Stay Focused On Jesus
We are living in a day and time where there is so much going on in the church that we are losing focus. So much is going on in the church. There is tattling going on in the church. Backstabbing is going on in the church. Gossip is going on in the church. So much is going on in the church we are losing focus of the principal thing: and that is Jesus. When things are going good for you; your focus has to be Jesus. And also when things seems to be going rough, when trails and tribulations come into your life you’ve got to stay focused on Jesus See when problems come our way we tend to take our focus off Jesus. We take our focus off Jesus and put it on our heartache. We take our focus off Jesus and put it on our pain. We take our focus off Jesus and put it on our suffering. And all through this we say we know that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. We say that we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. But because we take our focus off Jesus: our problems seem too big, our heartaches seem to heavy, our pain seems like its to much to bare, suffering seems like its to much to withstand. Somebody in here may feel there is nothing they can do. Somebody may feel that there is no way out of their situation; and so now their ready to check out of here. Now their ready to commit suicide; because they feel all hope is gone. But I stop by to tell you this morning that all you have to do is put your focus on Jesus. Put your focus on Jesus and he’ll solve that problem. Put your focus on Jesus and he’ll ease that heartache. Put your focus on Jesus and he will sooth that pain. Put your focus on Jesus and he will lift that burden. Put your focus on Jesus
Through your storm your focus has got to stay on Jesus. Your trials only come to make you strong. You need to press on. Somebody said when you’re in a tug-a-war with the struggles of this world, and it seems like the rope of your faith is about to break. You need to reach beyond the break. The songwriter said hold on a little while longer, hold on a little while longer, hold on a little while longer everything going to be alright. We need to constantly stay prayed up, we need to be constantly in the word, and we need to constantly walk and talk in the spirit, because we lose focus so easy. We let every little thing cloud our minds. We let every little thing get us off track. Little things get us down when our focus is off Jesus. Relationships fail, families are split. Husbands and wives let simple things tear them apart when their focus is off Jesus. Husbands leaving the toilet seat up will get you in a lot of trouble when the focus is off Jesus. Here just before our focus text this morning. In the 15th-21st verses of Matthew we find that the disciples wanted to send a multitude of folk away, but Jesus wanted to feed them. The disciples were focused on the problem.The disciples told Jesus we only have five loaves and two fishes. And you know what happened Jesus blessed it and he gave it to his disciples and the disciples to the multitude and 5,000 men besides women and children were fed. See the disciples focus was off. They were focused on the problem instead of who was in control of the problem. And here in this mornings text, not even 24hrs after Jesus showed them what he could do with 5 loaves and 2 fishes; here they are again doubting; here they are again with their focus off Jesus. Why is it that God brings us through trial after trial, problem after problem, situation after situation, test after test, but we still find it so hard to trust him. Ask yourself when was the last time you were in a trial, when was the last time you had a problem, when was the last time you were in a situation, when was the last time you were in a test, when was the last time you were in trouble that God didn’t bring you out. You need to stay focused on Jesus. But lets look at the text starting with the 22nd verse the bible tells us:
And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
1. Sometimes He leads you to the storm.
See Jesus led them to the storm. The storm doesn’t always come because you’ve done something wrong. Again trials come to make us strong. And if you don’t go through these trials focused on Jesus, you may miss out on your blessing. You ever went to a job interview and you could have even had the degree that is required for the position, but they told you, you don’t have enough experience. The same is with your blessing. Somebody this morning God was trying to guide you through the storm(notice I didn’t say leave you in the storm). God was trying to guide you through the storm, but you were so afraid of the storm that you ran and tried to find your own way out of the storm, and when God was going to bless you; when he wanted to bless you, you didn’t have enough experience.
25 And in the forth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
2. He helps us grow.
We should learn from Peter in this text that if we keep our focus on Jesus that we don’t have to worry about the storm. It’s been said that there are two kinds of storms: storms of correction, when God disciplines us; and storms of perfection when God helps us grow. I know we associate the storm and rain with negativity but church without the rain grass cannot grow; without the rain plants wouldn’t grow. I stop by to tell you this morning that without the rain in your life you cannot grow. Don’t let the circumstances of your storm mess up what God has designed to make you strong. Don’t try to block the rain. If you block the rain you also block your blessing. You ought to let it rain. Job let it rain. Job said tho he slay me yet will I trust in him. There’s going to be some pain in your life that you’re going to make it through; there’s going to be some trials in your life that your going to break through; there’s going be some struggles in your life that your going to overcome and its all because it rained.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
3. He will carry you through.
How many know that if you focus on Jesus he’ll come into your ship and stop the wind from blowing. If you focus on Jesus he’ll come into your ship and stop the rain from falling. If you focus on Jesus he’ll come into your ship and stop the lightening from flashing. If you focus on Jesus he’ll come into your ship and stop the thunder from roaring. If your focused on Jesus he’ll tell the storm peace be still. Church stay focused on Jesus. For even Jesus was focused. Can you see him in the Garden of Gethsemane, I hear him saying Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me, but nevertheless not mine will but thine will be done. He was betrayed by Judas, but he was focused. They marched him from judgement hall to judgement hall, but he was focused. They whipped him they spat on him, but he was focused. He was denied by Peter but he was focused. They marched up Calvary’s hill carrying his cross, but he was focused. Just like he was focused we need to be focused. For the record is a man by the of Simon was recruited to help Jesus bare the cross: from this the question arose must Jesus bare the cross and all the world go free oh no there’s a cross for everyone and I know there’s a cross for me. That’s why I say don’t hide me behind the cross but hang me on the cross. Jesus kept on up Calvary’s hill. They hung him high and stretched him wide, but he was focused. When he gave his hands to the nails he was focused. When he gave his feet to the spikes he was focused. When he gave his side to the spear he was focused. He died they laid him in a borrowed tomb. He stayed there all night Friday. He stayed there all day Saturday. He stayed there all night Saturday, but early Sunday morning he got up with all power in his hands.