Going to church, reading the bible, listening to Christian music will not advance your spiritual life. These activities may give you more understanding but until you are ready to lay down your life and take up your cross this leads nowhere.
What I am talking about is the sacrifice of self to advance the cause of Jesus Christ in the world. There is a destiny that God had for each of us that only we can personally discover. We can discover it only by detaching from the world and making ourselves available for the Holy Spirit. By detaching from the world--now you have time--the commodity that most Christians are not willing to give.
Jesus said, "Self-help is not help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, to finding yourself, your true self. (Matthew 16:25)
"God has planted eternity in the human heart." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
"Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
"The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me." (Acts 20:24)
"We have been sent to speak for Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:20)
"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)
Albert Finch
www.thekeys2kingdom.com
What I am talking about is the sacrifice of self to advance the cause of Jesus Christ in the world. There is a destiny that God had for each of us that only we can personally discover. We can discover it only by detaching from the world and making ourselves available for the Holy Spirit. By detaching from the world--now you have time--the commodity that most Christians are not willing to give.
Jesus said, "Self-help is not help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, to finding yourself, your true self. (Matthew 16:25)
"God has planted eternity in the human heart." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
"Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
"The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me." (Acts 20:24)
"We have been sent to speak for Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:20)
"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)
Albert Finch
www.thekeys2kingdom.com
Supercharging Our Heavenly Focus
Posted 11-20-2021 at 09:34 PM by Albert Finch
With the almost non-stop flow of information that is coming at us these days, it is more important than ever that we be intentional about what we focus on. Amidst this swirl of 24-hour-a-day input it can be a battle to keep our eyes and hearts focused in faith on the good news of who our God is, our identity in Christ, and understanding our authority and our calling to advance His Kingdom in the earth.
In Matthew 16:13-19 Jesus and the disciples are discussing some of the many things the world has to say about who Jesus is. Some say He is a prophet. Some say He is John the Baptist. Some say He is Elijah. And others say He is Jeremiah. But when Jesus asks Simon, Simon is able to FOCUS in on the reality of the good news, even when it seems the most incredible and impossible of all the reports.
Simon answers that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Jesus erupts with praise for Simon, telling him that he is truly blessed because he was able to focus in on what his Father in Heaven was highlighting to him in the midst of the swirl of information. Simon's ability, in that moment, to focus on what Heaven was highlighting had a powerful and lasting impact – so much so, that Simon emerges from the moment transformed. He is given a new name, Peter, which means "rock."
FOCUSING ON BEING PROACTIVE IN ADVANCING OUR FAITH
Focusing in on coming to understand and carry out God’s purpose for our life so we will be effective in bearing the fruit that remains for Jesus (John 15:16), the good news of who our God is and what He is capable of in any situation grounds us in the truth of Heaven and works to transform us and our circumstances.
We must never allow a bad report or alarming news to have a greater impact on us than the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the miraculous ability of our Heavenly Father to bring about all His promises -- no matter what.
WE WILL BE PROACTIVE IN OUR FAITH AND DO THE FOLLOWING:
1. We will seek first the Kingdom of God (DISCOVERING AND ADVANCING GOD'S CALLING ON OUR LIFE).
2. We will not give heed to reports of the world, or listen to the distractions and discouragements of the enemy, but instead we will clearly hear what the Lord is highlighting to us, and be encouraged (John 10:4-5).
3. We are strong in our faith and we believe that our God is well able – always and in all ways.
4. We will keep our focus on the realities of Heaven; we will allow our minds to be filled with the love, light and truth of Jesus; and we will dwell not on how temporary facts say things seem to be, but on how the eternal Word of God says they truly are (Colossians 3:1-12).
5. We will remain childlike in our faith, always trusting in our Heavenly Father to perform His Word and bring about His purposes (Matthew 18:3-4).
6. We will bask in the love of Jesus as we see it flow into our heart and into the lives of others; and cast our cares (concerns, fears, doubts, distractions, discouragements) upon Him, allowing Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen us so that we can continue doing good, believing for the best, and contending for the certain victory (1 Peter 5:7; John 14:26; Romans 8:37).
7. We will be pro-active in seeking to disciple others, equipping them in their Christ identity, right standing with God, and walking in the Spirit. (1 John 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:2, Hebrews 13:12)
8. We will praise the Lord in all things and at all times knowing that, no matter how things might look or seem at present, His Word never returns void but always accomplishes all it is sent to do (Isaiah 55:11).
In Matthew 16:13-19 Jesus and the disciples are discussing some of the many things the world has to say about who Jesus is. Some say He is a prophet. Some say He is John the Baptist. Some say He is Elijah. And others say He is Jeremiah. But when Jesus asks Simon, Simon is able to FOCUS in on the reality of the good news, even when it seems the most incredible and impossible of all the reports.
Simon answers that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Jesus erupts with praise for Simon, telling him that he is truly blessed because he was able to focus in on what his Father in Heaven was highlighting to him in the midst of the swirl of information. Simon's ability, in that moment, to focus on what Heaven was highlighting had a powerful and lasting impact – so much so, that Simon emerges from the moment transformed. He is given a new name, Peter, which means "rock."
FOCUSING ON BEING PROACTIVE IN ADVANCING OUR FAITH
Focusing in on coming to understand and carry out God’s purpose for our life so we will be effective in bearing the fruit that remains for Jesus (John 15:16), the good news of who our God is and what He is capable of in any situation grounds us in the truth of Heaven and works to transform us and our circumstances.
We must never allow a bad report or alarming news to have a greater impact on us than the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the miraculous ability of our Heavenly Father to bring about all His promises -- no matter what.
WE WILL BE PROACTIVE IN OUR FAITH AND DO THE FOLLOWING:
1. We will seek first the Kingdom of God (DISCOVERING AND ADVANCING GOD'S CALLING ON OUR LIFE).
2. We will not give heed to reports of the world, or listen to the distractions and discouragements of the enemy, but instead we will clearly hear what the Lord is highlighting to us, and be encouraged (John 10:4-5).
3. We are strong in our faith and we believe that our God is well able – always and in all ways.
4. We will keep our focus on the realities of Heaven; we will allow our minds to be filled with the love, light and truth of Jesus; and we will dwell not on how temporary facts say things seem to be, but on how the eternal Word of God says they truly are (Colossians 3:1-12).
5. We will remain childlike in our faith, always trusting in our Heavenly Father to perform His Word and bring about His purposes (Matthew 18:3-4).
6. We will bask in the love of Jesus as we see it flow into our heart and into the lives of others; and cast our cares (concerns, fears, doubts, distractions, discouragements) upon Him, allowing Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen us so that we can continue doing good, believing for the best, and contending for the certain victory (1 Peter 5:7; John 14:26; Romans 8:37).
7. We will be pro-active in seeking to disciple others, equipping them in their Christ identity, right standing with God, and walking in the Spirit. (1 John 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:2, Hebrews 13:12)
8. We will praise the Lord in all things and at all times knowing that, no matter how things might look or seem at present, His Word never returns void but always accomplishes all it is sent to do (Isaiah 55:11).
Total Comments 0
