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| DISTRACTIONS-staying Focus |
| by Wayne Moore Jesus Nation 2003 |
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| In Pilgrims Progress it talks about a statue of the man of the world, with a rake in his head.The rake is because he is too concern with raking up straws and sticks, and the dust of the floor, to see God. |
| Are you too busy doing things to notice God? |
| There was also a very busy woman, who was preparing her home for the Lord, there was never something not to do, however she never made time to be with God. What about you. |
| Read Matthew 13:3-9,and 18-23read about the sower, the type of soil it fell on, then ask yourself |
| three questions: |
| Q1. What is your ground like? |
| Q2.What are your distraction? |
| Q3.What is your focus? |
| Abra(ha)m received a promise from God that he was going to have a son through his wife Sara(h)i, even though she was well past child bearing age, that he would be a great nation.However, as we read the account of the story in Genesis 15 -16,17:19-26; , we found Abram and Sarai got distracted by there concerns rather than trusting in what God had said, and staying focus. They took Sarai's handmaid who bore Abram a son.And, so Ishamael, the father of the Arabs was born, however, everything went wrong, and they put the child and mother Hagar, out of their home. Hagar having a child, really upset things for Sarai, she felt less important and despised.This is what happens, when you lose focus on what God said, and do things "your way". Later, we read about two other decision that were not done the way God intended, the first, we find in Genesis 27:30-28:9, about Esau and Jacob (Israel), and Lot's daughters, who got him drunk so they could trick him in Genesis 19:30-38. What God intended as a blessing, we find by trusting in our wisdom, produced a number of long-range problems. Ishamael was the father of the Arabs, Esau gave birth to Edom, Lot's daughters birth Moab and Ammon, and Jacob was the father of the Israel (the Jews) , and this resulted in many fatal occurances, down through history, and this is why the Middle East, is such a hot spot of war and terror today, not only that , in the book of Judges, we read the Israeli(te)s got tried of carrying out the plan of God, by dealing to the Canaanites, included in this lot were the Philistines, some (Palestinian) Arabs, claim these people were there ancestors. God wanted the Canaanites destroy, because of the gross evil they did, so Israel and the world, would not be tainted by their evil. The Middle East would have been much more peaceful, had all remained focused on what God wanted. When we get distracted by, what we think is best, we have to face the consequences that follow. It's much better to stay focus on what God said was better. |
| In life of Jonah, we find out his distractions : |
| Jonah 1:1-3 he was driven by fear and prejudice |
| and he didn't want to do what God wanted him to do. |
| THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT DISTRACT US, HOWEVER, TO SUCCEED IN LIFE, WE MUST STAY FOCUS. |
| Read the short book of Jonah, you will see how God persuades Jonah, to rethink and go to the people of Nineveh, and bring the message he wanted Jonah, to take in the first place. Had he not Nineveh may not have repented.And, after Nineveh did repent and God spared them, Jonah was furious 'cause he wanted them destroyed.Jonah 4. |
| What distracted Jonah ? : Fear and Prejudice |
| In World War II , the Germans would smoke the seas to create a heavy smog, there plan was to distract their enemy,and cause them to change course, so they could capture or destroy them. However, the British, decided a policy to sail straight through the smog. The Devil will throw up his smoke, to get us offcourse ( read Romans 1:18-32; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 6:12 ) , we must sail oncourse and not let our evil enemy unfocus us, ( read Philippians3:12-16; Galatians 5:22-23;Revelations 12:11 from: they overcame him...). In Jeremah 29:11 it tells us the good plans God has for us.In Romans 2:1-4 we read we are without excuse for what we do against God, and its the goodness of God, that leads us to repentance. ( Read Romans 1:16-17) |
| We need to stop ourselves being distracted and focus on God. Its a bit like the game SIMONS said, when you don't do as Simon says, your out of the game, when you don't do, what GOD's says, you are walking out of HIS protection for you, it won't stop being danger, until you put it right with God by repenting. |
| In John 14:1-6, Jesus reveils where our hope is, and that, he is the way-the truth and the life. In John 3:1-21 Jesus lets us know how we can get right with God, and in John 4:10-13 we learn , he is the water of life, Revelations 22:17 the Spirit and the bride says, Come!...let him take of the water of life . |
| Go back to the three questions, I put earlier on and ask yourself where you are and then ask God to help you overcome the distractions in your life. |
| Prehaps, you are not a Christian, and like to put your life right with God, first, you need to admit t God you have blown it, regardless, how good you think you are.. 2. you have to believe Jesus died so you could live. Ask for his forgiveness. 3. You have to surrender to God and receive Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.Stop doings things that he doesn't want you too, afterall they only hurt you in the end too,start doing what God wants.4.Fellow Jesus and you find how to do this in the bible. |
| You can get right with God now, and begin your journey with Him, by praying this prayer: |
| Dear Heavenly Father, I'm sorry for running my own life and rebelling against you. I repent,I admit I need you to put things right. I believe Jesus died and took my sins, even though he didn't deserve it. I receive him, as my Lord and Saviour,I ask your forgiveness. I surrendar all my life to you.Come into my life and help me. Send the Holy spirit to guide me along the journey with you and purify me, so I can become the person you want me to be. Thank you for the gift of eternal life, and your promise to hear all who call to you. |
| In Jesus Name, my Saviour and Lord. Amen. |
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| To order the audio series - write to Mr W T Moore, 10 Rowcliffe Crescent, Christchurch, New Zealand . Enclosing $10 US or an International Bank Draft . This includes the entire series , postage and handling - anywhere in the world. Allow six weeks for delivery . Order Code :Distractions Series. |
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| COURAGE the cost - the courage to go on |
| by Wayne Moore , Jesus Nation . |
| There was two men who took a shortcut and a woman who turned to salt. |
| Before we start I put this question to you: |
| Will your sin be the end of you? |
| Answer to the question: |
| Yes, but by leaving your sin at the foot of the cross, you can be assured to enter into eternal life instead of death. Acts 5 - the couple that lost it all |
| In Pilgrims Progress |
| there are two men who took a short cut. |
| Legalist & Hyprocrisy didn't enter by the gate |
| John 10: 1,10; Jesus said , |
| I am the way, the truth and the life.No other gate will do. |
| Now lets look at woman who turned to salt |
| Lot's Wife p48 Genesis 19:15-26; |
| Looking back cost this woman her life,will we look back on where we came from and will it be disastrous, will the sin you hold onto cost you your life? |
| *I was in the cementary the other day, I came across a tomb of a former reverend, above his grave was the freemason symbol and they noted him as a DCM, did he make it? I doubt it, he preach it but didn't repent of his sin. |
| *Another, grave was for another mason,it claims he would be at rest above, sorry, sad to stay, they didn't make it. |
| What about you ? Can you afford to hold to a sin you don't won't let go. |
| The twelve spies |
| Numbers 13:1-3,17-21,26-33;14:1-2; |
| The report of two spies was good they didnt fear what they saw.They saw God's ability. |
| The other ten spies were afraid and cause a whole generation to miss there opportunity, because of fear of the world and man more than God and blessing that trusting in God brings. They also looked back to where they came from.All except, Caleb and Joshua out of an estimated 3 million people entered the promise land. |
| In Romans 1:18-32 , God shows us how sin works out in our lives if we fail to stop it. |
| 1 we suppress the truth and harden our hearts |
| 2 we do unrighteous act |
| 3 we fail to give God praise and glory |
| 4 we do things tha are futile without thinking the effects |
| 5 we think we are wiser |
| 6 make up God to suit ourselves, our way of thinking |
| 7 and replace Him with our image of what God should be like |
| 8 we get bad and worse , we live for our desires and impulses |
| 9 dishonour our bodies |
| 10 pretend God is different or say God is something he never said or approved of things he didn't approve of |
| 11 we live our illusions |
| 12 serve ourselves and creation rather than God |
| 13 we become flirty in our imaginations and desires |
| 14 do things contrary and all kinds of evil things that we are ashamed to mentioned, |
| 15 forget God as a figment of imagination - some fairytale from long ago and get worse. |
| Romans 1:18-32 shows us the venom of sin |
| I could expound more however read it yourself and learn more about the process sin has in a life that embraces it further. |
| Ruth 3:1-6 shows us the risk she |
| undertook to get her husband |
| Responsibility - sense the need to step out, took the initiative even when no one else did, and make sacrifices to make it happen, she gained trusted knowledge to possess it . |
| HAD SHE FEARED THE SITUATION AND NOT DONE SO SHE WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN HER MAN |
| Race of Faith and God's Discipline |
| Hebrews 12:1-11 |
| Hebrews 11; excerpts of faith |
| We get rewarded by obeying - Revelations 22:14 |
| I John 2:24-25 let truth abide in you |
| Closing : Will your sin break you or make you |
| To order the audio series - write to Mr W T Moore, 10 Rowcliffe Crescent, Christchurch, New Zealand . Enclosing $10 US or an International Bank Draft . This includes the entire series , postage and handling - anywhere in the world. Allow six weeks for delivery . Order Code :Courage Series. |
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