DON’T LOOSE FOCUS

          Supporting missions is essential for sharing the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 3:9, For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

            There are many places in this world I will never be able to share the Gospel. There are places in this world I cannot, in person, make an impact for Christ. There are places in this world only national missionaries are able to share the Good News of the Gospel. This is where the local church comes in. We may not be able to go across the sea or in the secluded areas of America, but we sure can support those that can!

            Praise the Lord for those opportunities to assist missionaries as they go all over this globe to share the Gospel Message. Don’t get so caught up in this world that you loose focus on the most important responsibility we have as Born-Again Believers; telling a lost, dying, and hurting world about Jesus! Will you labor together with God in the area of Missions?

HOLIDAYS BRING FOCUSING

            Man was created with two eyes, so that with one he may see God's greatness, and with the other his own lowliness. -Samuel Y. Agnon

Philippians 3:14, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

            During the holidays, many of us focus in on the wrong things. We focus on the past memories or long-gone experiences that many times leave us questioning our past choices. We cannot live in the past and we cannot change the past so why attempt to live there? Why not take those experiences and memories and learn from them?

            Child of God, we should trust the Lord was directing us in the past. He was directing us to salvation, sanctification, and even into somewhere to serve the Lord. What we should focus on is the things we can change, our finish and future! Paul gave us the pattern to follow and focus on in Hebrews 12:1-2: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Confessing of sin, growth in the Lord, and KEEPING OUR EYES ON JESUS!

BE FOCUSED

Man was created with two eyes, so that with one he may see God's greatness, and with the other his own lowliness. -Samuel Y. Agnon

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrew 12:1-2

I am convinced many people are not laying down their weights and sin which so easily beset them. You ask, “What is a weight? What is the sin?” Well the weight is a burden or a hindrance. A sin is offence against God. Scripture says both of these are dealt with when we lay them aside. What this means is when we repent of them God gives us liberty!

When we repent God gives us liberty! We are to live life to the fullest in the liberty Jesus gives, keeping our heart focused on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Focused on His Word, His Work, and His Way!

DISTRACTED!

What you focus on will soon become what you feed on!

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:13

Over the years I have seen many young people go to youth rallies, Mission trips, and go to camp. Many of them come back on fire for the Lord. You see them more often at church. They volunteer to do things they normally would not. They may even get up in the choir which is way out of character for them. But then, crickets. You can’t get them to church for nothing. You ask them what’s wrong and their respond is, “Nothing Pastor.” Well the truth of the matter is— Satan has given them a distraction!

These distractions could be in disguise as a High School degree, a girl/ boy friend, a job, social media, or it can even be family. I have seen all kinds of distractions in young people’s lives but what’s even more amazing is I have seen some of the same distractions in adult’s lives as well!

Keep your eyes focused in on the Lord and do not get distracted by the things of this Earth!

OH LOOK, A SQUIRREL!

Don’t get distracted!

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 2 Timothy 3:14

     I know way too many Christians getting distracted by the temptations old Satan throws at us. The distractions are many: control, money, sex, and fame to name a few. These in and of themselves are not the problem. The problem is when we don’t handle each one of them Biblically.

     Christian, there is nothing wrong with leadership but when that leadership position goes to your head that you beat people down to exalt yourself—you have a problem. We are not to let money be the motivation in our service. We serve Him because He called us to a certain place for a certain time. We are to keep our intimate relationship with our spouse— the one God gave us. However, if you have been divorced, God wants you to keep your intimate relationship with the spouse you have right now—FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! And if by chance you do get famous, don’t let it go to your head! Stay humble, bring honor to God, and stay focused on the things which you where taught!

The, Oh look a squirrel mentality is killing the church! Don’t get distracted! GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH! Stay focused! CONTINUE THOU!

WHAT’S BEHIND YOU?

            Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

            If you are so busy you never have time to look back…that’s a good thing. You won’t be wondering if you made a wrong decision. You won’t be worried about who is talking behind your back. You won’t even care if someone else gets praised for something they did because you are more concerned with what the Lord knows rather than what man thinks!

What’s behind you doesn’t matter! What matters is what you’ve done for the Lord today! What matters is what you’re going to do for Him tomorrow! Get your eyes off of yesterday and focus in on what He has for you today!