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ARTICLES
What Are You Looking At? Part 1
THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
by Jeanniene Lee
II Corinthians 4:17, 18
17 But our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Everything that you have need of today or will ever have need of in this life has already been made available to you through the person of Jesus Christ; but, it will not just come to you automatically just because you are a Christian and believe in Jesus Christ. You have a vital part to play!
What are your eyes fixed on? What are you looking at today? Is your attention focused on the symptoms in or upon your body or have you set your face like a flint upon the Word of God (Is. 50:7)? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
Today can be one of the best days of your life, guaranteed, but the choice is yours. Every day of our lives we have an opportunity to choose God's best for us or the devil's plan of destruction. God doesn't choose for us what we will walk in today, nor does the devil. We choose.
The Psalmist verifies in Psalm 118:24 that we have a choice today as to what kind of day we will have. A day filled with joy, gladness and victory or a day filled with sadness, worry and defeat.
Psalm 118:24
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.
The words "we will" indicate that a choice has been made, to rejoice and be glad. Everything that God has to offer us from Genesis to Revelation is contingent upon us making a choice. He has given us a free will which He wants us to exercise.
Deuteronomy 30:19
19 I call heaven and earth to record THIS DAY against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing [indicating He has given you and I a choice]: THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, THAT BOTH THOU AND THY SEED MAY LIVE:
Notice that God said He put before us "this day" a choice, which implies that every single day you have a choice as to whether or not you will choose His way, which is the way of life and blessings or the devil's way which is the way of evil and curses. Joshua 24:15 also confirms that "this day" and everyday we must choose to serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.
Notice the words "we will" in Joshua 24:15. Again, a decision has been made. The decision you make, whether evil or good, will determine the way you will go and are presently going. It is vital to choose the way of truth (Ps. 119:30). There is a way that appears to be the right way, that seems right but that way is a counterfeit way, fogged by deceit and the devil's deceptive devices. The end of that way will certainly lead to death and destruction in every area of your life.
Proverbs 14:12
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Make Psalm 119:30 your decree -- "I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me."
Remember, it's your choice, not just today but every single day. God did not create a bunch of robots who are wholly controlled by God from some central control station in heaven. No, we are not robots walking around with no mind, will or emotions totally oblivious to life just stumbling around, moving left, right, forward and backward as the Lord pushes a big control button. No way, absolutely not!
He created man in His image and after His likeness (Gen. 1:26). Man is a tripartite being. He is a spirit. He has a soul, and he lives in a body. The soul of man is the seat of his mind, will and emotions. It is here that God gave man the ability to choose.
We were not only created with the ability to choose but we were granted the freedom to choose. Adam and Eve are the first recorded human beings in the Bible who exercised this freedom of choice.
After God created man and made him a living soul with the ability to choose, he placed him in a perfect, sinless environment, the garden of Eden where he willingly served God with all his heart. Adam and Eve voluntarily chose to follow God and to obey His instructions. God was not controlling their choices, He allowed them to freely, uncontrollably worship Him.
It is important to understand that God never drives man to serve Him. He never forces us to serve Him. He gently draws us unto Himself by the Holy Spirit like a gentle Shepherd leading His sheep, He leads us (Ps. 23:1-2). On the other hand, the devil desires to control and dominate man. Demon possession is the devil's ultimate goal which is an obvious reflection of his desire to dominate man. He uses deception, lies and trickery to seduce man into serving him (II Cor. 11:14; Eph. 6:11).
One day, in the garden of Eden, the devil, through the serpent, deceived Eve into disobeying God (Gen. 3:1-5). Her husband Adam chose to follow her in this act of disobedience (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:6-7). Even the devil knew man had been given the ability to choose and the freedom to choose because he had been an anointed cherub and had been in the presence of God (Ezek. 28:14). He was familiar with the character and nature of God and knew He was not a controlling, possessive domineering God driving man to serve Him. Even satan knew about the ability to choose; for, he himself had chosen to sin against God which caused his ruin and the fall of one-third of the angels which chose to follow him.
Adam and Eve CHOSE to disobey God and to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which God commanded them not to eat of (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:6). The devil did not make them do this, the choice was theirs. Their wrong choice caused the fall of the entire human race. Remember Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH." Their wrong choice brought destruction to them, their children, the generations to follow, and caused the ruin of the whole human race.
Romans 5:12, 14
12 Wherefore, as BY ONE MAN sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon ALL MEN, for that all have sinned:
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, EVEN OVER THEM THAT HAD NOT SINNED AFTER THE SIMILITUDE OF ADAM'S TRANSGRESSION, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Your right choices as well as your wrong choices not only affect you, but they affect many others including your children and your grandchildren from generation to generation.
Deuteronomy 30:19
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, THAT BOTH THOU AND THY SEED MAY LIVE:
Choosing the way of sin which ultimately brings death, opens the door to generational curses (Ex. 34:7; Num. 14:18; Rom. 6:23). Dear friend, your wrong choices in life will not only affect you, they will affect your children, your grandchildren and many generations to follow. Think how devastating that could be. Choose God's way which is the way of life so that both you and your seed may live.
We have established the fact that God has created you and I with the ability to choose, for He created man with a soul which is the seat of his mind, will and emotions; and, God has granted you and I with the freedom of choice. When you choose to walk in God's way, which is filled with life and victory, it brings life to you and to your household and descendants just like choosing the devil's way will bring death and destruction to you, your household and descendents.
Joshua 24:15
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE ... BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.
Psalm 119:30
30 I HAVE CHOSEN THE WAY OF TRUTH: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Notice the words "we will" in Joshua 24:15 and "I have" in Psalm 119:30 which both signify a decision, a choice has been made. Today can be one of the very best days of your life, absolutely positively guaranteed, but the choice is yours. Today you will have the opportunity to choose God's plan of victory or the devil's plan of defeat. God will not choose what you walk in today, nor can the devil choose for you. YOU CHOOSE! WHAT WILL YOUR CHOICE BE? Life or death, blessings or curses, victory or defeat, sickness or disease, abundance or lack, prosperity or poverty? WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?
If your day has brought you sickness, sorrow, worry, pain, brokenheartedness, poverty or lack YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT IT. You heard me right, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT IT! The choice is yours. So what will it be?
You can choose to accept what God has for you or what the devil wants to give you.
Paul exhorted the Corinthians in II Corinthians 4:17 and 18 not to look at and accept the devil's offer of defeat but to keep their eyes on the promises of God which are clearly outlined in His Word and which always guarantee victory.
II Corinthians 4:17-18
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Paul was exhorting the Corinthians as I am exhorting you today not to look at the circumstances. DON'T FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES! DON'T DO IT! What you see in the natural through your physical eyes is temporary and subject to change at any moment. Meditate on God's promises which are clearly outlined in the Word. This will create a spiritual image on the inside of you. Keep that image before you, fresh and alive in your spirit.
Faith to keep looking at what is seen in the spirit, in the midst of the contrary storm of circumstances, comes only by looking at and meditating upon the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). Fear comes by looking at and meditating upon the lies of the devil that are presented to you through circumstances.
Only allow yourself to look at what is seen through the eyes of your spirit man because that which God has revealed to you in His Word is unchangeable, it's eternal. It will cause what is contrary to His Word to change and line up with His Word. If you stand firm and don't be moved by the circumstances, He will cause the circumstances to change for you and line up. Remember the circumstances are "temporary" as the Word of God boldly declares.
II Corinthians 4:17-18
17 For our light affliction, WHICH IS BUT FOR A MOMENT ...
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen ARE TEMPORAL; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I like the way these verses read in the Amplified. It further confirms the temporariness of afflictions and contrary circumstances.
II Corinthians 4:17-18 (Amplified)
17 For our light, MOMENTARY affliction (THIS SLIGHT DISTRESS OF THE PASSING HOUR)...
18 Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are TEMPORAL (BRIEF AND FLEETING), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.
The circumstances can and will change, but it will only change if you side with what the Word of God is saying; for, the Word of God has the power to change the circumstances and bring into existence, out of the spirit world into the natural world, the victory you are desiring. It's all contingent upon what you are seeing, continuing to look at, believing and speaking out of your mouth.
What are you looking at today? Are you looking at your bank account and checkbook which say you're in the red? Are you looking at your body and listening to the doctors reports that say there is no hope for you and there is nothing more they can do? Are you looking at and listening to the news reports that say there is no hope for your nation? Are you looking at and listening to the reports that say don't go out after dark because of an increase in gang violence and crime?
Whose report are you looking at and listening to today? The wrong choice can cost you everything.
Everything that you have need of today has been bought and paid for by the blood and the very life of Jesus. Healing has been paid for, prosperity has been paid for, wholeness in every area of your life has been bought and paid for. However, it will not just come to you automatically just because you are a Christian and believe in Jesus Christ. You have a part to play, a vital part.
Will this be the day that the Lord has made for you in which you choose to rejoice and be glad as the Psalmist declares in Psalm 118:24?
Truly, everyday is a day which the Lord has made; and, if you choose to rejoice and be glad rather than weep and be sorrowful, He will turn any circumstance you are facing in life from defeat into victory.
Now that we have established some foundational truths which are vital to your understanding this four part message on the importance of keeping your eyes on God's Word, in next month's issue we will continue with Part II of WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
In the upcoming issues we will look at the Word of God and see the dangers and pitfalls of allowing your eyes to look at the circumstances rather than keeping them on the Word. We will look in the Word of God and see the guarantee of success that comes from looking not at those things that are seen through the natural with the physical eyes, but seen through the eyes of the spirit. In the upcoming issues you will learn how to apply the Word of God and CHANGE THE IMAGE and circumstances with the Word of God.
Until next month, get into the Word of God and find scriptures that agree with what you desire and need for God to do for you today. Use the concordance in the back of your Bible: If you need healing, look up scriptures concerning "heal," "healed," "healing," and "health." Meditate upon those scriptures day and night as Joshua 1:8 instructs us to do. Say them aloud audibly so you can hear yourself saying the Word of God. Romans 10:17 says that " .. faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Faith pleases and moves God on your behalf like fear moves the devil on your behalf against you. You cannot activate the hand of God without faith, it is impossible (Heb. 11.6).
CHANGE THE IMAGE WITH THE WORD OF GOD. Until next time, remember Jesus is Lord and all things are possible to him that believe. Go to your local church regularly, and stay in constant fellowship with God through praying and reading your Bible every day.
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