This morning we continue our new series entitled, “The Year of Supernatural Manifestation.” Last night I was leading a devotion with my family, a family devotion our church is doing together, and these were the scriptures we discussed:
God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.
(Eph 2:10 ERV).
Jesus said, “Any of you who want to be my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me. Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for me and for the Good News will save it.”
(Mark 8:34,35 ERV).
When I got up this morning and prayed over what to share with you, I was led back to the devotion from last night and the Father began to talk to me about the season we are in, about the plans many of His children are making for the year, and about the relationship between His grace and our faith. There was a lot going on in my heart and mind this morning about this, so I will attempt to summarize what I believe the Lord said, the best I can.
January is a time where believers all over the world attempt to layout a vision for the year, along with plans, measurable goals, and a desired outcome. As Born-Again believers we are dual citizens. We are living in this world, but we also have citizenship in heaven. We have a natural body that relates to this world, but we also have a Born-Again spirit that communicates with God Spirit-to-spirit. We are living in two realms at the same time, and the Father’s desire is that we live in the earth, hearing from heaven daily, so that we can influence this world supernaturally. This is how God’s Kingdom advances. This is how God’s will is done, on earth, as it is in heaven.
I want to highlight a couple of things from the the two scriptures I provided for you this morning. Paul teaches us that once we are Born-Again, we are supposed to spend our lives doing the “good things” God already planned for us to do. Jesus teaches us that in order to become a true disciple, we “must stop” thinking about ourselves and what we want. Our life, after we are Born-Again, should be all about God and the plans He made for us before the world began.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- As you layout your vision, plans and goals for 2017, please do NOT do so without hearing from God. Your life is NOT your own. You were bought with a price and that price was the blood of Jesus. If you are Born-Again, you want your vision, plans and goals to come from God.
- Your purpose cannot be decided, because God decided before you were born. Therefore, your purpose must be discovered.
- Most believers will layout a vision/plans/goals for 2017 and then say that they are “launching out in faith” to bring those things to pass. But remember, faith begins where the will of God is known. In order you to truly be “in faith” as you are pursuing the plans, you must know that the plans were birthed in the heart of God. If you came up with them on your own, then it is not faith, it is human effort. Human effort can only take you so far.
- God wants you to spend your life doing the “good works” He already planned for you to do. He strategically sent you to the planet for such a time as this and He wants you focused on His plans for your life, not your own.
- God wants you to stop thinking about yourself and what you want. He wants you to die to self and selfishness. He wants you to completely give yourself over to Him. Once you do, He is free to live IN you, WITH you, and THROUGH you. Once you get to this point, your life will be supernatural!
I will stop here for today and continue with this tomorrow.
Closing Confession: Father, I am Born-Again. This means I’m born from above. I have dual citizenship. I live in two realms daily. I live in this world, but I receive marching orders from heaven. I am heaven’s Ambassador to this planet. I represent Your Kingdom agenda on a daily basis. As You speak to me about 2017, I receive insight, wisdom, revelation, knowledge and understanding. I layout the vision, plans and goals You lead me to. I then launch out IN FAITH to see the manifestation of what Your grace has already prepared. I live by faith that taps into Your grace, so Your will is 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!
