Focus

This morning I sat down to enjoy the National Prayer Summit leading into #GC19 and I had difficulty concentrating. Three things are keeping me from giving my full attention; I am tired, I am cold, I am hungry. 

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Yet, as I strive to focus, to listen, and to pray this morning, it occurs to me that these are not simply physical struggles for me right now. 

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I am spiritually tired. O God wake me up to Your desire for my life and You desire for Your Church. 

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I am spiritually cold. O God light the “fire” of Your Holy Spirit within me, my prayers, and Your ministry through me.

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I am spiritually hungry. O God feed me through Your Word, Your Spirit, and Your Church.

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What might be keeping you from focusing, hearing, and responding to God today?

Be Alert and Stay Focused

The escaped convict from the prison is still on the loose (see previous post here). I wrote before that I was not afraid, I was not apprehensive, I was not fearful.

Last night my wife reminded me that I had forgotten to lock the car doors and she thought that it would be a good idea if I did. I walked out into the darkness of the night (with both the front porch light and the driveway post light shining brightly), the entire twenty feet from our front door to our car door I looked around as if someone were going to attack at any moment. After pushing the "lock" button and shutting the car door I began to walk confidently back toward the front door of the house. Just as I reached for the door knob the car let out a loud "BEEP"! As I quickly turned the door knob I was sure glad no one else was around to see the panic on my face and the hop in my step through the door.

Even today, as I put the dog out, take the trash out, walk over to the church, and do many of my routine actions, I would not say I am afraid, I would not classify it as fear. I would, however, admit to anyone that I talk to that I am on guard.

Knowing that this man is on the loose, that he has attacked an armed guard, and that he has made his way across town - probably coming straight through our neighborhood. I would freely admit that I am on guard. And this guy has no idea who I am or where I live. He does not want to attack me or my family. He is not my enemy and yet, here I am, alert and on guard against him.

Yet, the Bible states that we do have an enemy that is waiting to attack us and Peter  gives us - as believers - some instruction; Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith... (1 Peter 5:8-9).

What does this mean? It means that Satan is our enemy and he is plotting, he is planning, he is waiting - prowling to get closing, crouching in the shadows - for the most opportune moment to attack and devour you. Satan is looking for the moment that he can attack, eat you up, spit you out and move on to his next victim. And we are to be clear-minded and sober - not allowing anything else to take our focus off of Jesus - not allowing anything else to cloud our judgment. We are to be sober and alert - on guard - so that we can resist the attacks of our enemy and stand firm in Christ Jesus.

Focused on the Purpose

Research shows that women are far better at multitasking than men are; that women can do multiple tasks at the same time and succeed while men struggle to and often must focus on one task at a time

And I often get distracted. When I am watching a program on television and my wife or one of our children begin to talk to me, I find it very difficult to concentrate on what they are saying and very difficult to turn the volume down or turn the program off. Other times I will go out to the garage to get something and find myself "tinkering" with a project or tool and before I know it I have forgotten all about my original intent. 

Sometimes it is convenient – easier – if we get distracted, and so we don't mind “allowing ourselves” to get distracted. And when we get distracted - when we loose focus on the task that we set out to accomplish or the task that we have been asked to accomplish, we have lost our purpose!

I believe that today much of the purpose of The Church has been lost; that we've lost focus of the task that we set set out to accomplish and we've lost focus of the task that we have been asked to accomplish

By many The Church is seen as a social club; a good place to go and meet other people, a good place to go to see our friends and fellow believers, or a good place to go for activities and events in the community. By many others The Church is seen as a religious organization; an organization that promotes rules and laws to be followed, or an organization that governs and judges those who are are and are not following these rules and laws. But this is not the purpose of The Church!

Jesus' words in Acts 1:8; “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This is the purpose of The Church - to be witnesses of Jesus Christ; to share the love of Jesus, to speak the message of Jesus, and to change lives for Jesus

This is the purpose of The Church as stated by Jesus; “you will be My witnesses...to the ends of the earth”. And if we lose focus of this purpose, we loose focus of all that Jesus has given to us to accomplish;

This is the purpose of The Church as established by The Holy Spirit; “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you”. The power that we receive is power to be witnesses for Jesus.

Lent and Christ

Lent, a 40-day period (not including Sundays) beginning on Ash Wednesday that leads up to Easter Sunday. Lent is seen by many as an exclusively Catholic season, but this is not the case. Lent can and should be used as a season to draw closer to Christ and to develop a deeper relationship with Him. While this should always be the case, the season of Lent is a particularly good time because it increases faith as aptly us on the resurrection of the Savior of the world.

So, what can you do during the season of Lent? Many people choose to fast from something. This can be a habit, a hobby, or an indulgence. But, I believe that it should be something that takes any of you time, attention, money, resources, or commitment away from Christ. And, as you fast you commit the additional time, money, or attention to serving the Lord.

It is also good to share your Lent commitment with another person, so that you are held accountable. This year my wife is fasting from all carbonated drinks, I have committed to a food fast one day per week and an increased time of prayer daily. And, along with many others in our church family, we are committing to a thorough reading and studying of the Gospel of John.

What will you do to draw closer to Christ and increase your commitment to Him in this season leading up to Easter?

Stay focused on and faithful to Him.

Psalm 2

Let's take a look at Psalm chapter 2,

·        In this Psalm, there are four stanzas of three verses each

·        Each stanza has a different focus

·        The focus of the first stanza is mankind

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” (Psalm 2:1-3)

We need to know some things about Psalm 2 first.

·        Like many Psalms, it was written by David

o   Acts 4:25: You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Before we focus on Psalm 2, let’s talk about Acts 4, we’ll work back

·        Acts 2: The Holy Spirit comes on the day of Pentecost

·        Acts 2: Peter addresses the crowd and 3,000 were baptized

·        Acts 2: House churches are formed and begin to spread

·        Acts 3: Peter and John heal a crippled beggar at the temple

·        Acts 3: Peter proclaims the Gospel message of Christ

·        Acts 4: The Priests and Sadducees were disturbed

·        Acts 4: Peter and John were thrown into jail

·        Acts 4: The number of believers grew to 5,000

·        Acts 4: Rulers and teachers of the law

·        Acts 4: Peter proclaims Christ’s message to the leaders

·        Acts 4: The rulers and teachers of the law were astonished

·        Acts 4: They released them with a warning

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. (Acts 4:23-26)

You see, Psalm 2 begins with a question about the people of earth;

·        What good is it if they plot against God – they must be fools.

·        Why do they try to outwit God – this is absurd. 

·        Nations might take a stand against God and against His ways

·        Rulers and leaders might gather and make plans against Him

·        They may say, let’s break this slavery that God has us in

·        They may say, why should we submit to this Jesus fellow

·        They may think that without God they will be free

And what is God’s response? 

·        Verse 4 takes the focus from mankind to God.

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” (Psalm 2:4-6)

God’s Response is, first, an unexpected response

He laughs

·        God merely laughs at them, He is amused by all of their puny plans.

·        Psalm 37:13 says; “the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming”

·        And Proverbs 1 goes on; “But since you rejected me when I called
and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.”

He rebukes in rage

·        In fierce fury, He rebukes the wicked and the evil doers

·        He speaks to them out of His anger toward them

·        The word anger here is the Hebrew word meaning “anger”, “wrath”, or, ”face”

·        This is the anger of man, an anger that we comprehend.

·        Basically, this is saying that God speaks to these evil doers face-to-face with words of anger that they can understand.

He terrifies in wrath

·        The word terrify is to “make anxious” or “disturb”

·        What’s more, the word wrath is so much different than the word anger used before, this wrath is the wrath of God

o   It is a heated anger, a burning anger

o   It is the word always used for God’s wrath

·        God fills these people with fear,

o   literally putting the fear of God in them

And why?

·        For the Lord declares, this is the King of my choice, and I have enthroned Him in Jerusalem, My Holy city.

You see, God is moving forward with His plan and His purpose and that is the establishment of the throne on which Jesus Christ will sit.

·        This upsets the plans of man, it upsets the plans of world leaders, and it even upsets the plans of religious leaders.

·        But it is God’s plan and for Christ’s throne to be established and so it will be done!

·        We may have to wait a long time before we see Christ enthroned over this world, but it is already a fact in God’s purpose.

·        There is no other King but Jesus!

So then, beginning with verse 7, we focus on Jesus, as He speaks

I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” (Psalm 2:7-9)

To understand this passage, we must understand that this is regarding the second coming of Jesus Christ.

·        This is not the Gospel of grace and mercy that we are to preach today because this is not what Christ came to deliver when He walked on the earth.

·        This passage refers to the judgment that will come to all who disregard His message of grace, mercy, and love.

·        This passage refers to the judgment that will come to all who plot and conspire against God’s ways.

Listen to this paraphrase of verses 7 through 9; His chosen One replies, “I will reveal the everlasting purpose of God [listen up, here it is], for the Lord has said to Me, ‘You are my Son, this is Your Coronation Day. Today I am giving You Your glory.’ Only ask, and I will give You all the nations of the world. Rule them with an iron rod; smash them like clay pots.”

·        You see, that’s the judgment of Christ’s second coming

And then, in the final stanza of chapter 2, the focus changes again

·        First it was on mankind on earth

·        Then it was on God the Father in heaven

·        Next it was on Jesus Christ on His throne

·        And now it is on the Holy Spirit speaking to man

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2:10-12)

This is the ultimate warning from God, directed at the kings and rulers of this world, through them, aimed at the people under their rule.

·        God is saying; Kings and rulers of the earth, listen while there is still time.

·        God is saying: Serve the Lord with reverent fear; rejoice with trembling. Fall down before The Son and kiss him before His anger is roused and you perish.

·        God says: I am warning you, His wrath with soon begin.

The most famous kiss in the Bible was in the Garden of Gethsemane

·        When Judas walked up to Jesus, armed guards following closely behind Him

o   This had been prophesied for hundreds of years

o   This had been planned since the fall of mankind

o   This had been spoken of by Jesus hours before

§  Clearly Jesus knew what was happening.

·        And what was Jesus’ response to this kiss from Judas?

o   “Friend, what have you come for?”

·        You see, Jesus was giving Judas one more chance to turn this kiss of betrayal into a kiss of friendship.

o   And, this is exactly what God’s Spirit is doing here,

§  Giving mankind one more chance!

But, Psalm 2 ends on a high note;

·        “Blessed are all those who take refuge in Him.”

·        Oh, the joys of those who put their trust in Him.

Ten Commandments in Ten Weeks

Exodus 20 gives a list of ten commands given to Moses on the top of Mount Sinai. Throughout the Scriptures, followers of Christ are told to obey these commandments of God, here are just a few places:

• "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13
• "Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:19
• "If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” Matthew 19:17

And although many followers of Jesus Christ know that we are to obey these commandments of God, that we are to live by them and follow them, many followers don't even know what they are. Do you know what the Ten Commandments are? Are you able to share them with others when asked?

If you would like to learn the commandments for yourself, this is one of the most effective videos I have found. It is a bit dated and cheesy, but it is effective and only takes a few minutes.

 Although I am able to recite them when asked, I have come to realize that I fail to think of them on a daily basis and to consistently evaluate my behavior based on these simple Ten Commands given from God Himself. In Matthew 19 Jesus was asked about which commands needed to be kept in order to inherit eternal life. Not only did He list each one of these commandments as mandatory, He called for further action and further commitment, the same can be seen in Jesus' sermon on the mount.

Given this basis of Scripture and the desire of Jesus' heart, I see it as imperative not only to know the commandments, but to obey them, to contemplate them, and to constantly evaluate my behavior based on them. It is my aim to simply focus on one commandment each week for the next ten weeks and to meditate on the reasoning of the command, the true meaning of the command, and what a life following the command will look like. If you are up for a challenge, I invite you to join me on this journey through the commandments of God.  

The Answer

We talk a lot at our church about the importance of a daily quiet time with God. Not only is it important that we read the Scriptures on a daily basis (or at least strive to do so daily), it is vitally important that we communicate with Him and allow Him to communicate with us through prayer and meditation.

It is all too often when I allow my schedule to get in the way of my time with the Lord and I find that the later in the day it gets, the harder it is for me to sit down, clear my mind, and focus on God. And I have found that even when I don't feel like sitting down for an extended period of time and meeting with God, as soon as I begin to focus on Him, nothing else matters and I find complete joy in our time together.

However, early last week I would have my quiet time, I would read Scripture, journal, pray, and meditate in His Spirit, and yet nothing. I spent more time, and, nothing. This same thing went of for a couple of days, the harder I tried, the more time I spent, the more disciplines I followed, still nothing.

That is when God made me aware that I had gotten away from a total dependence on Him and that I was instead looking to myself for the answer.

In John 14:5-6  Thomas says to Jesus; "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" And Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 

Last Thursday morning I echoed these words of Thomas, "I don't know where you are going, so how can I know the way?" 

It is at these moments that Christ reminds us that, we don't need to know where He is going, we just need to hold on to Him, to cling to his ways, His truths, and His life and we will come to the Father. 

May we all depend on Christ at a very deep level, to His way, His truth, and His life. May we be drawn to God our Father as we are shown where He is going and where He is leading us. May we be open to His call and His ministry through us.