Tag: #beboldbebrave

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP544 CONSTANT COMPANION

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: CONSTANT COMPANION

True encouragement is based on God’s truth through reading the word, we find strength to keep going. The word is full of examples of God’s faithfulness. Not one time in the word did he let down those who trusted in him. He is our constant companion, because he lives on the inside of us.

We tell the stories of impossible odds. The Red Sea parting, David and Goliath, Jesus delivering a man from a legion of demons. Every time God moved when the odds seemed impossible. He is the God of the impossible. We will even tell people that he can do all things.

Then why when we come up against what seems impossible do we find ourselves in a struggle? Because we are human and sometime walk by what we see before we can walk by faith. This is why we need each other. When one is struggling the other can stand strong in prayer and faith to pick them up.

We never walk alone, even when others cannot go with us. Some things we have to face on our own. But that doesn’t mean that Jesus is not with us. We can always depend on him to go with us.

Deut 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

We all have times of weakness when going through a struggle. But it is in admitting those weaknesses to God that we gain strength and power to overcome.

2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

God’s grace is more than enough for us. We gain strength when we show God our weakness. We can learn a lot from not having it all together. Some go to church and put on a cheshire cat grin and say everything is wonderful. But behind that grin they are broken and hurting, but are afraid to admit that they are weak and need God. There is often a misconception among church people that we are supposed to have a perfect life. We are not supposed to have doubts or struggle, because that is being weak. Actually, that is being human and God knows we are struggling. Pretending everything is wonderful is actually a form of false humility.

We need to learn to be real, especially with God. I am not saying that we should tell everyone our issues, doubts, fears or even sins. Some people will hold things against you that happened fifteen years ago before you gave your heart to God. Be careful who you allow into your circle of confidence. But God can always be trusted to be the center of that circle. He knows our pain, fears, cares, worries and he understands we have questions. Sometimes we may be on the border of not trusting God.

He desires us to bring it all to him. There is nothing we can say or ask that will shock him. There is nothing that can make him want to run the other way. He is God. He knows our thoughts before we think them, he knows our hearts better than we do.

God wants to go into the hidden places; the places we have tucked away painful things. He will drag them out into the light and dust them off. Then he will remove them and leave us peace, where hurt once stood. There will be healing where the scars were very prominent. The scars will no longer be painful. But they will be reminders of how faithful God is to heal our hurts. There will be the memory of how we were done wrong and hurt, but he will remove the sting of the pain.

There is great comfort in knowing that no matter where life takes us, we will never walk alone.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP543 WAIT OR RUSH AHEAD

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: WAIT OR RUSH AHEAD

While having quiet time with God I was directed to the book of Isaiah, specifically Chapter 30. When I think of Isaiah I think of the eagle verse. If we wait on the Lord we will receive renewed strength. We will be able to soar like the eagles. The key part is to wait upon the Lord. When we rush ahead and do our own thing, in our own strength, we often end up in a mess that only God can reach down and save us.

In the waiting we often find struggle and a feeling of numbness. We cannot walk by feeling, we are to walk by faith. But there are times we couldn’t walk by feelings if we tried, because we are not really feeling anything. We are just going through the motions.

When we find ourselves in such a place, we have to take time to sit quietly and wait on the Lord. God has perfect timing; he sees all things. Therefore, he knows when we need to step out and move and when we need to wait. That is one thing we never want to hear. When we have quiet time, the enemy will do everything in his power to distract our minds. The battle comes when we try to stay focused on God and his plan for our lives.

Chapter 30 is all about Judah’s rebellion.

Isaiah 30:1-3 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

A little over 700 years after the children of Israel were freed from Egypt, Judah wanted to seek their help as a military ally against the Assyrians. Egypt represented a place of bondage that Israel had been freed from, but instead of waiting on God, they wanted to turn to them for help.

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

God was telling them to return and rest in him. He would help them fight their battles. But they wanted to do their own thing. How often are we this way? God tells us to wait on him, but in the waiting we get anxious and try to do things our own way. Our way verses God’s way, we will always lose. He knows best and only wants what is best for us.

Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

This was encouragement to wait on the Lord. Yet Judah would not listen. God intervenes on behalf of Judah. But also brings judgment on them for not listening to the Lord. God is faithful and just, but people often forget that God is a god of judgment.

Isaiah 30:30 And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

Isaiah prophesied a great display of God’s judgment aimed at Assyria. Every time God’s people would turn to idols and turn to other nations for help. Every time when they would repent God would save them from the choices they had made. But there was always a price to be paid.

We cannot judge them too harshly. Why would they turn to idols? Why would they look to an enemy that God had defeated for them a little over seven hundred years prior? We turn to other people for advice all the time in tough situations. Why do we not turn to God? We may not have golden statues, but if we are not careful we can build idols in our lives and look to them for guidance. When the God of the universe, who made heaven and earth and created and formed our lives, is there waiting for us to look to him.

We don’t care to make God wait on us to make up our mind to trust him. But we hate waiting once we ask him to help.

During the wait we must keep serving him and trying to win the lost to the kingdom. We need to distract our focus from our situation with praise and thanksgiving. Thanking him for moving on our behalf. This is an exercise of faith.

We must do all we can to keep our mindset right. The enemy will try to tell us that God is never going to move, and it will never workout. We must maintain hope, even in the darkest times. God is faithful to answer if we wait on his perfect timing.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP542 GOD’S DWELLING PLACE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: GOD’S DWELLING PLACE

As children of the most high God, we have a responsibility to keep our house clean. I am talking about our spiritual house. It needs to be a comfortable place for God’s presence to dwell. Many compromise too much with the enemy. We are the dwelling place of God. We are his temple. To understand how important having God’s presence with us and in us we can look at the Old Testament. When God was with Israel, they would go to battle and win. But when God didn’t go, they lost terribly.

The ark of the covenant was God’s dwelling place, his throne on the earth. It was built very specifically. Man was not allowed to touch it with their hands. It was carried on long poles covered in gold.

No other God could stand in the face of our God. The Philistines stole the ark of the covenant after a battle. They placed the ark in a temple built for their false god Dagon. When they returned Dagon had fallen over on the ground. He could not stand before the presence of the one true God. The Philistines sat the statue back up. The next time they looked he had fallen over and was broken. His head and his hands had broken off. Then all of the Philistines were stricken with hemorrhoids. They knew they had to return the ark before something worse happened to them.

God allowed the ark to be taken because the people were treating it like a pagan idol or a good luck charm. All of Israel was starting to dabble with idol worship. They didn’t worship God with all their heart. They only went through the motions. Eli allowed his sons to commit sin in the sanctuary. He did nothing to stop them from defiling the house of God. God ended up killing all three of them.

Do we take God for granted? Do we treat him like a genie in a bottle, there to grant our every want and desire? Do we treat his presence with respect and take time to be with him? I don’t want my spiritual house to be empty of his presence. I want him to find a comfortable place to rest.

I Cor. 3-16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Which temple are you? Are you the place God can dwell? Are you a place that has a sign on the door that says you are a temple of God but have allowed things that are ungodly? None of us want to be in a lukewarm state or worse be found with our temple full of idolatry.

I Cor 3:18-19 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

God will allow people time to change and turn from their evil. But once they have gone too far, he will not allow them to manipulate and deceive others any longer.

God is about to bring down a lot of preachers that have not stood for the truth of his gospel. He will not allow them to taint the final harvest of souls. Be looking for a lot of the false preachers that are treated like celebrities to find themselves without their platforms to deceive the masses out of their money. They have watered down the gospel too long.

We need the old-time preachers that tell you not what you want to hear, but what you need to hear. Not because they want to hurt you or be cruel, but because they love you enough to tell you the truth that can save you from hell.

Our temple should be a comfortable place for God to dwell. A place he feels at home. Somewhere free of the idols of this world. That is the type of place you will find God’s presence. In a heart that truly wants to worship him.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP541 OIL FROM ONE VESSEL

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: OIL FROM ONE VESSEL

An empty vessel is one that is ready to be filled. What you pour into the vessel is what will come out of the vessel. Sometimes a vessel needs to be emptied of what it carries in order to be filled with something else.

We are like those vessels. We empty our lives of the things of the world and ask God to fill us with his Spirit. As time goes by, we allow the world to creep back in or we pour out the love of God that he has placed within us and it is time to get refilled. Revival used to be about searching our hearts and making sure that we empty our lives of the things that are keeping the power of God from flowing in our lives. We need to ask God to help us to get rid of our selfishness, our pride, our distractions from doing His will.

Lam 3:40-41 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.

Soul searching is necessary and so is worship. Our worship helps us to strengthen our connection to God. By emptying our lives, we make room for God to refill us with his Spirit again. This will give us his anointing to help others find their path to Jesus. We will have fresh anointing to pour out on the hurt and depressed; the broken. But we have to be willing to empty the space.

We came to know Jesus because someone else had emptied their life from the cares of this world and took the time to pour out some of the anointing of Jesus that they carried. It is time to pay it forward and find empty vessels in which to share Jesus.

Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

It is easy for us to get side tracked by our flesh. Not everything that distracts us is necessarily a bad thing. But too much distraction leaves us empty and void of God’s presence in our lives. We drift too far from him and have to pray for him to draw us close in his arms and refill us with his presence.

Jer 29:12-13 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

We have to desire his presence in our lives. As the older saints used to say, we must stay prayed up. I think that was their way of saying, keep their lives clear of the wrong things and full of God’s presence.

Jesus filled the body with his anointing; also referred to as the oil of anointing or the Holy Ghost. From one vessel, many have been filled.

When I think about empty vessels I am reminded of the story of the widow who was about to lose everything. Her sons were about to be taken as bondmen to work off her debt. Elisha asked her what she had in her house. She told him she didn’t have anything but a pot of oil.

He told her to go to the neighbors and borrow lots of vessels. When she had them to go inside and shut the door. He told her to pour out oil into all the vessels. She went in and filled all the empty vessels from one full vessel.

Notice she had to go inside and shut the door. Like we need to get into a quiet place with God. She was able from one vessel to fill many. Just as we are able to pour out Jesus to others when we are full of his anointing. But if we allow ourselves to get down to the point we have little or no oil, we will not have the strength to help anyone else or help ourselves.

Being surrounded by his presence and filling ourselves with his word helps us stay connected. So that we will always be in a position to help someone else on their faith walk. We will always be ready to pour out the precious oil that we as believers to share.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORING EP540 BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT

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

There is none so blind as the one who refuses to see. People often have different opinions. As they go about debating it, the conversation becomes about who is right and not what is right. When it turns to an argument everyone loses.

When approaching the scriptures, I believe it is wrong to argue over the meaning of verses. Everyone’s opinion is filtered through the lens of their experience. There can be unity in the body if we pray sincerely for the truth to be revealed. Then have an open mind enough to admit that we don’t know it all.

When we approach a discussion with a rigid, prideful attitude, then nothing will be accomplished. This was how the Pharisees were, they had very rigid, judgmental ideas about everything. Not even Jesus could change their minds. That is how stuck they were on their ideas about God’s will and plan for man.

Stop and think about your approach to the word of God. Is your denomination a hill that you have chosen to die on? In other words, are you so convinced that you are right that you are not the least bit open minded.

We are entering a time when God is going to unite the body. He cannot come back for a bride that is in pieces. He wants a united bride. Now more than at any time in history we must come together and reason out God’s plan.

Matt 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

We do not want to be lead, by the blind. Allowing the spirit of God inside of us to lead us we will never be on the wrong path. God has not hidden the truth in his word, he will show us the way, if we ask.

I Cor 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Paul understood that man’s wisdom does not dictate God’s truth or plan. Our faith comes from the Lord. Wisdom and understanding comes through the power of God which dwells within us. We must allow God’s Spirit to lead us. Each and every one of us needs to pray for God to make his word clear.

He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He will take care of us and will lead us the right direction if we choose to follow.

Jesus prayed that his disciples be one. I think he meant for that to carry over to all the followers of the gospel.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP539 REFRESHING

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: REFRESHING

There are times when life can press us down. Our emotions feel like depression trying to set in, you have nothing going on in your life to make you depressed. This is a classic attack of our enemy. He wants us to feel helpless and hopeless. If we are feeling down, then we will not feel like praying, studying, or spending time in worship.

The enemy knows that just as our physical bodies needs rest to find energy for a new day. Also, our soul needs that God connection in prayer, praise and reading the word. We need new strength for our soul daily.

Jesus is the reason we can have hope and be refreshed in our inner man. Without him there is no hope. But with him we can live a life free of sin’s weight. We can live a life of Joy. We gain strength through praise that brings Joy.

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.

As Children of God, we must stick to the path that God has stretched out before us. If we do this, we will find joy for our journey. The Joy of the Lord is our strength. But we have to be in the right path to receive that strength and joy.

Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

When we are battle weary and being attacked with fear, anxiety or depression we need refreshed. Spending time in God’s presence in worship will reconnect us with the Holy Ghost. In that connection is refreshment, strength and joy.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

When we repent there is a conversion or a change within us. Repentance is not a one-time thing then all is well. Paul said he died daily. When we ask God to forgive any sins or failures as his children, he will renew us. That comes from connecting to God through his Spirit within us.

All of our hope is in Jesus. He is our strength and peace. The refreshing and the love of God is given to us. That refreshing is like the sweet fragrance of a perfume filling a room. God’s love infiltrates every part of our inner man.

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

As we pray and gain strength to overcome our tribulations we gain patience, experience and hope. We would get nowhere without the hope we have in Jesus.

Thanks for watching,

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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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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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

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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