Tag: #beboldbebrave

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP536 NOT MY CUP

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: NOT MY CUP

Jesus prayed in the garden for God to let the cup pass. It was not an actual cup, but a metaphor for his suffering before and on the cross. In other words, he didn’t want to have to go to the cross. That was a cup he did want to drink. Who could blame him. The flesh side of Jesus didn’t want to suffer for all of mankind. But still he submitted and he said, not my will but yours be done. He willingly went to the cross because of his compassion for all of us. He wanted to protect us from eternity in hell.

But how many times do we try to drink from the cup that belongs to someone else. How often do we take on someone else’s burdens and try to carry them, when only God can help them. It is easy, out of our compassion to get wrapped up in other people’s situations. Before we know it, we are trying to fix their issues. When that is God’s job. We are trying to drink from their cup or Jesus’ cup.

Either way we need to learn to set the cup down and walk away. We have our own situations and cup that we must drink from to finish our race. I am not saying we cannot have compassion for others. It is up to us to encourage them and pray with them. But it is theirs to carry. It is often because of our love for people and the compassion that Jesus put within us that we desire to jump in and fix things. It’s not our responsibility. When we do this, we are overstepping and trying to put ourselves in God’s place. He has got it under control. He doesn’t need our help. He needs our obedience and for us to pray.

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

His arm is not short, so he cannot fix the situations that we care about. He is not shaken by circumstances. He saw them coming and has already made a way of escape. We must trust his timing and his plan.

Jesus already carried whatever cup we are trying to pick up and carry. Every pain, every thought that needs taken into captivity, every burden of any kind was in that cup. That cup carried sin, shame, disease, mental disorders, evil thoughts, hate, bitterness, envy, strife, murderous plans, unforgiveness. Every bad thing the enemy could conceive, everything that God is not, Jesus took on himself. Not to become it, but to gain power over it. So, we too could have power over it.

That cup also carried joy. Think about that for a moment. His flesh didn’t want to suffer, but still he took spiritual joy in knowing it was for the good of mankind.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Because he drank from his cup, he is our redeemer. We can have joy, peace salvation and eternal life.

Everything that we overcome in this life, we have power over it. We then can use that power to help someone else dealing with that situation. The next time you find yourself getting caught up in someone else’s situations. Ones you know you are not meant to carry, pray for them and set down the cup. Then pickup the one you are supposed to drink from, because we are all on our own journey of finding out what God had in store for us. Finding out what he has for us to do for the kingdom.

We are all here for a purpose, we cannot allow the enemy to tie us in knots over things that we cannot control. Our only hope is to give it to Jesus. The author that holds the pen and is writing our story. He will lead us to the right path. He will not fail us.

Until next time,

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP534 RELATIONSHIP

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: RELATIONSHIP

Heroes of the faith are often celebrated in the word of God as being rare individuals. But there have been many through the ages that have stood boldly and not bowed to kings and idols or ideologies.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Job, Abraham and David. Them and many others are in the word for our examples.

BOLDLY PRAYED

Daniel was told by decree of the king he could not pray to anyone except the king for thirty days. Did he go into his closet and whisper prayers to God for thirty days? No. Instead he had boldness and opened his windows, before praying out loud. He prayed seven times a day. This put him on a direct path with a den of hungry lions. He stood his ground and God delivered him.

WOULD NOT BOW

The three Hebrew men would not bow to an idol. Instead, they stood boldly and said, Our God is able to save us from the fiery furnace. But even if he chooses not to save us, we will not bow. They were thrown into a fiery furnace and God delivered.

THOUGH YOU SLAY ME

Job was tested and afflicted in everyway possible. The enemy tried to destroy him by any means necessary. God told the devil he could take away things from Job he could make him sick, but he couldn’t take his life. The enemy worked in those closest to him. His wife said, Why don’t you curse God and die? Job held onto his faith in God. He said, Though you slay me I will trust you. The enemy finally had to give up and God rewarded Job for his faithfulness.

CALLED THINGS AS NOT AS THOUGH THEY WERE

Abraham called things as not as though they were. God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. That would be a hard enough for a father but Abraham had waited many years for the promise of Isaac to be born. But he had faith in God and proceeded as God had asked. He had faith enough that he told his servant that he was going to the top of the mountain with Issac and that they would return.

Abraham didn’t know how God was going to work things out, but he trusted God that Isaac would go home with him. Because of the prophecy that God had given him about the descendants of Isaac, Abraham believed that Isaac would return with him.

I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

David learned to love and trust the Lord while out in the fields attending his flock. He learned that God would take care of him. That is why when Goliath stood against the Israelites with his word curses about their God. The entire army was afraid of Goliath because he was big and loud. But David was full of holy boldness. Who did this giant think he was to defy the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. With his sling in his hand and five smooth stones he went out to face Goliath. He boldly proclaimed “I come to you in the name of the Lord.” He destroyed the enemy with God’s help.

Living a life fully trusting God is possible. All of the examples I have shared were before Jesus. They were under the old covenant when God was with them, but didn’t dwell within them. We are under the new convenant, how much more should we be bold. God lives within us. Most just don’t want to invest the time to get to know God. Remember it is all about relationship.

Many other people in the bible and since bible times have been bold like David. Some have had faith like Abraham. They have trusted God with their whole heart. Many have been martyred for the gospel because they would not bow down to the evil of this world. Each one an example of what it means to be a true child of God.

We too can be strong, bold, and full of faith. The word of God tells us that we can do all things through Christ. He will give us the strength, boldness and the faith we need to get through whatever comes our way. After all we have fine examples written in the word of God. It is up to us to invest the time to build our relationship with God.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP529 JESUS OUR DIRECTION

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: JESUS OUR DIRECTION

We as human being are going to be led by something or someone. It is human nature to want to fit in with those around us. But following the crowd is not always a good thing. Unless that crowd is following Jesus.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

“I am the way.” That is direction. We can count on his Spirit to lead us in the right path. If we accept what Jesus did on the cross. The work of the cross is foolishness to those who will not accept Jesus. But to those who accept him, it is the power that drives the decisions of our lives.

“I am the truth.” He is real, sure, steady, and true, not fake. When you are talking about direction true north is a set point that doesn’t change. It is the starting point for any direction you would want to go. Jesus is that to the spiritual direction of a believer.

“I am the life.” Apart from Jesus, you have no life. You may exist in this world until death. Then you will have death for all of eternity, never to experience true ever lasting life. But to those of us who are saved, our life begins with Jesus. When we close our eyes in death here, we will have life forever with Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Listening to anyone but God will not get us where we are going. We have to trust God with our whole heart. Not looking toward our ideas or someone else’s ideas, but acknowledging God in all things. If we can fully trust God, he will lead us the right way. We will not have to worry about what tomorrow holds. We will not have to worry about what a day brings forth, because we can trust that he has a plan and is leading us.

Psalm 27:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Our steps are ordered or put in place in proper order by the Lord. If we fall, God will not allow us to stay down he will lift us up again. He will set our feet on that solid rock.

If we grow weary, we are not alone. God is with us to strengthen us and keep us on the right path. He restores our strength. He will not allow us to be overtaken.

Psalms 23:3 – He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

The word of God is a lamp to our feet. It is important to seek answers in the pages of his word. He will not let us down, he will lead us to the answers we seek. His word will open up to us and reveal the hidden mysteries of God. All we have to do is ask, study and trust.

Now is the time to make sure you are going the right direction and that you are trusting in Jesus will all of your heart. Now is not the time to be playing around. We are in serious times. Lines are being drawn in the sand, it is time you need to decide which side you are on, Jesus’ or satan’s. There is not room for fence straddling, playing church. The fence belongs to the enemy and so do churches that are playing around with feel good sermons. They are fluff with no substance, and they will not lead anyone in the right direction.

Find somewhere that challenges you to walk closer, study the word more and most of all, look to Jesus for direction. he will lead us and guide us and will not fail us. We will reach our destination as long as we walk with him.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: EMBRACE THE WILDERNESS

Most would say the wilderness is a place of temptation and trials. Things happen that test our faith and our strength. God will not allow us to be overtaken that is not the point of the wilderness.

It is a place we learn to trust, lean, and rely on God. It is a place we must through to the other side. We will be ready for the next level of glory and responsibility. Things looked bad for Moses in Egypt, he fled to the wilderness to escape punishment in Egypt. While in the wilderness he learned skills he needed to be an effective leader. He also learned survival skills and his way around the desert.

Then one day he had an intimate encounter with God. The creator of heaven and earth spoke to him from a burning bush. That experience changed him. In the process of the plagues, Moses learned to lean on God more and more. He learned how to survive in the wilderness from spending time as a shepherd tending his father in law’s flock.

God won’t stick us out in the wilderness without provision. He gave the Israelites whatever they needed. Manna, water, their clothing never wore out. Think about that, they travelled for forty years and their shoes and clothes never wore out.

The wilderness is a place of testing. Jesus was in the wilderness and was tempted of the devil after a long fast. We must trust God’s plan. Yes, the enemy may come on strong, but we can combat him the same way Jesus did and quote the word to him.

The wilderness is also a place of preparation. It was after Jesus was in the wilderness that he started his ministry. He began walking into the fullness of what God needed for him to accomplish on the earth.

The wilderness can be a place of refuge from a famine. God sent Elijah into the wilderness. There he sent ravens to feed him. Showing that God will take care of his people, even in the wilderness of life.

Elijah also fled from Jezabel after the miracle of him calling fire down from heaven to prove God to the Jewish people. It was in that wilderness that he found a cave and God provided him food and drink to strengthen him. Once he was stronger God showed him that he could also come in the form of a still small voice.

God sent Elijah to anoint Hazael as king over Syria or Aram. He sent him to mentor Elisha to be a prophet in his place.

We should not dread our time in the wilderness. Because, God is getting ready to show us something wonderful on the other side of our time in the wilderness.

Our time in the wilderness is a time that God strips us of our human arrogant complacency and self-righteousness. He humbles us to better rely on him. He always reveals himself in a new way to us. If we can get past our pity party and listen for his voice. We don’t like the wilderness because it is uncomfortable. Human beings are very much creatures of comfort.

Deut 8:15-16 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; 16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

Notice the last part of verse sixteen, that he might humble thee and that he might prove thee to do thee good at the latter end. God just wanted them to learn to love and trust him. Being in the wilderness is all about trusting in the Lord and resisting the trappings of the enemy.

If we can learn to do those two things in the wilderness, we will have a stronger faith walk. We will be a better light to the lost and broken. Instead of dreading the wilderness, we should try to embrace the lessons, God is trying to teach us.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP522 BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT

Now is the time to awaken out of sleep. Now is the time to ask for God to give us deeper understanding about spiritual things. We no longer have the luxury to ignore the things of the spirit realm. We go along acting like if we ignore anything spiritual, we will not have to deal with it. But that is not how the real-world works. We are spiritual beings and we will either serve God or Satan, there is no middle and no way to avoid it. We all will have to make a choice for ourselves.

I cannot stress enough that we need to be on guard. Evil is all around us, the enemy loves to try and draw us into temptation. If he cannot get us to sin, he will put people in our lives to tear us down. The attack always comes when we least expect it. Unless we are vigilant about keeping our guard up and our shield ready.

Our freedom is not in our circumstances. Our happiness doesn’t depend on lack of adversity. Our freedom lies in our trust of God. I spoke to you yesterday about trusting even when the feeling may not be there. When we are hurt and feel betrayed by people, we still have to trust God.

The body of Christ needs to hear the warning, “Be on guard.” We as God’s children were given the whole armor of God for a reason. To protect and to defend this is true, but to also go on the offensive and use our swords if needed. Swords are both offensive and defensive weapons. They can take out an enemy or they can block an attack or threat from an enemy.

It is time that we ask God for wisdom and discernment when it comes to spiritual things. The enemy does not lack tactics. He will use different ones until he reaches his goal of getting us trapped in sin. But for every weapon he tries to form against us we have a weapon of defense. It is found in the word of God.

Remember every time the enemy came at Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus used the word to deflect the enemies lies. He is the deceiver. It is time the church had open dialog about spiritual experiences, not all of them are from God.

2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

The devil goes to church, he tries to weigh down the service. Satan’s servants are not all showy with their evil, some are stealthy like a panther. They want people to believe that they are genuine and really love the Lord, when they only love themselves. They serve only their own agenda.

People are clueless to the tricks of our enemy. Because he has had centuries to watch human nature. He studies us and knows how to drag us into temptation. For every real move of God, the enemy tries to fake a move of God to be deceitful. This is why there is so much church hurt in the world.

I was reminded of an experience I had several years ago. I had a job at a car dealership, there was an add in another town advertising for someone in my position. It was more pay, better benefits. I went for a job interview. It looked perfect. The building the dealership was in was beautiful, marble floors, beautiful glass offices, everything looked like success. I would have taken that job in a moment. But as I looked at the beauty and grandeur of the building God said to me, “All that glitters is not gold.” I went ahead with the interview and was offered the job. I told them I needed to give notice. But I went home and thought about what I felt like God had said to me. I turned it down the next day. Within six months they declared bankruptcy and someone else bought the dealership. They brought in their own office staff, so I would have been without a job.

We cannot always judge things by how they look, not every spirit is from God. The Holy Ghost doesn’t glorify anything but Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost does not move on people for show. He moves on people to transform their lives from being servants of Satan to being born again. The Holy Ghost came to be our guide it is time we give up and let him lead.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Notice the Holy Ghost aka the Spirit of Truth will guide us into all truth. We need to listen to the leading of God’s Spirit, because he knows where to lead. It is up to us to follow. Now is the time to prepare to step out into deeper waters. Now is the time to be ever vigilant.

Until next time,

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP351- LISTENING FOR GOD

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: LISTENING FOR GOD

In the quiet silence, I sit and wait for God’s voice. I whisper quietly, “Speak to me Lord, speak to your daughter.” In my heart I am longing for him to share something with me that I can pass along to encourage you. My mind often reels with topics but they don’t seem right. I pray again, “Speak to me Lord, I need you to share with me what you want your body to hear.”

As I sat quietly a large portion of yesterday. God began to place on my heart, to remind his people not to fear what is coming. He has never let down his people. There has always been a hedge of protection around those who love and serve God. We have no reason to fear; God holds us in his hand.

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus tells us he will leave peace for his people. He tells us to not let our hearts be troubled. He tells us to not be afraid. We do have some control in the situation, we must look to him when we are hit with the emotion of fear. We cannot allow the emotion to take root and become fear in our spirit. When we fear, it is an act of unbelief. We are telling God we do not believe he will protect us or take care of us. This is not a message we want to send to God.

Our message should always be, “I trust you Lord, I don’t understand what is happening, but I trust you, Lord.”

There are different seasons we walk through. Sometimes outside influences cause us to react differently. Like right now, if you pay any attention to the news, then it is easy to allow fear to take over. But we have to know with everything we see, God has it in his control. He will take care of his people.

The enemy comes to cause division; he comes to destroy those who are determined to live for the cause of Christ. He is not stupid; he knows those who have that deep down faith and determination. He will try to cause us to fall into fear.

Psalm 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

We must get Psalm 56:3-4 into our hearts and allow it to seep into our soul. This way when the enemy comes to attack us with fear, we can send him on his way. We have the power to send him packing, simply by saying, I resist your lies, you have no place here, I belong to Jesus, I am covered by the blood.

When I have faced hard situations in the past, there has been times I couldn’t understand why thing happened like they did. I didn’t have answers, I didn’t know how to pray. I would just sit and say, “I trust you Lord, you are wise and know what you are doing. I don’t understand, but I trust you, Lord.”

We can never allow fear or anxiety to get a stronghold. It is hard to get that stronghold broken. But nothing is impossible with God. Even if there is a stronghold, ask God to break it and tell him you trust him, until you feel that trust. He truly only wants what is best for us and will deliver us from all fear. Our job is to trust and not fear.

Until next time,

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP520 HOLY

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: HOLY

Satan tells us lies every day. Some we believe and fall for, causing us to fall into temptation. Other lies we see through immediately. It is the lies that are close to the truth that are the scariest. They are the most dangerous. Our enemy is the father of lies. He came to destroy anything that is good. This is why the children are on his radar. He is trying to destroy the next generations.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus wants to give us an abundant life. He cares about us. Just as much as Jesus is love the enemy is hate. He hates us, because God loved us enough to die for us. We will one day be in a place he was removed from and never allowed to see again. He hates us because we are God’s chosen. The enemy loves to draw people into sin and uncleanness. God is pure and holy. He wants us to walk in holiness.

I Thes 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

God’s word many times states that he is holy. In the sixth chapter of Isaiah. It talks about a vision Isaiah had. He saw the throne and angels that were created by God just to fly and sing. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty the whole earth is full of his glory.” That is their single purpose for existing.

But what does it mean to be holy? “holy” in the bible is the Hebrew word Kodesh. It means set apart from common or ordinary. We have to walk by the faith of God. We must keep ourselves clean from sin.

Satan comes with his lies that we are not strong enough to live holy. We are not strong enough on our own. But God has placed authority in us to be strong enough to rise up above the temptations and lies of the enemy.

Isaiah 57:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

The enemy will often try to form weapons against us; weapons of doubt and fear. But God comes along with his peace. He restores, he strengthens and he delivers us.

I Pet 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Peter was quoting a verse in the Old Testament from Leviticus. God would not tell us to be holy if it was impossible. If we walk fully in our flesh, it is impossible. But we have the Spirit of God on the inside of us as believers. He will lead and guide us into all truth and righteousness or holiness. All things are possible when we allow the Holy Ghost to be our guide, even being holy.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP519 DON’T SELL OUT

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: DON’T SELL OUT

Every moment in time is unique, every wave that crashed against the sea shore will never crash again, even though the water goes back and more waves crash. Every step we take gets us closer to our goals or it takes us further away. Depending on our direction. Are we boldly crashing the shore of the future or are we retreating only to be tossed in the waves.

God honors the bold and the brave. He is calling all of us to be bold and stand for the truth. It is going to take a bold church to stand up to the brazen, blatant display of evil that is in our face 24/7. The enemy is trying harder than ever to destroy as many people as possible. Because he knows his time is short to lock people into a life they cannot get out of. One of blaspheming against God’s spirit.

Matt 12:31-32 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

The Pharisees committed this unpardonable sin when they said that Jesus cast out devils by the prince of devils. They looked like holy men on the outside, but inside their hearts were pure evil. They were very insecure that Jesus’ popularity would take away their standing in the community. When they heard he had cast out devils.

Matt 12:24-26 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

In trying to sway the people away from Jesus, they actually sealed their own fate. It is no small thing to speak negatively about the Holy Ghost of God. He was sent to this earth to be our help and guide.

Matt 8:14-16 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Matt 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

There is nothing we face as children of God that we cannot get through, as long as we are led by the Spirit of God. We are no longer in bondage. It is not wise for us to allow man made things to bind us up. Look at the Phariasees, they were bound by their religion. I say their religion, because they took the ten commandments and made hundreds of rules to keep them from breaking the original ten. Jesus came to set us free from bondage. We cannot allow man made rules bind us up in religion.

Today is the day of salvation, today is the day to dig deep into the word, today is the day to pray and intercede against the enemy and what is coming. If the Spirit of God dwells within us, we need to ask that we develop spiritual sensitivity to understand and discern the voice of God.

We are standing on the edge of our Red Sea, life is about to change. How it changes for us will be determined if we are listening to the voice of God or falling into fear. Will we be a wave that penetrates the sand, or will we be drawn back out to sea. Because we have given in to the enemy and his lies. So don’t sell out to the enemy.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP516 ARE YOU READY?

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: ARE YOU READY?

I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Are you ready to give an answer? If not, I have a few ideas to share today to get you started on having your answer ready.

We are all without hope until we accept the blood of Jesus and his plan for our lives. That is the simple answer some would brush off as being religious. Generic answers will not work, it’s about relationship. But if we can share a rock bottom moment with someone, then give God the glory it will be more accepted.

For me my rock bottom was when I fell into deep depression. Someone else’s, may be drug addiction or losing all they had financially. It could be alcohol addiction, porn addiction, there are many rock bottom moments. They are as individual as the people who suffered them.

It all starts with honor and reverence in our hearts for the Lord. Making Jesus the center of our faith. When we share the hope we have we must share Jesus, because his love and sacrifice are the reasons for our hope.

This verse doesn’t mean that we have to have an answer like a legal defense to fight against those who will not accept that Jesus gives us hope. If we take that approach we will not effectively share why we have hope.

We believe the word of God is true, that word is full of reasons to have hope. One of the main reasons is that when we become children of God we have hope of a home in heaven far away from the punishment we deserved for breaking God’s laws. His forgiveness gives us hope that we are never alone.

Another way to look at the key verse is that if we are full of God’s hope, we will live a life that causes people to question, why we have hope. The world could be flying apart and we have peace, because of Jesus.

I COR 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

This verse is a reminder that our hope is in Jesus not only for this life but the one to come.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP515 FIRE ON THE ALTAR

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v76xxdg-god-focus-this-morning-ep515-fire-on-the-altar.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: FIRE ON THE ALTAR

Across all denominational boundaries almost all would agree that we need to see revival. We often think of revival as a meeting set up weeks in advance. There is a preacher from another church to bring the word. But if he doesn’t bring the fire, no one will come to know Jesus. If the people have not prepared the altar, there will be no fire.

Mirriam Webster online defines revival as: the restoration, re-connection or to bring back to life something that has declined faded or died.

The word revive means – an improvement in the condition or strength.

If we allow God to revive us, we will gain strength and improve in condition, we will re-connect with him. It is easy to let life get in the way of our relationship with God. Revival can restore our faith walk.

A congregation can have church services every night for a year and call it revival, but it will accomplish nothing until the saint are re-kindled with God’s holy fire. Until they pray the fire down.

Which brings me to my next point. The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. A large portion of these people were God’s people who had turned aside to serve baal. We too at times allow things to creep into our lives. Often ours is more subtle than turning to worship a false little “g” god.

Elijah was tired of watching God’s people chase after the false god. He put forth a challenge and said, we will set up an altar and worship. Which ever God answers by fire, let him be God.

For times sake I am starting at verse 30, I suggest you read the whole chapter and think about how amazing that God answers by fire. We pick up with where the prophets of baal had spent all day crying, cutting themselves with knives and nothing happened.

I KGS 18:30-38 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

Notice the sacrifice that was on the altar to baal was not the sacrifice Elijah used. He prepared his own sacrifice. Just like we must put ourselves on the altar and rededicate and re-surrender. We need to become broken before him and allow him to send down the fire to consume our sacrifice.

He asked the people to pour not four, not eight barrels but twelve barrels of water on the altar, the sacrifice and the area around the altar. Think about what a sacrifice it was to use the water, there was a famine and drought in the land. But they still offered it to God.

Notice Elijah didn’t use the altar of the enemy and try to pray to God. He repaired the altar before adding the sacrifice and water. He didn’t have to cry and cut himself with a knife, like the prophets of baal. He just said a simple prayer and all off the sudden there came a fire from heaven. God not only answered by fire, he consumed the sacrifice, the wood, stones, dust and all the water.

True revival will come when we see God’s fire. But first we have to repair the altar. It is not just a place for sinners to repent. The altar is a place to make changes in our lives through sacrificing what our flesh wants to do and spend time crying out to God for real change. Some churches have made a mockery of the altar.

What if Elijah’s sacrifice was like we are, as soon as the prayer gets serious our flesh wants to get up and call it a day. But in bible times the sacrifice was tied to the altar. What if our desire for God kept us tied to the altar until we were saturated with is presence? We must pour out everything before God. Re-connect to him in a deeper way.

There is no shame in needing renewal. Everyone needs to be refreshed (with the washing of the word), refilled with God’s spirit so we can pour him out to others. We need renewed so that we have fresh bread and not the same stale message for those who are lost.

If there was ever a time in history that needed God more than now, I do not know when it was. The only way people are going to be drawn away from the bone chilling coldness of this world is for the church to get on fire. It can only do that, if we sacrifice time to pray for the fire to fall once again.

As spring begins and people start to plan revivals in their churches, I pray each one prays for lost souls to come to know God. And that there will once again be fire on the altar.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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