{"id":25565,"date":"2020-05-22T09:25:48","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T15:25:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/?p=25565"},"modified":"2023-08-29T11:28:08","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T17:28:08","slug":"stay-focused-dont-lose-sight-of-the-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baonline.cog7engage.net\/stay-focused-dont-lose-sight-of-the-goal\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay Focused – Don’t Lose Sight of the Goal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stay Focused – Don\u2019t Lose Sight of the Goal (Borrowed with permission from the Southwest District Superintendent’s Blog<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Greetings and peace in the name of Jesus Christ. If the current circumstances are consuming more time and attention than you know you should be giving them<\/a>, this post is for you. If you want to become super-charged to be a blessing to God and humanity,<\/a> this post is for you. If you want to be bored and be a consumer of others\u2019 service to you, this post is not for you.<\/p>\n

Looking for good and faithful soldiers<\/h3>\n

Much more than the Marines, we are looking for good and faithful soldiers, willing to march into death and receive life forevermore. Do not worry. I am not talking about the fallacies of other religions. This is Christlike life motivated by a changed nature that is godly, being designed by the Almighty.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s post is to those of you who are already the disciples of Jesus Christ. If you have not become a disciple of Jesus Christ, of course, you may read the post. I hope you do. You may get a sense of the real nature of our life in Christ, how it is oftentimes challenging, but it is full of hope with a purpose to live and a promise for eternity.<\/p>\n

Accepting Jesus as your Lord<\/h3>\n

But most importantly, if you are seeking and have not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord, this post cannot help you eternally until you are born again. Jesus Christ lived without sin, died and rose again to redeem you from destruction.<\/a> Don\u2019t waste that precious gift. God bought it and is presenting it to you. It was offered only once for all time.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not saying you may not get another chance to accept this free gift to you, you may or may not. I am saying, it isn\u2019t coming back around for God to do another take to do it better. This is it. Therefore, please do contact me or someone whom you know is already a believer walking in the Way, which is Jesus Christ, and let us share Jesus with you, the peace we have, the love that reigns in our hearts, and the hope we have beyond the circumstances of this existence.<\/p>\n

Jesus as both your Savior and your Lord<\/h3>\n

Or, if you are experiencing the call of God upon your heart and accept him here and now, contact me and tell me of your decision to repent of your sins and to get to know Jesus as both your Savior and your Lord in your life.\u00a0 When that happens, I have more good news for you. Jesus will not leave you alone but will put the Holy Spirit in you with a new birth, making you a new creation. The Holy Spirit, Christ in you, will begin changing your heart through his Divine power to make you more like him and less like you used to be.<\/p>\n

Even if you were a good person compared to others in the world, you will be transformed into a child of God and become an adopted brother to Jesus Christ and joint-heirs with him in glory. You will become more than you have ever been or dreamed of being. Others may not see it. But you and God will know you are now a heavenly Kingdom citizen with all its responsibilities and benefits.<\/p>\n

Making disciples for Jesus Christ<\/h3>\n

Okay, so I got a little carried away. I always do. That is my calling<\/a>. I am to be making disciples for Jesus Christ, first and foremost, in everything I do. If you want to join me on this Great Mission (Great Commission), I am always recruiting soldiers for the Kingdom of heaven. No, we don\u2019t fight against others. Most of our battles are within our own hearts as we battle between the flesh and the spirit to grow into the person God is calling us to be.<\/p>\n

Yes, we do regularly find ourselves on mission, day in and day out. This is not a spectator sport for entertainment. This is a team activity because the Lord is coming back for his Church, one body, made up of all true believers, whether in this denomination or another. The Lord knows. That is not my job.<\/p>\n

My job is to help you become all God intends you to be in his Kingdom, to teach, coach, and facilitate you in your heavenly assignment to be successful. That I can do, to whatever degree you are willing to go and to do. You will set your limits, not me. I only want whatever Jesus Christ wants for you. This much I know, it isn\u2019t anything trivial. It will be able to glorify God, edify the Church, and produce much fruit through the power of the gospel.<\/p>\n

The Great Commission<\/h3>\n

The goal for me, of which I must not lose sight, is the gospel in the Great Commission, to evangelize and make disciples, and submit myself to my King, that means surrendering my will to his desires and designs. I am his prisoner and slave. Oh, yes, if I haven\u2019t mentioned it in a way you noticed, being a prisoner and slave of Jesus Christ is a sure way to have a high ranking government position in the Kingdom of heaven as an ambassador for the King into the governments of this world and to become an heir of the riches in eternity. Not bad for being a prisoner and a slave is it? I like it.<\/p>\n

Here is a way for you to remember all I have said above,\u00a0\u201cFocus On Jesus and Follow His Plan,” \u201cBe United Together as one entity in Jesus Christ.<\/em>”\u00a0 In following God\u2019s plan for your life, you will do like I do, only on a greater scale. It is true because you will be joining me in your walk with God, right here where we are. However, when I am done, you will go even farther and do even greater things. The future is bright for all those who walk with me as I walk with Christ.<\/p>\n

Joining in the Kingdom cause of Jesus Christ<\/h3>\n

Please let me know what you choose to do. I am a recruiter for the Kingdom of heaven and a trainer of soldiers.\u00a0 I am not a nursemaid to leave you where you are or make you as comfortable in your misery as possible. That is not what I do. Joining in the Kingdom cause of Jesus Christ means engaging and entering realms and activities you may have thought were never in your future. God knows. You will experience peace in your heart. That I can promise.<\/p>\n

You may encounter pain and suffering; of that I am reasonably sure. But whether easy or difficult, it will be worth the experience and a priceless adventure. I can honestly say, even if I could, I do not want to change the pains of my past. I have learned too much from them and have been able to be more productive because of them. God knows.<\/p>\n

Disciples of Jesus Christ<\/h3>\n

As I mentioned when I started, this post is especially for those who are already disciples of Jesus Christ. So, I will greet you as I often do the assembled Church of believers.<\/p>\n

Greetings, servants of the most high God, soldiers of the cross, saints by the will of God, and my dear family in Christ Jesus. I greet you in the name of Jesus with peace, joy, hope and love from my heart to yours. Wow! It is good to be ministry partners with you. God sure knows what he is doing.<\/b><\/p>\n

The message I\u2019m wanting to share with you in this post is very similar to the gospel shared above to anyone who might be reading and has not yet submitted their life to God for his use and their transformation.<\/p>\n

Focus on Jesus and Follow his Plan<\/h3>\n

Here is your message:\u00a0 Focus on Jesus and Follow his Plan. Do not get distracted. Stay focused.<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Focus
Focus on Jesus and Follow his Plan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[bctt tweet=”Focus on Jesus and Follow his Plan. Do not get distracted. Stay focused. – Chip Hinds”]<\/p>\n

You are not the first one to ever face distractions, nor will you be the last. So, train those you are leading to be productive and not to become distracted or tempted to lose sight of the goal. Yes, we are in a horrific pandemic.\u00a0 People are getting sick in large numbers. People are dying and it is beginning to look like the United States of America is making an executive administrative decision to get on with business and let those die who must so the dollar can reign supreme and \u2026, I\u2019ll not get political. Pray for our leaders. They need your prayers.<\/p>\n

Back to the point, you and everyone else face distractions, or temptations to be distracted, or worse, on a regular basis. So, it is essential for your success that you not let temptations to sin or distractions have an influence on you and what you do.<\/a><\/p>\n

An ambassador for King Jesus<\/h3>\n

You were not born-again to marvel at the circumstances of your life. You were born-again, made a new creation, to be an ambassador for King Jesus. <\/b>So, get on with the task and do not let your head and heart be caught up in the passing circumstances wherein we find ourselves, or more particularly, yourself.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look to the Word of God for some encouragement in not becoming distracted.<\/p>\n

You know this passage by heart, but how often do we apply the last petition before the final doxology?\u00a0 What is that one?\u00a0 Well, let\u2019s read it and find out.<\/p>\n

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)<\/b><\/h4>\n
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    1. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.<\/li>\n
    2. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as\u00a0it is<\/i>\u00a0in heaven.<\/li>\n
    3. Give us this day our daily bread.<\/li>\n
    4. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.<\/li>\n
    5. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \u201cAnd lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

      That is it!<\/b><\/p>\n

      Do not be distracted<\/h3>\n

      Do not be distracted. Practice \u201cplanned neglect\u201d to other things that sometimes even seem noble but are not what God is calling you to do. Incidentally, God is calling you to do the same thing he has called me to do and every other believer to do, go make disciples: baptizing them, teaching them everything he has taught us, and to train them to make disciples also. Do not be distracted; give priority to God.<\/p>\n

      Here is another key point that will help you avoid distraction. Do not be worried about your reputation, instead watch your character.<\/a> Don\u2019t fear men; fear God and do His will.<\/p>\n

      Don’t let your guard down<\/h3>\n

      The devil is relentless when it comes to destroying God\u2019s work.<\/p>\n