For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:19-20).
Are you tired of yourself? The Lord came to set us free. All we need to do is ‘tap into’ the full potential of what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross – the kingdom of God ruling and working in us. Jesus told His disciples: “…the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21b NKJ).
It’s not about us and our natural abilities; it’s about Jesus living in us, and giving us His abilities and power to do what we’ve been called to do. This is what enables us to move from natural to supernatural -- from death to life. We are not merely human; there is a supernatural component to our lives: which is Christ in us, the hope of glory.
“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 NKJ). For the most part, in our lives, we never tap into the supernatural – I’m talking about believers. There is something that the Lord desires to release to His people. Most people who are faithful to go to church every Sunday, and get to the mid-week services, think that they are just behaving like normal Christians should; but normal Christianity is signs, wonders, and miracles accompanying your life. If you have a mindset that you are more than merely human, that is good. The Lord is calling His church to the supernatural component. Do you want the victory of the Lord? It comes from the supernatural operating in your life.
On one occasion recently, when I was away for a few days, I shared my faith with two ladies that happened across my path. I do not believe in meeting people by accident rather, i look at all encounters as divine appointments. One of the ladies said to me, “I was at my mother’s bedside when she died, and in that instant of time, something left her and she was just a shell.” This opened a door for me to share the story of Christ and that we are called to walk in eternity through the efforts of our risen saviour. How impactful this opportunity was which I additionally believe is for us daily.
What a great opportunity to share the love and the power of God to these women. The life that is in you is God-given, whether you like to believe it or not. It is given to you to empower and equip you to do what the Lord has asked you to do. You are not merely human; you are not here by accident. If you think you are an accident; that is the farthest thought from the truth of how God thinks. There are no accidents. Life is a divine appointment given by the Lord. Your life is a divine time and a divine place in history to impact the kingdom of God. This was a supernatural setup for the gospel to advance.
Estol and Agnes, a beautiful and godly couple from our congregation, are an example of the kingdom of God in operation. There is a grace released to walk that way. We are not merely human; we are different. There is a difference about you, and there needs to be a difference. There is something in you that can change this world. If you don’t have it in you, then you have to ask yourself the serious questions: why isn’t that in me? Why don’t I have that in my life? We need to ask ourselves the tough questions. Is the Lord with us or not allowing us to share the gospel of love to others?
Do you want a mindset shift? You are a supernatural being sent from heaven. You have been sent on assignment to impact this earth for the kingdom of God. It is not the same old, same old. Christians can have problems. There is so much emphasis on the outward; but the Lord desires there to be an emphasis on the inward. There is a supernatural component, and that is what I am after in my life. I am interested in the inward man and that which is in others. There needs to be a shift that takes place. The focus needs to be inward: “Lord, how can You change me from the inside out? I want to be different. As I walk into a room, I want the atmosphere to change, because of what I carry.” I carry something in my life, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am not a perfect human being, but, there is One in me who is perfect, and this is what propels me forward. This is why you can be propelled forward. Getting a revelation of this – that the Greater One lives inside us, will be what can transform a dying and lost generation. This generation is waiting for us to rise above the issues and problems we have in our lives, so we can touch them with the power of the Lord Jesus. Get charged up because you are different. You are meant to be different. You are meant to bring the message of the Lord every place you go. You are a radiator for the kingdom. If you are not, ask yourself why you are not. When you have the presence of God, there is something that will change your atmosphere. Your life does not have to be a mess -- it is where the focus is. If you focus on your problems, then you’ll have problems: if you focus on the kingdom, then you will have God`s kingdom come to your life.
That Your Eyes Would Be Enlightened
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” Eph 1:18-19 NKJ).
Why does Ephesians 1 talk about the eyes of our understanding being enlightened to see clearly? It’s because we don’t see clearly. We have filters across our eyes. Maybe we need more love: everyone needs more love. The greatest gift of love is through the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not to be normal, run-of-the-mill believers: we are all called to be Christians. How do I know? The Bible tells me so.
In normal circles, on a Sunday morning, most people say, “Nice sermon Pastor”; but there is a reality of the supernatural that needs to be infused in our lives, so that when the storms come, we are rooted and founded on the rock and not in the shifting sand that is out there. If the devil knows where to hit you, do you think he’ll just avoid that weak spot and hit you in a different area? He has been dealing with humanity for 6,000 years, and he knows where to go to get you off track. There is something real in our lives that we can draw upon. Do you have a situation in your life, or in your family that you don’t like right now? Don’t lose heart; the Lord’s will is going to be done.
Spiritual Wisdom
“For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man's thoughts except the man's own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favour and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting
spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. But the natural,
nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by
no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold
the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart” (1 Cor 2:11-16 AMP).
There is a danger in being merely human with zero element of the supernatural in our lives. Sometimes you may think that you’re not spiritual at all; but whether you think you have anything in you or not, you have Him in you. The Lord is more than able. Who I am is not based on what anyone thinks; it is based in the Lord. This passage in 1 Corinthians above, helps us to set a foundation of who we are. You are not who your mind says you are. Your mind won’t compute if you are thinking naturally. There is not one person who has arrived: we are all going after the spiritual. Why am I saying this? There are days you can be a babe, in the flesh, or spiritual. Have you ever noticed? Have you ever been in the flesh?
1Coronthians 2:11-16, “For what person perceives, (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him?” (v 11). Have you ever noticed that there are God’s thoughts, and then there are our thoughts? Have you ever had a double thought? Have you ever wanted to punch anyone? There are three types of thoughts, but there is only one type that is discernable by the Spirit. Perhaps you’ve felt like you missed it with the Lord. Have you ever been told something from the Lord, but you chose to go a different route? We are called to a high level -- to live there, as spiritual beings. There is an assignment for you. “Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (v 11b).
The thoughts of God are discerned by the Spirit of God in your life. We are going to a higher level. The Lord said so, and He had total communion with the Father. I need total communion. How about you? You may say that is unobtainable, but when the Lord left this earth He said that He was giving us the Comforter: “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). “Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world” (v 12).
There is a spirit that belongs to the world: you haven’t got it. (This may be a faith declaration at this point.) The day you accepted the Lord into your life you became different. You are translated from the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of Light. That is the mindset you need to have. You are different. “But the [Holy] Spirit, who is from God, [given to us]…” (v 12). This was given to us and was not proportionate to what we deserve. We have a God who loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for you and me. That is powerful. Grab ahold of what the Lord has done for you. You will see that there is no weapon that will be formed against you: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17 NKJ).
You’ll also see that you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” Romans 8:37 NKJ). You could walk into some ungodly situation or place, but “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 NKJ). I say this all the time, and a lot of people may not like it: “Take you best shot devil. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. I am more than a conqueror.” Change your mindset if you need to. Stop trying to deal with things in the natural; you are equipped to use the supernatural. “…that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favour and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God” (v12b).
You may have a cloud over your life, but you have authority over that cloud. “And we are setting these words forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit” (v13). Your mind will never be able to figure out God. God doesn’t move in an analytical mindset: It is called mind-boggling.
If you are walking in self-righteousness; talking about how good you are, you are not. When we get to the point where we think we are good enough, we have missed it. None of us are good enough. We need divine thoughts. There are mysteries that we have not even seen yet. I don’t even believe that we have hit the tip of the iceberg. “Combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who posses the Holy Spirit]” (v 13b). It is the Holy Spirit in you.
Get rid of your formulas and principles, because God will work outside of those things. “But the natural, non-spiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him” (v 14). The natural man will not welcome or accept these truths. Where are you today? Folly is foolishness. The gospel is foolishness to many. Praise God that the Lord uses the foolish things to confound the wise. I’ve got worldly knowledge, but that is not where it is at. I want more of Him. I want the secrets and the mysteries revealed. He will give them to the people who have the heart to go after it. I need spiritual food more than natural. He loves you enough to empower you.
“And he is incapable of knowing them, [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them], because they are spiritually discerned, estimated, and appreciated” (v14b). That is what I want for you. You are not restricted. There is a new flow that is being released for your life. “But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. For who has known or understood the mind (the counsel and the purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart” (v 15, 16).
Do you see the tense that this last sentence is in? We have the mind of Christ. He released it at the cross for our lives. Just declare that over your life. We are influenced too much by the soulish realm -- I want to be influenced by the realm of the Spirit of God.
Each of us must remember that we are a supernatural being sent from heaven. We have been sent here on assignment, to impact this earth for the kingdom of God. We will live in that supernatural realm that God intended – the realm of signs, wonders and miracles, as we vigilantly fight the norm of being merely human. Much love in Christ!
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