Tag: #keepyourgodfocus

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP595 GENERATIONS

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7d1k6g-god-focus-this-morning-ep595-generations.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: GENERATIONS

The book of Joshua starts with God telling Joshua that Moses is dead. He then tells Joshua he will take the people of Israel into the promised land. Then he said that where ever the sole of your foot shall tread upon, I have given it to you.

(Hoe shee ah)

Joshua’s given name was Hoshea which meant salvation. Moses renamed him Joshua which means YAHWEH is salvation. That is just what happen, Yahweh saved them time and time again as they went about the promised land, claiming their territory.

Joshua 1:5-6 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

The generation that is about to enter into the promised land is those who were born along the journey. They never knew the hardship of Egypt. They had always known Yahweh as their provider of everything they needed.

Notice as God promised Joshua as he was with Moses, he would be with him. He promised to never fail him or forsake him. I often think of some of us who are second, third or fourth generation believers in God. We can take this verse and apply it to our lives. So as I was with your great-grandfather, your grandfather, your father I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

My great grandparents were completely sold out to the cause of Christ. My grandparent and parents have stood strong on their faith for many years. I have seen many amazing things growing up to believe in the God of the bible; our Lord Jesus Christ. So I claim this verse today.

As God was with my ancestors, so he will be with me. He will never leave me nor forsake me. I can be strong, because God is with me. I believe we are on the edge of God showing up in a mighty way on this earth. People are not going to believe it. I am grateful for my Christian heritage. But make no mistake, God doesn’t have grandchildren, we all my forge our relationship with him.

Each of us have to choose to surrender our lives to him. We all must learn to hear his voice and allow him to lead us.

Joshua 1: 7-9 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

We are not under the law of Moses but have our own plan. But we are not to get distracted by the enemy and turn right or left. We must stay steady to our course. We must follow the word of God that has been given to us. We are to meditate on the word of God. It will help us to stay on the right path.

It is easy in our world to get distracted by many things. A lot of these things on their own is not a sin. But when we allow distractions to keep us from God, the they become our idols. God does not tolerate his children having any other gods.

Be encouraged my friend, if you are third or fourth generation Christian or if you are the first of your bloodline to find Jesus. We can be sure that he will go with us and will fight our battles. This is our legacy as children of God.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING –EP594 THE TONGUE

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7czy9s-god-focus-this-morning-ep594-the-tongue.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: THE TONGUE

There is a quote that says, “loose lips sink ships.” Which means that you are not to tell everything you know. The bible is full of verses that tell us to not gossip. The day in which we are living, judgmental attitudes and gossip are driving forces behind social media. It is easy to see a post and jump on the band wagon of judging someone based on the post. This is not God’s way.

I often share with you about the words you speak. Our words have power to change our lives for the good or for the bad. The entire third chapter of James is about controlling our tongue. It says it is the hardest thing to control. What we say, is as important as what we don’t say.

There is an old quote that says, “If you don’t have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything.” In theory that seems right. But often we must speak the truth in love. It is often not what someone wants to hear. But we must be led by the Spirit as to what we need to say. Allowing God to give us the right words will help us to control our tongue. It will be what the other person needs to hear. It will not be gossip or judgement.

Having an untamed tongue include things like gossip, insulting, belittling, manipulating others with lies and false narratives. Other things we often don’t think of is flattery in order to gain something from someone. We are supposed to be true to who we are and real before God. Manipulation is the same as witchcraft.

Prov 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

God hates a proud look and a lying tongue. We are called to higher ground than to act like we live on reality tv. The world is all about drama and calling people out. It is all about judging one another and spewing hate. Anything to cause problems and issues. The more drama the more likes and shares someone gets, which comes down to money.

James 3:3-4 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

This is explaining how the tongue can change the entire course of our lives. A horse can be turned by a small bit in its mouth. A large ship can be turned by a small rudder or helm. So the entire course of our lives can be turned a different direction by our words.

James 3:5-6Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Our enemy uses people words to harm one another, to bring about discord and hurt. The enemy will lie to us. If we repeat those lies it creates things in our lives that we do not need. Like the enemy may tell you that you are worthless and no one loves you. If you start to believe it and then speak it, it will become your reality. Destruction can come quickly from angry words.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

In the list of the fruit of the spirit, self-control or temperance means being able to control ourselves. That includes controlling our words. Because our words lead us down the right path or down the wrong road.

Others have to feel we are trustworthy. If someone shares something with us, we have to walk in our integrity and not gossip to others. We need to take the issues to God. He is the only one that can judge. So keeping it to ourselves and only telling Jesus will save us from a lot of drama and pain.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING –EP593 CLEAN HANDS AND PURE HEART

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7cuzvm-god-focus-this-morning-ep593-clean-hand-and-pure-heart.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: CLEAN HANDS AND PURE HEART

A pure heart is one that has been cleansed by the blood of the lamb. A pure heart has God’s spirit dwelling within. But it is also a heart turned toward following the Lord with every ounce of their strength. We must have a heart for God’s ways and have his laws written on our hearts.

Our focus has to be a God focus. A willing heart to be obedient to God’s voice. It is not easy to fully surrender our hearts. The flesh fights us every step of the way. We cannot listen to our flesh, if it had its way we would end up in hell. Because our flesh is easily distracted.

Psalm 24:4-6 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

We have clean hands when we follow God’s ways and do not allow our flesh to draw us into sin. Avoiding the traps of the enemy take some prayer. The more of the word we have in our spirit the less likely we are to fall into a position that we end up with dirty hands. We want our deeds to be pure before the Lord.

Psalm 119:9-11 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Seeking God with our whole heart is key to living a life pleasing to God. Hiding the word in our hearts will keep us from falling for the enemy’s traps of sin. In the fast-paced world we live in, there are many distractions. A large portion of them are caused by the enemy.

Matt 23:26-28 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

The Pharisees appear to many to be holy. But Jesus had a different opinion. He told them to clean the inside of the cup and platter so the outside would be clean also. They had pride, greed and deception in their hearts. They loved to be honored by men, but their heart was far from God. They did not have pure hearts or clean hands. He told them they were like white washed sepulchers or graves but inside they were full of dead men’s bones. They would remain dead as long as they were full of sin. This is why Jesus came, to give us all a chance at life.

Mark 7:5-9 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Again, God cares about the purity of our heart. The Pharisees didn’t have pure hearts. Jesus quoted scripture to them about honoring God with their lips. But their worship was in vain because their hearts was far from honoring God. In other words they didn’t have clean hands. They rejected God’s commandments but made up their own.

Many denominations are full of people today that have a bunch of traditions of men, but their hearts are not pure. If their hearts were pure, there would not be so much church hurt in this world. All the Bertha better than you’s with their “we’ve always done it this way attitudes, but they don’t care about showing someone God’s compassion. I pray people wake up and realize how much they need to change. This world is full of people that are dying lost every day and many are worried about traditions of man.

Dear Lord, Give us clean hands and pure hearts. Help us to not be caught up in man’s traditions, but be caught up in knowing you more.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP588 TERRITORY

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7cieuu-god-focus-this-morning-ep588-territory.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: TERRITORY

God told the children of Israel, wherever they set their feet he would give them for an inheritance. He will give us new territory if we believe him for it. I am not talking about physical ground but spiritual. There are times we need to believe for land and he will give us that too, if we are building his kingdom.

We all are in different places every day, but how many of us have claimed that territory for the kingdom? Our jobs, our city hall, anywhere we go, we should pray for God to move on that territory. We must pray over our workplace, the neighborhood and even the post office and grocery store before entering. Pray over everywhere you go. Ask God to be a guide. He can point his people to those that need an encounter with Jesus.

There are seven mountains of influence that shape a society. Right now, the enemy has strongholds in all of them. It is time to pray for God’s chosen people to take back these territories. They are as follows: business, education, family, media, religion, arts and government.

It used to be when a king would conquer a land, he would plant his flag, with his crest at the palace of his enemy. This let everyone know they were under a new ruler. He would hang banners showing he was in control.

God is our banner. One Hebrew word for God is Jehovah Nissi means the Lord our banner. God is the one we can depend on in battle. We go into battle under his flag, under his anointing and authority, we will be victorious.

1Chr 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Several years ago, it was a popular thing to pray the prayer of Jabez. Bible studies and books were written about it. Then some new thing came along in Christian culture and it was forgotten about. God honored Jabez and answered his prayer. He desired for God to increase his territory. If we ask God to increase our territory, he will honor our prayer too. But before we pray this prayer, we need to be sure we are ready to have our territory enlarged.

When battling an enemy, in their territory it was a little more difficult because of the strongholds. They may have had an advantage of being fortified. Maybe they were high up and could see an army approaching.

Today our enemy has strongholds in many territories. He has created a network of sin that traps people. There is only one way out of the trap. His name is Jesus. God can give us new territory, but we must be willing to battle for it.

2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Our weapons are the word of God and prayer. Not a little five minute, patty cake prayer. Not a ritualistic prayer with fancy words but a deep intercessory prayer. We can pull down strongholds of the enemy. We can take territories if we are brave and bold enough to step out of our comfort zone.

The place we have already won and is our current territory may feel comfortable. But we do not want to get too comfortable, because complacency will soon follow. We will not win against our enemy unless we are growing the territory of God’s kingdom. This will also at the same time shrink the territory of our enemy until he has nothing left.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP587 TIME TO SHARPEN

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7cfg5c-god-focus-this-morning-ep587-time-to-sharpen.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: TIME TO SHARPEN

Warriors on the eve of battle would be checking their armor and their weapons. Many would be found sharpening their swords and daggers. Sharpening removes what is not needed to make the edge more effective to do its job. Take out the enemy. If we have spent time in the word, we will be better equipped to take out our enemy. We can use the word of God to combat all the lies he is spewing our way.

Think about sharpening a pencil. One that has not been sharpened is of no use. But remove a little of the wood and the lead inside becomes exposed. The pencil then can do its job, because the wood has been removed.

We are like the pencil; we have a lot of things covering us to keep us from doing our job. Worries, fears, cares of this life all can slow down our progress. But allowing ourselves to be sharpened will help us to be effective witnesses.

Prov 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

If we can come together and reason out the scriptures, we will learn from one another. The word countenance means a facial expression. But it also means to approve of or give support. If we can sharpen one another, we will help our friend to get rid of the things that makes them ineffective as witnesses and they will help us.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We often hear it said this means we must attend church. But it means we need to come together with other believers and have a meeting of the minds. Encouraging one another in understanding of the word. Lifting the spirits of our fellow believers and encourage them to keep going. Pray for one another, worship God together. In a church building or not, it is about the fellowship and worship.

Eccl 4:9-10 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

We need one another. The word says where two or three are gathered he is in the midst of them. There is safety in numbers. When I am weak my friends seem to be strong. When they are falling apart, I seem to have strength to pray and encourage.

We never walk alone in this life; God is always with us. But it is nice to have people of likeminded faith that can lift us up when we fall into our human emotions and doubts. We want to be like the warriors of old, never going into battle without sharpening our swords.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP580 KEEP THY HEART

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7bun0o-god-focus-this-morning-ep580-keep-thy-heart.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: KEEP THY HEART

I cannot seem to get away from the feeling that God wants me to remind you to be vigilant. Distractions are everywhere, I must remind you to keep your God Focus. Our minds are supposed to be on God and his plans for our lives. He has plans for each of us. But God is not the only one who has plans for us. The enemy does too. Somewhere in the middle is our plans we make for ourselves.

The enemy loves to use destructive thoughts of self-doubt, fear, worry, regret or even a false sense of security. He will use anything he can to keep our focus off of our mission which is to Love God and Love People. Some Christians believe because God dwells within them that they cannot fall into temptation or fail. We are in danger of making wrong choices if we are not in tune to the Lord.

Prov 4: 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Everything we do flows from the heart. If we do not keep our God Focus, we risk drifting away and falling into the trap of the enemy.

Think about riding a float on a lazy river. The water is not more than three feet deep. To stop going around you simply have to stand up. But until you do something to stop it you will just keep floating along drifting with the current. The enemy wants us to keep drifting along not paying attention. Spiritually speaking if we allow our attention to drift away from God and his word, we may find ourselves in deep water.

We cannot allow ourselves to drift, it is time to stand up and look around for attacks from the enemy. He is sly and will come at us where he finds a weakness in us. We do not want to give him any room to get a stronghold. Asking God to search our hearts is something we need to do often.

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.

God will show us where we are vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. It takes much prayer to keep us on track. Listening for that still small voice of direction from our heavenly father. He will never allow us to drift as long as we keep our mind on him.

Prov 4:25-26 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

This verse is reminding us to be laser focused on our faith walk. To not look to the right or to the left. We are to think carefully and cautiously about the path our feet are on. We will be established as long as we keep our God Focus.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP579 LIGHT

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7bsvh6-god-focus-this-morning-ep579-light.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: LIGHT

The first thing God did was speak light. He didn’t do any work until he spoke light into the darkness. Once light entered true change could begin.

Genesis 1:1-5 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

This was the first day of creation. God saw that the light was good. His spiritual light is also good. “The word” from God’s mouth created light in the darkness. We need to open our mouths and speak light into the lives of others who are in darkness.

Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Allowing God’s light into our lives enough to see that we are dark and full of sin is the beginning of allowing him to work. He began his work in us and made us new creations. Just as he changed the face of the earth. With the infilling of His Spirit, we too have the light of God inside of us.

Matt 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

As God’s children we are full of his light. We are to shine that light that others may see. Hopefully, they will let the light in enough to begin the creation process. We never know who will let the light in and who will put on a spiritual blindfold. We must let our light shine and pray that others will see Jesus in us. God’s light in us gives us the power to speak his words and share his incredible love.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMEN

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION : https://rumble.com/v7br4e6-god-focus-this-morning-ep578-check-your-choices.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: CHECK YOUR CHOICES

God is calling his children to come up higher in their faith walk. Every day is filled with choices. The world is full of distractions to pull our attention from Jesus. Every decision we make leads to a future decision. If the enemy tempts us into a bad decision, we may find ourselves making other bad choices because of the one. Every decision we make shapes our lives. This is why it is important to be consistent.

One example: The children of Israel had been worshipping other gods. Joshua stood boldly before them and told them they needed to settle the matter and choose one or the other, that worship of the one true God could not be mixed with gods of this earth.

Joshua 24:15-16 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;

Every day we must choose to serve God. We choose good or evil. We are faced with many small decisions. Do I read my Bible or stream Netflix? Do I pray or take a nap? We won’t be weakened if we choose occasionally to stream Netflix or take a nap. But do it consistently and we will grow weak. Being in the word gives us our strength. That is when our enemy attacks, when we are at our weakest.

Deut 11:26-27 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

These two verses summarize the point of this lesson today. We can have blessings or curses. If we obey God’s word, we will be blessed. If we chose other gods the false ones of the bible or idols we create ourselves we will not reap blessings. We reap what we sow.

DEUT 30: 14-18 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. 15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Choosing to follow the one true God, has benefits. He will prosper us and bless us in this life. But if we do not do that which is right in the sight of God. He will cut our days short and will not bless us. We have to choose life, that is the side of Christ.

Prov 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

All most human being have to rely on is there instincts and intuition when making a decision. However, as children of God, we can ask for his leading and for discernment. He will never lead us wrong. Our instincts and intuition will fail us. Leaning on our human friends can sometimes not be the best decision. They too are making choices by their instincts and intuition. Choices may seem right, but may turn out to be a broad way that the enemy painted to look perfect. So, choose wisely one road leads to life everlasting. The other leads to eternal death. You have a choice to make today, I pray you choose life.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP577 BECOMING BOLD

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7bpck6-god-focus-this-morning-ep-577-becoming-bold.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: BECOMING BOLD

I often encourage you to be bold and brave. Jesus was bold. It takes a special kind of heavenly boldness to stand up to the religious people. Jesus didn’t come to create a religion; he came to set us free from religion. He often spoke bold in the presence of religious people.

The closer we get to Jesus the bolder we are going to get. The more of his word that we have down on the inside of us the bolder we will be.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. – Acts 4:31

Notice they spoke the word of God with boldness after they were filled with the Holy Ghost. God will give us holy boldness to be witnesses to the lost and dying world.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1

Boldness doesn’t leave room for fear. God is our strength he will give us the boldness we need each day if we allow him. In order to be bold, we must replace the fear of man with the fear of God.

We develop boldness by growing our relationship with God. The closer we get to God the less we have a fear of man or anything else. We develop our fear of God as we study the word and pray for his guidance.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Notice how they realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. This was the reason for their boldness. He had encouraged and empowered them to be bold. They learned from his example. He will empower us too. We must look to him and lean on him. He will always show us the way.

Imagine a lion, walking through the jungle. He is aware of his surroundings. He is strong and bold. Then he lets out his roar. It is something that comes from deep within. The whole jungle takes notice when he speaks. They don’t call him king of the jungle for nothing.

We are children of the king. Jesus is referred to as the lion of the tribe of Judah. This title shows his lineage from the tribe of Judah. It also refers to his victory over death, hell and the grave. He is king of kings and lord of lords.

As we grow in wisdom and understanding of what it means to be a child of God the boldness will come, then we too can let our voice be heard proclaiming the gospel.

Prov 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

I love this verse, it reminds me that there is a roar inside. That I can be strong and bold. The enemy doesn’t win. As a matter of fact, he is a fake. He tries to counterfeit everything God does, but he lacks the power of God.

When Moses went before the Pharaoh the first two or three signs he gave the king to show God’s power, the magicians were able to fake. Sometimes the enemy can look so good. His tricks seem to be so real, that if we are not careful, we will fall for them. This is why we must pray for God’s discernment and wisdom.

Go out today and be bold, share the good news to the world. Our window of opportunity is closing.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP376 HIDING FROM THE HEALER

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v7bnimk-god-focus-this-morning-ep376-hiding-from-the-healer.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: HIDING FROM THE HEALER

I can remember as a child hiding from my mom when I got scraped up when playing outside. Because she would put that red liquid pain in a bottle on my wounds to prevent infection. The disinfectant always worked and in a couple of days all would be well. The pain a distant memory.

Other times my brother or I would go running with something as small as a bug bite begging for a band aid. Because the band aid called attention to our wound that was nothing. We wanted sympathy or pity.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

This verse has two-fold meaning. We were wounded spiritually before we were born. Adam and Eve sinned and all of mankind was born wounded. Jesus is the answer to our spiritual sin sickness. Yet how long did we run from the healer? He was trying to disinfect our soul. But we ran because the pain of change seemed too big.

But when we gave in and allowed him, he cleansed us in his blood. He not only took stripes to redeem our soul from hell. But his stripes were for our physical healing and emotional healing.

I have met people who have walked through some horrific things in life. I myself have walked through depression and grief. But I’ve learned most of the time not to run from the healer. It is better to pour out all the pain in those sobbing prayers that only God can understand. He has the cure. He can pour in the oil and the wine of his spirit to heal us.

After tragedy most people can find healing and move on with their lives. Emotional pain can come in lots of forms. But even when wounds have healed sometimes there are scars left behind.

We will be able to share our story to help other to know that they can be healed. Walking through painful things develops compassion in us. We can sympathize with someone in a similar situation. However, we must guard our lives against those who are just wanting a band aid. They want sympathy and pity. This is a form of manipulation. The person may not be aware they are manipulating you, but then again they maybe.

Many years ago, I tried to help a woman that was new to our church. She had multiple issues because of bad choices in the past. Over three or four months I spent countless hours on the phone with her letting her talk about her problems. Nothing changed, because she had not really changed. I realized the reason she was attending church. She thought if she gave her life to Jesus that he would bring her husband back to her. It was her attempt at getting her way and Jesus knew her motives.

She had tried begging, faking attempted suicide, manipulating her children to beg him to come back. Everything you could think of she tried. But she told the people at church she was trying to move on and pick up the pieces. But deep down she wanted God to bring her husband home. God would not do that because of free will. The man was determined to never return.

She didn’t come to Jesus for salvation or for healing. She just wanted to show the community her wounds. It is sad she had the right answer, but wouldn’t let him make a true change and heal her.

Three things to take away from today’s devotional.

There is not a broke place God cannot heal within us if we fully give the hurt to him. We need to quit hiding from the healer.
People have free will, God will never override that will.
We need to learn who we can help and when someone is being manipulative. Like my example: I wasted months of time, one of our most precious assets. I am learning to listen to God’s leading and not be drawn in by compassion. It’s ok to walk away from people. We cannot help people who do not want to be helped. Because they are truly hiding from the healer.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT