Be Focused - Part 2
Some discouragement and distraction come more subtly, with comments such as “You are so zealous, why not rest a little” “You are doing/giving a lot, are you the only one at church?”, “You are serving others, when will it be your turn to be served?”, “Why do all these for another ministry, grow your own”. They sound logical, but they cause confusion and can distort your focus. Satan goes for anything. Living a righteous lifestyle and giving sound messages hurts him, so he lashes out. That shouldn’t move you; rejoice rather.
John 8:1-2. He went out to teach but distraction came in the form of the woman caught in adultery. He did not respond to and stayed focused instead. He knew how to ward them off. Every answer he gave pointed to His mission.
John 10:24-30. If thou be the Christ, tell us. He did not answer but said “my sheep hear my voice and follow me”. Every distraction is an opportunity to carry on delivering the package.
John 11:8-9. He didn’t respond to their supposed fear for his safety, but answered instead, “are there not 12hrs in the day”. His attitude? “That’s fine, no worries, I came for something.”
John 11. At the grave of Lazarus, people tried to convince Jesus to relent, telling Him that Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. For our Lord, His response was, “please roll away the stone”.
Luke 11:27-30 KJV. A woman tried to flatter by saying, “blessed is the pap that fed thee”. But he said “Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. . .”
John 13. He was not moved by Judas’ plot. He knew beforehand what would transpire, so He was not shaken at all.
Paul speaking in Acts 20:24 KJV: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
2 Kings 2:2-15
Twice, “the sons of the prophets that were at Beth–el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today? twice, he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.”
Twice, “Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. Twice, he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.”
He was looking for a double portion of his power, and there was no other way to obtain this, than to remain focused. He was present when Elijah wrapped his mantle to divide the river Jordan and that may have been where he realized “Okay, so that’s how it is done… the mantle is key. I will persevere, I will not be distracted, I must get this power.” When asked what he wanted, he knew the answer already, being a man of focus; he asked for the double portion of anointing. Elijah said, “Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.” To Elisha, it was a done deal.
Ruth was another good example. She was a Moabitess by origin, and by marriage became an Israelite. Though her husband died, she was determined not to miss the opportunity. She was steadfast and refused to go when Naomi persuaded her. “And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” Ruth 1:15-16, 18 KJV.
“And Jesus said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 KJV.
Focus is the key, please do not look back.
