WEBVTT 00:00:01.401 --> 00:00:03.930 How many of you guys are excited about being in church this morning. 00:00:03.930 --> 00:00:07.285 God is good. 00:00:07.285 --> 00:00:09.446 We are here today. 00:00:09.446 --> 00:00:21.649 Today is a very important day because today is day 21 of our 21 day of prayer and fasting that we've been observing here at Connect Church in Longview. 00:00:21.649 --> 00:00:29.560 Now here's the good news connect church in long view. 00:00:29.560 --> 00:00:38.523 Now here's the good news Even if you're just hearing about this for the very first time, you can still participate in prayer and fasting, even though we're coming at the end of our 21 days. 00:00:38.523 --> 00:00:43.889 Even if you want to start fresh, or if you're in the middle of it or at the end of it and you want to continue on, it's okay. 00:00:43.889 --> 00:00:45.390 God's not going to be mad because you're in the middle of it or at the end of it and you want to continue on, it's okay. 00:00:45.390 --> 00:00:51.250 God's not going to be mad because you're taking time to fast and pray. 00:00:51.250 --> 00:00:52.292 Amen. 00:00:52.292 --> 00:00:56.265 If you're here with us by the internet, we want to say welcome. 00:00:56.265 --> 00:00:59.801 I want to say thank you for all of you guys for being here this morning. 00:01:00.743 --> 00:01:05.353 Today, I want to share a message with you that I have entitled Focus. 00:01:05.353 --> 00:01:12.453 I want to start out today by giving you a definition for the word focus. 00:01:12.453 --> 00:01:25.549 Focus is defined as a point of concentration or directed attention, adjustment for distinct vision, a clear image. 00:01:25.549 --> 00:01:29.242 How many of you know it's a good thing to be able to see clearly? 00:01:29.242 --> 00:01:30.644 Amen. 00:01:30.644 --> 00:01:38.042 Now, there have been times in my life where things seem to be a little out of focus. 00:01:38.042 --> 00:01:54.221 Maybe there were some circumstances, maybe some situations that just appeared to be a little bit fuzzy, a little bit cloudy and no, it's not because I enjoyed communion, just a little too much, okay. 00:01:54.221 --> 00:02:03.314 There are times when life around us isn't clear, or at least it has been with me. 00:02:03.314 --> 00:02:09.503 Now, me personally, I have to wear corrective lenses to be able to see clearly. 00:02:09.503 --> 00:02:14.153 Without these corrective lenses, I am considered legally blind. 00:02:14.153 --> 00:02:17.584 Okay, how many of you know that's not a good place to be? 00:02:17.584 --> 00:02:24.204 Okay, now, but with the corrective lenses, I am able to see clearly. 00:02:24.204 --> 00:02:37.864 I just need a little assistance from either my glasses or my contacts, and I'm very grateful that God has made it to where these things are available to me. 00:02:37.903 --> 00:02:43.413 In the world that we live in today, how many of you know, it's easy to lose focus on the things that matter the most. 00:02:43.413 --> 00:02:45.402 Easy to lose focus on the things that matter the most. 00:02:45.402 --> 00:02:51.233 It can be difficult to know which area of life I need to really focus on. 00:02:51.233 --> 00:02:59.923 For me, I often feel like that clown at the circus who's spinning plates. 00:02:59.923 --> 00:03:00.644 Y'all ever seen that? 00:03:00.644 --> 00:03:14.263 Maybe, if you haven't seen it in real life, maybe you've seen it in a movie, or if you're like me, years ago, when I was in clown school, I actually got to learn how to spin the plates, which was kind of cool. 00:03:14.263 --> 00:03:20.775 But you get one plate spinning, then the next one, then the next one, then the next one. 00:03:20.775 --> 00:03:23.667 It's pretty cool to look at. 00:03:23.667 --> 00:03:35.788 But then all of a sudden you look back and that plate that you started with has got a little wobble to it, so you've got to run over there and get that sucker going again. 00:03:35.788 --> 00:03:42.846 And then, while you're over here, focused on this, you're concentrating on this you look back whew, that's spinning good. 00:03:42.846 --> 00:03:44.967 Oh, here's plate number two. 00:03:44.967 --> 00:03:46.980 Oh, and plate number three. 00:03:48.503 --> 00:03:52.112 How many of you know, after a certain amount of time that can get a little bit tiring. 00:03:52.112 --> 00:03:55.525 It can become flat out exhausting. 00:03:55.525 --> 00:04:00.854 And all of a sudden you find yourself dual tasking. 00:04:00.854 --> 00:04:03.205 Anyone in here ever tried dual tasking? 00:04:03.205 --> 00:04:05.711 I have a hard time single tasking. 00:04:05.711 --> 00:04:10.050 Okay, you know we're talking about focus today. 00:04:10.050 --> 00:04:17.959 There are times that I have trouble focusing on the one task that I have in front of me, much less trying to do two or three things at the same time. 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:20.142 That's just me. 00:04:20.142 --> 00:04:30.014 But see, here's the thing After a certain amount of time, we're going to get tired. 00:04:30.014 --> 00:04:34.322 Anybody ever been tired, okay. 00:04:34.343 --> 00:04:41.494 Then, all of a sudden, you're going to look up and there's not going to be one plate wobbling, there's not going to be two plates wobbling. 00:04:41.494 --> 00:04:45.716 All the plates have started to wobble. 00:04:45.716 --> 00:04:47.543 How many of you know that's not a good place to be in. 00:04:47.543 --> 00:04:49.709 It's not a good place. 00:04:49.709 --> 00:04:58.492 Then, all of a sudden, that plate starts to fall and you ask yourself is it going to crack? 00:04:58.492 --> 00:05:00.475 Is it going to break? 00:05:00.475 --> 00:05:03.146 Is it just going to straight up, shatter? 00:05:03.146 --> 00:05:08.201 I've had seasons where it's been all of these. 00:05:08.201 --> 00:05:17.324 And here's the thing we don't intend for the plates to fall, but there's only so much we can do. 00:05:17.324 --> 00:05:30.468 Sooner or later the plates will fall, and when they do, it seems like all I can focus on is this plate that has fallen and I lose focus on the ones that are wobbling. 00:05:30.468 --> 00:05:44.908 And then, all of a sudden, I hear a thunk or I hear a crash, and I look around and all my plates are laying on the ground. 00:05:44.908 --> 00:05:59.651 How many of you know, that's a sad day and it seems that more often than not, when those times happen, I find myself really losing focus. 00:06:01.521 --> 00:06:05.232 If you have a Bible, turn with me to Colossians, chapter 3. 00:06:05.232 --> 00:06:09.886 We're going to look at the first two verses here, colossians, chapter 3. 00:06:09.886 --> 00:06:12.007 And I'm going to be reading out of the New Living Translation. 00:06:12.007 --> 00:06:19.800 It says this Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:34.281 Where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand, think about the things of heaven, not the things of the earth. 00:06:34.281 --> 00:06:36.144 So we have a part we're going to be playing. 00:06:36.144 --> 00:06:39.266 What are we going to be focused on? 00:06:40.206 --> 00:06:49.612 Verse 2 tells us that we are to be about thinking about, focused on things of heaven, not things of the earth. 00:06:49.612 --> 00:06:54.576 We should focus on heaven. 00:06:54.576 --> 00:07:02.242 The things of heaven should be our point of concentration or directed attention. 00:07:02.242 --> 00:07:11.326 We need to make adjustments for that distinct vision so that we can have a clear vision of the path that God wants us to take. 00:07:11.326 --> 00:07:13.250 How many of you know that? 00:07:13.250 --> 00:07:16.103 From time to time we need some adjustments. 00:07:16.103 --> 00:07:19.350 If you've ever had any kind of back problems. 00:07:19.350 --> 00:07:25.487 You know that going to the chiropractor, he'll do a lot of popping and creaking and creaking and popping, trying to get things lined back up. 00:07:25.487 --> 00:07:27.451 Okay, why? 00:07:27.451 --> 00:07:30.615 Because we operate best when things are lined up. 00:07:30.615 --> 00:07:34.101 Kind of makes sense, doesn't it? 00:07:34.101 --> 00:07:40.612 We need to realize that life is not a game. 00:07:40.612 --> 00:07:48.103 We all have a certain amount of time here on this earth, and only God knows how much that time is for each of us. 00:07:48.103 --> 00:07:51.490 We need to make the most of the time that we have. 00:07:52.252 --> 00:08:08.213 So when we look over at Romans, chapter 8, verses 5 and 6, this is what it says those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about the things that please the Spirit. 00:08:08.213 --> 00:08:19.129 So, letting your sinful nature control your minds leads to death, but letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 00:08:19.129 --> 00:08:27.550 Okay, sinful thoughts, sinful focus, lead to death. 00:08:27.550 --> 00:08:30.285 I don't like that option. 00:08:30.285 --> 00:08:43.315 Okay, when I allow the Holy Spirit to control my mind, when I stay heaven focused, this leads to life and peace. 00:08:43.315 --> 00:08:49.642 This leads to life and peace. 00:08:49.642 --> 00:08:50.784 Guys, that's a twofer Two for the price of one. 00:08:50.784 --> 00:08:51.366 I get life and I get peace. 00:08:51.366 --> 00:08:53.394 Anyone here this morning can use a little peace in your life. 00:08:53.394 --> 00:08:56.823 Anybody could use a little calm. 00:08:56.823 --> 00:09:01.073 Amen, peace and calm, that's a good thing. 00:09:02.421 --> 00:09:05.548 So then here's the question what are you focused on? 00:09:05.548 --> 00:09:08.601 What is your life goal? 00:09:08.601 --> 00:09:30.500 The question we all have to ask ourselves is this Am I going to live my life all about me, or am I going to live my life following the things that God wants me to do of my life? 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:31.543 Following the things that God wants me to do? 00:09:31.543 --> 00:09:32.465 Sometimes those line up, sometimes they don't. 00:09:32.465 --> 00:09:33.947 Which path are you going to choose? 00:09:33.947 --> 00:09:46.969 It's a choice that we all have to make, and here's the thing that I have to ask myself Do I really believe that God has my best interest at heart when he's telling me to do X, y or Z? 00:09:46.969 --> 00:09:50.203 Y'all can just kind of fill in the blanks there. 00:09:50.264 --> 00:10:03.193 For whatever it is that you feel like God's asking you to do or telling you to do, I often well, actually too often find myself looking out for number one. 00:10:03.193 --> 00:10:12.802 Often find myself looking out for number one Okay, I want to make sure that me myself and I, that we are well taken care of. 00:10:12.802 --> 00:10:20.212 I know some of y'all know what I'm talking about when I say that, okay, I can be an extremely selfish person. 00:10:20.212 --> 00:10:21.514 Why? 00:10:21.514 --> 00:10:28.605 Because there are times that I believe it really should all be about me. 00:10:28.605 --> 00:10:33.413 Okay, and then my wife reminds me that no, it's not about you, and that's a good thing. 00:10:33.413 --> 00:10:43.826 Okay, because it helps me to get my eyes off of me. 00:10:43.846 --> 00:10:54.827 Now, when I find myself thinking more about me and my comfort, I know that it is past time for me to be going to God's Word so that I can start getting my thinking right. 00:10:54.827 --> 00:11:00.759 Okay, I'm going to borrow a quote from Zig Ziglar. 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:06.788 It says and there are times that I need a check up from the neck up. 00:11:06.788 --> 00:11:14.052 Okay, I need to get an adjustment, a refocus in my thinking. 00:11:14.052 --> 00:11:25.153 When we look over at Matthew, chapter 6, verse 33, it says this but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 00:11:25.153 --> 00:11:28.823 Where am I putting my focus? 00:11:28.823 --> 00:11:31.629 Am I focusing on God first? 00:11:31.629 --> 00:11:33.433 Am I focusing on me first? 00:11:33.433 --> 00:11:48.176 If I'm seeking first God's way of doing things, I take my eyes off of me and this allows God to help me put my focus on others and their needs. 00:11:48.176 --> 00:11:52.610 To help me illustrate this, we're going to turn over now in the book of Acts. 00:11:52.610 --> 00:11:55.346 We're going to be in chapter 3. 00:11:55.346 --> 00:12:27.480 We're going to look at the first 10 verses here in chapter 3 of Acts, and this is what the Word of God says, and I'm reading out of the new King James version here now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour, and a certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called beautiful, to ask for alms from those of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask for alms from those entering the temple. 00:12:28.400 --> 00:12:39.567 Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms and fixing his eyes on them with John, peter said Look at us. 00:12:39.567 --> 00:12:44.227 So he gave them his attention, expecting to be receiving something from them. 00:12:44.227 --> 00:12:59.687 Then Peter said so he, leaping up, stood and walked. 00:12:59.687 --> 00:13:03.908 Immediately his feet and ankle bones gained strength. 00:13:03.908 --> 00:13:14.375 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking, leaping and praising God. 00:13:14.375 --> 00:13:18.738 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 00:13:18.738 --> 00:13:29.732 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the beautiful gate of the temple and they were all filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 00:13:29.732 --> 00:13:33.989 A lot going on there. 00:13:33.989 --> 00:13:41.326 We look at Peter and John and they're headed to the temple At the hour of prayer. 00:13:41.326 --> 00:13:48.725 Now, the hour of prayer at this time would have been 3 o'clock in the afternoon, so they're on their way to church. 00:13:48.725 --> 00:13:53.309 They were heading there to meet with God. 00:13:53.309 --> 00:13:58.673 They were focused on getting into the presence of God. 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:00.505 How many of you know that's a good place to be? 00:14:00.505 --> 00:14:16.125 Now, when we look at the Ten Commandments that were given to the children of Israel, the fourth commandment found in Exodus, chapter 20, verse 8, says remember to observe the Sabbath by keeping it holy. 00:14:16.125 --> 00:14:24.802 Now, the Sabbath is a day that is set aside for worshiping, for focusing on God, and how many of you know it's important? 00:14:24.802 --> 00:14:27.322 Why is it important? 00:14:27.322 --> 00:14:29.524 That's a great question I'm glad you asked. 00:14:29.524 --> 00:14:34.587 God answers that for us down in Exodus, chapter 20, verse 11. 00:14:34.587 --> 00:14:41.991 It says For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea and everything in them, but on the seventh day he rested. 00:14:41.991 --> 00:14:46.475 That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. 00:14:46.475 --> 00:14:56.217 Now, if God himself took the time to rest, how many of y'all think that maybe we need to do the same? 00:14:56.217 --> 00:14:58.503 Okay, it's important. 00:14:58.503 --> 00:14:59.927 If it was important for God. 00:14:59.927 --> 00:15:01.751 It should be important for us. 00:15:01.751 --> 00:15:13.832 It is also important that we take the time to focus on God, and it is also fine with God if we decide to focus on him more than one day a week. 00:15:13.832 --> 00:15:20.586 Okay, personally, I think it's a good idea. 00:15:20.586 --> 00:15:22.028 Well, let me step back. 00:15:22.028 --> 00:15:31.384 I think it's a great idea for us to focus on God with a portion of every single day that we have. 00:15:31.384 --> 00:15:35.754 We want to make sure that we're putting our focus on God. 00:15:36.260 --> 00:15:46.650 A lot of times I hear people talk about getting up early in the morning to spend time with God, and for a while I had a problem with that, mainly because I don't like to get up early in the morning. 00:15:46.650 --> 00:15:50.068 But you know, guess what Stuff happens. 00:15:50.068 --> 00:16:03.059 Then I heard a gentleman say this the best time to tune your instrument is before you play the concert, not after. 00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:13.192 So I'm like okay, god, I get it, we want to spend time with God. 00:16:13.192 --> 00:16:19.253 So here's the thing Peter and John are on their way to church. 00:16:20.907 --> 00:16:23.809 But then there's this other guy, the lame guy. 00:16:23.809 --> 00:16:26.932 He couldn't get to church on his own. 00:16:26.932 --> 00:16:28.570 He needed help. 00:16:28.570 --> 00:16:39.235 But here's the funny thing to me Even though he needed help getting to church, he beat Peter and John there, think about that. 00:16:39.235 --> 00:16:39.618 He beat them. 00:16:39.618 --> 00:16:40.284 And John there, think about that. 00:16:40.284 --> 00:16:42.451 He beat them to church. 00:16:42.451 --> 00:16:50.118 Now, this guy was not focused on getting in the presence with God. 00:16:50.118 --> 00:16:54.376 He was focused on surviving. 00:16:54.376 --> 00:16:59.855 Same destination, different purpose. 00:16:59.855 --> 00:17:03.212 Think about that for a minute. 00:17:03.212 --> 00:17:08.896 Same destination, church, different purpose. 00:17:08.896 --> 00:17:12.847 He was at the gate, called beautiful. 00:17:12.909 --> 00:17:30.438 Begging for alms is defined as something given, such as money or food, that is given freely to relieve the poor, to relieve some stress that somebody that is in need has. 00:17:30.438 --> 00:17:35.076 We want to be a part of relieving that, amen. 00:17:35.076 --> 00:17:37.553 Another word for this is called charity. 00:17:37.553 --> 00:17:41.093 That's what this gentleman was there for. 00:17:41.093 --> 00:17:43.011 We don't know how old he was. 00:17:43.011 --> 00:17:46.114 We do know that he wasn't a boy, he was a man. 00:17:46.114 --> 00:17:52.478 So this has been his life, his entire life. 00:17:52.478 --> 00:17:56.453 We also know that he's never walked. 00:17:56.453 --> 00:18:04.011 He was lame since birth, which means he has always been dependent on others for help. 00:18:04.011 --> 00:18:06.395 Now, think about that. 00:18:06.395 --> 00:18:09.359 See, here's the thing. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:19.119 Now, his life experience was much different than Peter and John's life experience. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:25.518 Peter and John were both fishermen. 00:18:25.518 --> 00:18:30.215 They knew what hard, back-breaking work was. 00:18:30.215 --> 00:18:36.537 This guy knew what begging for alms was about. 00:18:36.537 --> 00:18:41.135 Peter and John had never been in a position that they had to do that. 00:18:44.365 --> 00:18:46.352 Different cards were dealt to each of us. 00:18:46.352 --> 00:18:47.295 Am I right? 00:18:47.295 --> 00:18:52.555 Sometimes we're dealt a really awesome hand. 00:18:52.555 --> 00:18:54.797 And how many of you know? 00:18:54.797 --> 00:19:00.614 Just because you're dealt an awesome hand doesn't mean you know how to play it Okay. 00:19:00.614 --> 00:19:02.278 And how many of you know? 00:19:02.278 --> 00:19:05.045 Just because you're dealt an awesome hand doesn't mean you know how to play it Okay. 00:19:05.045 --> 00:19:10.161 I can fold an awesome hand as easy as I can a losing hand. 00:19:10.161 --> 00:19:10.762 It's up to me. 00:19:10.762 --> 00:19:16.265 What am I going to do with the hand that's being given to me? 00:19:16.265 --> 00:19:20.210 Something to think about. 00:19:20.329 --> 00:19:38.278 Before Peter and John could make it inside the temple, before they could make it inside the church, the lame man spoke to them, and I am so encouraged to hear that. 00:19:38.278 --> 00:19:39.222 The man spoke up. 00:19:39.222 --> 00:19:49.255 Okay, he was asking for help, and oftentimes we will allow pride to rise up inside of us and will keep us from asking for the help that we need. 00:19:49.255 --> 00:19:53.570 Okay, I'm speaking from experience. 00:19:53.570 --> 00:19:55.030 I'm not throwing rocks at nobody. 00:19:55.030 --> 00:19:56.950 Been there and done that. 00:19:56.950 --> 00:19:57.412 Why? 00:19:57.412 --> 00:20:07.255 Because if I ask for help, I'm going to be perceived as weak by world standards. 00:20:07.255 --> 00:20:08.356 Am I wrong? 00:20:08.356 --> 00:20:13.346 The world is going to perceive me as needy. 00:20:14.429 --> 00:20:15.089 Guess what? 00:20:15.089 --> 00:20:18.074 There are times in my life that I'm in need. 00:20:18.074 --> 00:20:24.189 There are times in my life that I need to say I need some help. 00:20:24.189 --> 00:20:32.054 Okay, maybe I'm in the position to offer some help. 00:20:32.054 --> 00:20:37.115 Maybe I'm in the position that, dear God, please somebody help. 00:20:41.085 --> 00:20:45.413 And how many of you know that can flip on a dime, so don't. 00:20:45.413 --> 00:20:48.659 If you're in a position that you can help, don't get that. 00:20:48.659 --> 00:20:50.026 Oh, look at me, I'm helping. 00:20:50.026 --> 00:20:52.528 Hey, everybody, look what I'm doing. 00:20:52.528 --> 00:21:01.840 Don't do that, that'll bite you, okay? 00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:05.615 The truth is we all need help at some point. 00:21:05.615 --> 00:21:08.069 We all do. 00:21:08.490 --> 00:21:18.630 And how many of you know that if we refuse to ask for help, we don't know what God is trying to do in somebody else's life? 00:21:18.630 --> 00:21:27.672 God may be asking somebody else to let go of something and they're going no, I'm not letting go of it. 00:21:27.672 --> 00:21:35.294 And God used you to say, man, I need some help. 00:21:35.294 --> 00:21:43.038 And that might be the little nudge that that person needs to let go and let God. 00:21:43.038 --> 00:21:54.894 Don't be afraid to be a little nudge, don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. 00:21:54.894 --> 00:21:58.423 Amen, okay, I better move on. 00:21:58.423 --> 00:21:58.765 If you need it. 00:21:58.765 --> 00:21:59.703 Amen, okay, I better move on. 00:22:00.205 --> 00:22:04.252 The lame man asked two men whom he did not know for some help. 00:22:04.252 --> 00:22:06.893 I want you to think about that for just a minute. 00:22:06.893 --> 00:22:15.976 The lame man's survival was dependent on the help or charity of others. 00:22:15.976 --> 00:22:22.111 But then Peter and John paused. 00:22:22.111 --> 00:22:34.291 They took their focus off of going to church and decided to be the church. 00:22:34.291 --> 00:22:38.196 I'm going to say that again. 00:22:38.196 --> 00:22:46.076 They took their focus of going to church and made the decision to be the church. 00:22:46.076 --> 00:22:52.038 These four walls are where we come together and meet. 00:22:52.038 --> 00:22:59.875 When we leave here, as we leave, we are leaving as the church. 00:22:59.875 --> 00:23:04.416 What are we going to do outside these four walls? 00:23:04.416 --> 00:23:08.153 Oh, I'm about to preach myself happy. 00:23:08.153 --> 00:23:19.857 They were not so focused on getting to their little holy huddle that they walked past and ignored someone who was in need. 00:23:19.857 --> 00:23:25.276 They chose to be the church. 00:23:27.365 --> 00:23:28.229 Now, how many of you know that? 00:23:28.229 --> 00:23:41.315 There are people all around us today, people that are lost, people that are hungry, people that are just straight up dead in their sin, and they need what we have. 00:23:41.315 --> 00:23:44.611 They need it. 00:23:44.611 --> 00:23:49.912 But here's the question Am I willing to give it? 00:23:49.912 --> 00:23:56.596 Am I willing to give what somebody else desperately needs? 00:23:56.596 --> 00:23:58.209 And then I think back. 00:23:58.209 --> 00:24:07.612 I'm so grateful that, when I was in need of a savior, that someone was bold enough to say hey, let me tell you what you really need. 00:24:07.612 --> 00:24:11.153 What you need is Jesus. 00:24:11.153 --> 00:24:21.594 What you need Is to surrender your way of doing things, because obviously that ain't working, and let Jesus show you how to do life. 00:24:23.708 --> 00:24:28.564 I can tell you this it ain't boring, it's not boring, it's not boring. 00:24:28.564 --> 00:24:33.977 Are we willing to pause our schedule? 00:24:33.977 --> 00:24:44.019 Are we willing to pause our agenda and be the church? 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:46.665 Now? 00:24:46.665 --> 00:24:50.497 I'm going to tell you there's going to be a time it's not going to be convenient. 00:24:50.497 --> 00:24:54.373 There's going to be a time it's going to be raining. 00:24:54.373 --> 00:25:01.737 There's going to be a time it's going to be cold and there's going to be a time that somebody's on the side of the road and can't help themselves. 00:25:01.737 --> 00:25:13.498 And if you have the way and the means to help and you feel like God is saying, stop and help, stop and help. 00:25:13.498 --> 00:25:21.873 If you get that check in your spirit going, something's not right here, keep right on strolling and pray for them. 00:25:21.873 --> 00:25:24.127 Okay. 00:25:24.127 --> 00:25:29.266 I'm not asking you to put yourself in a position that's going to get yourself hurt or killed, okay. 00:25:29.266 --> 00:25:33.630 But I'm also not giving you permission to drive by when God is telling you to stop. 00:25:33.630 --> 00:25:36.538 Amen, amen. 00:25:39.465 --> 00:25:46.739 It was the request the lame man made that drew the focus of Peter and John to the lame man. 00:25:46.739 --> 00:25:53.258 Verse 4 tells us that Peter fixed his eyes on the lame man. 00:25:53.258 --> 00:26:00.125 If I fix my eyes on whatever it is, how many of you know that I am now focused on something or someone? 00:26:00.125 --> 00:26:11.517 And if I'm focused on someone else, I can't be focused on me, and that can be an uncomfortable position from time to time, but that's okay. 00:26:14.827 --> 00:26:34.003 In the police academy, when we were doing our firearms training In the police academy, when we were doing our firearms training, we were told to visualize the target, to see the target and to take aim at a particular spot on the target. 00:26:34.003 --> 00:26:42.361 Okay, we were told that we need to pick a single point on that target and that's where we're to shoot. 00:26:42.361 --> 00:26:46.529 Okay, we were told aim small, miss small. 00:26:46.529 --> 00:26:54.826 So just because your target is huge, you don't just aim somewhere up there. 00:26:54.826 --> 00:27:02.700 You pick a particular point, a concentrated point, and that is your target. 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:17.270 Here's the thing they wanted us to be precise, and I hope I'm never, ever, ever in a position that I have to exercise that. 00:27:17.270 --> 00:27:25.554 But if I am, especially if it's a hostage type situation, how many of you know the hostage wants me to be precise. 00:27:25.554 --> 00:27:27.979 I mean seriously. 00:27:27.979 --> 00:27:33.397 I mean that's just common sense, because if I'm the hostage, I don't want to get shot. 00:27:33.397 --> 00:27:39.537 Okay, I don't need any holes anywhere else that God hadn't already put them. 00:27:39.537 --> 00:27:44.330 Okay, we need to be precise. 00:27:46.074 --> 00:27:48.436 Peter was now focused on the lame man. 00:27:48.436 --> 00:27:51.226 Then Peter said look at us. 00:27:51.226 --> 00:27:56.894 Verse five tells us that the lame man gave Peter and John his attention. 00:27:56.894 --> 00:28:00.865 He was expecting to receive something from him. 00:28:00.865 --> 00:28:06.595 There was a sense of expectancy in the lame man. 00:28:06.595 --> 00:28:17.655 Now I'm going to ask a hard question when was the last time you came to church with a sense of expectation? 00:28:17.655 --> 00:28:28.290 When was the last time you came to church expecting to meet with God? 00:28:28.290 --> 00:28:33.038 I'm not talking about just showing up, because that's what we're supposed to do. 00:28:34.484 --> 00:28:37.452 It's Sunday morning. 00:28:37.452 --> 00:28:38.335 I'm glad you're here. 00:28:38.335 --> 00:28:43.329 I'm glad you're watching by the internet. 00:28:43.329 --> 00:28:45.538 I'd rather you be doing that than out doing something. 00:28:45.538 --> 00:28:48.705 A lot of other things, I'm not going to go into that, okay. 00:28:49.967 --> 00:28:56.853 So do we show up simply because we don't want to feel guilty? 00:28:56.853 --> 00:29:08.622 Do we show up because, if I don't, that friend is going to call and say hey, we missed you today. 00:29:08.622 --> 00:29:13.530 Where were you? 00:29:13.530 --> 00:29:17.999 Well, come on, let's be honest. 00:29:17.999 --> 00:29:24.089 And we've all got that friend that's going to call. 00:29:24.089 --> 00:29:25.553 I've been on both sides of that. 00:29:25.553 --> 00:29:29.858 I've been on the receiving call and I've been the one doing the calling. 00:29:29.858 --> 00:29:33.201 I'm just going to tell you I'd much rather be the one doing the calling. 00:29:33.201 --> 00:29:43.733 Amen, come to church. 00:29:43.753 --> 00:29:49.576 So are we coming to church just to get our fire insurance checkmark? 00:29:49.576 --> 00:29:52.651 I don't want to go to hell. 00:29:52.651 --> 00:29:54.391 I better get in that church. 00:29:54.391 --> 00:29:58.535 It's been almost oh, three months. 00:29:58.535 --> 00:30:02.055 I don't want this to lapse. 00:30:02.055 --> 00:30:10.336 I want my coverage up to date and I'm going to be honest with you, I want my coverage up to date too. 00:30:10.336 --> 00:30:14.628 Okay, but that's not why I show up. 00:30:14.628 --> 00:30:22.201 I show up because I want to meet with the creator of the entire universe Amen. 00:30:22.201 --> 00:30:39.142 Now, if you are here for the wrong reason, I've got good news Repent, say God, I'm sorry, I'm here for the wrong reason. 00:30:41.903 --> 00:30:54.247 Repent and ask God to forgive you, and then ask God to give you the ears to hear what he wants to tell you today, because God wants to speak to us. 00:30:54.247 --> 00:31:02.895 God wants us, from time to time, to stretch us just a little bit, because maybe we've got a little bit comfortable where we are. 00:31:02.895 --> 00:31:06.493 Okay, I'm not going to ask anybody to raise your hands. 00:31:06.493 --> 00:31:07.630 You know if you're there or not. 00:31:07.630 --> 00:31:12.231 What's God doing in your life? 00:31:12.231 --> 00:31:15.792 Is God shaping you? 00:31:15.792 --> 00:31:20.932 Are you allowing yourself to be shaped or are you resisting. 00:31:22.726 --> 00:31:26.696 I've been in the resisting category way too long, for too many years. 00:31:26.696 --> 00:31:31.730 It's not a fun place to be, because you know what God don't give up. 00:31:31.730 --> 00:31:40.414 God will keep on letting us go round and around and around that mountain until we learn what it is he wants us to learn. 00:31:40.414 --> 00:31:55.009 And there have been times in my life when I've just said, okay, okay, okay, help me to learn what I need to learn, because I didn't like going around the first time and I sure haven't liked going around the last 10. 00:31:55.009 --> 00:31:58.576 Okay, I can be a little hard headed. 00:31:58.576 --> 00:32:06.288 I'll admit that God wants us to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. 00:32:06.288 --> 00:32:09.996 Okay, that's a fact. 00:32:11.258 --> 00:32:24.872 So after Peter had the lame man's attention, he did something that may have been considered a little bit rude he busted his bubble. 00:32:24.872 --> 00:32:35.345 Let me tell you what I'm talking about when I say that Peter told the man that he didn't have any gold or silver. 00:32:35.345 --> 00:32:49.556 He didn't have any money for him, pop, at this point the man could have just been like are you kidding me? 00:32:49.556 --> 00:32:53.325 I've got other people walking by that I could be talking to. 00:32:53.325 --> 00:32:54.567 Now I'm stuck talking to you. 00:32:54.567 --> 00:32:57.472 Let's be honest. 00:32:57.472 --> 00:33:01.781 Okay, the guy could have gotten an attitude? 00:33:01.781 --> 00:33:04.586 Anyone here ever gotten an attitude? 00:33:04.586 --> 00:33:10.214 Hmm, I think we all know the answer to that. 00:33:10.214 --> 00:33:15.048 If you don't know the answer to that, just look over to the person next to you. 00:33:15.048 --> 00:33:16.069 They'll give you the answer. 00:33:19.656 --> 00:33:21.380 Now let me ask another question. 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:31.607 Have you ever had a situation that was going on and in your mind you just knew that this is the way it was going to play out? 00:33:31.607 --> 00:33:51.807 And then, when you find yourself in that situation, in that situation, absolutely nothing is going down the way you thought it was going to and you're kind of sitting there going. 00:33:51.807 --> 00:33:52.590 I saw this going a different direction. 00:33:52.590 --> 00:33:55.527 There have been times that I have been just flat wrong with how I thought things were going to turn out. 00:33:55.527 --> 00:34:01.353 There have been times that I have been extraordinarily disappointed in the way things have turned out. 00:34:04.626 --> 00:34:28.001 But here's the thing Peter and John specifically Peter says but what I do have Now, I don't know if there was a pause After he said that, but in my mind I'm thinking that there was. 00:34:28.001 --> 00:34:37.981 We don't have any silver or gold Pause for dramatic effect, but what I do have, oh, I like it when there's a but in there. 00:34:37.981 --> 00:34:43.864 Okay, what I do have, I give to you. 00:34:43.864 --> 00:34:48.103 We need to understand that we all have a part to play. 00:34:48.103 --> 00:34:54.206 Okay, we all have something that is worth giving. 00:34:54.206 --> 00:34:57.202 And you may be here today and going. 00:34:57.202 --> 00:35:01.764 I don't have anything to give. 00:35:01.764 --> 00:35:04.061 Can you give encouragement? 00:35:04.061 --> 00:35:07.382 It don't cost you a penny. 00:35:07.382 --> 00:35:12.987 Can I give you hope in what God wants to do in your life? 00:35:12.987 --> 00:35:15.351 Once again, it don't cost me a penny to give you hope in what God wants to do in your life? 00:35:15.351 --> 00:35:17.077 Once again, it don't cost me a penny to give you some hope. 00:35:17.077 --> 00:35:25.235 God wants us to know that he wants to be at work in our lives. 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:30.242 Acts, chapter 3, verses 6 and 7. 00:35:30.242 --> 00:35:41.643 Then Peter said Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. 00:35:41.643 --> 00:35:51.663 And he took him by the right hand, lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 00:35:51.663 --> 00:35:54.802 The man was expecting money. 00:35:54.802 --> 00:35:58.282 That's what he was there for. 00:35:58.282 --> 00:36:03.244 Oh my gosh, he got so much more than money. 00:36:03.244 --> 00:36:06.820 Think about that. 00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:10.463 It didn't go the way he thought it was going to go. 00:36:10.463 --> 00:36:13.643 I don't think he's disappointed. 00:36:13.643 --> 00:36:37.693 There are ways that I think my life should go from time to time and then God goes nope, and I get an attitude and then God goes, but and I'm like, oh, then God shows, but, and I'm like, oh, then God shows up. 00:36:37.693 --> 00:36:45.367 We serve an abundant above all, we can ask or think kind of God. 00:36:45.367 --> 00:36:52.601 The Bible tells us that His ways are not our ways, his thoughts are not our thoughts. 00:36:52.601 --> 00:36:53.436 Why? 00:36:53.436 --> 00:37:00.280 Because His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours, which means they're more better. 00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:04.440 Okay, and I like that. 00:37:05.994 --> 00:37:13.548 God used Peter and John to radically change this man's entire life. 00:37:13.548 --> 00:37:14.920 Now I want you to think about this. 00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:17.885 It's not just his life that was changed. 00:37:17.885 --> 00:37:22.824 Every day he needed help getting to the temple. 00:37:22.824 --> 00:37:24.427 Guess what? 00:37:24.427 --> 00:37:27.664 There are some folks that have some time freed up. 00:37:27.664 --> 00:37:33.726 It's not just his life that is being changed. 00:37:33.726 --> 00:37:39.786 Peter and John did not heal the man, god did. 00:37:39.786 --> 00:37:46.418 Peter and John did their part, god did his. 00:37:46.418 --> 00:37:52.286 Now here's the thing Often times we get confused on what our part is. 00:37:52.286 --> 00:37:56.403 It's not my part to heal you. 00:37:56.403 --> 00:37:57.739 I can't. 00:37:57.739 --> 00:38:11.496 But I can introduce you to the one who can, and it's my job to give you that encouragement, to give you that hope to know that God is abundantly above all. 00:38:11.496 --> 00:38:15.382 We can ask or think, and that's a good thing. 00:38:16.635 --> 00:38:19.465 I love the lame man's response. 00:38:19.465 --> 00:38:26.907 He was not shy, he was not quiet or reverent or reserved. 00:38:26.907 --> 00:38:29.280 Verse 8 tells us. 00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:40.547 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking, leaping and praising God. 00:38:40.547 --> 00:38:43.559 He didn't go. 00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:46.927 Okay, I'm walking now. 00:38:46.927 --> 00:38:59.266 Think about this For the first time ever in his life, he is standing on his own two feet, without help. 00:38:59.266 --> 00:39:02.903 That's no small thing. 00:39:02.903 --> 00:39:06.704 He recognized it was no small thing. 00:39:07.574 --> 00:39:27.300 The lame man excuse me, the formerly lame man is now walking and leaping and praising God for what has been given to him, guess what. 00:39:27.300 --> 00:39:32.266 He don't care what the person on the north side of the sanctuary thinks. 00:39:32.266 --> 00:39:35.282 He don't care what the people on the north side of the sanctuary thinks. 00:39:35.282 --> 00:39:39.141 He don't care what the people on the south side or the east side or the west side think. 00:39:39.141 --> 00:39:46.083 All he's doing is thanking With an A God for what has happened. 00:39:46.083 --> 00:39:50.204 That's a good place to be. 00:39:52.856 --> 00:40:18.152 So here's the question I want to ask you when God does show up in your life, are you going to give Him the credit, the glory and the praise, or is the credit going to Come on If something good happens? 00:40:18.152 --> 00:40:26.766 I want to give God the praise because I don't want it to go away, because if we start giving the praise somewhere else. 00:40:26.766 --> 00:40:31.626 God may just go. 00:40:31.626 --> 00:40:32.534 Okay, let me take my hand off of that. 00:40:32.534 --> 00:40:35.065 Ooh, that's not a place we want to be. 00:40:35.065 --> 00:40:35.768 I'm just saying. 00:40:35.768 --> 00:40:55.246 I'm just saying the former lame man was focused on giving God praise, and this part of the story ends with the folks in the temple being filled with wonder and amazement. 00:40:55.246 --> 00:41:07.623 When was the last time folks around you were filled with wonder and amazement because of your reaction to what God has done in your life? 00:41:07.623 --> 00:41:36.695 This is a question I've had to ask myself, and it's a hard question Because I have to ask myself am I living my life in a way that people outside the church, inside the church, wherever I happen to be, do they see Christ in me, not just on Sunday morning when I'm supposed to be holy, holy, okay, god wants us to be holy. 00:41:36.715 --> 00:41:46.865