The Wilderness Test

Focus. How many of us need need it. Many of us fail at this test. We get distracted easily, and bit by bit our focus shifts. And soon our original purpose gets put aside, and a new one takes it place. And sometimes it's the same with God. We start off strong, but soon, when the thngs of this world begin to eat at you, when studies begin to take its toll, when friends become too hard to decline, when the computer becomes a better choice to spend your time, we begin to lose focus, we become distracted, and we start to compromise. Friends all of us have a purpose on this earth, and that purpose should be our focus. Many times it will be very difficult to persevere, to be able to put aside everything and just walk by faith in the journey God has called you to. Many times it will be difficult to pursue the God-given vision. Obstacles will come, people will rise against you, even your own friends. Situations you least expected will suddenly occur. But friends this is all part of the enemy's plan to destract us, to derail us from the journey by which we have been called. I want to encourage you that in spite all that happens, continue to focus on God and His plans for you. The devil's 'no' cannot compare to God's 'yes', and when the devil sees that he can't do anything to stop you, he will have no choice but to shut up and crawl back to hell. But for this to happen, you must make a choice. You can choose to be distracted and allow the present to kill your future, or you can choose to focus on the future and follow God. Salvation is free, but following Jesus comes at a price.

Jesus was never distracted. From the day he was born, he could have chosen to put aside his purpose and choose to be a successful person on earth, one that chased money and did evil in the eyes of God. But no, he chose to remain focused. He knew he was to be the Savior, and so he walked in the path God had destined for him. He chose to put aside the riches of the world to be a fugitive and ultimately the Savior. He chose to be seen with beggars and fishermen and lepors than be seen with kings and high teachers of the law. From the day he left the carpentry shop in Nazareth he had only one ultimate aim-the cross of Calvary. While starving in the desert for 40 days, Satan tempted him with food, with riches, with power, but not once did Jesus buckle. He was starving, and I believe he was desperate, maybe at some point he wanted to give up, and along came Satan with everything he could ever want. But friends, NOT ONCE DID JESUS BUCKLE. He remained focused throughout. Even when the soldiers mocked and whipped him at Calvary, he remained focused on his purpose as Savior and he prayed for them. Jesus disallowed the things of this world to distract him. He disallowed his emotions to derail him. He disallowed his situations to hold him back. He disallowed his sacrifices to disourage him. He disallowed anything to take away his purpose from him.

Friends today do you catch the heartbeat of Jesus? Do you see what God is doing in your life? I remember once during an SP empowerment Pastor Gary asked us to go around and talk about God. Anything about God. And then I began to think. What has God been doing in my life? What is God preparing me for? And these questions began to bring me back to my purpose. What has God intended for me? Friends today as you read this I'd like to encourage you to ask yourself these questions. What has God been doing in your life? What is God doing currently in your life? What is God preparing you for? As you began to ask yourself these questions begin to see your purpose. Begin to see the path God has destined for you. And when you see it, remember it. Guard it in your heart. Write it down somewhere. Don't forget it, because friends, many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. And until you begin to walk the path God has set apart for you, you'll never see the fruits of your labour. The key word: Focus. Because God has destined you for something great. Something so great you'll never be able to comprehend, because God's ways are not your ways, and your simple mind can never comprehend His plans. Therefore friends, focus and begin to walk that path to fruitfulness.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has caled me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians3:12-14)


Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

(Verse 2)
Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, alll of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you


Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we're living
That's what we give to you, Lord

Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
Lord I offer you my life