September 11, 2023
Topic: The Benefits of the Fullness of God: The Focused Life
Text: Ephesian 1: 15-18 Message translation
Memory Verse: Ephesian 1: 18b “…I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear…”
We live in a world that is full of distractions. It is becoming increasingly difficult to focus on one thing and get it done. Paul was one person who did everything to keep focus in life, he said in Phi. 3:13 “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…” One thing at a time was Paul’s way of dealing with distractions, so he does not lose focus in life.
In our text today, Paul gave us the second benefit of the fullness of God. That is a focused life and clarity. Many of us know intuitively what we could be and should be doing, but we are not doing it, why? Because we are not focused. Jesus in Luke 10:38-40 at the house of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy in the Kitchen serving – Jesus said to Martha that Mary chose the better thing…. the One Necessary thing… sitting at the feet of Christ…” Max Lucado reduced it to this one principle… “Focus on giants—you stumble. Focus on God—giants tumble.”
As we step out today, let your focus be on the most important things. You have to say “NO” to many things. Adrian Rogers, once said, “The way to find God’s will for the rest of your life is to do God’s will for the next 15 minutes.” We don’t have to focus that far out there… just start now…
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the challenge you have pointed out to us today, we do pray that you will steady our hearts, uphold our hands and help us to say no to the distractions, so we can reach our desired havens as we focus on you