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2 Corinthians 5:14-16  For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

¹⁶ Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

How does this recognizing no one according to the flesh impact our lives? First we need to acknowledge the part our own flesh plays as we recognize or know others. When we look to recognize or know some one we need to not do it through our natural eyes. Our natural eyes see from our perspective, our prejudices, our judgment. We must determine to yield to the spirit and so see others through spiritual eyes. That gives us a heavenly, Godly perspective. We look to love not judge. Learning to look through the eyes of the spirit we then can also begin to see the spirit in others. Rather than focusing on their flesh, we look toward the spirit in them. This spirit discerning spirit, heart to heart, is what will bring true community to the church. The word community comes from joining the words common and unity. The common unity we share is the unity we each have with God through the Spirit.

There are many  ways this seeing by the spirit impacts our lives. I would like to briefly look at two of them. The first involves our worship. If we look again at Isaiah 6:1-6 from yesterday's post we see that in the flesh we can not see God face to face. But having been cleansed by the blood of Jesus and made a new creation, a spiritual one, we can go boldly to the throne of grace. By the spirit we see Him, know Him, worship Him. Jesus says in John 4:23-24 New American Standard Bible (NASB)²³ But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Yeilding too and seeing through the spirit affects our worship.

The second way seeing by the spirit impacts our life is that it affects our faith. Matthew 14:22-33New American Standard Bible (NASB)²² Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. ²³ After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. ²⁴ But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind wascontrary. ²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”²⁸ Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” ²⁹ And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” Remember again 2 Corinthians 5:16 ... even though we have known Christ according to the flesh , yet now we know Him thus no longer. Jesus had sent the disciples off and gone up to pray. Do you think Jesus prayer times were acts of the flesh or the spirit? Jesus had just spent a considerable time in prayer. When He came walking out to them the disciples thought He was a ghost. Why was that?  FLESH DON"T WALK ON WATER! The disciples were seeing Jesus in the Spirit.  Then we see the power that the spirit has on our faith. Peter says Lord if it is You command me to come. At Jesus command, Peter empowered by the spirit keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus operating in the Spirit walked on water. When he saw again with his natural eyes, and saw the wind and the waves he stopped walking.

What storms are raging in your life today? Jesus, no longer in the flesh but the risen Christ, calls to you, calls to the Spirit He sent to you. Come! Come to Me walk above this storm.

The link below is a powerful song, enjoy. You will need to open it in a new window.

Hillsong UNITED Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Lyric Video ...

• Artist: Hillsong United
• Album: Zion