Today we continue our mini-series entitled “A New Dimension of Glory!” This series is under the overall theme for the year: “GREAT FREEDOM.” We have been looking at a fairly long passage in 2 Corinthians 3 for a few weeks and verses 17 and 18 for several days. Let’s go back to these two verses one last time. The Bible says:
(2 Corinthians 3:17&18 Easy to Read Version)
17 The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 And our faces are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
In yesterday’s message, I said, “We literally BECOME what we BEHOLD… Whatever we give our attention to continually is what we will display consistently. So, if you don’t like what you are becoming, you have to take a look at what you are beholding.” Today’s message will flow in this vein. The title is, “You BECOME what you BEHOLD!”
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Your Thoughts Control Your Life!
a) While Moses was up on the mountain with God for 40 days, his singular focus was God. He was gazing at God and His glory for 40 days. So it is obvious why when he came down from the mountain, his face was emanating the glory of God. You literally BECOME whatever you BEHOLD.
b) Your eyes and ears are gateways to your soul. Whatever you allow through your eye gate gets down in your soul. Whatever you allow through your ear gate gets down in your soul. And what is in you abundantly will come out of you eventually. So when people interact with you, it is clear to them what you have been listening to and looking at. Whatever you give your attention to will fill your heart and out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth will speak (Mat 12:34). Said another way, your mouth will produce a harvest based on the seeds you sow through your eyes and ears. This being the case, if you don’t like the harvest you are producing, you should check the seeds you are allowing to be sown in your heart.
c) Whatever you meditate and meditate on is critical. This is why the Bible tells us to meditate on the Word day and night (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2). I cannot overstate the importance of your thoughts. The Bible says, “as a man thinks, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7), and “be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.” (Proverbs 4:23).
d) If you focus your thoughts on God and you purposefully THINK about Him every day, and all throughout the day, you will see yourself the way He sees you and you will live with the mindset Jesus had. This is the mindset: “My Father lives in me. He is giving me the words to speak. He is empowering me to perform works that exceed human ability. There is nothing I can’t do because there is nothing He can’t do and He lives in me!” This is the mind of Christ and it is how we are supposed to live. The Father loves us with the same love He loved His own Son with. He gave us the same Holy Spirit. He deposited IN us the same glory. It is now on us to spend time gazing and meditating on Him, so we can BECOME what we BEHOLD!
2. You Are Changed Little By Little!
a) Our text (2 Corinthians 3:18) that we are literally CHANGED into the very image and likeness of God, and this happens as we BEHOLD His glory. The more we meditate on the fact that God, and all of His glory, are living on the inside of us, and the more we purposefully GIVE our attention to God and His glory, the more we are changed to be like Him. So if you don’t like the progress you are making in Christ, you should consider your focus or lack of focus. There is no way you can focus on God and His limitless power, and not be changed. If you are not being charged, it is because you are not giving God your attention. You cannot think “failure” all day and think you are going to experience divine victory. But if you develop a laser-focus on God and His limitless power, and meditate on the fact that He is living on the inside of you, little by little, day by day, you will be CHANGED to think and act like Him in this world. At that point, it will not be something that is forced. It will come naturally to you. The more you die to self, the more God is FREE to live through you. And the more you allow God to be FREE in you, the more true FREEDOM you will experience.
b) Make time to spend time with God in this season. Instead of thinking about your problems and challenges, think about His goodness and His power. Spend time with Him in His Word. Spend time with Him in worship. Spend time with Him in prayer. The more time you spend with Him and the more attention to purposefully give Him, the more you will be CHANGED into the image and likeness of God. Once this happens, your life will REFLECT the glory of the Lord like a mirror. When people come in contact with you, it will be evident that you have spent time with God, because they will see, hear and experience God IN you!
c) In the world people’s actions shape their identity. In God’s Kingdom, your divine identity shapes your actions. You must know who you are! The only way to discover your true self is to discover Jesus and then spend time in His presence. The revelation of who Jesus is will open the door to the revelation of who you really are. Once you start walking in your true identity, your life will bring God the glory He intended before the world began.
d) Your life will change drastically the day you finally believe what God believes about you!
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I know I will BECOME what I BEHOLD! Therefore, I purposefully give my attention to You, Your Word, Your power, and Your glory. I meditate on You and Your Word day and night. I think about the fact that You, and all of Your glory, LIVE INSIDE OF ME. There is nothing You can’t do. So, there is nothing I can’t do. I see myself the way You see me. I believe what You believe about me. I live as the man/woman You destined me. I live my life to bring You glory. This does not happen because of my TRYING. This happens because of my DYING. I die to self. I allow You to live IN, WITH, and THROUGH me. This year I will live FREE because I allow You to be FREE in me! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
