Intentionally Focused

In order to live an Intentionally focused life for God we must be focused. Our focus is what separates us from going through life accidentally.  Colossians 3:2 says, “set our minds on things above”.  This leads to “This one thing I do.” as found in one of Paul’s letters to the church.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

We all know we must have focus to be a success in life. Why not focus on God things? Especially in areas of spiritual growth and intentional living for Christ.

Here are three ideas we can take away from this passage.

1. Define your goal and move forward as it defines you. “This one thing I do” (3:13)

2. Be passionate about life’s priorities “I press” (3:14)

3. Know where you are going. “Toward the goal for the prize” (3:14) (goal in Greek is skopos. It's where we get our word, scope, aim for the bull’s eye)

Is intentionally living for Christ your focus and goal?

Focus on Christ and He will put your life priorities in order. Amen?

Intentionally

Last Sunday's sermon title was Intentionally. I saw this message played out during the events of my week. The word is defined: To purposely, willfully, or deliberately do something. My first point was: Know that God intentionally gives us what we need to live for Him.

The Bible informs us - ¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination]. ¹⁵ Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them [completely occupied in your ministry], so that your progress will be evident to all. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:14-16 (AMP)

So God gives us what we need - intentionally, and we are to "intentionally" use them (become experts) so that our relationship with Him is the best it can be. That's pretty straight forward, and most believers know this, even if we have a problem with the application.

Don't miss the last part of this teaching, "as you do this you will ensure salvation for yourself and for those who hear you". I saw this played out at my Dad's visitation and funeral. He applied this verse in a humble but consistent way every day. As he worked on his relationship with Christ - he brought others to Jesus! I heard testimony after testimony about through Dad's life's witness countless people found and grew in Christ! Well done Dad.

Take what God has given and become the best you in Jesus. Amen?

Focus Focus Focus

People in most of the Old Testament had a problem with staying connected with God. This led to their misery and downfall. We also suffer from this malady. Remember these five words: recognize, stop, move, listen, and respond. These actions can help you in your relationship with people but more importantly with God. This comes from my own personal experience.

Picture this; I am watching tv by myself in another room of my house and I hear my wife say something. I know she is saying something to me but don't have a clue what she said.
 I have three choices: 1. Ignore (not a wise move) 2. Answer "Yes" and hope It will come to me later what she wants (also not wise) Both of these actions are unacceptable.

Consider a third alternative. I need to Recognize she is trying to communicate something to me. I must Stop what I am doing and give her my attention. If I Move to where she is at it will create clarity for my understanding. When I am in her presence I can Listen to what she is saying, so I may Respond in the correct way. That will help make a happy wife - happy life!

If we use these same steps we will enhance our relationship with God, and will be able to know His desire for our lives.

Take steps to know God better. Amen?

Bring Glory

What are you the most proud of? I know my grandbabies are pretty spectacular, but think of this first. Who should we glory in - God or someone else? The Bible says that we are to love God with all we have and  glory belongs to Him. Look at the Lord says in Jeremiah chapter nine.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 - This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. Boast in the Lord.

Focus on the vertical with God it will make the horizontal stuff easy. You can still brag on your grandchildren!  Amen?

Right Living

When we read bible passages like Deuteronomy 8 it is easy to focus on the negatives and not the positives. When we focus on doing life God's way and not any other we have great promises. Don't wait till January to make a resolution. Decide today that you will spend your life with the desire to please God and put a smile on His face. Read this passage with a heart wanting to bring Him glory.

Do Not Forget the Lord

8 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. ² Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴ Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. ⁵ Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

⁶ Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. ⁷ For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; ⁸ a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; ⁹ a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
¹⁰ When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. ¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. ¹² Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, ¹³ and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, ¹⁴ then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ¹⁵ He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. ¹⁶ He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. ¹⁷ You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
¹⁹ If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. ²⁰ Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.

Let's live for God and do life His way. Amen?

Helping Others

The My Hope with Billy Graham outreach has a great system for the care of new Christians. The Great Commission tells us to  “...Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...” -Matthew 28:19. All believers should use the example of Paul when helping others grow and mature in the faith.

Follow Up Strategies

-         Paul GAVE himself - put other's needs before your own

-         Paul PRAYED for them - praying for growth and protection

-         Paul SENT others - when you can't be there

-         Paul WROTE letters - keep in contact

-         Paul RETURNED personally - nothing is better than the fellowship of believers

We must be in the process of giving continued attention to new Christians until they are at home in the local church, find out how they can serve, develop their full potential for Jesus Christ and help to build Christ’s Church.

Be a mentor in Christ - Give, Pray, Send, Write, and Be a part in new believers lives. Amen?

Calling Jesus

Today will be a hard day for my family...

I am reminded that Jesus Christ is... My Advocate ... Almighty ... Alpha and Omega ... Amen ... Apostle of our Profession ... Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins ... Author of Life ... Author and Perfecter of our Faith ... Author of Salvation ... Beginning and End ... Blessed and only Ruler ... .Bread of God ... Bread of Life ... Bridegroom ... Capstone ... Chief Cornerstone ... Chief Shepherd ... Christ ... Creator ... Deliverer ... Eternal Life ... Gate ... Faithful and True ... Faithful Witness ... Faith and True Witness ... First and Last ... Firstborn From the Dead ... Firstborn over all creation ... Gate ... God ... Good Shepherd ... Great Shepherd ... Great High Priest ... Head of the Church ... Heir of all things ... High Priest ... Holy and True ... Holy One ... Hope ... Hope of Glory ... Horn of Salvation... I Am ... Image of God ... Immanuel ... Judge of the living and the dead ... King Eternal ... King of Israel ... King of the Jews ... King of kings ... King of the Ages ... Lamb ... Lamb of God ... Lamb Without Blemish ... Last Adam ... Life ... Light of the World ... Lion of the Tribe of Judah ... Living One ... Living Stone ... Lord ... Lord of All ... Lord of Glory ... Lord of lords ... Man from Heaven ... Mediator of the New Covenant ... Mighty God ... Morning Star ... Offspring of David ... Only Begotten Son of God ... Our Great God and Savior ... Our Holiness ... Our Husband ... Our Protection ... Our Redemption ... Our Righteousness ... Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb ... Power of God ... Precious Cornerstone ... Prophet ... Rabbi ... Resurrection and Life ... Righteous Branch ... Righteous One ... Rock ... Root of David ... Ruler of God’s Creation ... Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ... Savior ... Son of David ... Son of God ... Son of Man ... Son of the Most High God ... Source of Eternal Salvation for believers ... The One Mediator ... The Stone the builders rejected ... True Bread ... True Light ... True Vine ... Truth ... Way ... Wisdom of God ... Word ... Word of God!

Mountaintops or Valleys - He Is and always will be.

Amen?