How To Stay Focused In Life Series

Mark 1:35-39 How to STAY FOCUSED in Life

What prevents us from living our life to the fullest? Distractions.

1. We lost sense of our purpose in what we are doing - gotten into a rut and not fully aware of what we are really trying to achieve.

2. We lost touch with our priorities - not clear what is really important; having distorted values of things.

A group of tourists was taken through a tour of the great cathedral of St. Peters in Rome. As the tour ended the guide asked if there were any questions. A voice from the back of the crowd asked, "Has anyone been saved here lately? Isn’t that the reason it’s here?"

That’s the million-dollar question. Isn’t that why we are here?

To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus so that at least some would be saved because of you?

How can I truly live my life to the fullest - making the best use of my time and without regrets?

From Mark 1 - reflecting on Jesus’ life - I find these 2 keys - purpose and priority.

To stay focused on the right track, we must constantly pose ourselves these 2 questions:

(1) the question of PURPOSE, and (2) the question of PRIORITY in all that we do.

And keep doing that - because we may not be distracted today, but can’t tell if we can remain so focused the next month...

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LOOK AT JESUS in these few verses.

( I ) JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PURPOSE

Therefore he isn’t swayed by Peter’s appeal.

• When you know your purpose, you’ll be able to NO to other demands

• It was in fact a noble demand - the people (most likely the sick, demon-possessed, and more...) - they are looking for Jesus’ help.

• To help the sick and weak is a good thing - the right thing to do. Yet Jesus said, "Let’s go..."

He said, "...so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." (v.38)

• What is this THAT here - preaching the good news of God (1:14-15)

• 15"The time has come. The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

You see, Jesus is not a faith healer. His primary mission isn’t to heal or impress.

• Our primary mission today is not to HEAL or have more healing campaigns, even tho’ it’s good

• Jesus’ mission, and our mission, is the redemption of souls, not bodies.

Jesus says,

• Mt 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

• Mt 16:26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

• Mt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Jesus is clear about His purpose; therefore He can say NO to other things.

Ours is a purpose-driven life. We NEED A CLEAR FOCUS.

Every believer must find out what it is that God wants him to do.

• God will not ask you to do everything.

• Paul says, “This one thing I do…” (Phil 3:13). Paul has a clear focus.

Can we clearly articulate our focus or purpose in life?

THE LION SHOW IN A CIRCUS

Someone said that the trainer goes into the cage of lions with a ship and a stool. He points the legs of the stool at the lions because it has been discovered that this confuses them.

In order for a lion to pounce, it has to focus on one point. When it sees 3 legs in front, it loses focus. This paralyzes the lion and it becomes tame.

Without a clear focus, we are incapacitated and we lose our passion.

Therefore we have to pose this question of PURPOSE regularly - in everything we do.

And align ourselves back onto the right path and invest our time in things that has eternal consequences.

Part of us wants to say to Jesus: "But Jesus, "how can you just drop them? These people love you! They want to experience your healing power. Why are you leaving them?"

• But HEARING God is more important than what the people say.

• Sometimes, saying ’yes’ to God means saying ’no’ to people.

SINGER PAVAROTTI

There was a time in Pavarotti’s life when he wasn’t sure whether to be singer or a music teacher. So he asked his father, "Shall I be a teacher or a singer?"

His father replied, "Son, if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair."