Focus! Lord, Refresh Our Eyes!

FOCUS? LORD, REFRESH OUR EYES…

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

FOCUS: Whatever fills our emotions and our minds will FILL OUR HEARTS! WHAT ARE YOU FULL OF?

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO EVALUATE OR SURVEY WHAT DISTRACTS YOU FROM YOUR GOALS?

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

WE MUST STAY FOCUSED, KEEP YOUR EYES, MIND AND HEART FIXED ON JESUS… THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING.

Our relationship with Jesus must be more than a “SPARE TIRE RELIGION.” We can tend to put God and His word in a box and just get him out when we need him.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33 (MSG) Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

FOCUS? YOU BETTER STAY IN THE BOAT UNTIL YOU HEAR THE INVITATION. WHEN YOU FOCUS ON WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT FEATS. PETER HAD A WONDERFUL INVITATION…

Matthew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

WALKING WITHOUT THE INVITATION? DOCTOR DAVID YONGGI CHO OF THE LARGEST CHURCH IN THE WORLD. His church is in South Korea . CHO WROTE A BOOK NAMED “THE FOURTH DIMENSION.” THE BOOK IS ABOUT PRAYER.

Cho tells a story about 4 young teenage girls wanting to go to Youth Camp. They was full of enthusiasm about the camp. The 4 girls came upon a swollen, flooded river. It was very dangerous. The girls discussed CAMP! Does God want us to go to camp? If course he does! So the girls recalled Peter’s walk on the water and decided to walk over the flooded river. One girl did not “have the faith” and stayed on the shore. The other 3 girls took the “walk of faith.” All 3 drowned and it was several days before the 3 bodies were found.

South Korea made a big joke about walking on a flooded river. Doctor David was asked about this. Cho simply stated: YES, PETER WALKED ON THE WATER IN A STORM… BUT WE MUST UNDERSTAND PETER HAD AN INVITATION TO “COME.” The 3 girls presumption was they could walk on water. DOCTOR CHO EXPLAINED: YOU BETTER NOT TRY TO WALK ON WATER WITHOUT A DIVINE INVITATION!

PETER WAS WILLING TO TAKE GREAT RISK WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM. BUT UNDERSTAND THIS: WHEN PETER LOST HIS FOCUS AND TOOK HIS EYES OFF JESUS … HIS FOCUS CHANGED FROM JESUS TO THE BOISTEROUS WINDS AND THE HIGH WAVES?

Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

How easy is it to watch the waves and feel the wind and then Peter lost his nerve and started to sink. Peter had to focus on Jesus NOT ON THE STORM. He cried, "Master, save me!" Peter RE-FOCUSED ON THE MASTER.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN WHOLE ARMY OF GOD FOCUSES ON NEGATIVE WORDS… OF ONE MAN?

1 Samuel 17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

THE ARMY OF GOD FOCUSED ON 80 NEGATIVE MESSAGES CAUSES FEAR AND THE LACK OF FAITH ACTION

1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

FEAR WILL THRIVE WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE OBSTACLES INSTEAD OF

1 Samuel 17:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

LOST THE FOCUS ON GOD AND FOCUSED ON ONE BIG PHILISTINE…

1 Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

THE FOCUS MUST BE ON THE LORD. GOD HAS TO BRING IN A FRESH SET OF EYES TO RE-FOCUS BEYOND ON PHILISTINE AND BRINGS INTO FOCUS THE GOD FACTOR… DAVID CAN BECAUSE GOD CAN… IT IS ALL ABOUT THE FOCUS… LET USE THE ENEMY’S SWORD TO SHOW THE WORLD… THIS DAY THE LORD WILL DELIVER…