Staying Focused

STAYING FOCUSED

In a world troublesome as ours and times as uncertain as these that we find ourselves in the bubble of different challenges and afflictions; it begs the question how do you stay focused? Regardless of your system of believe, how do you stay committed? What keeps you grounded? I know you probably never thought about it before now or maybe you have. 

But if you are like me, you probably will say I am taking things one day at a time trusting God to for a better tomorrow. That is great, but seriously what is your secret of staying focused? With these types of questions on our minds, I was excited when Pastor Ebere Daniel shared this message with me, I couldn't keep it to myself but share with you. Read and be blessed! 

STAYING FOCUSED:

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-10

MEMORY VERSE: Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God".

One of the major challenges of the end-time believers is lack of focus. Most of us are easily tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14).

To be focused in life is simply to be very committed to all that is needed to fulfill your God-ordained visions. It is a personal responsibility to ensure that God's plans and purposes on earth are established through you. As it is written, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" Matthew 6:10

It is the unquenchable hunger to stay in God's mandate all the days of your life.

Staying focused in life is a very expensive adventure but highly rewarding. It actually requires a high level of self disciplinary measures.

Some of the benefits of being focused in life are as follows:

1) It gives quality time to fellowship with God

2) It guarantees perfect direction in life

3) It gets rid of regrettable actions and existence

4) It delivers us from wrong relationship

5) It draws us closer and deeper to God

6) It transforms us into God's on the earth

7) It creates room for easy discovery and fulfillment of destiny

8) It brings us to men and women of great honour

9) It guarantees our victory over all the challenges of life

10) It fills us with unusual peace, joy and rest of mind.

Beloved, while we are still alive, let us not forget that the Lord has chosen us for a purpose, which requires high level of focus. Therefore, we must overcome distractions and constantly connect with God through His word to ensure we end well. God bless you all.

FOCUS: Hebrews 12

Finally, stay focused on things that are heavenly bound. Stay the course of your faith for in due season, you will be rewarded by the King of Kings. God bless you!

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Increase is a Godly Attribute!

Increase is a Godly Attribute!

Increase is a godly attribute! As a believer and a child of God, God expects you to have increase and increase abundantly. Similarly, Jesus told us different parables about increase and the kingdom of God. For instance, the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30.

According to the parable, the servant who had increased a 100 fold was given more. The servant who was stagnant because he buried his only talent lost the one talent he once had. Being stagnant is not God's plan for you. God loves your increase!

On that note, I was excited when I came across the message below from Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the Global General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Worldwide. The title of his message was God loves increase. See message details below:

God loves increase.

In His first blessing on mankind, He asked man to multiply and be fruitful (Genesis 1:28).

If anything, this means stagnation is never a part of God’s plan for you.

“Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.” – (2 Kings 6:2)

As with Elisha in (2 Kings 6:1-4), my spiritual children in the RCCG usually seek my permission for the execution of one project or the other. 

To the glory of God, I support and encourage them. What lessons can we learn from this?

–* The vision for expansion is not a burden of the leader alone. From today’s Bible reading, we see that the expansion idea was initiated by the sons of the prophet.

–*Elisha’s sons did not only propose the expansion – they were also actively involved. Expansion requires commitment for it to be achieved.

–* The sons recognized authority. They knew the implications of not involving their master. Imagine what would have happened when they lost the axe-head in the river Jordan if they hadn’t involved their master earlier

.–* Today, some subordinates sideline their superiors because of self-glory or material gains only for them to fail.

–* As a leader, do not kill the vision of your followers. Like Elisha, encourage them.

–*Elisha was a servant-leader. Despite his position, he went to the field with his spiritual sons. Even when the axe-head was lost, he did not upbraid any of them; he just asked questions, performed a miracle and the project was a success (2 Kings 6:6). 

We should emulate him. 

From now, as you follow the Lord and obey His word, He will grant you great success in every project you embark upon in the mighty name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please take me to the next level of expansion today in the mighty name of Jesus.

In summary, we have to strive to be fruitful, productive, increase on all sides, and grow. Because a branch that bears no fruit shall be cut off by our Heavenly Father. 

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No Price, No Prize!

No Price, No Prize!

Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 6 verse 33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness"? No price, no work, no labor, no pay, no reward, no prize!

From the beginning of time, God always relates with humanity in a two-way format. One way is God doing his part and the other way is us doing our part. For example, salvation; even though Jesus Christ has foot the bill of our sins, yet not everyone' sins will be forgiven. And not everyone will accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ because of lack of believe. Read John 3 verse 16, it says only those who believe in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice will have eternal life. 

So, does that mean Jesus does not want to forgive the sins of everyone? Far be it! The problem is not some of us are not willing to do our part as John 3 verse 16 says. Recently, Pastor Dan reminded of the two-way relationship we have with God by the teaching below:

TOPIC: NO PRICE, NO PRIZE!
TEXTS: Galatians 6:7,
1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
MEMORY VERSE: Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus".
The topic above is a striking one indeed. It touches the actual principle that governs life and eternity generally, which unfortunately so many of us are taking with levity.
Beloved, the bitter truth about life is that there's no success without sweat, no favour without labour, no testimony without a test, no elevation without a revelation, no possession without a direction, no flight without a fight, no promotion without a push, no lifting without a shift and so on.
Life runs with a giving and receiving coordinate and there's nothing we can do about it. It doesn't matter the promises and prophecies we are receiving for ourselves per time, until we are ready and desperate to do something about our lives, we will surely end up achieving nothing. God forbid!!!.
The reason so many of us are still stagnated in certain areas of life is not because of the strength of the devil; we are not willing to make the sacrifices or pay the price necessary for the realisation of our expectations. And so end up looking for who to blame. We must be fully aware that God has given us Himself and all that pertain to life. So we have no excuses to fail anymore.
Earnestly, there's no free meal anywhere in the whole world. With all humility, it's even a big fraud in the spirit realm to expect the manifestation of what we didn't pay for. Beloved, there's a price for every prize.
Therefore, it's my burning desire to inform us to make more sacrifices this month towards the growth and development of our entire being. We cannot go beyond our growth. The things we are enjoying today are a function of our inputs yesterday.
Some of the ways we can achieve sustainable growth and development are as follows:
1) Be genuinely born again
2) Always examine yourself and actions.
3) Check your association and make necessary changes.
4) Be more professional in the way you relate with others. Many of them you regard as friends are fake.
5) Create more time to fellowship with the Lord in worship and praise.
6) Thirst and hunger for insights, ideas, revelations, etc.
7) Make a schedule for effective study, meditation and prayer
8) Relate more closely with those loaded with what you want in life
9) Discover the reason for your existence and pursue it with all your being.
10) Maintain a calm, peaceful, and joyful spirit.
Truly, I strongly believe that those who will heed to these divine instructions will never be the same again. Receive Grace to move forward and upward this month and forever in Jesus Christ name
Pastor Dan

Finally brethren, our prizes and rewards of serving God cannot be further from the prices and sacrifices we are willing to make for the Kingdom of God. Decide today to seek the kingdom first, instead of the benefits. It is always a w=two-way relationship! God bless you as you seek his Kingdom first!

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The Secret Place of the Most High

The Secret place of the Most High is an enviable place for any believer. According to Psalm 91 starting from verse 1, "He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High God shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty". Who wouldn't want to be there? Am sure we all do! But why aren't we not there?

Not only abiding in the wings of the Most High, you get to enjoy special and what I call 'premium coverage' from God. Under his wings you get constant Angelic guard and security. You only hear and see disasters and destructions from afar. But they don't come near you. Hallelujah!

In addition to being shadowed, victories are also won at the secret place; a thousand enemies will fall, on your behalf, to your left and ten thousands to your right according to Psalm 91 verse 7. Can you beat that? These are just few of the benefits of abiding in the secret place of the Most High God. By the way, whose shadow are you under? Are you under the shadow of the Almighty God?

Most importantly, why isn't everyone abiding in this secret place? The answer is very simple. Because it is a secret place. You have to get there through Christ Jesus as it is written in John 14 verse 6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me".

To dwell in the secret place you have to get to the cross where you obtain redemption for your soul through the blood of Jesus. Thank God for Jesus Christ who had paid the price of our redemption with his blood (Ephesians 1:7). Praise God!

So, do you want to be in the secret place of the Most High God? Get redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ. See you at the secret place! God bless you!

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