Tag: #keepyourgodfocus

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP613 MOVE OR STAND?

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: MOVE OR STAND?

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When faced with difficult situations do we stand still and wait or do we move? That will depend on what God says. He has perfect timing. We must discern that timing in order to be obedient.

Impossible odds were facing the children of Israel. They were at a place that they had no choice except to stand still. They couldn’t go forward and they couldn’t go back. The enemy was closing in fast. Fear gripped them as they stood there in the sun. Some of them began to complain and wanted to return to bondage. No one could have imagined what God was about to do to deliver them.

We are often the same way. Sometimes we face a sea one way and the enemy is closing in fast. It is time for God to make a bold move on our behalf. We cannot see how God is going to work out our problems, but he will open the sea if we trust and not fear.

Exodus 14:13 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.

I have often wondered what would have happened to the children of Israel, if they had not moved when the sea parted. Sometimes God gives us opportunities to get out of situations and we stand still. The sea is parted and the land is dry, yet we stand staring at the enemy in fear. We cannot see the deliverance when we are focused of the fear.

The enemy loves to cause us to have fear. Which is false evidence appearing real or lies that sound like truth that will cause us to fall, if we don’t trust. Their freedom depended on their ability to move away from the fear caused by the enemy. Their freedom depended on their trust in God and their ability to move at the right time.

As children of God, we must pray to know when to move and when to stand still. Moses told them to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. They had to wait on God to part the water. We often have to stand still and wait on God’s timing. However, there came a time that God parted the water.

He did his part, but the enemy would have over taken them if they had not moved. Knowing when to move is crucial to our spiritual walk. It takes time to learn when to stand and when to move. We have to be led by the Holy Ghost. He will lead us into all truth and righteousness. The word is a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path. But God’s Spirit will lead us on that path.

God cannot destroy our enemy in the sea, if we are in his way. Praying to be led by the Spirit is something we must pray daily. Look at Lot, God told him he could not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until he was gone.

God will not be able to deliver us in our times of enemy attack if we allow Fear to paralyze us. Having courage to move, when we hear God say the word, is what will see us through.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP612 MOVE YOUR HANDS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: MOVE YOUR HANDS

Many times, in life’s situations we say we give them to God. Then we continue to try to work things out the way we want them to turn out. We stick our hands into the situation even though with our mouth we have prayed and told God it was his to work out. Jesus is trying to shape us on the potter’s wheel and we are trying to jump off because we get dizzy going around. Instead, we keep on going around and around the same trial. Sort of like Israel kept going around the same mountain. The reason they had to keep walking around the same mountain was because of unbelief and disobedience. Let that sink in for a moment.

Imagine clay on the potter’s wheel. If clay was like we are, it would be trying to become a bowl, while the potter is trying to make it a pitcher. It ends up being an unusable mess. So, the potter has to start over with the lump of clay. This is why we stay in situations for too long. God is trying to use the situation to grow us into what he wants. Learning to ask for his help and then allowing him to help takes growth in trust.

Learning to be obedient to God’s nudging and gentle pressure will grow us into the bold, brave children of God we are called by God to become.

Jer 18:1-6 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

God told Jeremiah that he was trying to do something with Israel, but they were not allowing him to shape the direction of their path. God desired repentance, he knew if they did not turn their hearts toward him, they would harden like clay and be unmoldable.

Can you see the clay of the wheel with its own hands sticking out in the way of the potter? Yet this is what happens in our life, every time we pray about a situation and then hold on to it.

This topic reminds me of a situation years ago, I had been in a battle for about a year. One day I was reading this passage of Jeremiah and it spoke to my heart about letting go. I prayed, “Lord, I cannot do this, I need you to fix it.” From that point on I had tried to keep my hands out of it. I had already seen a major turnaround in this situation.

A few days later, I was pretty frustrated because it seemed like things were getting worse. The enemy will always turn up the pressure before he has to let go. I was tempted to try to fix it, but instead I prayed, “Lord even though it looks worse, I know you are in control and however you work it out, I know it will be for my good. Your word says so.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The next morning, I was crossing the parking lot, at work and a sparrow landed on the back of a truck. I was reminded of the old hymn which goes, “his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.” It gave me a sense of peace. It was like God spoke to me in that moment and said, “I have you in my hand.” So, I kept reminding myself that God is in control. He didn’t need my hands he needed my obedience and trust.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP 608 THE WIND OF GOD — DRY BONES

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: THE WIND OF GOD ON DRY BONES

In yesterday’s episode we made a connection of wind or the Hebrew word Ruach to being born of the Spirit or as Jesus said to Nicodemus, being born again. When God’s Spirit or wind blows something always happens. Take the story of Ezekiel for an example.

Ezekiel 37:1-8 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

Notice there was a noise and a shaking, and the bones came together but there was no breath in them. They didn’t have life without the breath. Just like we do not have spiritual life without the breath of God or the Holy Ghost.

Ezekiel 37: 9-10 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

The wind of God blew and restored breath to the bodies and they lived and stood up upon their feet a great army. As children of God we are a part of a great army. But we do not fight with conventional weapons, but be fight with prayer and the power of the Holy Ghost within us.

Notice until the wind blew, there was no life. Just like we do not have spiritual life until the spirit of God breathes or blows over us.

This vision of Ezekiel has significance in showing that God can restore even that which is dead. Jesus came out of the grave with power over death, hell and the grave. But it also can show the significance of how God’s power is needed to bring spiritual life to our dry bones and give us new life. His Spirit puts us in the family of God, the body of Christ, or the army of God. It takes the breath or wind of God to create within us a spiritual life.

Gen 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God formed Adam from the dust of the earth. But until God breathed into him he was just dirt. He had no life. Notice he formed man then breathed into him the breath of life. All other creation on the planet he spoke into existence. But man was different, he was special he breathed into him and made him a living soul.

The wind or breath of God, The Spirit of God, The Holy Ghost is also needed to breathe spiritual life into us. Just as Adam was not alive without God breathing life into him in the natural. We are not alive until God breaths his Holy Spirit into us. Watch tomorrow for part three of this subject of wind of the Spirit.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP607 –THE WIND OF GOD — WHAT IS IT?

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Our automobiles will not run for very long without oil to lubricate the parts and make the work smoothly. Our spiritual lives can be this way also. All the parts of our faith walk will not go smoothly without the oil of anointing. It takes the oil in our lives to keep us in the flow of God and what he wants to accomplish in us and through us.

In order for our light to shine we must have the oil and anointing of the Holy Ghost. He is the oil. Without oil we are an empty vessel of no use. Just as an oil lamp is of no use without the oil. The Holy Ghost is what gives us a new spiritual life the oil that allows the light to burn. This is what it means to be born again.

John 3:3-4 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Nicodemus was high up in the ranks of the Pharisees. He was puzzled by Jesus. He felt like there was more to him than meets the eye. He went to Jesus and talked to him about his ability to heal people. Nicodemus explained that he believed the power came from God.

Jesus told him that he must be born again or he could not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus being carnally minded wanted to know how he could enter his mother’s womb and be born.

John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

God’s spirit has to move on our innermost being and create a right spirit within us. This is what happens when we are born again. The Holy Ghost overshadows us, sort of like it did Mary. But instead of creating a fleshly baby to be born and walk the earth, he creates within us a spiritual baby that will grow and mature to be more like Christ. This is Jesus in us, or the anointing of God’s Spirit that makes us Children of God.

Notice verse six, that which is born of flesh is flesh. This flesh will one day return to the dust of the earth. But that which is inside, the soul of a person will end up in hell for the sins it committed. If it was never converted to be born of God’s Spirit. The rest of verse six says that which is born of Spirit is spirit. The part of us that is God in us, or His Spirit will take the soul of those who have obeyed God’s ways to be eternally in heaven with Him.

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. We should not think it strange that Jesus told him we must be born again. We must have the Spirit of God inside of us. The Anointing of God.

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

The Greek word for wind is pneuma. It is also the same as the word for spirit. The word listeth means where it wishes or desires to go. Showing there is a freedom to the Holy Ghost. He will work in whosoever will let him. We have to be born again and then yielded to him for him to use us. In other words, we must be willing vessels.

In the Hebrew the word for wind is Ruach. This word is found first in Genesis 1:2 when God’s spirit hovered over the waters at creation and brought forth life on the earth. The wind or Spirit brings for life.

Tomorrow I will continue to show you examples of The Wind of God.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP606 A WARNING TO THE CHURCH

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: A WARNING TO THE CHURCH

I normally come to you on Fridays with something light and encouraging. But sometimes God deals with me to do something else. What the Lord has been speaking is a heavy weight and I want to share this warning with you.

It is about the future of the church. Not all members are on fire for God. Those that are lukewarm cause more harm to the kingdom than they help. The lukewarm are normally judgmental to make themselves feel better. They end up hurting and running off those who are new to the gospel and those who have not decided if they want to be a Christian. This is one reason why it is dangerous to be lukewarm. Another reason is that if you are lukewarm you end up dabbling with sin, this is being a bad light. Our God is a jealous God and wants us to not create little gods in our lives.

Then you have entire congregations that attend services and are more like a country club than a church. They never do true outreach, they are about building their kingdom bigger. This type of greed will not stand before God. He is about to bring it all down.

REV 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

If someone is hot, they are an on fire Christian, full of zeal and desire to follow Jesus. They are a good light because fire produces light.

Someone who is cold, has turned their back on God completely or has never made a start to live for Christ. The light of God is not in them.

In the middle is the lukewarm, full of apathy and going through the motions. God says he would rather we be hot or cold. If we are lukewarm, he will spue us out of his mouth. I think that explains it. We will be cast out like tares. The lukewarm have just enough light to do damage to the kingdom of God.

REV 3:17-19 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Many say this is about the church today. They will tell you that they have need of nothing. They may give God credit for what they have, or maybe not. We are poor, blind and naked without God’s light in our life. If we are sold out to God and allow him to shape us, he will cover our nakedness or sin with his garment of grace.

The next verse is something that I kept hearing, hell hath enlarged. For a couple of days God dealt with me about these verses in Isaiah.

ISAIAH 5:14-16 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. 15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: 16But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

God gave warning to the prophet Isaiah for the people of Jerusalem. They were full of pride, self-righteous, judgmental, covetous, not yielding fully to God. God warned that his judgment was going to fall. That so many were going to be swallowed up by hell that it would have to expand to take them all in, because of their disobedience. This passage depicts hell as a giant creature with its mouth wide open devouring everyone in sight.

This was a warning of being lukewarm and being morally corrupted. It was a warning to the proud and morally bankrupt. Hell is making room for everyone that is not on fire for God.

These people instead of following God they chose their own way, but wanted people to think they were obedient to God. He is patient and long suffering. But he will only allow evil to reign for a season, especially in a group of believers. In order for him to bring judgment on the evil of this world first he has to clean up the church.

I feel that the warning God gave Isaiah about Jerusalem could apply to the modern day church. There is a parable about wheat and tares and how God will divine the two.

I Pet 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Peter was calling for the people to examine themselves to see that they were on a solid foundation. To see if they were on fire for God. Were they living in a way that honors God or were they lukewarm?

This is a serious thing. I am sure most of us have experienced a time of being lukewarm. I know I have several times in my life. But God’s long suffering toward the church is wearing thin. In order for us to step over into the glory of God we need to have clean hands, pure hearts and be on fire for Jesus. He is about separate the wheat from the tares.

I have been doing some soul searching this week. I don’t want to be found lacking. I shared this today to give you something to think about over the next few days. Ask God to show you if you have anything in your life that would cause him to think you are a tare and not wheat.

Because the tares are gathered and thrown into the fire to be burned. That is not the type of fire we want, hell fire is torment. God’s fire is pure and holy. This is a serious thing, so meditate on it and pray about it before you dismiss it.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP604 BROKEN CISTERNS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: BROKEN CISTERNS

A cistern is a manmade reservoir that is used to catch and store rain. It is different from a spring, stream or well because it is a holding tank for something that is poured into it. A broken cistern is symbolic of human shortcomings.

Empty and broken cisterns were often used as places for punishment or as prison cells. Imagine being underground, the only light or air you have comes from a hole at the top. It is muddy, musty and damp.

Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

God told the prophet Jeremiah that Israel has committed two evils, they had forsaken him. Then he referred to himself as the fountain of living waters. They dug out cisterns that were broken and could not hold water. In other words, they carved out their own way, while forsaking the one true God.

I feel like there are also a lot of churches today in which this verse can be applied. They have forsaken the real and true God. They say they are a Christian church, but have built idols of their watered-down version of the gospel.

In doing this they have compromised and become vessels that can no longer hold the living water of God, because the truth is broken. They have allowed the enemy to fill the reservoir with sin and lies. Making it good for one thing, a place of imprisonment.

In the case of these churches, nothing will change until they decide to cry out to God and ask him to repair the damage. They need sound doctrine and truth, not watered down entertainment.

On a personal level, when we allow the world to creep in, we will be spiritually broken and cannot hold God’s living water. It will take repairing the cistern of our lives to make us capable of holding God’s presence. But in order to make those repairs we must look to our God. He is the only one who can fix our brokenness and make us strong enough to hold his living water.

We need fresh water daily to live. Allowing the world to creep in, our spiritual water becomes stagnant or polluted with sin and the cares of life. We will not produce fruit when the water of life within us is polluted. In order for fruit to grow in our lives we need fresh water. The stagnate and polluted water needs to be purified. Just as our soul is purified by the blood of the lamb.

Before a harvest can take place, something has to be planted and watered. Many souls are in need of being harvested. Its time the church repented, repaired the altars and cisterns, prayed for clean hands and clean hearts. Then we will be ready to go out and make disciples teaching them about our great God and his wedding plans for his bride.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP602 GOD INCREASES

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: GOD INCREASES

Gal 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He often used stories about sheep and shepherds or about planting seed and reaping the harvest. God placed the laws of reaping and sowing in place from the beginning.

When we show kindness to someone in need, it will come back to us. The opposite is true too, if you show hate to others, you will receive hate. If we choose to walk and live righteous lives, we will reap the benefit of that choice. If we choose to walk in darkness and sin, we will reap all sorts of things in this life.

Our flesh would love to take us down the road of instant gratification and pleasures for a moment. Things that on the surface appear to be pleasant. But are dark and evil. They will grow the fruit of deceit in our lives.

It is not easy to walk not after the flesh but after the things of the Spirit. God is there within us to give us strength to do the right thing. We just have to say no to the devil and ask God for strength to sow good things.

Often, we hear people say, “the devil made me do it.” The devil doesn’t have power to make us do anything. He can come and try to tempt us, by whispering in our ear. We have the right to resist him. It may take resisting a time or two. But we do have the power to resist. God will help us to resist but will not make us do anything either. We have free will and the right to make the choice. Which ever voice we yield to, will determine the outcome of our future.

It is up to us to decide, are we going to sow evil things that seem easy but is actually fumbling in the darkness of sin? Are we going to sow good things that seem a little more difficult but will reap wonderful things from the Lord including eventually eternal life?

One key is not allowing the enemy to wear us out. When we get weary it is easier to give into temptation. But if we can stay strong and not get battle weary, we will not listen to the devil’s lies that he comes to whispers.

Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.

We are not to be weary for trying to do the right thing. At the right time we will reap the harvest and we will reap benefits from the Lord for our own lives, if we don’t get too weary to keep going.

I COR 3:6-8 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

This passage reminds us that we just need to do what we are lead by God to do. If it is plant, water or harvest. But other than being happy that another soul was plucked out of the hand of satan, we should not feel like we did anything. Because God gives the increase to our efforts. We are not meant to plant, water and harvest a person. We are meant to work in unison with the Holy Ghost and other believers to accomplish the end goal of seeing people saved. Remember God is the one that gives the increase.

Go out this week and sow good things into people’s lives. Be encouraging and be bold, time is short. But remember, it is God that gives the increase.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP600 GOD IS CALLING

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: GOD IS CALLING

Many believe that giving our lives over to Christ is a one-time thing. We repent and then all is well. But I am here to tell you it is not a one-time thing. It is an everyday, every hour maybe every minute thing. As we go about our day, things arise that can cause us to pull away from our relationship with God. Trials, temptations, distractions and even well-meaning tasks.

God wants us to submit to him, but what does that mean? To voluntarily place oneself under the authority of another. It is translated from the Greek word, hupotasso, which means to “arrange under” as in a military ranking order.

Biblical submission to God is an active choice we make to prioritize ourselves below God, under his authority. This submission is rooted in trust and love for God. We submit to God’s will because we trust his authority.

I Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

We are to submit to one another as the joint body of Christ. Submitting because we care for one another and to humbly serve God. In other words, we are to love one another as Christ loves us.

Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

I want to cover a couple of examples: Judas never fully submitted to living a life for Christ. He never submitted his authority to God. He was submitted to his lust for money. Like us, he could only fully commit to one. We have two choices God or satan. He allow the spirit of lust and greed to get him to submit to satan. Evil overtook him and he betrayed one who had done nothing to him but care for him. He sold information about where Jesus was to the Pharisees. He submitted to thirty pieces of silver, instead of submitting to following Jesus.

Sampson is another example; he took the authority he had and shared his secret with the enemy. He lost his submission to God the moment he started toying with Deliah. He allow his attention to be drawn away from God. Slowly he submitted to his desire for her. He allowed the source of his power to be cut off, which was his hair. In our case, we may allow the enemy to get us to stop praying and reading the word. Soon he was captured and bound by the enemy.

He prayed for God to forgive him. He realigned his submission to God and his strength returned. When his strength returned, he pulled down large pillars that held the roof of the temple. The enemy had chained him to them. In collapsing the roof, he destroyed around 3000 men and women of the Philistines. He also died in the collapse. It could have all been avoided if he had stayed committed and submitted to God in the first place.

It is easy for us to sit in judgment of these two men. But we too have some work to do to make sure that we stay in submission. It is easy to allow the cares of this life, troubles and trials to weaken our dedication and submission to God. He wants our complete surrender to him. He doesn’t want half of us. He doesn’t want our attention just on Sunday. Submission 100% of the time, we need to choose to surrender to his authority.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We are in serious times. Lines are being drawn in the sand. Today is not a time to be trying to straddle the fence or be lukewarm. We need to be all in with both feet, calling down the fire of God. To prove that he is God to a new generation that may be following an illusion of who he is or a false little “g” god of this world.

Today is the day to re-dedicate, renew, and surrender ourselves more fully to God. In submitting to God, we will resist the devil. He has to flee because if we are under God’s authority. We will have no authority to give the enemy. He will not have any control over our lives. He only gets authority over us if we submit to him. That is something to really think about. Let me say it again, satan only gets authority over us, if we submit to him.

All the more reason to stay in submission to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks for watching,

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING–EP598 LOVE NOT THE WORLD

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7dbs2e-ep598-love-not-the-world.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: LOVE NOT THE WORLD

Every day we have choices to make, do we continue to walk out our faith or do we allow the world to dictate our path. As children of God, our choice must be to continue to draw closer to God.

I JOHN 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

We are not to love the world. This verse says that if we love the world the love of the Father is not in us. The things of the world we often think of as being external things we do. But it is a spiritual thing, notice lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life. These things come from the enemy and are not of God. The lust of the flesh is the desire for physical gratification. The lust of the eyes, is when we want everything we see. The latest designer purse, the new fancy car anything that is materialism driven. The pride of life, this is all about status and feeling like you are more important than others.

Satan attacks us in these three areas which is nothing new, he tempted Jesus the same way. He tried to get him to turn stones to bread playing into the hunger his flesh felt. When that didn’t work he also showed him the kingdoms of the world and promised them to him if he would bow to him. That was playing into the lust of the eye. Then he tried to play into his ego, if you are the son of God prove it. That was the pride of life. He was trying to play into his ego. But Jesus was secure in who he was and didn’t allow any of it to shake him.

I JOHN 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. The more we resist the things of this world the less control they have over our lives. If we resist the devil, he will flee. If we resist his lies, they will have less and less power over us.

ROMANS 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We can be transformed from walking in the flesh by renewing our minds with the things of God. If we allow the things of this world to transform us we will conform to the evil of this world. If we renew our minds with the word of God and prayer will be the example of how to walk acceptable in the sight of God. Others will see the light that we have in us.

Walking like the world will only serve to confuse those that are lost. Some people say they are Christians but have not been transformed. Others look at them and say, I am just as good as they are, they do this or that. This leaves the door open for Satan to give them another excuse to not walk in the will of God. Many love their sin too much to release it and give their lives to Jesus.

The word says that sin has its pleasure for a moment, then it fades quickly and leaves death behind. Learning to walk by faith and not walk by the desires of our flesh is a long process. But the closer we draw to Jesus, the less the things of this life matter. I encourage you to pray and draw closer to him.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP597 HOW THIRSTY?

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7d6uhy-god-focus-this-morning-how-thirsty.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: HOW THIRSTY?

How thirsty is your soul for God’s presence? Do you desire for more of God’s living water? Longing to feel the presence of God in a more powerful way should be all of our desires. God wants us to want to be in his presence. He longs for us to quietly commune with him.

Psalm 42:1-2 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

True worship is about a heart connection to God. You can sing, pray, praise, lift your hands, kneel, lay flat on your face, it is all about the heart posture. God wants to be first in our lives, there is no room before him or above him. But in our human capacity, we have to fight constantly to make him our number one thought, care and priority.

Matthew 16:24 –Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Total surrender is what he longs for from us. Jesus emphasized surrender by denying ourselves the things we would do or want to do, to follow Jesus. He desires our complete surrender to his will.

1 Peter 5:7 –Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Surrender means trusting him with our cares and burdens. We must come to him as a little child. Think about how trusting they are with their parents. They will believe whatever they tell them. We should also trust God with that childlike trust. He wants only good things for us, he will look out for us.

As the weekend approaches and hopefully we all find a little bit of time, think about the question I asked when we started today, How thirsty is your soul for God’s presence?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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