions to get the best of you, you will be more carnal than spiritual and as a result, you will be no different than the world.
- If you are dead in Christ and God’s Spirit lives in you, then people should hear heaven’s agenda coming out of your mouth; not an echo of last night’s evening news.
- If you are dead in Christ, you don’t even have a right to vote for whomever you want. Your life is not your own. You were bought with a price. The Father paid for you with the blood of His own Son. You are now called and commanded to hear from God and to do whatever He tells you to do. This applies to all aspects of your life… even your vote.
- What is heaven saying right now? What is the will of God for your family and for this nation? You owe it to God, this nation and yourself, to seek Godly direction for all you do.
- As Born-Again believers the Bible teaches us to live like Jesus. As Jesus is, so are we, in this world (1 Jn 4:17). Jesus only said what He heard the Father say and He only did what He saw the Father do. Are you doing the same? Have you died to self? Have you given yourself completely over to God? If you have, then God will be able to use you to provide hope in a time of despair.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I am dead in Christ. Jesus did not only die His death, He died my death. When He was raised, so was I. I am Born-Again. My old man is dead. The life I now live is the life Jesus died to give me. So I don’t live my life for my own agenda. I live my life for YOUR agenda. I was bought with a price. That price was the Blood of Jesus. I am Yours Father. I will only say what You tell me to say. I will only do what You lead me to do. I set my affection on the things above. I receive my marching orders from heaven. I have compassion for what I see in the earth, but I don’t live by feelings. I live my faith. I take direction from heaven. I extend Kingdom influence in this world. This is how Your will shall be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, through me, for Your glory! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
