Every day I drive the same highway to and from the office, and every day I see an alarming number of distracted drivers. Usually they’re talking on the phone or texting, but I have also seen people reading the newspaper, putting on makeup, and eating a bowl of cereal while trying to maneuver a car at 70+ miles per hour! In some circumstances, distractions are fleeting and harmless. In a moving vehicle, they can kill.
Sometimes distractions can be a problem in our relationship with God.---Even in our different ministries we get distracted from doing what God wants us to do…Distractions will effect our work… and Sometimes we get so busy for the Lord that we lose what is most important: that quiet time before the Lord.
There’s so much to do, and it’s all important, and you know you’re never going to get it all done. It’s very upsetting, very frustrating. And yet Jesus says, “Why do you worry about so many things? There’s only one thing that really matters, and it’s me.
A few Sundays ago I asked a question---Are You Listening?
The way God knows when we listening is when we do what he is telling us to do or say.
I AM FOCUSED, BUT WHAT DO I DO WHEN UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN?
Even if you focus on one thing you can still be so focused and get distracted when unexpected things happen--- especially if you don't look at your way! That's why it's got to look GOD’S WAY while focused!
No matter how good, rich, intelligent, beautiful, handsome, extreme a person is... As long as he is a human... That still has a limit. There's a limitation, that's why we need GOD because if there's GOD, the limit can't be reached... The natural becomes supernatural...Truth is sometimes, not having a problem can make us blind--because it seems like we don't need the lord if everything is okay---
We are all familiar with romans 8:28 cev--- We know that GOD is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him.[a] They are the ones GOD has chosen for his purpose,---when there's a problem you will see through it all that GOD is your only strength and our strength is not enough, "our problem becomes a blessing"
UNEXPECTED PROBLEM BECOMES A UNEXPECTED BLESSING
Problems are a great blessing because it teaches & reminds us of a way to humble ourselves before GOD.
THERE’S THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 CEV--- don't forget how the lord your GOD has led you through the desert for the past 40 years. He wanted to find out if you were truly willing to obey him and depend on him, 3 so he made you go hungry. Then he gave you manna,[a] a kind of food that you and your ancestors had never even heard about. The lord was teaching you that people need more than food to live—they need every word that the lord has spoken.. ---
how did 11 days to reach canaan take 40 days and nights?
They were so consumed with all the gossipers, complaining.
They had to trust in GOD even if their smallest needs were food and drinks>
GOD will allow a problem so that we can learn to be humble.
Upon their arrival at Kadesh Barnea, which bordered the Promised Land of Canaan, they sent out 12 spies to survey the land and its people (Numbers 13:18-25). They returned after forty days of exploration. 10 of the spies had a bad report:
“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. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”Numbers 13:31-33
Additionally, the ten men who had given the bad report were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord (Numbers 14:37). Only Joshua and Caleb survived, the two faithful spies who believed GOD’s promise to give the land over to them.
GOD had promised them victory. The land He commanded them to go in and take was already theirs; they simply had to trust and obey, but this they did not do. GOD will never lead us where His grace cannot provide for us or His power cannot protect us. The Israelites had seen the powerful hand of GOD at work during the plagues and miracles of the Exodus. Yet, like many people, they walked by sight and not by faith, and their unbelief displeased GOD. “Without faith it is impossible to please GOD” (Hebrews 11:6). Their failure to believe in GOD’s word kept them from entering the Promised Land. This truth has never changed.
(LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR FOCUS)
Focus- definition---you have a clear and definite purpose. Paying attention to it. When a camera lens or your eyes are focused, they've made the adjustments needed to see clearly. When a beam of light is focused on a thing, it's shining on that thing.
--being too focused can prevent you from seeing what is happening around you
-- you get too tired too often
-- you are distracted by having to do too many things at once--- “juggler’s mindset”
---some folks have difficulty sitting still
We’ve all been there. You’re slouched in a meeting or a classroom, or even in a worship service and we are supposed to be paying attention, but our mind has long since wandered off on lunch, dreams from the night before, spouse or children…some even start thinking on things pertaining to next month or even the next holiday coming…
Many people are focusing on their cell phones while walking but not looking at what they are passing by. Walked into a pole, others had an accident, others were hit, others stumbled! Why? Because the person is focused, but he's not looking at the road or the path! That's why you're in trouble! (same in spiritual life)
As kingdom citizens we need to focus ourselves on the will of GOD, to what GOD wants us to do or mission that GOD wants us to accomplish!
Staying focus is important so that we are pleasing in the presence of GOD and bring many souls before him!
I HAVE A CONFESSION---
I am guilty of focusing on the goal that GOD asked me to do but it was not GOD's way!
Sometimes this is what most people do--- we say we are focused on what GOD wants us to do, but we are not taking GOD's way, ----so we get angry, cry, kick, cuss, fuss, and scream when things don’t go according to our plan or when we get into trouble! We said we are focused but we are not looking at it in GOD’s way, so we got hurt and wounded, & perhaps some have even died spiritually and left feeling defeated…
LISTEN ---
GOD doesn´t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. --- the will of GOD will never take you to where the grace of GOD will not protect you---
THE PIT MINISTRY
A man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out.
A subjective person came along and said, “i feel for you down there.”
An objective person came along and said, “it’s logical that someone would fall down into that pit.”
A pharisee said, “only bad people fall into a pit.”
Confucius said, “if you would have listened to me you wouldn’t be in that pit.”
Buddha said, “your pit is only a state of mind.”
A realist said, “now that’s a pit!”
A scientist calculated the pressure necessary, pounds and square inches, to get him out of the pit.
A geologist told him to appreciate and study the rock strata in the pit.
An evolutionist said, “you will die in the pit so you can’t produce any more pit-falling offspring.”
The country inspector said, “did you have a permit to dig that pit?”
A professor gave him a lecture on the elementary principles of the pit.
A self-pitying person said, “you haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit!”
An optimist said, “things could get worse.”
A pessimist said, “things are going to get worse.”
LET ME SPRINKLE THIS ON YOU
But WHEN JESUS saw the man in the pit, HE took him by the hand, and lifted him out.
Sometimes the reason GOD doesn’t remove certain situations is so he can shift and turn things around on our behalf…
The season of life that some of us is living in may seem a little strange---GOD isn’t necessarily doing anything new that he hasn’t done before but it’s new to us because we have never experienced it before---the dreams, visions…our walk and the way we talk---even the revelation he gives us through reading the bible—
It seems strange because the GOD we serve is doing strange things---you see the strange things that GOD is doing is working miracles---he is working wonders—he is blowing the minds of the doctors, the mind of politicians---the minds of church folk---ooh wee GOD
CHECK THIS OUT
GOD makes the heaven and the earth.
But sometimes we act as if the problem are we facing today that is too hard for him
During the week and even on sunday we walk in the church building and we want to worship him but with our same lips we doubt that he can fix it as fast as we want it or how we want it to happen.
Listen ---we cry out to GOD because he is the source of our help.
We know so much about the bible. We may know some bible stories, or maybe we've even read large portions for ourselves. But what it's all about? How do all the different pieces fit together? Unlike some people, GOD never breaks his promises. Those who trust in jesus christ can know that all the promises of GOD find their "yes" in him.
When moses was facing the red sea, he did not call for his people to help. They were helpless. He called for GOD’s help.
• when david faced goliath, he did not call on his brothers. They were afraid and hiding. He called on the lord. He trusted GOD.
• when daniel was about to be thrown into the lion’s den, no one was around to help him. He called out to GOD in prayer. GOD shuts the mouths of the lions.
The GOD we serve is who he is because he able to do & will do what no human or angel can do…
I GET IT
Sometimes it seems like GOD has taken nyquil, and he has just been zapped into a deep sleep in that as you pray & cry to him, --the devil wants you to feel as if GOD can’t hear you—
The bible says:
John 14:6 cev
“i am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “without me, no one can go to the father.
(it means christ is the way that we should look at and imitate, the way that he wants and not the way that we want, with our focus on the mission that jesus made us to do focusing on GOD's way.
GOD's way is different from the way that man wants, our following our own way leads to sin, ---that's why the lord needs way, he is the way
And it is necessary as a christian if we really focus on what the lord wants us to do, we need to fear GOD, because GOD leads and guides the humble and the persons who fear him.
As kingdom citizens it doesn’t mean we need a special tattoo or bumper sticker on our car---as kingdom citizens it means even better things like undeserved grace, freedom from condemnation and a home in heaven.
Because we have a relationship—with GOD it must be GOD-jesus over everything
Paul said it best—he said he needed his mind renewed daily---there is so much chaos & confusion going on in the world around us…at work, in our home—at school- and sometimes in even our church where we fellowship---this is when we need to cry out lord help and believe that he will do the very thing we are asking him to do…now GOD’s ways and thoughts are different and higher than ours so with that being said it may mean that the way we thought or hoped for GOD changed us in the process…
John 16:13 cev
The spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me-GOD, and he will let you know what is going to happen
So, what should we do if we lose focus on our assignment?
I HAVE 3 SUGGESTIONS TO HELP US FULFILL OUR PURPOSE:
1: anchor yourself in the word of GOD.
When we anchor ourselves in the word of GOD, this gives us a solid foundation to stand on when we are crying out to GOD.
2: talk to GOD.
He is a father who cares. Talk to him. He knows what is going through in your life.
3: trust GOD for your keeping
Could be pain. Your distress could be the loss of a loved one. Your distress could be making a difficult decision in your life now.
REMINDER:
The person who is really focused on the kingdom is careful on the path you are going through--- not just walking & talking, but seriously check the road to see if it's still GOD's way, while focusing on the goal that GOD has assigned us to.
Listen family if you have lost your focus, get up again, & this time take the way GOD wants 🔥
Let’s remain focused on what GOD wants us to do and follow the way GOD wants you to go & do it!
I want to remind us that GOD wants to have a relationship with us…he wants us to talk to him and spend time with him…as crazy as we may be…indecisive…bad attitudes…we keep lying & we keep manipulating other people over and over again to get what we think we want or need in our life…but you can’t manipulate GOD…GOD knows everything true & false about us…jesus loves us so much that he sacrificed his life for our messy, petty, manipulating, backbiting, did i say selfish ways…
If You Want Something You Never Had, You Have To Do Something You’ve Never Done.
