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I gave a sermon in Malaysia that spoke to me probably more than it spoke to the people in the audience. It was my first time “preaching”, but I honestly feel at home speaking in front of a crowd. The beauty of speaking to other people is reflecting and learning over and over again on the topic for oneself. Here is the message I shared. I hope that it blesses you.
Make sure to PRAY!!
Testing – the challenge to make a conscience decision
If we are not intentional about our choice Satan can pull us astray simply by redirecting our focus.
Game: Follow the Finger
Goal: Do not take your eyes off of this finger!
God is huge, but focus can be hard without intentionality and concentration.
Regardless of our children
Regardless of what ministry looks like
Regardless of being tired
We MUST keep our focus on Him
Story: Jesus is Tempted in the Wilderness
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
The devil loves to take advantage of our circumstances
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
Focus was directed to the circumstance of His hunger, but Jesus knows that’s not His focus. He [Jesus] holds his focus by concentrating on the Truth that God has given us.
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'”
Focus was directed to the promises that God has made, to make them an idol, but Jesus knows that is not His focus. His focus is to be grateful to the Creator not the gifts and blessings that have been created and given.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'”
Focus was directed to the wants of the flesh, but Jesus knows that is not His focus. Jesus doesn’t give Satan the time of day and shoos him a away like a fly.
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”
At the beginning of the test I can imagine the test seemed large, in His face, and a struggle to face, but with each passing test Jesus’ focus on God became more and more sharp until it was crisp and He was able to see clearly.
??Matthew? ?4:1-11? ?ESV??
http://bible.us/59/mat.4.1-11.esv
How do we keep our focus centered on God regardless of our test?
Jesus modeled the following:
Preparation
Our preparation for any test is to keep our tools at hand and to be able to wield them. Jesus prepared for His test by strengthening his relationship with God. He knew that God was His weapon and His strength so keep God close.
Intentionality
Knowing that the test was coming, He pushed his preparation even further and started His reliance on God 40 days and 40 nights before the test so that by the time the test came His reliance on God was muscle memory.
Focus
By the time the forty days and nights were over all that was left was “to do the thing”; was to focus on God’s Word.
I encourage you to continue to refocus.
Focus on God by giving Him your First
First Time
First Treasure
First Talent
First Temple
Refocus constantly!
Daily
Weekly
Yearly
On the race I sometimes feel like I am refocusing every other minute! It is one of the ways that God is stretching me. In America it is easy to get into a routine and a schedule, but when that happens it allows us to coast. When we coast we are not relying on God’s strength to push us forward. I am learning and being strengthened to coast less and lean in more. I’m learning to maintain my focus.
Play the game again. Did you do better this time?
Maintain your focus on God. It will provide strength through any test that follows.
PRAY!!!
