O Ye of Little Faith

Matthew 6:25-30 “I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

God reminds us not only who we are, but more importantly, whose we are. If we rely on our own self-serving power then we are men and women of little faith, However, if we work out our own salvation, our completed wholeness in Christ, with awe, respect, and reverence, then God works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. Jesus said in John 15:5-6 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” God is a God of mercy but he is also a God of righteous judgement.

According to John 3:19-21, “this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” 

After Jesus had spent many days ministering, He said to his disciples at the seaside, “Get in the boat, we’re going over to the other side.” As they were crossing the Sea of Galilee, a violent storm arose and their boat filled with water and they began to sink. They bailed and panicked as the water filled the boat. They finally woke up Jesus who was sleeping below deck. He said to the storm, “Peace be still.” Immediately the wind and waves ceased. The apostles marveled that even the weather was subject to His command. Then Jesus said to them. Why were you afraid, O ye of little faith? Jesus, God incarnate, did not tell His disciples to get into the boat, we’re going halfway across and drown. Nature’s God said, “we’re going over to the other side”, and no doubt come hell or high-water, His words are faithful and they were going to be accomplished. There are no victims in the kingdom of God. He turns people from victims to victors. As Paul said, But thanks be to God who always give the us the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord.

God never honors fear; He always honors faith. In our own power we are men and women to whom Jesus said, O ye of little faith. Our faith is in the object of our faith, Jesus Christ himself. Our faith is in the power of God through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. For it is Christ in us the hope of glory. Through the trials and tribulations of this fallen world, God will teach us the meaning of sure hope and the meaning of true love. According to Romans 5, for tribulation works patience and patience experience (His proven character in us) and experience hope, and hope makes us not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.

God is in the business of making men and women of great faith. He is alive in us when we work out the salvation He has given us through faith. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, his delight is our delight; His good pleasure is our good pleasure. Then in the power of the faith of Christ in us, God works in us and through us to will and to do of his good pleasure, that by believing faith, which is saving faith that works in love, we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

Reconciled to God

This last Sunday, Pastor Kyle continued in our church’s sermon series through the book of Acts. In His message, he spoke of things needed to turn potential relational battles into real-life breakthroughs for the Gospel. (1) Both the right theology and the right approach are crucial. The disciples of Christ stand firm on the living Word of God in the holy Scriptures of the immutable Bible. In John 17:17 the Lord Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” 

 

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ The Savior of the world rightfully proclaims in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Repentant Christ-Followers know and understand when 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Their sins were paid for by Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice on the Cross. As Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And Ephesians 2:4-5 confirms, “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

 

The converted Believer by saving faith is forgiven of their sins and the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to them. Romans 3:22-24 asserts, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Jesus Christ is the “One Way” provided by God, the Father in Heaven for salvation. Therefore, John 3:36 affirms, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” To believe means a mere but sure assent of the understanding to the truths of the gospel and implies, with this assent of the mind, a yielding of the will and affections, accompanied with a humble reliance on Christ for salvation. 

 

In John 3:14-17 Jesus avows, “Just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the desert on a pole, so must the Son of Man be lifted up on the cross, so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life after physical death, and will actually live forever. For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world, that He even gave His One and only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him as Savior shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.” That is why the Apostle Paul asks in Romans 10:8-9 “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

 

The Lord Jesus gave us the “Great Commission” in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 saying, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” This was not the “Great Suggestion”, but a commandment to His disciples to make disciples. Ephesians 2:10 explains, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Spreading the Gospel of Salvation is “Good News and Good Works”. Pastor Kyle tells us that we need to be willing to tackle and confront the hard issues of righteousness, holiness and biblical morality, ethics and obedience to God, but be determined to leave with unity. To restore a person to an upright position before the Lord is the goal.

In the “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus warns us, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Yet 2 Peter 3:9 testifies, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Jesus came to seek and save the lost; His followers are commissioned to do just that. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 maintains that, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God ... then go and sin no more.

 

In Christ, Brian

Faith-Based

Hebrews 11:1-3, 6 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. But 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.”

 

I love the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary because Noah Webster’s published it primarily so Americans could read and understand the words of the Bible in accurate context. The word “faith” is defined in theology as, the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the Holy Scriptures, of the being and perfections of God, and of the existence, character and doctrines of Christ, founded on the testimony of the sacred (inspired by God) writers. Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God's testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation. 

 

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” We live within the dimension of time, space and matter created by God. Almighty God exists in the spiritual realm which is invisible with glimpses revealed for a dim view for now. Romans 1:20 explains, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” The irreducible complexity of life, the data information with the DNA of every living organism, the physical evidence within the rock layers have every honest Scientist faithfully glorifying God to whom it all points. Nobody was here during the creation of the earth, but Adam was alive to tell the nine generations after him, including Noah’s father Lamech. 

 

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we live by faith, not by sight”, but it is a “sure faith”. The biblical accounts of history are being confirmed daily by Archeology, Geology, Biology, Astronomy, and branches of Science that follow the evidence and ongoing discoveries uncovered and observed. Creation defies natural explanation, yet is only believed by faith because Creator God cannot be physically seen; only His fingerprints on everything. Faith is the basis of purpose because Creator God does not create anything without a purpose. It is unbelief with its misguided faith that is without excuse.

 

Yet, the greatest is “saving faith”. Because of the Fall of Man, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The wages of sin against our just and holy Creator is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” For God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We are not in Heaven yet, but faith in Jesus is the ticket in. That is the basis of our faith and our blessed assurance.

 

In Christ, Brian

Risky Business

 

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

This coming Tuesday, the Prayer Group at our local Assisted Care Living facility will be continuing in our Bible Study series “Forward” by Turning Point Ministries. This session is on “Risk” and Dr. David Jeremiah explains that risk is no0t to be avoided by Christians because it requires us to invest something of ourselves, face uncertainties and experience opportunities to grow in faith for the kingdom of God. Risk gets us out of our “safe zone”, push the boundaries of true ministry and enlarges our territory of the King’s domain; advancing the kingdom of Heaven. 

 

I remember the Prayer of Jabez of 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 which states: Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.” Purpose, faith, trust, risk and reward was written all over Jabez’s prayer. Simple belief of the Holy Scriptures, of the being and perfections of Almighty God. The assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, that firm belief of God's testimony, and of the truth. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” Faith and risk work hand in hand.

 

The Three Traps that we need to avoid. (1) Maximizing the Opposition. Are you looking at how big the problem is or how big God is? There is no traction with friction. Walk by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight. (2) Minimizing the Opportunities. When we forget all the blessings that God has provided for us in the past, we minimize His ability to guide us in the present and future. Doubt and unbelief produce a vision of destruction. Where is God leading you? In Matthew 14:31 Jesus said to Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (3) Jeopardizing the Objective. Unbelief leads to forfeiting by an unwillingness to risk and disobedience to God’s commands. What does God want you to tackle? What does God want you to possess? What does God want you to accomplish for Him? To say, “No Lord” to God is an oxymoron. 

 

The Four Key Principles to live in the “Faith Zone.” (1): Risk-Takers Stay Exuberant About their Lives. When we follow God, we experience the joyful zest of living. (2) Risk-Takers Stay Excited About Their Futures. No matter our age, our circumstances or stage of life, we trust and obey God until our life on earth ends. Glorification is Victory! This is the eternal perspective. (3) Risk-Takers Stay Enthusiastic About Their Assignment. Knowing our purpose and trusting God keeps us motivated to step out in faith and take risks for His kingdom. The word enthusiasm originates from the Greek “ἐνθουσιασμός”, from ἐν (en, “in”) and θεός (theós, “god”), meaning "inspired by God". The term was confined to a belief in religious inspiration, or to intense religious fervor or emotion by the early Christians. (4) Risk-Takers Still Energized About Their God. Only the energy of the living God within us can keep us barreling forward into the remainder of God’s will for our lives. Mark 11:22  “Have faith in God,” 

 

The foundational truth of risk is that, God will never choose safety for us, if it will cost us significance. God created us to count; not to be counted. This is your time to move forward, out of the safe zone and into the faith zone to grow, mature, gain and progress until victory. Caleb’s Secret: Wholly follow the Lord. Child of God, What risk is God asking you to take as you go forward? His will for you is not earthly comfort, but Divine courage. Know God and make Him known; it is risky business with eternal benefits.

 

In Christ, Brian

Spiritual Grit - Part 2

Pastor Obie continues that, the third trait of spiritual grit is that it seeks common ground amidst misunderstandings in order to point to Jesus. We are all part of the common human race on this rotating planet that our Creator made for life on earth. Sure there are differences, but seek and find the similarities. Meet people where they are at and build trust and relationships for open and honest conversations. Everyone sees and knows that here is great division and chaos in the world today, but Jesus is the Prince of Peace. As disciples of Christ, we have been commanded and commissioned by Jesus to “seek and save the lost” through the Gospel, in the ministry of redemption, regeneration, reconciliation and restoration. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21declares, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus meets us where we are at, but He does not keep us where we are at. Righteousness, by definition, is being in a right relationship with the Lord, your God. 

 

Acts 14:18-20 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

 

The fourth trait of spiritual grit is that grit takes a hit, but never quits. In John 3:19-20 Jesus forewarns His followers, “that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Foreveryone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” As darkness and light cannot occupy them same space, neither can sin and righteous holiness. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 and Ephesians 5:11-13 confirm that there is no true fellowship there, just ministry opportunities, but expect resistance and opposition; maybe even aggression and persecution. Jesus states in John 15:18 ,“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. Don’t seek the approval of sinful mankind, but seek the approval of God by walking in His holy Word, Will and Way. 

 

Acts 14:21-28 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

The fifth trait of spiritual grit is it overcomes discouragement and flips it into encouragement for others. Open the door of faith with the eternal perspective of the gospel and focus on entering the kingdom of Heaven by living under the authority of the kingdom of God. The Believer’s purpose is to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ, Lord of all and Savior of the world. Reduce the population of Hell. Be a kingdom builder.

 

In Christ, Brian

Spiritual Grit

Jesus proclaimed in Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

This last Sunday, our Pastor Obie continued in the church’s sermon series through the Book of Acts, stating that The word grit is defined as “courage, confidence and resolve; strength of character: the strength of mind and determination despite difficulty.” In our faith life, true spiritual grit is perseverance, endurance and passion grounded in salvation and the eternal perspective of everlasting life in the kingdom of Heaven; not what you do, but what you are, because of who you are in Jesus Christ and whose you are in Father God. That grit don’t quit!

 

Acts 14:1-4 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

 

Pastor Obie gave us five traits of spiritual grit. (1) Spiritual Grit invests time instead of taking the easy way out. As in the days of the Apostle Paul, the hostile opposition of darkness and unbelief is poisoning the minds of multitudes today. Do not run, do not leave, but stay because opposition leads to opportunity. Invest time, let your light shine and address the issues, not avoiding them because light in the power of the Holy Spirit exposes even the shadows and conviction convinces. (2) Spiritual grit testifies boldly and trust the Holy Spirit to bring godly results. A witness, by definition gives eyewitness testimony of what they’ve seen, heard and experienced personally. The witness for the Jesus Christ boldly does the same for what the Savior of the world has done, what the Lord of lords is doing in their life today, and what the King of kings is going to do for them in the future, temporal and eternally as the omnipotent Holy Spirit leads.   

 

Acts 14:8-17 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

 

The third trait of spiritual grit is that spiritual grit is that it seeks common ground amidst misunderstandings in order to point to Jesus. 

Let’s go into this more in the next post in Pastor Obie’s message.

In Christ, Brian

Forgiveness

Colossians 3:13 - Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

 

Forgiveness is something that is so easily request from God, but is not so easily given by us with our “thin-skin” to others. We tend to keep track of how others offend us, but do we guard against offending our just and holy Father God in Heaven? Our Creator, who created and sustains all sets the standards that everything and everybody needs to live by for physical and social stability, substance and safety. 

 

Proverbs 14:34 declare, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Sin is defined as: The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; iniquity. “The Word of God is the “Moral Compass” for living the life that God intended us to live. Moral Understanding” is knowing the difference between right and wrong from those divine law, divine command, rule of rectitude or duty found in the Holy pages of the Bible. Calling out sin is going to be offensive to a Sinner, but conviction of sin is the path to repentance. And when they repent and ask for forgiveness, we need to forgive them with the same grace that the Lord forgave us. 

 

In Matthew 6:12-15 (the Lord’s Prayer), Jesus tells us to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”The Apostle Paul explains in Romans 3:23-24, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Forgiveness goes hand-in-hand with the two greatest Commandments of loving God and loving others, and the tranquil peace and stability of community, but centered of the foundation of righteousness and salvation in Christ. 

 

The Apostle Paul concludes in Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Holding bitter resentment inside and desiring revenge is an emotional burden and ta source of stress. This is released by forgiveness and giving our worries to God. In Matthew 18:21-22Peter came up and asked Jesus, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. We are not to be mindless and used by others, but have a nature of forgiveness.

 

Ephesians 1:3-7 proclaims, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

 

Forgiven in Christ, so forgive in Christ.

Brian

 

Focus Forward - Part 2

 

Philippians 3:12-14 “Not 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. Brethren, 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, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

 

Continuing our study from the video series by “Turning Point” ministries, we looked at a couple biblical definitions for our better understanding. (1) Sanctification – 1. The act of making holy. In an evangelical sense, the act of God's grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God. 2. The act of consecrating or of setting apart for a sacred purpose; consecration. This process immediately follows “Justification” by faith, and is a lifetime progression of growing into the likeness of Christ. (2) Consecration - The act or ceremony of separating from a common to a sacred use, or of devoting and dedicating a person or thing to the service and worship of God, by certain rites or solemnities. Consecration does not make a person or thing really holy, but declares it to be sacred, that is, devoted to God or to divine service. 

 

Pastor David Jeremiah unpacked the Four Principles in Sharpening our Focus forward.

 

1.    Focus on God’s Purpose. The over-arching purpose is reconciliation and restoration of the Sinner. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and His Great Commission commands His followers to do likewise. Within that, God’s ultimate purpose for your life is that you become more and more like His Son Jesus Christ in Sanctification. Focus on and emulate Christ. It’s not a question of “why”, but how do I glorify God in this?

 

2.    Focus on God’s Perspective. Forget the impact of the past, both good and bad. Get pass past successes, victories and mistakes. Acknowledge, but do not live in the past. People that focus on their past know where they have been but do not see where they are going in front. Humbly live in the present, knowing you have not yet arrived. Forget guilt paid for by Christ and because of true repentance have no regrets.   

 

3.    Focus on God’s Plan. His plans for us individually are unique, tailor-made for us alone. Learn what it means to walk by faith [the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the Scriptures, of the being and perfections of God, and of the existence, character and doctrines of Christ]. Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God's testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation. Heaven is the destination, so plan accordingly.     

 

4.    Focus on God’s Prize. The key is to maintain an eternal perspective, focusing by faith on our ultimate heavenly home; our eternal reward. Where you are going to go when you die is the ultimate question of life, because it focuses us on the path to walk forward towards Heaven. Find your passion, discern your God-given gifts and dream of godly pathways then set priorities to achieve it, while always focusing on the kingdom of Heaven and your citizenship there. Stay committed to God and the Bible because He is the giver of life and His Word of God is the Standard of living. Follow the Lord, know God and make Him known, being good stewards, and letting nothing godly go to waste.  

 

There are no small tasks in doing the Lord’s work and there are no insignificant dreams when aligned with God’s will and purpose. You can trust God with His vision for your life. When God puts a dream in your heart, use the four step to sharpen your focus and never stop until you realize it. Focus forward on Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

 

Know that you are blessed. In Christ, Brian