Tag: #Jesus

EPISODE 135 — THE FINISH LINE

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v55ziqu-god-focus-this-morning-episode-135-the-finish-line.html

The title of today’s episode is: THE FINISH LINE

On our headstone, there will be a beginning date and an ending date, but what counts is how we live the time between. I read a poem one time it is call its how we live our dash. It talked about many things, while we are living out our dash between the dates. It was about doing the right things and not getting caught up in material things and the trappings of life. How big our house is and how many cars we have in the driveway will not matter. Because when we come to the end of our journey, all that will matter is the people that we have loved. Only the lives we have touched with kindness, encouragement and love.

Some people have a rough start, and it is hard for them to get beyond what has happened in their past. They find it hard to walk out their faith walk because they do not feel worthy of God’s love. We were all sinners and Christ died for us. It is his blood that makes us worthy.

We chose a path to walk for Jesus, the enemy will try to use our past against us. If he cannot get us to turn around and quit. He will do all he can to slow us down. He tries to fill us with fear and unbelief by whispering lies and doubt.

In a natural race there is a finish line and getting to the end the fastest is the goal. However, our goal is not speed, but to finish and finish well. With us, there are certain things we need to accomplish. Many times, we have to pace ourselves. We cannot accomplish certain things when the timing is off.

Running in the natural, if you go too fast sometimes you will feel a pain in your side and you have to slow down. Sometimes God allows things to come into our lives to slow us down until we can get our pace right. God’s timing is perfect, and we need to be in his timing. He will accelerate us or slow us down to get us to be in the perfect timing.

Eccl. 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Now more than ever, we have to make sure that we do not allow the enemy to slow us down. There is a harvest of souls that we must reach. Our time is short before our finish line. Now is the time to dig in and push harder. A runner, in the natural, will pace themselves, but when they are close to the finish line, they will run as hard as they can. This helps them to reach their goal. Our goal is to harvest many souls for the kingdom.

God has put us here on the earth for such a time as this, we all have an important part to play in reaching the lost. Many souls are depending on us to run this race at the right pace. God is the one that gives the increase and the timing of it all. We need to be ready to fight hard, dig deeper and run this race with all we have got within us.

Along the sidelines of long distance races there are water stations. God’s living water, the Holy Ghost, will help us to be refreshed so that we can keep running. It is time that we get the refreshment that comes from the presence of the Lord. His Spirit is the hydration our soul needs to keep going.

Runners often win or lose a race based on their beliefs. If they believe they are going to finish well, they do. But if they feel like others are better athletes than they are, they will not finish well. This is why God tells us not to compare ourselves to others.

Faith is our fuel to keep us running the race. We cannot allow the enemy to plant unbelief and fear. We have to open our mouths and speak faith. Something happens when we speak it; we hear it. If we keep speaking it and hearing it, we start to believe it.

I often think of the widow woman who’s son died. She left him on the bed and went to find Elisha the prophet. All along the way, she had opportunities to speak out of her mouth that her son was dead. She could have gone to her friend for sympathy and to cry on her shoulder. But any time anyone asked about how she was, she would just say, “It is well.” She was speaking faith. She did not accept the fact that her son was gone, because she knew he would live again. Keeping her faith strong, with her words was important to the miracle that God was going to give her.

We speak faith, we run our race, we dig deep and fight for the right things. We dig into the word and ask God for understanding. He will not leave us wandering lost. He will keep us on the course if we just keep the faith.

Lots of times in battle, armies would be battling one another. The one who won was the one that didn’t retreat. We have to have a made-up mind to finish our race strong. There is no time to retreat or surrender to the enemy. It is time to not only hold our ground but take back territory. We can only do this if we walk by faith and speak faith.

One day we will come to the finish line. I want to be happily greeted by my heavenly father saying, “Well done.”

I Tim 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Instead of a blue ribbon or trophy, we will receive a crown of righteousness. If we are looking for him and love his appearing, we have to want to finish the race strong, not for bragging rights but so we can see Jesus face to face.

Paul said I have fought a good fight. That takes a lot of prayer and walking by faith. Finishing our course is all about God’s timing. Keeping the faith is important because that is what will see us through to the end.

Don’t give up; we are too close to the finish line to give up now.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 134–DON’T GO THE WRONG WAY

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v55zbd2-god-focus-this-morning-episode-134-dont-go-the-wrong-way.html

God Focus This Morning

The title of today’s episode is: “Don’t Go The Wrong Way”

—JONAH DIDN’T WANT TO GO TO NINEVAH HE ENDED UP THERE

We can do things the easy way or the hard way. God sometimes asks us to do things that makes us uncomfortable. Fear of failure is often one of the biggest excuses. Do we go where he asks, or do we take the long road there? We will end up where he needs us. It just comes down to will we go willingly, or will we be a spoiled brat that He has to drag along. Unless we completely turn from God. We will end up where he wants us to be, how we get there is our choice.

God asked Jonah to go to Ninevah. He didn’t want to go there, he felt they were all evil. Maybe there was a little fear there. He had many excuses to not go. He wanted to go the opposite direction toward Tarshish.

He put it off and then started on a journey the opposite way. He went to Joppa and got on a boat. A storm came up. The storm was rough on the boat, and they were afraid that it was going to sink. Jonah knew it was because of his disobedience. He told them if they tossed him overboard, they would be spared. The men on the boat tossed Jonah overboard.

God had prepared a fish that opened its mouth and swallowed him. He was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. He prayed and asked God to deliver him and he said he would go to Ninevah. After his ordeal Jonah went to Ninevah and God saved many.

Jonah took the long way around to get to where God wanted. God understood Jonah could reach a lot of people that is why he told him to go to Ninevah in the first place. How often does God ask us to do something and we end up taking the long way there but end up in our Ninevah. If the tasks could be accomplished in our own strength, we wouldn’t need God. Jonah forgot that God would go with him. How often do we forget that we don’t have to do hard things alone, God is with us.

We all want to be used by God and want to do the right thing. Often our idea of what we want to do, and God’s ideas are different. We cannot allow fear to control our every move, we have no reason to fear. God is with us. Fear, doubt and many things will cause us to run the opposite way if we are not careful. Either way we will end up in Ninevah. We can be obedient and just step out in faith and go or we can take the long way there. I want to be obedient and don’t want to take the long way there. I know there are no shortcuts in life, either. This is why it is best to follow God’s plan. Taking the long way is full of pitfalls and stressful situations.

Jonah seemed to lack compassion for the lost people in Nineveh. Above all else we need to have a heart of compassion. We need to be soul winners. It doesn’t matter how wicked the people, God loves them, and it is not our place to judge. We are to show them God’s love and speak the words He wishes.

When he told them that they had 40 days then God would pour out his wrath. They fasted and put on sackcloth, even the king. God changed His mind because of the people had repented and turned from evil. Jonah was not pleased that God changed His mind.

Remember Jonah, the next time God asks you do to something that takes you outside of your comfort zone. It is not easy to step out in faith. We question, did I really hear from God? Lord, do you really want me to do this or that, we will question. All the time, knowing that was exactly what he asked us to do. I don’t know if we think that by stalling, He will give us a pass. He has everything in the universe working like a well-oiled clock. Everything is in his timing. He knows what he created for us to do. We must be bold enough to step out in faith and do what he has asked of us.

After a couple of days of self-pity, Jonah saw things God’s way. Read Chapter 4 of Jonah to see how God used a worm to make his point and give Jonah understanding. God often uses simple things to reach us.

Thanks for watching,

Until Next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 132 — DISCIPLINE

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v55mg22-god-focus-this-morning-episode-132-discipline.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is Discipline

We have often heard the quote spare the rod spoil the child. While it is often believed to be a bible verse, it comes from a 17^th century poem. Discipline is defined by Oxford Dictionary as the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.

Many experts have argued about discipline when it comes to children. Some take the, “let them learn naturally” in other words let them run wild and as they get hurt, they will learn.

Others are too strict; they have every moment of the child’s life structured. They do not allow them to be children but expect them to act like adults at all times. Both approaches are too far in one direction. There needs to be balance between the two.

Children that run wild do not have boundaries. They are under the impression that the whole world should bow down to them. They feel like rules don’t apply to them, because they are so special. They never learn how to be productive adults, because they lack discipline or the ability to follow rules. They never learn how to live within the boundaries of normal society.

Those that have been under too hard of a task master are like a dog that has been chained up most of its life. When given the opportunity they will run. They will spend a long time trying to learn to live without someone telling them what to do every moment. When someone gives advice, they often do the opposite to prove they are grown up and do not have to listen.

The parents in the middle of the extremes will raise the best children and the most productive adults. These people punish their children for disobedience when necessary. They set boundaries to protect their children. Teaching them to be responsible for their actions.

This is what God wants from us, for us to be responsible people, having discipline to walk in the Spirit. He wants us to admit when we go astray and do wrong, asking for his grace. God disciplines those he loves. He wants us to be a shining light to the world. We cannot be a good light if we lack self-control. We have to be able to resist the devil when he comes to try to drag us into trouble.

Heb 12:9-11 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

We are soldiers in the army of the Lord. Soldiers are brave, disciplined and follow the rules. They are not weak when it comes to being ready to stand for the right thing. If they have good leaders, they will be prepared for battle.

This is why God allows things in our lives; to make us stronger and give us structure. The trials of life can be a good lesson of how to lean on Jesus. He is our example in every way.

Heb 12:12-14 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

There is a difference in chastisement and God’s wrath. Chastisement is the equivalent of being sent to our rooms to think about what we did wrong. Knowing that after we think about it, we will repent.

His wrath is saved for those who will not admit they are wrong. His wrath is for those that are disobedient and show no signs of changing. Those who have a hardened heart. His wrath is reserved for those who will not turn from their evil but boast in it, like Pharoah.

Learning to have discipline will help us in our faith walk. If we have self-control, which is the fruit of the spirit, we will walk upright and be a good light. We need to submit to God’s chastisement. Knowing that he chastises us not to be mean, but to shape and mold us into the light of the world.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 131 — INDEPENDENTLY DEPENDENT

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v55fbs2-god-focus-this-morning-ep131-independently-dependent.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: INDEPENDENTLY DEPENDENT

Happy July 4^th everyone. Today I will keep it brief since it is a holiday. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to give you a word of encouragement. America is celebrating our independence. Before we declared our independence from England, many came to America to have a better life. Their religious beliefs were being oppressed all over Europe. Some were even being martyred for the name of Jesus. They boarded ships at the risk of losing their lives for a better life.

The last few generations almost lost it all, by being passive. Everything they stood for and fought for, we almost gave away, because we lacked passion. We have not stood for the truth of God’s word. We have allowed them to take prayer out of schools. We have put up with the politically correct narrative. It took great bravery to cross the ocean for months at a chance for freedom. Freedom isn’t free. Many have died for this country over the years since 1776. We owe each one of them and their families a thank you.

One way we can thank them is to start to stand up for what is right. Stand for Truth and Justice. Stand for the word of God. Future generations are depending on us to hold onto the legacy left by our forefathers. America was founded on freedom of religion, not separation of church and state the way they try to spin it. The writing about the separation of church and state was to say that the government was not permitted to create a religion and force it on the people. Many of them came from England, where the church of England was being forced on the people. That is the reason for the separation of church and state, not to keep Christian values out of politics.

But even more than celebrating our independence, we need to make sure to be dependent on the one who died for our souls. Jesus will help us to take back our country, if we look to him and pray for restoration. He is the only one with the power to restore our messed-up society. Only Jesus has the power to restore the broken and lost.

I Tim 6: 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Let me encourage you to be as brave as those who crossed the ocean. Be as independent as our forefathers who risked it all to stand against tyranny. But above all, keep your eyes on Jesus. Fight the good fight of faith with the word of God and the peace that only he can give us. Walking in his love above all and be independently dependent. Be safe and enjoy your holiday!

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 130 – STANDING IN THE GAP

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v557mvb-god-focus-this-morning-episode-130-standing-in-the-gap.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: STANDING IN THE GAP

We have a unique opportunity to be gap fillers in our world. Many great people before us have been that someone willing to stand in the place of another. First of all, Jesus is the ultimate one; he filled the largest gap of all. His choice to be the go between of sinful man and a righteous God, repaired the relationship that man had with God.

Moses stood in the gap for the Children of Israel when God was angry with them. At the first opportunity, they turned away from the one true God and created a golden calf to be their god. While Moses was on the mountain getting the commandments of God.

God spoke to Moses and told him he was angry with the people and that they had betrayed him. The Lord then told Moses he was going to destroy them. Moses stood in the gap and reminded God of his promise to Abraham, Issac and Jacob (Israel). The promise to multiply their seed and create a great nation.

Exodus 32:13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. 14 And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

All through out the bible many prophets have stood in the gap for the people when they were disobedient to God. But someone doesn’t have to necessarily be disobedient to God to need intercession and intervention.

This brings me to a story of a man that was too sick to do anything but lie on a cot, they called them couches, but they were not like we would think of a couch today. This man had amazing friends. They carried him on his cot to Jesus. But when they arrived where he was, they could not get into the house for all the people that were gathered around.

They believed that if they could get him to Jesus he would heal the man. They climbed up to the roof of the house and peeled back the roof. They lowered the man down to Jesus, to be healed.

Luke 5:18-26 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Jesus is the one we go to when there is a gap in our lives. He is the one that we take people to when they need God. If this man had not had such amazing friends, he would not have received his miracle. This is why it is so important to surround ourselves with people that we know can reach Jesus. People that have a gift of intercession can reach the throne room of heaven.

Often life throws us hard things. Sometimes they are paralyzing to us. We do not have the strength to pray for ourselves. We are too close to the situation. If we have friends that can carry us to Jesus in prayer, we will receive what we need to pick ourselves up and walk again.

The entire world is in need of intercessors. These are people that have a special anointing to pray. It is amazing to just sit back and listen to how they put their whole heart into their prayers. They touch the throne room of heaven because they make it personal. The need touches their heart, and they take it to Jesus as if it were their need. This is what it means to stand in the gap.

Just as Jesus took on our sin or Moses stepped in and ask God for mercy for the sinners we too can stand in the gap, praying for the lost. People need the Lord for guidance in every aspect of life. He is our savior; he saves us from our sins. He is our comfort, healer and strength. Life is close to impossible to navigate without him.

God doesn’t want us to worship him with words and a nonchalant attitude. He doesn’t want our prayers to be that way either. Just a ritual, just a bunch of words that we repeat while our mind is thinking about other things. He wants to connect with our heart.

I have a friend that has the gift of intercession, I often pray with her. She touches my heart when we are in prayer, and she starts to intercede for the children of the world. Many are being held captive and all sorts of horrible things are being done to them. When the news of this reached my friend years ago, she took on their cause and cries out to God on their behalf. As if each one of those children were her very own.

It is this kind of passion to help that creates the filling between the need and the answer. Intercession from the heart causes God to come down and meet us where we are, and his presence fills the gap between the prayer and the need. God doesn’t do anything in the earth unless it is an answer to prayer. What would happen if everyone stopped praying? Evil would prevail. This is how we got to the place we are in our society. Many people stopped praying and interceding for those around them.

Our country, this world, the children, and the lost are depending on us to stand in the gap and intercede on their behalf because they cannot do it themselves. Who needs you to be a friend like the ones that lowered the man to Jesus? What need is out there that God has put on your heart? The world is waiting for us to step up and stand in the gap for them. It is time for God’s prayer warriors to arise and take back what the enemy has tried to destroy and steal. Think about it, then take a little extra time and stand in the gap. God is waiting to answer.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 129 LIBERTY IN CHRIST

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v550cf4-god-focus-this-morning-ep129-liberty-in-christ.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: LIBERTY IN CHRIST

Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

The people of Galatia tried to get the Gentiles to be circumcised like the Jews were under the law. They tried to teach the new converts the law. Paul told them that they were trying to go back to bondage. The law was a heavy yoke that no man could keep.

Jesus removed the burden of the law when he died for all of our sins. When we accept what Christ did on the cross, we are set free from the heavy yoke of sin.

Romans 6:3-6 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Jesus broke the power that sin has over us, when we surrender to him. Jesus died for our sins and set us free. We no longer have to carry the heavy weight of sin or the heavy weight of the law. We are given a chance at a new life.

What do we do with that new life? We must go out and tell the world how Jesus set us free. We are to walk in the freedom of a life that is not entangled any longer in sin. Freedom is what Jesus gave us. How we chose to use that freedom is our gift to God.

James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

If we hear the word and do not do it we are missing the point completely. But if we look into the perfect law of liberty and walk in that liberty we will be blessed.

Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: But the way of transgressors is hard.

The reason that the way of the sinner or transgressor is hard is that they are under bondage. They are shackled or yoked to whatever their sin may be that they are trapped in.

God doesn’t tell us to not do certain things because he wants to keep us from having fun. He understands all the ways we pay for that sin in this life, not to mention the life to come. God doesn’t want to be a dictator and force us to bow down to him and his will. He gives us free will, he will never force us to choose him. But he desires for us to choose to bow to him and his will.

There is a Spirit of bondage on the body of Christ, it is a spirit of religion. Far too long we have held onto our denominational ideas. Jesus died to set us free, he didn’t mean for us to be bound up in religion. We are free in Jesus, and we are to walk in the love of Christ. But we are to hold the line when it comes to sin.

The word of God is very specific about sin and about how we are to walk. He is the only one who can set the captive free. Jesus is the one that gives us freedom.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 128–BETTER TO OBEY

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v54t4m9-god-focus-this-morning-episode-128-better-to-obey.html

We can count on the Lord to fulfill all of our petitions, as long as we pray according to his will. There is divine timing for everything. We often talk about how God said to stand still and see his salvation. It is like the children of Israel that I keep going back to, they were trapped, when God told them to stand still and see his salvation. But when the sea parted, they had something to do. They had to move forward.

If they had not moved when the God gave them the answer, they would have been overtaken by the enemy. They would not have seen God destroy their enemy. But as soon as the water parted, they crossed on dry land. God not only made a way of escape, but he knew that their carts and wagons would get stuck easily in mud, so he made the seabed dry.

Psalm 20:5-6 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. 6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

God is there to save us out of our troubles. But often there are things we need to do. We need to be ready to move, when God says move. God sometimes will ask things of us that will make a huge impact on our future.

Think about the story of Elisha. The king of Syria had a servant named, Naaman. He had leprosy and he travelled a long distance to Elisha. But Elisha didn’t come out and anoint him with oil. He didn’t pray for hours over him. Elisha sent his servant to tell him to go and wash in the Jordan River, seven times.

2 Kgs 5:10-12 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

Sometimes, we get the answer we are seeking from God. But if it doesn’t come in the form we thought, we can get into our emotions and miss it. God was trying to remove some of his arrogance by making him humble himself and wash in the dirty river.

He almost missed his miracle because he didn’t want to wash in that river. Often God doesn’t ask great big things of us. He will ask small things. But he still expects our obedience.

2 Kgs 5:13-14 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Naaman was excited and returned to Elisha to give him gifts. But Elisha refused and sent him on his way. What if Naaman had not listened to his servant? What if he had not dipped in the river? He would not have been made whole. Sometimes we have to set aside our ideas about how God will move and just stand still and let him move.

I love the point the servant makes to him, if he had asked something difficult for you to do, would you not do it? How many times do we do this to God? He leads us to do something, and we complain, because it doesn’t fit into our box of what we think he would ask of us.

Our faith walk is all about timing. Witnessing to the lost is all about timing, God’s timing. That is why we need to be led by the Spirit. God will sometimes tell us to wait. But when he says move, we need to not hesitate.

When going for a walk with my dog, Scout has been trained that when I say Hold, he will most of the time sit at my feet and wait. All the time, he looks up at me to give the command. When I say Ok…go, he knows it means to run across the road to the other side. He never hesitates to run when I say OK..go. Although I have a harness and leash on him, for his protection, it is easier when he is obedient.

God has control of our situations, too. But he expects us to Hold and wait on Him. He expects us to listen for his command of OK. We should be ready to run with whatever we have been given to do when God says Go. Scout never complains about me telling him OK…go. He never questioned why I decided to go at that particular moment. He is just obedient.

The body of Christ is in a hold pattern right now, the church is at a Red Sea moment. God is telling us to stand still and see his salvation. But soon it will be go time and we will have to run into the fields to harvest souls. God is in control, it doesn’t matter how scary things appear. He will protect his people from the enemy.

Psalm 20:7-8 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

The enemy will be brought down, but we are risen and stand upright. Why are we standing upright? We are ready to run when the Lord says to move. It is important that we know his voice. We will only listen to his command and not the command of the enemy.

I Sam15:1-3 Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord. 2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

Saul took an army and went against Amalek. But he didn’t obey the word of the Lord. He saved the king and some of the animals. After God telling him that they were not to spare anything, not even the animals.

I Sam 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

I Sam 15:22-24 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

When Samuel the prophet questioned King Saul, he said he didn’t destroy them because he feared the people. How many times do people today disobey God because they fear man above God. We need to pray and search ourselves to make sure that we are strong enough to stand before men and refuse to not put their opinion above God.

It was at that moment that he lost the anointing to be King. God ripped it from his hand. He sat in the seat for a long time after that, but the anointing was gone and he could not any longer operate the way God chose him too.

We too can lose our anointing if we allow people to stand in our way. We have to know that we hear God’s voice and most of all be obedient to His voice. Samuel told Saul it is better to obey God than to sacrifice.

It is time for us to search our lives and ask, “Am I being obedient to the voice of God? Do I follow his word?”

I will leave you this with verse:

Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.

Until next time,

Be Bold, Be Brave and Keep Your God Focus

Like Share and Subscribe for more encouragement

EPISODE 127– WHAT’S IN A NAME?

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v5480ul-god-focus-this-morning-ep127-whats-in-a-name.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: What’s In A Name?

What’s in a name? That question is asked in the story of Romeo and Juliet. The two young people in love were from families that hated one another. Each family would not have approved of their relationship. She asked him to deny his father and refuse his name. This is what Satan tries to do to us is get us to deny our father and refuse our family name.

Another place it says would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Trying to play down the importance of a name. Which may be all well an good unless you are talking about a child of God turning their back on the family name. Then it is never ever a good thing.

People often say about a child that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In other words, the children end up for the most part being like their parents. The child is judged by the parents reputations, good or bad. If the parents have a good name, people will trust their children. If the parents have been thieves, drunks and liars. People go by the reputation and distrust the child based on the parents. This may not always be fair, but it is the way things happen.

Children normally learn the habits of the parents. They learned life skills from them and how to handle different situations. Sometime there are generational curses that stay with families that taint their reputation.

If your family has a good name, you must teach each generation to uphold that good name. From this we could say, it is important then to have a good reputation among men. But it is even more important that God knows your name and has declared you to be a good and faithful servant. One that has the name of Jesus applied to their life.

But we have walked this earth labeled by our choices to sin. Our name was whatever that sin was and we were broken. There is one that is willing to give us a new name. His name is Jesus, and when we are adopted into his family, we take on that family name, “Lord Jesus Christ”

Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

I ask what’s in a name? Well, if the name is Jesus, there is a lot packed into that name. Savior, Father, Friend, Redeemer of Sin, Healer of broken Hearts and physical bodies. There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain that has us bound.

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved. Without the name of Jesus we cannot make heaven our home. His name has to be on our life, we have to be adopted into the family of God. He is only coming after his children.

Psalm 5:11-12 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

His children should rejoice at his name. We can trust in that name. We must do all we can to be a good light in the world. When we allow ourselves to walk in the flesh and are not a good light, we sully the reputation of the name of Jesus. To the world that is watching, they feel like they are as good as the lukewarm that say they are children of God, but do not act like it.

This is why we need to be every vigilant to walk in the love of Christ.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

We love because he first loved us. This is why we need to be ever vigilant to walk in the love of Christ. It is not always easy to walk in love, but the sacrifice of it is pleasing to God.

Eph5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

The only way to walk in light is to be children of God. Then we walk in the light that is revealed to us. We are all at different stages of growth in our walk. We are to walk in all the light that we have, while asking God to enlighten us to become fully what he wishes for us.

Phil 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Everyone will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. Every knee will bow to God in submission. Some will choose to do it now. Others will wait until their judgment day, but make no mistake, if the word says every knee will bow, then everyone will bow, even the most vile, evil demon-possessed person you could imagine.

I am thankful that I met a man called Jesus. I know there is power in his name to reverse the sin curse. He can make all things new again. We just need to learn to trust him to be our life.

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 126–NAVIGATING LIFE’S STORMS

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v53zklu-god-focus-this-morning-ep126-navigating-lifes-sea.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: NAVIGATING LIFE’S SEA

Christians often use the analogy of their life being like a ship on the sea. There is an old song about how Jesus is the pilot of our ship. It says that we will not sail the stormy seas any longer in life without Jesus leading the way. He will see us safely to the shore again.

The storms of life can often come and like a ship we can be blown off course. In the days of wooden ships and iron men, this often happened. There was someone on board that could find where the boat was and could plot a correct course. They would use the stars, sun and their navigational tools to plot the direction of the boat.

We have similar devices in our vehicles today called GPS. I am old enough to remember when GPS was a new idea for cars. The devices would miscalculate and people blindly listening to the device would end up in the river or over a hillside. This is what happens when what we are listening to is not accurate. Many religious ideas are like the faulty GPS they are not accurate and people end up off the road they intended to be travelling.

The most important people on the old wooden ships were people who understood how to navigate. Making a mistake in plotting ones course could lead to many extra days or weeks at sea. That could mean the difference in life or death for the crew.

As children of God, we have the best navigator or plotter of our course. The Spirit of God is our guide. If we allow ourselves to hear him, above the roaring of the storms of life, He will never let us go wrong. It is when we let the storm get louder than our navigator that we get into trouble.

Many things in life can go wrong, devastating storms can blow into your life unannounced. They seem to spin your boat and your life out of control. It is in the hardest times that we need to pay the closest attention to our navigator. God will give us direction if we pray for his help and guidance.

If we find ourselves a little off course, we can plot our way back on course and steer our ship in that direction. No one without the means of modern computer satellite navigation ever kept a ship on course perfectly. This is why we can come to Jesus and ask for guidance and course correction.

Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

God gives us opportunity for guidance and to change our course for the better. The first time we come to God we are full of sin and severely off course. This is one of those lost at sea kind of moments. Your destination is hell and the one in charge of plotting your course is satan.

We come to our senses and get a new navigator. But along the voyage, things happen and we can get slightly off course. We are human and God has forgiveness if we ask him. Then He will help us get our ship back on course.

Years ago, I came across a quote that says, “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not why ships are built.” This is to encourage people to step outside their comfort zone. It is possible to go through life with minimum stress, pain and trouble. But we have to not care about anything. We have to not love anyone or anything. It means that we live a life free of any type of passion. It means we merely exist. That is not a life, that is a sad existence.

We are meant to go out into life, showing God’s love and compassion. We are supposed to set our destination and plot our course with many stops along the way. There are many places that we can visit and gain passion and enthusiasm for our life and faith walk. Many things we can pick up along the way that will strengthen us and make us who we were meant to be all along.

If we choose to not step out in faith, we will never be able to see the world. We will never reach our purpose in life. I often think about the story of Peter walking on the water. It can be found in Matthew Chapter 14. Peter had a zest for life and a deep faith in Jesus.

He stepped out of the boat and walked on the water. Until he didn’t. He allowed a storm to get his faith off track for a second. But when he found his faith sinking as fast as he was, he cried out to Jesus, and he lifted him back up. When Peter was safely in the boat, he was forever changed. That experience made him stronger spiritually, because it increased his faith. He also had the experience of the miracle of walking on the water.

He gained experience and faith, because he was brave enough to step out of the boat. He was able to navigate what life threw at him because his faith was reinforced that Jesus would always be there in the middle of the storm to lift him up.

The other eleven in the boat had to learn of Jesus’ ability to lift them up in a crisis in other ways. They didn’t get the experience of walking on the water. The safety of the boat was too important. They were afraid, because Jesus walking on the water in the middle of a storm scared them, they thought he was a spirit. He told them to not be afraid. But they reacted with fear.

There are times that we are afraid to take the next step. But Jesus is there with his hand stretched forth. Bidding people to come to him. Taking that first step out of the boat is the hardest, until we find that Jesus is there and has placed a firm foundation under our feet.

I want to encourage you today to be strong in your faith. Always check your compass and make sure you are staying on the plotted course. When storms come that shake you to the core of your being, remember that Jesus is in the storm walking on the water. He will not allow you to sink very far, before he pulls you back up.

Matt 14:28-32 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. 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.

Notice, Peter understood he was sinking and the storm was trying to destroy him. In that moment he cried out to Jesus for help. Jesus was there to lift him up. He is there to lift us up too.

There are some storms on our horizon. The clouds of spiritual battle are forming in the atmosphere. The only way we are going to survive the coming storms is to hold on to Jesus. He is the protector of his people and he will not allow the enemy to overtake us. We have to be bold as lions and stand strong. Jesus will not allow his children to be overtaken. Our faith is the anchor that keeps our boat tied to Jesus. I pray, something I have said today will help you to plot your course and navigate your way safely home.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

EPISODE 125– SEEKING ANSWERS

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v53sphd-god-focus-this-morning-episode-125-seeking-answers.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: SEEKING ANSWERS

Life sometimes sends us things that leave us wondering what to do next. Nothing makes sense, we are left with more questions than answers. As children of God, we normally dig deep and seek God for our answers. There is a peace knowing that God will give us what we need to take the next breath. He will help us to take every step.

But people in the world who do not know Jesus often turn to psychics, mystics, gurus and people that are involved in spiritual things that are not of God. The trouble with seeking any answers from anyone other than God himself is that He is the only one who understands and knows the real answers.

Psychics, mystics, witches all these people get their information from a monitoring spirit that sees what you do and reports to the psychics etc. These people that see in the spirit realm are talked to by demons. We can’t find answers in psychics or philosophies of man.

As children of God, we can hear from God. He will speak to us. Most people will never hear an audible voice. But they learn to know his still small voice that is inside.

Everyone’s walk is different. We all face different things in life. This is why everyone needs to seek God’s face for themselves. We never want to be found in the position of Saul.

I Samuel Chapter 28.

Saul had been disobedient to the Lord. God ripped his authority away as king. He still was sitting in the seat temporarily, but God’s blessing and guidance had been taken away. In the absence of God people will seek help other places.

Saul went to a witch in order to talk to Samuel the prophet that had died. He however didn’t talk to Samuel, he talked to a spirit or a demon pretending to be Samuel.

The spirit told him the truth. These spirits will often tell you the truth at first to lure you into a false sense of belief. Once you have faith in what they are telling you they have you trapped and will lead you astray.

Saul became afraid of being killed by his enemy that he begged his armorbearer to kill him. He refused so Saul killed himself to keep from being killed by his enemy. Saul’s downward spiral began with his disobedience to God. There is never a reason to seek help outside of Jesus.

When I feel like I don’t know what to do, I go to prayer. We can find peace to face the hardest things in life when we pray. It is in difficult times that I find the words of Jesus comforting.

Matt 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

We need to ask God, he will not be shocked by our questions. He knows our heart and that we have questions. If we seek answers we will find them. He knows what we have need of before we ask, but he wants us to ask. He wants us to depend on him.

In the middle of our darkest night, he is our lighthouse. Jesus can shine a light of hope in the middle of the darkest night. Jesus can hold us steady in the middle of the storms of life.

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

This occurred right before God split the Red Sea. The people had a great fear of them. They felt trapped not knowing what to do. We often feel that way in life, trapped and unable to make a move in any direction. But God understands our fear and will make a way where there seemed to be no way. Even if he has to part a sea to do it. The enemy will not overtake God children as long as we look to him and have faith.

Our country is facing some hard situations. The only way America will survive is to look to Jesus. Now more than ever before we need to press in and focus on prayer. It is true, Prayer changes things.

I want to share two verses with you today.

Psalm 138:3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

2 Cor. 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

When we walk by faith, it is not always easy, because we are used to making decisions by what we see, our instincts. Faith is trusting that God will take care of it all even when things do not appear to be going the right way.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT