What's Got Your Attention

“What’s got your Attention”

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - I have been teaching lately on prophecy and how the things that are happening in the world today are fulfilling many prophecies seemingly bringing the End-Times to fruition. My desire is to make people aware of how rapidly things are happening and prayerfully cause you to do has Jesus said in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 and that is to watch and pray always, let no man deceive you, and to decern what is happening. Matthew 16:3 says, “When it is evening ye say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red. And in the morning it will be foul weather today for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites you can discern the face of the sky but can ye not discern the signs of the times”. Unfortunately, many people are seeing things happening right before their eyes and are unable to discern what is going on and how they are the signs of the times Jesus mentioned.

Understand, prophecy isn’t given to scare us but to prepare us. God doesn’t want us to fear the end-times and the things that are happening but discern them and be ready. Because we are in the world but not of the world, we need to be aware of what is happening, actively doing our part in any way we can, focusing on Jesus, watching and praying. We must not be afraid of what is happening around us because fear paralyzes you, makes you reactive, and clouds your judgment. Preparedness will ground you in truth, enhance your discernment, and cause you to live in confidence despite what is going on all around.

Therefore, we must be clear and concise, realizing what truly has our attention making sure we are not deceived.

PRAYER

SCRIPTURES: - 2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”.

Philippians 4:8 “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”.

QUESTION: - What is more dangerous trying to focus on and identify who we think the Anti-Christ could be and the things that are going on in the world or loosing your focus and being deceived because we are so entangled in the affairs of this world?

A great tragedy is when the children of God, start to lose sight of God, His Word, and His plan for our lives, because we have allowed our attention to lose its focus, we have been drawn away our attention has shifted and unless it is corrected can lead us in the wrong direction towards sin, missed opportunities, and missed blessings from God. When your attention has shifted it causes losing sight of God and propels us to live in fear, anger, worry, frustration, and doubt. I can personally say as I have been getting drawn in by the news and all the negative attention-grabbing menagerie of pollution, corruption, asinine antics, and utter buffoonery that was coming across the airways. The killings in Minnesota, the protest, the idiotic distractions of the asinine attempt to purchase Greenland, the kidnapping of the Venezuelan President, the bombing of fishing boats in the Caribbean and the things that Jared Kushner has been able to do and involved in that I found myself getting angry, frustrated, and doubting and wondering how we were going to make it and wishing certain things would take place and I even felt a sense of righteous indignation and prayed like David in Psalms 143:12 “And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant”. Not so much that I personally was being wronged but my attention was now focused on what was happening instead of who is in control. I was becoming so entangled in what was happening, upset with the corruption, aggravated with the administration, and fearful of how I would be prepared if they entered my house. 2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”.

God had to remind me and it is something when God reminds you, that we are in a battle, a battle for our souls and the battlefield is fought in our minds. If control of our mind is won, then control of our soul is the prize. As soldiers in the Army of the Lord, we are to live a life of discipline, endurance, and commitment. One that is naturally and spiritually prepared dedicated to the mission of serving Christ and does not entangle themselves, loses focus or is distracted with the affairs of the world. The concept of refraining from entanglement is a deliberate choice to stay focused and keep your attention on that which is important.