Focus! Pt 3

So here we are on week three of our Focus series. It is vitally important for us to keep our eyes on God. The Bible tells us to look to Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We need to see how He handled the temptation to be fearful, to be weak, to want to quit, by looking into the living word of God and by letting the Holy Spirit reveal the truths in it. So let’s continue on our series.

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1. We must focus on God in order to transform!

Whether we admit it or not, the fact is that our lives have been influenced by the world. Most, if not all, of our thought patterns were fashioned by the world we live in and our past experiences.

We must never blindly just accept the way think as absolute truth. No, God’s word is absolute truth and in order to line up with Him, we need to allow ourselves to be transformed by allowing Him to transform the way we think. Our minds need to be renewed. Directing our focus from creature comfort, I can do it myself, me, me, me to God’s way by focusing on Him will cause our thinking to be renewed!

2 Corinthians 10:3–6 NKJV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

2. What we perceive is our reality!

One of the reasons we need to be transformed in the way we think is because what we perceive as real is in fact our reality. It is a stronghold in our minds that needs to be destroyed. The weapons we have from God, through His word, pulls down the strongholds in our thinking. The word stronghold means a fortified place.

Why is it so hard to change the ways we think that are contrary to God’s word? It’s because those thoughts are strongholds. Over the years these thoughts have taken root in our thinking and are fortified in our thought processes. Aren’t you glad that God knows how these strongholds get established and has given us “weapons” to combat this.

These weapons pull down strongholds, cast down arguments and every high thing that thinks they are higher than God, captures every thought that comes and puts them in obedience to God. By changing the way we think, our perception changes which in turns changes our reality. So when we think the way God thinks, fear disappears.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

3. Focus on God builds faith not fear!

We all can feel the urge to get into fear today with all that is going on around the world. Whenever there is uncertainty, fear tends to creep in and mess with us. But there’s he good news that comes with following God. He has given us the Holy Spirit not the spirit of fear. When fear of the unknown comes we can replace that fear with the word of God that gives us comfort and peace. We can rely on the Holy Spirit to strengthen us when we are weak.

Right now we need to declare this, I don’t have the spirit of fear because God has not given that to me. This is what God has given me. He has given me power, love and self discipline. I’m not weak, I am strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Do you feel better?

2 Kings 6:8–23 NIV

8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” 9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. 11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” 12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” 13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. 19 Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. 20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. 21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” 22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

4. Focusing on God reveals just how big God is!

What is really kind of dumb about the king of Aram is this, God had been revealing to Elisha the king’s “secret” plans and now the king is going to sneak up on Elisha and surround him. That is exactly how our enemy the devil works. He is really not that smart and when we keep our eyes on the Lord, we can see just how much of a loser satan is. Think about this, when he deceived Eve all he did was get God to plan to send His Son, Jesus to redeem mankind.

When he had Jesus crucified, he actually sealed his own doom because Jesus conquered death and hell. So when we focus on God, His word, what Jesus did and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we see that there is nothing the devil has that is even close to what God has. Here is something we all must remember, the devil is loud, God is that still voice that speaks to our spirit man in a quiet strong voice.

So as we continue to focus on God, the things of this world, that is yelling at us bringing anxiety and fear, suddenly takes a second seat to the things of God. Like the song says,

Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.