Photographers do it, Indian gurus do it, corporations do it, and God does it. Does what? Focus, focus, focus! The question is, are we doing it?
"Well of course we're doing it!" "Everyone does!" But just what are we focussing on? What takes up our time, our attention, our resources? If it's just everyday "blah!" then the odds are that when we look back on our lives they'll be full of itand I for one don't want that.
As Christians it is easy for us to become overfamiliar with, and therefore in reality ignorant of, the concept of sin. Some people think of themselves as hopeless, unworthy sinners all their lives, while others know that they are right with God (righteous) by the blood covenant we have with God by His grace through Jesus. However, the real definition of sin is not killing, or raping, or stealing or lusting but rather "missing the mark"not achieving that which we were created forfailing to manifest the glory of God on this earth. Those other things are some of the awful results of not living in the power and glory of God, which is available to us through Jesus, but rather living in the power and character of Satan, which is also available to us.
The real battle in this world is over who uses your
body. Jesus was sinlesshe chose never to act or speak independently of God.
In other words, he only said and did those things that His father desired
(John 6:38). As a result, the glory (power, character, and ability, etc.)
of God flowing through him. He did not fall short of realizing the manifestation
of the glory of God in His life.
Now the same is true for us. We have a choice, as he did, as to whether we will think or act independently (not dependent on) of God or whether we will do and say what He desires.
As spiritual beings, humans can pick up information from the spirit world with their spiritsthings from either God or Satan. God wants us to do and say what He desires because it is the only way for his character, ability, and power to be released in the earth. The same is true for Satanhe wants to "inspire" us so his character, ability, and power are released in the earth (eg. anger, depression, religion, etc.). We receive, we speak, we act and God then causes the things He's inspired us with to happen, but with such supernatural impact that it can only be Him, be it in healing people's bodies, providing finance, meeting necessary people, patenting a new type of combustion engine, or running an international corporation! God wants and needs people to ask what He wants to do and to then get on and do it, despite what they see and feel, so that the glorythe character, the power, the ability, the incredible multifaceted resourcesof God can be manifested on this planet to bring life and life abundantly to every being on the planet! And EACH AND EVERY PERSON EVER CREATED IS ESSENTIAL for the FULL glory of God to be revealed on the earthNOT just a select few. Every person is uniqueeach person has something special to do.
So, if Satan can get us to think, speak, and act like he wantsindependent of Godthen he can frustrate the purpose for our existence, just like he did with Adam, and prevent the manifestation of the glory of God. If he can't do it in an obvious way then he'll try to get you with something "legitimate," like going to church meetings. "WHAT?!!??!" "Are you saying that we shouldn't go to meetings?" I'm saying that if we just do things out of habit or because they seem right, then there is the distinct possi-bility that we are "missing the mark"sinning (gulp!). Do you know what you are on this planet for? Have you asked God (not your pastor)? Are you doing it? Because, what it boils down to is that many people are just existingboth people who know and don't know God, while others who have good ideas are doing them. But, "good ideas are not God ideas (but God ideas are always good ideas!).*(*Andrew Weston)
"The trash needs to be taken out." "The dog needs to be fed." "Chocolate cake." "Your mother-in-law is coming." "You can save 50¢ on packets of cookies at the supermarket today." "Chocolate cake." "There's another war in the Middle East." "You need a new car." "There's a prayer meeting tonight. You should go." "Chocolate cake." "There's been an increase in burglaries. Better get another lock." "You should teach Sunday School." "You need a university degree." "Why don't you learn the piano?" "Chocolate cake." "It's about time you got married." "10,000 children die every day from malnutrition. You should give your money to save them!" "Steak." "Wow, she's nice!" "Coffee." "Chocolate cake." "He's always complaining." "What a hunk!" "Chocolate cake." and so on.
It does NOT matter what the thoughts or actions are, because as long as we are occupied and not focussed on God ideas then our time is being wasted, and we are not living in the glory of God.
So, what are we to do?
1. Know the Will of God!
Who me? Yes you! Anyone can hear God (or Satan!) and if you ask Him, He will speak to you. Find out what it is that He wants you to dofor today, for tomorrow, for this month, for this yearfor your life. He will show you. We are his sheepwe hear His voice. We are His friendsHe hides nothing from us. If we ask Him, He will explain His plans to us in as much detail as we want.
2. Don't Consult with Flesh and Blood!
Including your own! Don't ask people what they think of what God has told you. Odds are that if you ask other people if they think what God has told you to do is a good idea, that they will say "no!" Why? Satan will try to influence their minds so he can use their words to influence you. Usually if everyone thinks you're crazy when you tell them, then you are probably on the right track.
"You mean to say you're going to take your wife and baby daughter out into the deserts of Pakistan where it's so dangerous and there's no electricity and translate the Bible for those dirty people?" "You think YOU can do that? I mean, you haven't actually done anything yet!" "That's the craziest thing I ever heard!" "I think the money could be spent more wisely." "Noone's ever done that before." "That's such a hard place." "What'd he say Ethyl?" "I think you need to stay in the church longer so you can grow. After all, you're just a baby christian (ie you could never hear from Godespecially since you've only been saved 5 years!)" ...
So many times people have been told by relatives and even by people who should know better, like pasters and ministers of the gospel, that they were not hearing from God and that they were wrong, when all along those well-meaning, ignorant people have NOT asked God about it themselves and are merely speaking out of their own heads. We should ask God before opening our big mouths, and even then we should only say what He says. If we really want to be God-like then we will ask, "how can I help you succeed in this?" and "what resources do I have that can help you to achieve your goal?"
Some people become missionaries and "go to Africa for Jesus" because they and other people thought it was a good idea, when what God has planned and prepared for them to succeed in all along was to become the CEO of an airline company and make aircraft and facilities available to hundreds and even thousands of other people who are doing what God has asked them to do, be it airlifting food and medical supplies or servicing their aircraft so they can go and do what they need to do all over the planet. Often we miss the supernatural provision and power of God because we don't bother to ask what, when, where, and how He wants to do things.
Don't check with your head eitherthat's flesh and blood, too. Your mind will tell you (until you've trained it to obey your spirit) that you don't have enough money, don't have enough experience, and that nothing is ever going to happen like that anyway, or that "those poor kids in Haiti really need me more!" Slap it into line by using your mouth. We need to tell our minds to obey what God says to us in our spirits.
Life and death is in the power of the tongue Proverbs 18:21.
Walk in the spirit not the flesh (small "s"your spirit (Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:16).
3. Get your Job Done at Any Cost!
The gospel is not the fact that God has a plan for each of us individually, it's not even the fact that we will live forevereven people who hate God will. But the gospel is the fact that Jesus has freed us from the tyranny and power of Satan, recreated us, and has provided every resource necessary for us to fulfill our destiny.
What God asks you to do will always be impossible for youapart from His resources and abilities. BUT! Through the blood covenant we have with God through Jesus, God is covenant-bound and committed to our success. In the same way as we have placed all our abilities and everything we have at His disposal, so too God has placed all his abilities and everything He has at our disposal.
Every kind of resource is ready and waiting for us to act as planned. It comes down to us taking control of our minds with our spirits by using our tongues and our wills, and by focussing on the things that He has prepared for us and orienting every aspect of our lives around them to ensure that they come to pass.
We need to create (put into action the power and resources of heaven) with our words by speaking the things God shows and says to us. We're made in the image of God and He created everything there is with His words. We have been made into the same class of being and are able to do everything Jesus did when He was here the same way that Jesus was able to do itwe have the same Holy Spirit in, on, and around us that Jesus had in, on, and around Him.
Whatever it takes do it. If it involves selling or giving your house
or car awaydo it. In just the same way as Jesus wanted the rich young ruler
to increase 100 fold, so too He wants us to experience the same. Do
n't allow the time-wasting things that the devil brings your way to
stop you from doing what God has asked. The more I see and the more I hear
I am utterly convinced that the devil's main job is to waste our time. It
doesn't matter what it is. It may be through watching TVit may be by going
to church meetings. If God has asked you to go to a coffee shop and speak
to someone on a Sunday morning and you refuse because you need to go to
church (how can you go to what you are?!) then you are missing it and you
will not see his glory manifested. If we live out of habit instead of out
of hearing then we are wasting our lives and missing the mark.
"Oh, come on, be reasonable! We've got to work! How else do you think we're going to eat!" (Give to live - it works!)
"But you don't understand! You try being focussed with two screaming preschool children!" Suretell me about it! We've got two and I know it's a struggle sometimes (like about a hundred times each day!). But unless we get focussed we will leave the planet wishing we had. In the end there are no excusesjust bad decisions to look back on. Not making a decision is in fact making a decision not to focus. Can we afford that?
Let's focus our minds, emotions, wills, and resources on what God has planned, allowing him to show us what to say, what to do, and where to give, so that His glory can be manifested on the earth, people born again and living for God as a result, and so that Jesus can come back again as soon as possible.
As Howard Hendricks says, "the good is the enemy of the better, and the better is the enemy of the best." Let's focus!
Richard
Boot Camp / Mission Support / R&R / Old Missionaries Never Die...