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…
1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
FOCUS OF 24 EYES? 20 EYES FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM, 4 EYES FOCUS ON GOD’S PROMISE.
FOCUS? COME AND LET US SEE THERE SAME SITUATION THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS TO FOCUS?
Numbers 13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
Numbers 13:31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
OUR FOCUS WILL BRING JOY OR TEARS?
Numbers 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
WILL WE FOCUS BEYOND THE MESS OF TODAY? PRAYER IS A GREAT TOOL… TO MAINTAIN A CLEAR FOCUS…
While we pray we desire to WORSHIP GOD, TO PRAISE GOD, and TO THANK HIM. We need make our request known to him BY FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS. I have learned to TRUST by FAITH realizing our GOD IS IN CONTROL. We also need to FOCUS ON FORGIVENESS.
MAKE REQUEST KNOWN…
WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME? HUMANITY TENDS TO FOCUS ON TEMPORAL CARNALITY. WE SERIOUSLY NEED TO FOCUS ON HOW IMPORTANT THE BIBLE AND GOD IS TO OUR FAMILIES AND TO OUR SELF.
If I start my day focused on the Lord. We tend to focus on coffee, TV, the news, our schedule… WE CAN MISS OUR FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE AND PRAYER.
WORRY, FEAR, DISAPPOINTMENTS, HURT AND PAIN CAN WORK US INTO A FRENZY. WE MUST LEARN TO PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING…
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:6 (MSG) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Conclusion: THERE ARE 8 THINGS TO FOCUS AND THINK ON… WE MUST STAY FOCUSED ON 8 THINGS. WE MUST THINK ABOUT WHAT WE THINK ABOUT… WE MUST SET OUR MINDS ON THE THINGS ABOVE…
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
FOCUS ON 1. TRUTH. 2. HONEST. 3. JUST. 4. PURE. 5. LOVELY. 6. GOOD REPORT. 7. VIRTUE. 8. PRAISE
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Check out our YouTube)
