We are going to be addressing a subject that is unscriptural,
in name, but spiritually relevant in every other way.
A. Though the word, “focus” does not appear in the
Bible...........the practice of focusing certainly does.
1. We, as Christians.....must stay in focus.
a. satan tries.....constantly to throw our
focus off.
1.) This is what Christ was addressing
when He gave the parable of the
sower in Matt. 13:18-23......
18“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19“When
anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not
understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches
away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received
seed by the wayside. 20“But he who received the seed on
stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately
receives it with joy; 21“yet he has no root in himself, but
endures only for a while. For when tribulation or
persecution arises because of the word, immediately he
stumbles. 22“Now he who received seed among the thorns
is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and
the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes
unfruitful. 23“But he who received seed on the good
ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who
indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some
sixty, some thirty.”
We have a mission to perform.....a mission given to us
by Christ.
A. Our mission is salvation.
1. Our own salvation.
a. Based on us “working out our own
salvation”....not by works that we dream
up, but by doing what God has
commanded us to do.
b. Based on our study and understanding
of God’s Word.
c. Based on how we treat or don’t treat
those around us.
2. Salvation also includes the salvation of others.
a. We have not simply been placed on this
Earth so that we can be saved.....with
no regard to others.
1.) Part of our mission is the same as
Christ’s mission......to seek and
guide to salvation, those souls that
are lost.
a.) This means that we must be
.....not only WILLING TO...
but be ACTIVE IN....bringing
lost souls to Christ.
B. This mission is the most important thing that must
be done in the Kingdom.
1. satan knows this.....as lord of this world, satan
can and will overwhelm us with the things of
this world so that we will fail in our mission.
As Christians, we must stay focused on our mission.
A. Easier said than done.
1. The things of the world don’t appear to be
drawing us away from our mission.....they
don’t look evil (and many times they aren’t
evil).
a. However........there are only so many
hours in a day and only so many days in
our lifespan........it is absolutely vital
that we use up these hours and days in
fulfilling our mission.......NOT IN
BECOMING INVOLVED IN THAT
WHICH NOT MATTER IN
ETERNITY.
Now that we know what is being addressed......let us look
at some ways in which we can loose “focus” and some
things which will help us bring things back into spiritual
“focus”
I. Areas in which we are thrown off spiritual focus.
A. No deep, spiritual root in the things of God.......
he has not made these things “his own”......
conformed, but not convicted.
Matt. 13:21 - 21“yet he has no root in himself, but endures
only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises
because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
1. It doesn’t take a lot of tribulation or
persecution to undo one who is only
conforming.
B. Stubborn and closed spiritual eyes.....usually
closed because they DON’T want to understand.
Acts 26:16-18 - 16‘But rise and stand on your feet; for I
have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a
minister and a witness both of the things which you have
seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17‘I
will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the
Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18‘to open their eyes, in
order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of
sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by
faith in Me.’
1. Christ sent the Apostle, Paul on a mission to
stubborn and closed eyes.
a. The Jews of his day thought that they
were right.....but they were really blind.
1.) Nobody can focus on the truth of
God if and when his eyes stubborn-
ly remain closed.
C. So many people.......within and without the
Church are unable to spiritually focus because
the bitterness, in their hearts, distracts from the
need in their lives.
Heb. 12:15 - 15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of
the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up
cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.
I John 2:11 - 11But he who hates his brother is in
darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where
he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
1. It may be bitterness against someone in the
Church.....someone in a person’s family....
It can even be God, Himself....because of their
lack of understanding.
a. Whatever the “root of bitterness”.....it can
only distract and destroy.
D. Losing focus can also come from...and often does
come from.....the pull of lusts and secret sins....
habitual sins that many cave in to.
1. Nobody can focus on their mission if they are
going to consort with the enemy....satan.
Heb. 12:1-2 - 1Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of
the throne of God..
E. Even though it may seem so obvious....one of the
major targets of our mis-focus....is the vain...
empty....things of this world.
1. Money...power...praise...worldly success...
“security”...possessions.....etc..
Psalm 119:37 - 37 Turn away my eyes from looking at
worthless things, And revive me in Your way.
Prov. 23:5 - 5 Will you set your eyes on that which is
not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly
away like an eagle toward heaven.
Matt. 13:22 - 22“Now he who received seed among the
thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world
and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he
becomes unfruitful.
2. Jesus made it quite clear that we cannot serve
two masters.
a. So many that name the name of Christ
are really not willing to serve Him....their
hearts are really not in it.
1.) Often we find that when one
doesn’t want to serve Christ with
all that they have......it means that
they WANT ALL THAT THEY
HAVE!
F. The next thing that we will discuss, which pulls our
attention away from the mission that we are on, is
found in those who will listen to....read...or watch...
those who teach falsely.
Col. 2:4 - 4Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you
with persuasive words.
Rom. 16:17-18 - 17Now I urge you, brethren, note those
who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine
which you learned, and avoid them. 18For those who are
such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own
belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive
the hearts of the simple.
Eph. 5:6-7 - 6Let no one deceive you with empty words,
for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon
the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers
with them.
1. Christians must be careful in what they place
in their minds.
a. As everything that one may place on a
table may not be especially edible.....so
also, we must understand that everything
that is printed doesn’t demand that we
read it to satisfy our curiosity.
1.) Often when we mix the truth of the
Bible with the doctrine of men.......
the focus of the Bible is blurred....
distorted.....and made to be untrue.
G. It is also impossible to spiritually focus when our
faith is weak and our trust has been placed in
anything or anyone else, but God.
Heb. 11:6 - 6But without faith it is impossible to please
Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
1. We certainly cannot focus on the mission
when we are not committed to the one who
gave us the commission.
a. Focus takes faith and trust in the unseen..
that which IS seen will always over-ride
our best of intentions......if we, through
lack of faith, allow ourselves to be
distracted by the empirical.
H. Some deceive themselves and lose their focus
and their mission......this is self-deceit....they
think that knowing, understanding, and agreeing
with what is learned.......is the same as doing
what needs to be done.
James 1:22-25 - 22But be doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23For if anyone is a
hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
observing his natural face in a mirror; 24for he observes
himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of
man he was. 25But he who looks into the perfect law of
liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but
a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
1. As silly as this may sound.....many have lost
their focus in this very way.
a. This is the main cause of complacency
and often does lead to spiritual death.
I. Lastly in this list of things that cause us focus con-
fusion.......is fear....especially fear of death and
love of this physical life.
John 12:25-26 - 25“He who loves his life will lose it, and
he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal
life. 26“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where
I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me,
him My Father will honor.
1. satan will distract us from our mission by
causing us to fear for our life and/or our
health.
a. If we allow such a fear to distract us,
there is no way that we can properly
devote our full attention to the mission
of Christ.
II. Now we want to address the ways in which we can
strengthen our focus and insure that the mission that
we have been given will be carried out satisfactorily.
A. We, as Christians, cannot just blithely walk down
whatever spiritual path we may come on.
1. We need to be aware of our spiritual
surroundings......there is spiritual danger in all
but one path.
a. These other paths may, for a moment,
seem appealing and even right....but we
must constantly remind ourselves that
there is but one path to be followed.
Prov. 16:25 - 25 There is a way that seems right to a
man, But its end is the way of death.
b. We need to be on guard.....we need to
avoid the dangerous spiritual traps of
satan.
1.) If we allow other things to draw our
attention and participation, we have
been deceived and we have lost our
spiritual focus.
Eph. 5:15 - 15See then that you walk circumspectly, not
as fools but as wise.
B. We need to strengthen our faith and firm up our
spiritual hope.
1. If we don’t have a proper faith in Christ, we
will be tempted to look back......just as lot’s
wife did.
a. We need to forget the things of the world
which we have left.....we need to place
our faith....our hope.....our complete
trust in God and in His ways.
Phil. 3:12-14 - 12Not that I have already attained, or am
already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that
for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13Brethren,
I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, 14I press toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus.
Tit. 2:13 - 13looking for the blessed hope and glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Heb. 11:13-16 - 13These all died in faith, not having
received the promises, but having seen them afar off were
assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who
say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15And truly if they had called to mind that country from
which they had come out, they would have had opportunity
to return.
16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for
He has prepared a city for them.
2. The hope that we have is in the promises
which we have been given.....our hope is in
the special calling of Christ.
a. Our understanding should be such that
we KNOW that we will receive wonder-
ful and unimaginable gifts from God.
1.) We will be as Christ is....in all His
glory and beauty.
I John 3:2-3 - 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and
it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know
that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall
see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him
purifies himself, just as He is pure.
2.) We will inherit everything that
Christ has inherited.
Romans 8:15-17 - 15For you did not receive the spirit of
bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of
adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of
God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with
Him, that we may also be glorified together.
3.) We shall rule and reign with Christ,
and be seated on His throne.
Rev. 3:21 - 21“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit
with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down
with My Father on His throne.
3. Our hope, then, is what brings into focus just
exactly WHY we walk this restricted spiritual
path and overlook the pleasures of this life
that last, but for a season.
a. To keep our focus, we must have this
hope as a reality....by faith in the one
who made these promises to us.
Eph. 1:17-19 - 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18the eyes of your
understanding being enlightened; that you may know what
is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory
of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the
exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power.
I John 2:24-26 - 24Therefore let that abide in you which
you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the
beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and
in the Father. 25And this is the promise that He has
promised us—eternal life. 26These things I have written to
you concerning those who try to deceive you.
C. All of these promises and all of our hopes are
dependent, however, on one thing........that we
follow in the footsteps of Christ.
1. He must be our master and we must be His
servant.
a. He our leader.....we, the followers.
2. We must follow His instructions....we must
do what He has commanded....and we will
also suffer in our walk....even as He has.
a. Suffer with self-denial.
b. Suffer from ridicule and rejection.
c. Perhaps....even suffer unto physical
death for the cause of Christ.
I Peter 2:21 - 21For to this you were called, because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you
should follow His steps.
2. Our focus, as Christians, is more than a tele-
photo lens would provide.
a. As we live our lives....we must be the
“Jesus” that the world sees.
1.) If we really are a reflection of
Christ, then we can expect to suffer
with Christ.....as Christ suffered.
CONCLUSION:
Good things do not come easily....they take work...they
take direction...they take a concentration...a focus, if you
will.
A. When we make the commitment to become and
live as a Christian.....we are saying that we will
focus on this one purpose......even to the exclusion
of all else, if necessary.
1. It is akin to being married to Christ....
“Forsaking all others, to remain true to you
alone...”
a. There will be other things that vie for our
attention, but we must focus on Christ
and the things of Christ....first and
formost.
Hear what is said about a famous violinist and apply these
things to our own walk with Christ.
Nothing that is valuable is achieved without effort. Fritz Kreisler, the
famous violinist, testified to this point when he said, "Narrow is the
road that leads to the life of a violinist. Hour after hour, day after day
and week after week, for years, I lived with my violin. There were so
many things that I wanted to do that I had to leave undone; there were
so many places I wanted to go that I had to miss if I was to master the
violin. The road that I traveled was a narrow road and the way was
hard."
WE MUST KEEP OUR FOCUS....OR BE IN DANGER
OF LOSING OUR SOULS!
