Chapter 3
Proper Focus
Have you ever had a preacher tell you that all
you need to do is reckon yourself dead? I'm sure we've all tried
this. The more that I would try to reckon myself dead, the more alive I
became. This is a principle that says whatever you focus on you will
experience. Did you ever want to loose weight and concentrate on not eating
your favorite sweet? The more you concentrated on it the more you wanted
it. The reason for this is because whatever you focus on becomes a stronghold
in your life. This is why Paul said in 1 Cor 15:56 (KJV),
"The sting of
death is sin; and the
strength
of sin is the law."
(NIV)
"The sting of
death is sin, and the power of sin
is
the law."
Just think of the ramifications of this truth!
Anyone who tries to live by law is giving power and strength to sin and sin
will triumph every time as a result. When you try to live by law, the very law
that was meant for your good gives strength to your carnal nature and causes
you to sin. Paul also said in Rom 3:19-22 (NIV),
"Now we know that
whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every
mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no
one will be declared righteous
in
His sight by observing the law;
rather,
through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and
the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus
Christ to all who believe."
And in Rom 4:14-15 (NIV),
"For if those who
live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because
law brings wrath. And where there is no law there
is no
transgression."
The moment that you try to order your life
according to some law, that very law becomes a stronghold in your life. You
must understand that the strength of sin is the Law. When you try to walk
according to the Law you give strength to your flesh and no flesh will be
allowed to enter the Kingdom of God. Paul said in 1 Cor 15:50 (KJV),
"Now this I say,
brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth
corruption inherit incorruption."
Maybe it's baseball. I personally know people
who know all the batter's names, who know their averages, who know everything
about them. When they speak, baseball just flows out of them, and the more they
speak about baseball, the more they fall in love with it. Out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaks. That principle applies spiritually in everything
that you do. If you are a fat person and try to diet, you will eat more,
because whatever you focus on becomes a stronghold in your life. That's why
Paul said in I Corinthians 15:56,
"The strength of
sin is the Law. "
The moment you take the Law unto yourself and
with your will power try to perform it, you will find that it becomes a
stronghold in your life. The strength of sin is the law. When you try to walk
according to the Law and you will give strength to your flesh. God will not
allow the flesh to enter into the Kingdom.
When you realize the truth of Adam and the
truth of your real identity, it brings you into rest. When your
flesh gets out of control and you occasionally do things that aren't pleasing
to God, you simply realize that this is not who you are. It is still that
sin principle operating in you and that will be dealt with as the Lord
continually permeates and saturates your temple with His presence.
Did you know that the devil is a
Pentecostal? Tell me what other realm you can get into today and
hear so much about the devil. I have been in More Pentecostal
meetings and heard more about the devil than I ever heard about
God. I'd be a fool to tell you the devil isn't real, because he's
running rampant in Pentecost. But I'm telling you there is a higher
realm, and in that realm there is no devil. Remember the words Jesus said.
"The evil one comes, but he has nothing in Me."
The only place the devil can be real to you is that place he has in you. If
he has no place in you (I'm not saying for everyone), then the devil doesn't
bother you anymore. The devil doesn't bother me much anymore. What I began to
realize is that it is not the devil, it s my flesh that needs to be dealt with.
You may say, "Brother, don't you realize
that Jesus cast out demons?" Yes! But that still does not mean that
there's not a higher realm. Jesus met people in the place of their need. There
is a realm where there is not a devil or demons that can destroy you.
We have all of these thoughts and concepts about
what it would be like to walk in the fullness of the Spirit. Did you know
that if you will walk in love, not just for your brothers and sisters in the
Lord, but if you will walk in love for all of humanity, you won't judge. One of
the most grievous things to me in these days is to hear one Christian judge
another. And to hear somebody who is speaking truth that's a little bit higher
get criticized and called New Age. I want to say something, and I know I am
sticking my neck out in saying this. Right now, today, there is more truth in
what the New Age is saying than what most Christians are saying. I am
simply saying that God has truth everywhere you look. People are blasting what
God is speaking today from His Holy Temple because what is coming forth from
His Holy Temple has been taught in Hinduism for thousands of years. That
doesn't mean it isn't true, it has just been perverted. Man always perverts
truth. But when you can walk in total love and acceptance, you will stop
pointing the finger. Remember what Paul told us in Hebrews 6:1,
"Therefore,
leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.
"
If God says to me today, I want you to go down
the street and I want you to find this man, who has a demonic spirit and I want
You to cast it out. I am not going to say. "Well God, I'm not in
Pentecost anymore, I'm in Tabernacles." No, I'm going to do what God
says. What I am saying is that you should always listen to God and do what He
says. Anything outside of that, and you're being an outlaw.
The Kingdom of God is to walk in love. Love
knows nothing but a desire to edify and to build. Of course, there is a
severity to love. It's a fearful thing (to the flesh) to fall into the
corrective hand of God,. But we must realize that to walk in God is simply to
walk in love. It's that simple. Whenever you look at a human being, no matter
what they're doing, no matter what they are saying and you feel resentment
rising up in you, you can be assured that's not God. God is not insensitive to
these things, but the character of God is to restore, not to condemn. It's a
matter of attitude. As you walk in love, your main concern will be to bring
restoration and not condemnation.
So in simple terms, to walk in the Kingdom of
God is simply to walk in love. It is really that simple. You need to meditate
on this day and night.
"The love of God
has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I endure and I
am patient."