First Focus
I Kings 8:59-61 NKJV
And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.”
Have you ever thought about the Loyalty of Jesus?
Loyalty is being faithful and true, No matter the circumstances.
Some would argue this about Jesus.
An unanswered prayer can make a heart doubt the loyalty of God.
The inability to witness His Glory to prove His existence can push the thought of His loyalty.
Jesus prayed for all those that God gave to Him.
John 17:6 NKJV
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
Or as He hung on the Cross and Jesus prayed for the ones not loyal to Him.
Luke 23:34 NKJV
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Not only is Jesus loyal but He is committed to you as well.
He is dedicated to the life of your soul.
He is dedicated to your Salvation.
He has given His own life for every sinner willing to accept His dedication of Sacrifice.
Its only requirement is repentance, believing and following.
But with the following comes obedience.
Obedience shows our loyalty and our commitment.
It’s not easy to follow Jesus.
There can be a little skepticism in God’s commands to us.
We rationalize about it, and before we know it we can be in a place where our loyalty has gone away and the commitment we once had fades away.
My question is how loyal are you?
Do you allow anything or anyone to come in-between you and Jesus?
What is it that is pulling you away from Him?
We all have something that seems to take our focus off Heaven’s Glory!
He is totally and fully committed to you. So committed that He has already given His life for you. He has already spilt His Blood to wash and cleanse you to make you presentable to the Father.
So what level of commitment are you at with Him?
In our society there is a big problem with commitment.
It is rare to find full dedication.
Spouses, children, work. Church, ministry.
Why?
Because Jesus is not their first focus. He is not their main focus.
If Jesus Christ is not our primary focus what happens?
We go back and forth trying to plead man and God at the same time.
This is a sign of an immaturity in faith.
The Apostles had reached a new level of faith and it grew because of their loyalty and commitment to Christ.
John 6:16-20 NKJV
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
How does their loyalty and commitment grow?
They first got in the boat as Jesus commanded.
Obedience is the first step to loyalty and commitment.
Christ is worthy of loyalty.
We show Him loyalty through our submission to Him.
Through our faith and trust in Him commitment is shown.
Many of these men were experienced fishermen.
Then suddenly the winds pick up. The eaves rise up. The boat no longer obeys the ones at the helm but give way to the strength of the storm.
This was unexpected and unforgiving.
These loyal and committed are the ones that don’t give up easily when the waves crash.
They row and row through it.
They push and fight.
Tired and weary the body starts to give out. The mind starts playing tricks on you. Satan sees your vulnerability and pounces on it.
Do you trust Christ fully and weather the storm or do you turn back when the water gets rough!
The Apostles had one command from Jesus.
Go to the other side.
No other instructions.
They obeyed.
The winds come.
They row.
The waves come.
They row.
They start to get tired.
They row.
They didn’t stop even in the face of adversity. Even when they started to lose control of the boat.
Even when their muscles burned and ached.
The rowed.
Why?
Jesus gave them an Assignment to go to the other side.
They didn’t give up even against the wind.
How easy would it have been to just turn around?
The wind would have been in the sails.
The boat would have been brought back under control. They would have been able to rest and recover.
They could have gone back to where they started and waited out the storm.
Our walk with Christ should always be in a forward movement.
Yes we will hit some hard times. It’s gonna feel like we are sinking or even drowning.
But the Apostles show us something in this storm.
They were committed. They were fully in. They didn’t understand everything.
They feared they worried but they were committed to Christ and what He told them to do.
What is your commitment?
So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
It is I, 3 words in English and 2 in Greek.
Ego Eimi.
In Greek it translate as
I AM!
The Great I AM, God Himself calms the sea and the hearts of these fearful men.
Be of good cheer, it’s OK. Because God Almighty, creator of Heaven and earth is in your presence.
Have no fear!
The same I AM that spoke to Moses.
God tells Moses to go to the people and Moses asks ‘ who shall I say sent me’
God says tell them I AM sent you!
He sees you in the storm.
He sees the waves crashing
He sees you struggling.
God is here! Christ is here. The Holy Spirit is here.
These Disciples walked by obedience. In their obedience HE shows and reveals Himself in greater and greater ways.
It was God in the flesh that calmed the waters and the hearts.
Jesus stands in calmness as these storms wreak havoc. The waves and wind dare not attempt to overtake Him. They don’t challenge Him but obey His every command. So do the Apostles.
Isaiah 50:10 NKJV
“Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord And rely upon his God.
Let this verse be one that carries you through the storms.
Never lose your awe of God or the desire to do His will.
Completely commit Even through the storm!
Reflect in this.
Obedience shows our loyalty and our commitment.
Pastor Ed
