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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode:  REMOVE THE BARNACLES

Have you ever heard of a church giving you points to add up to gift cards and prizes? I am not talking a game for the children, but for the adults. If you come to church you get so many points, if you bring someone you get extra points etc. This is not church this is a sad example of the social club. I repeat, this is not a church or should I say maybe in name only.

But the truth of the living God doesn’t need gimmicks, it doesn’t need point systems and entertainment. The real church, the real body of Christ will draw people to our congregations by old fashioned means, the Spirit of God. When we get serious about souls, the Spirit will draw them to church.

PSALM 127: 1Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

It doesn’t matter how hard we work if we are not listening to the leading of the Holy Ghost, it is all in vain. God will not draw people to our congregation to be hurt or abused by legalism and religion.

Being the Body of Christ is all about being collectively as Jesus would be if he were here. People came to Jesus for all sorts of things. He was what they needed. Collectively we need to be the way that people reach Christ, they way they find, strength, healing, comfort, encouragement, salvation.

How do we reach people in a better way that gift cards and entertainment? We have to be the real deal. Everyday, people watch our lives. People see us go through the good and the bad of life. Being a Chirstian will not spare us hurt, loss, heartache and pain. But being a Christian means we do not have to go through these things alone. We never battle a problem that God will not see us through.

I cannot tell you how good God is and then walk around looking like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. I know that sad things happen. But even in the middle of sadness it is possible to have peace and joy. I know that sounds impossible, but there is a deep down joy in knowing Jesus. This joy will stay with us, as long as we don’t allow the enemy to steal it through unbelief. All the emotions we deal with in this life we will still face, but that deep joy in knowing Jesus will give us strength.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

God’s joy is our strength. We have to be genuine, authentic and full of integrity. We have to do the right thing when no one is looking as if everyone were watching.

Psalm 26:1 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

We should ask God to examine our hearts every day. Ask him to help us stay on the level ground under the cross. We need to walk in integrity.  Integrity means to be honest and have good moral principles. To always make the godly choice. It also means the state of being whole and sound. They say a ship that can float is sound and has integrity. If we live our lives whole in Christ, we will be able to stay afloat when the storms of life come blowing into wreck our world.

Psalm 26:9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.

Some think that this little thing or that little thing will not matter. But the little things can destroy the big things. Barnacles are tiny creatures that live in the ocean. They connect themselves to ships. They will attach and form colonies.  If you get enough of them they can destroy a ship. They will cause the ship to have drag, making it use more fuel. The presence of these organisms can lead to corrosion. If left unchecked they can jeopardize the integrity of the ship.

Part of the maintenance of ships it to remove barnacles often to prevent drag in the water and maintain the soundness of the ship. Just as barnacles are removed we need to make sure nothing is jeopardizing the integrity and soundness of our faith-walk. If we find something, we need to remove it immediately. One small thing we do may not sink our ship, but enough small things could create a stronghold that would hurt our witness, or our faith walk.

This is why I often pray and ask God to remove anything in me that is not in me for his glory.

Take a moment today to reflect on your faith walk. Ask God to reveal if you have anything hidden in your heart. This faith walk is not about points and earning salvation or anything else. But it is about walking like Jesus.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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