Part One of Nine: Focus

No, this is not an anecdote about my little 2012 Ford Focus [1].

The word focus is very strong in my spirit today as I write these words to you. Man has split God’s church and this displeases Him. Each individual denomination has its own (man-made) doctrine. This has been going on for centuries and it is now because of the split, we have a lack of unity. We are a weakened church and the enemy senses this, to the point of wanting to move in for the kill. When are we going to learn? We’ve had 2000 years to evangelize the world. The book of the Revelation talks to the church at Ephesus and exhorts them:

v4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
v5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent [Revelation 2:4-5].

So hear the word of the Lord brothers and sisters, “Repent and return to Christ and He will come and heal thy land.”

The church has lost its focus. Why haven’t there been more miracles performed today? Why hasn’t there been more personal growth in the church? Why haven’t there been more outreaches? Why are there not more Peters walking on water? Why are there not more salvation’s due to those who would cross through our shadows?

In Christ’s day, how did Peter’s shadow heal people? How were the Apostles able to heal a multitude of people of sickness and vexed with unclean spirits? How did 120 people receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost and speak in each other’s languages in the upper room? How did people raise from the dead? Why was Peter able to walk on water? Why did the whole world in Christ’s time change through the existence of one man? Let me tell you why, because the Apostles had one message and one message only:

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” period. It’s ALL they preached. . .period.

The church is not about sprinkling or dunking. It is not about the Sabbath and on which day. It is not about whether we have eternal security or not. It is not about whether we go to the Catholic Church, the Methodist church, the Lutheran church, the Baptist church, a Pentecostal church, a Charismatic church, or to any of the other tens of thousand denominations [2].

We ARE the church and the church is about repentance, salvation, and Jesus Christ crucified [3]. Yes, we the church have lost our focus, and we need to repent and return to Christ. . .period [4]. We need to dispel man’s doctrine(s), dispel man’s denominations, dispel the mindset of today’s Christians and “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” [5]

What good is any of man’s doctrines going to do for them in glory? The question will be, when we face the judgment seat; how many people have I brought with me. We need to refocus on what the Apostles and Disciples did in Jesus day. History repeats itself. . .today is the day of one message and one message only:

“The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” period.

Today is the day of salvation [6]. When we reach out to people, watch things happen. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow [7]. What He did 2000 years ago He can and will do again today, but we have to be bold and in one accord [8] to do so. We can only accomplish this with the proper focus in the unity of the faith [9]. Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 2:2 and it is the word for today.

v2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. [1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV]

HALLELUJAH!!!

Next week: Part Two of Seven. . .We’ll talk about what is important in Christianity and that which is irrefutable, in a message titled, “The Five Essential Doctrines”
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[1] Number one car world-wide
[2] This number varies because of the definition of denomination and whether or not each denomination has a specifically different belief or not.
[3] 1 Corinthians 2:2
[4] Revelation 2:4 Speaking to the Church of Ephesus
[5] 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
[6] 2 Corinthians 2:2
[7] Hebrews 13:8
[8] Philippians 2:2; Acts 2:1
[9] Ephesian 4:13-16