Victory Life KY

Focus- Andy Sebastian

Episode Summary

Fix your focus - We are where we are because of what we are focused on! Many times our focus is away from God and that’s when problems start and multiply! You go the direction of your most dominant thoughts!!

Episode Notes

So as I was asking God what to share with you I always want it to be inspiring, uplifting, and exciting. So I was putting this talk together and well, I’m not so sure this talk is those things. I believe it’s definitely needed, but it felt more like one of those “Pastoral” messages than a fun one. I mean I hope it inspires and challenges you to make some positive change because it sure has in my own life. So ask the Holy Spirit to open your hearts this morning and receive what He wants to speak to you!

Intro – Phil. 1:6 - And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Is Jesus back yet? Then we are not done, it is not over, we still have God, his promises, and hope.
Things may not look good right now. Let’s be completely honest our world is a wreck, but we don’t walk by what we see, we walk by faith.
This is not the end, the way things are cannot stay this way, because God is not done with us.
Nehemiah is a real life reminder to never believe in your circumstances more than your Heavenly Father.
God’s people (that’s us) were scattered (alone), broken, and felt helpless because the walls of their city were down, no protection from the outside world. Today many feel helpless and alone due to covid, fear, financial loss, burdens, life, etc.
Anyone that wanted to could attack them, steal from them, and hurt them. Often how we feel like it’s one thing after another in life– not looking good for God’s people.
Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t give up, aren’t’ you glad that God wasn’t done with them and He is never done with us.
Their situation was about to change and so is yours because God WILL continue until His work in you is done! (pray)
I’ve heard the story of Nehemiah told a several times. Great story. The walls of Jerusalem were destroyed for 152 years. God’s temple destroyed, city in ruins for 152 years. Nehemiah, not even there, hears about his people and how broken their lives are and in 52 days, unites a divided people and rebuilds the wall. He changes a world that was broken for 152 years in 52 days!
I have heard this story preached several times, but I have never heard anyone talk about how they got there.
Funny right – it’s what we do. We talk about our issues, our problems, our impossible and unfair circumstances, but we never talk about how we got there.
We talk about how it makes us feel, we update our social medias, post a pic of how hurt or stressed we are, but never think about why we are facing what we are.
We even ask God, why are you letting this happen to me, why aren’t you fixing this?
Preachers talk about the brokenness of God’s people and how tragic it is
Like God is letting better yet causing all of the bad happen to teach us a lesson?! NO
There is a reason we are going through what we are and its not because of God, the majority of the time it’s because of us. Ouch right!
God’s people, as we have a bad habit of doing, find other things to worship instead of God.
God is good, but this God is more fun (they were worshipping idols and neglecting all of God’s instruction)

Sound familiar?? Our world today!

Worship music is cool, but listening to morgan wallen is more fun.
Honesty is cool, but lying gets me there faster.
Having an amazing marriage is awesome, but sneaking around online or flirting with others makes me feel alive.
Loving my neighbor is nice, but telling them how I truly feel is just easier
All things other than God
God’s plan was and is protection – The wall that was destroyed – that means God had told them to build a wall, God showed them how to protect what was valuable.
God’s plan is always for good – we just think we know better.
Jer. 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – this was written to these exact people and us.
They were slipping and God tried to warn them, tried to keep them safe, but they did it their way. Anyone ever do it your way?? Yeah we all do
The walls came down and the city fell. Not because God let it happen, but because God’s people made it happen by their choices. There are and will always be choices and consequences.
This is the place we often find ourselves – broken, hurt, not sure how to move forward because our walls have crumbled and cities fallen(the situations we are in).
For 152 years they just allowed bad things to continue happening to them.
Pretty dumb right – why didn’t they just ask God to forgive them, change and make better decisions? – Why don’t you? I know we don’t really want to hear that because that puts the responsibility on us
Many times we don’t change because we think we messed up to bad for God to use us!
I don’t deserve someone or something amazing so ill just settle for average. We are good at settling for whatever life throws at us. This isn’t my passion, but it’s a paycheck so it’ll do, we don’t really get along but I don’t want to be alone so it’ll do, Settling is easy, Settling is just a cop out, God has greater things in store for you but requires faith and action on our part to experience it, not just settling for average!
God is not done, even when you let the walls burn down, even when you are broken, hurt, confused and have no idea how to start or keep going - God WILL restore his plan for your life.
One of the most frustrating things in the world is feeling like nothing is going to change. – We try everything we can think of, and when it doesn’t work, when the answer is beyond us, we want to give up on the Good Plan God has for us. You don’t need to give up, you need to fix your focus.
Fix your focus - We are where we are because of what we are focused on! Many times our focus is away from God and that’s when problems start and multiply! You go the direction of your most dominant thoughts!!
Hebrews 12:1-2 – “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
We go where our focus is – you drive where you look.

3 Ways to Refocus

Focus on your heart – Proverbs 4:23 - Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.—Guard It! How by watching what goes in your eyes and ears!! What are you feeding on?
Everything starts with your heart, so it should be the first thing you fix.
God sent Ezra to fix the Temple before the wall. The Temple, Gods dwelling place, instruction, was the HEART of the city.
God will always fix the heart before the walls.
When we are hurt we want to fix the wall first. Guard yourself from getting even more hurt, lost, broken by putting up a wall.
Walls can keep things out, but also in.
Don’t trap brokenness, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc. in your heart. Don’t build a wall before your heart is fixed.
Our hearts need truth, not facts – facts change, the truth doesn’t.
Weather – fact, its raining, wait sunny, wait, 20 degrees, wait, 80 degrees, wait, its snowing. – facts change.
I’m doing good, wait I messed up, I’m going to do better, wait I’m struggling again.
The fact is, I messed up, the truth is God covered it.
The fact is, I don’t deserve God, the truth is God doesn’t even care about that, He loves you. Period
We keep running facts through our heart when we should be focused on Truth. Truth Changes facts, facts never change the truth.
The truth is only good when you are holding onto it, and know how to use it. It does no good collecting dust in your nightstand, or on an app you never open(bible).
Focus on the Future – You cant move forward by looking behind you. Things will never be like they were. You can’t drive straight by looking in your rear view mirror!
“I wish I could go back” – to who I was, to how I was, to how things were.
God doesn’t move in your past so why are you trying to live there?
If your focus is on where you have been, you will never see where God is taking you.
John 8 – A woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus.
Everyone except Jesus was focused on her past, and believing her past should determine her future. Even her.
John 8:10 - Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Jesus didn’t say, lets talk about your past, lets evaluate it, lets see how you can pay back for what you have done.
I am not done with you, Focus on your future - GO
Focus on your future, focus on your heart before the wall.
Focus on Moving – You can’t stay here. Don’t sit and cry for 152 years because you lack the discipline to move for 52 days.
We sometimes go hiking with the youth, Thanks Billy and Annie! I absolutely love it!! Nope! But when we go I see where I have to go. Every time I question should I do it, can I do it, or will I do it.
The car was on the other side, so I should – smart thing to do.
I know that I can, its about the first step. – moving forward is the only thing that makes the mountain look possible.
The big question is always, Will I? Will I put my flesh down to experience what God has for me, will I love that coworker I can’t stand, will I use my time, talents, and treasure for God, Will I????
This is your life we are talking about – are you done? God isn’t, but you have to be the one to start moving. Will you?
Change is a decision not an emotion!! You’re rarely going to feel like doing something that goes against your carnal nature. So if you wait until you feel like it you’ll be wating for years just like they waited to rebuild the wall!!

So the biggest decision you can make is to decide on having a relationship with Jesus! So if you do and want to be baptized then say this prayer with us and proceed to the back!