Recap
 
Where do you have your focus! It matters because in order for wisdom to operate in your life, your focus has to be, first of all, on the Word of God! Focus was the topic of Pastor Mac’s fifth installment in his “Wisdom for Living” series. Where we place our focus is important because our enemy will cause us to experience all manner of negative things in order to break our focus on the Word of God. If we focus on truth, we will prevail in life.
 
Dive Deeper
 
Text: 2 Cor. 4:17–18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
 
We all focus on certain things. Hopefully it’s not on the negative aspects of life. If the enemy has attacked your body, your physical challenge should not be your focus… or what the doctor’s report says should not be your focus… or what your bank balance presently should not be your focus. Because in order for wisdom to operate in your life, your focus has to be the Word of God.
 
The things that we go through strengthen us. They make us grow. Even Jesus experienced increase by the things He suffered.
 
Wisdom tells us not to fix our focus on our problems in this natural, secular world we live in… things that can be perceived by our sensory perceptions.
 
The word “look” doesn’t mean a casual glance. It means to give your attention to or to focus.
 
We are not to look at the things the enemy is doing. The enemy knows he can’t alter your destiny unless he can alter your believing. He wants you to focus on how bad it is. He wants you to focus on the natural scenarios.
 
He says we are not to focus on the natural temporal realm. We are to instead look at the things which are not seen… the things that are not seen is a reference to the spiritual arena. Because they’re not perceived naturally… you can’t see them naturally or perceive them naturally.
 
When you don’t focus on the seen realm, but rather the unseen spiritual truths of who you are in Christ and what God says in His Word about you, then that temporal realm, the realm that is subject to change, will change.
 
The first thing we need to understand is that our focal point needs to be determined by what’s truly important to us. You still deal with natural realities, but you don’t focus on them. You instead focus on the Word of God.
 
Pastor Mac talked about how a lot of people settle for good. But good is the enemy of best. All of the Word is good, but not all of it is best for you to focus on at a given point in time. All of the Word is good for you to know, but if you’re in a physical battle for your life, your focus needs to be on healing scriptures.
 
Many believers allow politics to become too great of a focus for their lives. Politics is an important focus for Christians who are called in that arena. You need to know about politics. We need to participate in our civil duties as both Christians and as Americans. But we should not be so focused on politics that we become obsessed with them. Keep it in balance.
 
Read About It
 
2 Cor. 4:17–18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
 
Discussion Questions
 
If you were to give yourself an honest evaluation, how would you rate yourself when it comes to focusing on positive things versus negative?
 
Can you think of an instance when you practiced keeping your focus on the things of God and not on a problem?
 
Are there things in your life that you give an inordinate amount of attention to like television… social media… movies… sports? How would you work to refocus your attention to the things of God in a more balanced way?
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Recent Sermon Notes

THY KINGDOM COME, #2, “Seek First the Kingdom of God” | Mac Hammond

Jul 23, 2024

Pastor Mac delivered the second installment of his series entitled, “Thy Kingdom Come.” The book of Hebrews says that in the end times, God is going to shake the world systems. Some things will be removed by the shaking. Things that cannot be shaken will survive. And what survives the shaking will be transformed. Regarding the world’s systems, Pastor Mac says, “If our dependence is more grounded in these worldly systems than our dependence on God, we too will be shaken.” We are in the midst of the world being shaken. It’s important we understand why the shaking is happening and what we are to do in the midst of it.

THY KINGDOM COME: There Is a Shaking Going On | Mac Hammond

Jul 14, 2024

Pastor Mac began his new series, “Thy Kingdom Come,” by addressing the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Calling the event one of the saddest days in our nation’s history, Pastor Mac went on to say the event, interestingly enough, fit into the subject of his message subtitled, “There’s a Shaking Going On.” He said, “A lot of us were truly shaken by what happened. But we must keep the perspective of the Bible in mind; He is not shaking things by having someone take a shot at President Trump that killed someone else.” He cautioned, “We’re going to see more and more of these things in the immediate future because we are living at the end of an age.” He continued to address the coming shaking of the world.

GRACE UNVEILED, #14, “Revelation Grace” | Jim Hammond

Jul 7, 2024

Pastor Jim shared the 14th installment of his series on the book of Romans, entitled “Grace Unveiled.” Revelation 5:3 was the text for the message: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” It goes against our flesh nature, but this verse is telling us to jump for joy when you experience tribulation.

Spiritual Warfare and the Imagination | Jim Hammond and James Tan

Jun 30, 2024

Guest Minister James Tan joined together with Pastor Jim to tag team preach the message, “Spiritual Warfare and the Imagination.” Their message was based on 2nd Corinthians 10:3–5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” Pastor Jim and Guest Minister James took us step by step on how to cast down and take captive any thoughts that do not exalt the knowledge of God.

GRACE UNVEILED, #13, See Jesus in His Grace | Jim Hammond

Jun 23, 2024

, Pastor Jim gave his 13th installment of his series “Grace Unveiled.” Still in Romans chapter 4, Pastor Jim says if you don’t understand the message of this chapter, you will not be able to understand the rest of Romans. Chapter four makes the case that you are made righteous by His grace, not by your good works or by your good deeds. It is through faith in His grace. One must understand that His righteousness is a gift. It can’t be earned. Pastor Jim went through the chapter and carefully laid out the understanding of each verse.