Focus

Movement  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  32:58
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Introduction
My sons enjoy football (most of the time—especially if their team is winning).
As we enter the playoffs, teams are working hard to achieve the win.
Personal agendas, distractions, and injuries need to be avoided.
Knowing the playbook, following the directions of the coaching staff, and working together as a unified team are essential.
Focus on the main thing that leads to the win is mandatory.
This serves as a simple analogy for the believer in Christ—we too need to focus on the main thing—the things the count!
The series we are presently working through centers on Movement—progressing and growing in our relationship with God through Christ Jesus.
Just like a NFL player needs to focus in order to win, the believer in Jesus needs to focus as well.
Focusing in the context of Movement means moving forward in the right direction (the way of Jesus).
When I think of the theme of “focus”, I usually am drawn to the New Testament book of Hebrews—and the 12th chapter.
Text
Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Main Idea: We need to Focus on what really counts to move forward in the right direction.
Point 1

Focus on the Responsibility of Legacy.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses...
That work “therefore” is important—it give us context—it helps shape our understanding of what follows in the Scripture.
Therefore points to chapter 11—where the Scripture highlights Old Testament saints who, by faith, followed God, no matter what.
These Old Testament believers, such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and others, were focused on their faith in God—what God wanted they would do!
They were not necessarily perfect, but they were faithful—and they trusted in God—even when they did not have a complete picture of everything God was going to do.
We are reminded about every believer that has gone on before us—being reminded of their commitment to follow God.
And now, we are running the race—holding the baton—and therefore, we have a responsibility to God, to these saints, to one other, and to those who will come after us.
We need to focus—to be reminded to honor the legacy of God’s promise, of Jesus (the only way to the Father), and our witness which should demonstrate the Gospel message.
If we fail to focus—we get distracted—we vier off course—we can seriously damage our witness and fail to live out the Great Commission of evangelism and discipleship.
POINT: Focus on our responsibility to guard the legacy of God’s promise.
Point 2

Focus on the Seriousness of Sin.

let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely...
All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).
Because sin is so destructive, and it takes a determination (and the Spirit’s work) to obey God’s moral law, we can easily minimize, redefine, or even dismiss God’s view of sin.
If we are not careful, we can become more focused on other people’s shortcomings, and not even see our own sinful behavior.
Sin, by its very nature, drives a wedge between us and God. It has a blinding effect—and therefore its possible for us to not even see our own personal failures toward God’s glory.
Pride, coveting, immorality—all can render the believer ineffective in fulfilling God’s purpose in our life. It can stop us in our tracts.
Sin will halt our ability to communicate with clarity the truth of Jesus Christ to others.
We might think we are spiritually moving forward, but we are going in the wrong direction!
POINT: We need to focus on the seriousness of sin.
Confess
Repent
Embrace humility
And, live within the grace of God—daily!
Point 3

Focus on Finishing the Race.

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...
Life can be difficult and filled with disappointments.
Alan grew up in a Christian home—his dad and deacon and leader of Royal Rangers, his mom a ministry leader. He felt the call of God in ministry and went to Bible college. Although he wrestled at times with doubt, he pursued a teaching decree and eventually earned a PHD in Middle East studies. His mother, a godly woman, was diagnosed with cancer and died. His faith, already hanging by a thread, was broken—and he walked away from trusting in God.
Our spiritual journey with God is hard work. Living by faith—living by trusting in God completely, is always going to be a challenge.
We will, from time to time, face the temptation to quit.
Quit can mean quit—walk away from God.
Quit can mean to settle with a life of our own making—rejecting God’s will.
Quit can mean compromise, living hypocritically, pretending to be spiritual, but falling short of God’s glory.
God is calling us to endure—to move forward in the right direction—pressing through with determination—it means faithfulness.
POINT: We need to focus on finishing the race.
Point 4

Focus on the Founder and Perfecter of our Faith.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
The key to maintaining the legacy of God’s promise, taking seriously the issue of sin, and embracing a life of faithful endurance is Jesus Christ.
It is all too easy to allow other things to draw our focus—people, our own plans, this world.
We are to look to Jesus!
He is the One who endured the cross—suffering in order to atone for the sins of humankind.
He is the One who defeated hell and death through the resurrection.
He is the One who is the infinite Son of God—worthy to be worshipped and obeyed.
Focusing on Jesus means that we know:
His life
His teachings
His attitude.
How do we do this?
Read God’s Word,
Be a part of a fellowship of believers to learn together how to apply God’s Word faithfully to our lives.
Prayer, worship, and serving.
POINT: We need to focus on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.
Conclusion
Moving forward in in the right direction will lead us toward:
Guarding the legacy of God’s promise and to all those who carried that promise before us.
Seriously addressing sin in our own lives.
Faithfully endure our journey with God to the finish.
Looking to Jesus who sets the perfect example on how we are to life to the glory of God.
Questions for personal reflection and group discussion.
What can distract us from focusing on what really matters (such as looking to Jesus)?
Why do you think we have a tendency of minimizing sin?
What are some ways we can use to endure the challenges of following God?
What do you think it means to look to Jesus?
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