Being a focused Christian
Thinking, Acting, Being like Jesus
Matthew chapter 6:33
Introduction
We are still in the series Thinking, Acting, Being like Jesus.
Last week you remember we looked at the principal and relationship of prayer.
We agreed that prayer works, and I asked that we do more than keep it on our refrigerator, but embed it in our hearts, that we would allow prayer and our relationship with God to change our lives.
There are principals of our faith that must be worked out in our lives
Our relationship with God in prayer.
Reading and knowing God’s Word…..and applying it to our lives properly.
Getting in church to hear God’s Word.
Fellowshipping with people of like minded faith.
These are all designed by God to help us journey through this life and help us with our walk with God.
One of the main reasons people cannot walk their faith is because they have no discipline in these areas.
I’ve titled the sermon “Being a focused Christian” but really it is about being single-minded. Focused on the one thing that matters most and that is our walk with God and our relationship with Him.
Because of our sin nature and our self centeredness,
We often get a mind set of what we want rather than what God wants.
We ask God to bless what we are doing rather than doing what God desires.
This world is focused on themselves rather than on God’s will.
Text- Matthew chapter 6:33
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Familiar verse, but not often lived out.
The heart of the matter is “kingdom” God’s kingdom or your kingdom. Your righteousness or God’s righteousness.
Stuck right here in Matthew is red letter words of Jesus.
Right between not worrying, finding peace, storing of our treasures, and not judging others is….Seeking His kingdom and Is righteousness.
“And all these things will be given to you as well”
What are all these things?
They are peace of mind.
Not allowing worry to control you.
It is not storing up all your treasures here and sending some ahead of you.
These things are not the focus because the focus for a believer has to be about God’s kingdom.
Jesus is letting us know that He is aware of what we need. (repeat)
We are to depend on Him to provide. Doing all that we know to do, but trusting him to provide.
This takes away the excuse of doing nothing and wondering why nothing is happening.
Give you another verse
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
There are some people that worry about today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, 20 years from now, retirement, economy, jobs, where they will live. If that is not enough, some worry about other people in all those areas.
They just worry about everything!
Where does faith come in? At what point do you stop worrying and start living?
Focused believers, single minded people will live each day yielded to God’s will and directions.
Do what they know to do.
Prepare as much as they can, but trust God to take care of the things that they do not control.
Ever hear the term, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too”
I think that is the most ridiculous phrase ever! Of course you can have it- if it is your cake, you eat it when you want too.
Concerning spiritual things, when you surrender your life to God, you receive not only abundant life here but also the gift of eternal life in the future.
You can have your cake and eat it too! If fact, I encourage it!
The Bible is full of verses that tell us we can have our cake and eat it too.
Verses in the Bible galore that tells us to be focused on God first and that He provides.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for your selves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
“No man can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
The verse we read about worrying-
We need stuff, but stuff cannot have us.
You need money, but money can’t be your treasure.
You need to take care of things, but you cannot worry about the things that you cannot change.
Most of the things that you worry about never happen.
The things that do happen, the things that were out of your control you could not change.
Million dollar question- How do I keep focused on Jesus Christ amid distractions?
Short answer- Eliminate the distractions.
Illustration (SermonCentral)
In 1836 Samuel Morse invented Morse code, soon after several people were applying for a job. They were all sitting in the room waiting their turn to be interviewed. They were in this crowded room and no one could hear each other because they were so loud. In the midst of all the noise, a man came into the room and said “Thank you for coming in, but the job has been filled.” They asked the man why they were not able to interview and he replied… during that time, he had sent a Morse code message that said, “if you understand this message, then come into my office right now and the job was yours.” They said that was not fair! They did not know!
Are you tuned into the things of God or your own life and surrounding?
While they were preoccupied with other conversations, as meaningful as some probably were, they missed the main message.
The ones that eliminate the distractions are the ones that hear God’s voice when He speaks.
I am saying to you that there is a job to do, there is a job opening, who will fill it?
Realize He is God and you are not. The focus of your life is on Him not you.
There is a God and you are not Him!
You did not put the stars in place – God did.
You did not go to the cross- Jesus did.
You can’t save yourself- you need a savior.
The focus is on God and His priorities for our lives
The best way to stay focused is to stay focused on God.
Put God first.
Do a quick exam on yourself- for yourself
Is God first In your relationships?
Is He first with your time? Who usually wins , your Bible or your TV?
Sunday morning- sleeping in or worship?
Is God first in finances? Check your checkbook to see who won that one.
Is God the first person you go to for direction or the last?
If someone followed your life for a week, what would they find out about you?
What would a stranger say are your priorities?
Randy Frazee says this
The Lord never will say to us “well I met someone else; I don’t think this is going to work out. He is all-in 24/7/365. He is always pursuing us.
We want to see God do some amazing things and we trust him as an afterthought. The challenge is to remain faithful. When you fail, and you will, you can see forgiveness and focus right back on Him.
Our new church board was installed this morning. We want what God wants for us, not our own agenda. We want His will done for this church. That goes for each family here and each individual.
Pursuing God is our mission statement.
Closing
What difference will this make in our lives?
God sets the agenda and goals in our lives.
We don’t ask God to bless our plans, we ask Him to bless us as we do his plan.
We trust God to meet our needs and our desires.
