The Power of Focus
July 11, 2012
The power of FOCUS
Have you ever failed at something? Failures can be attributable to two
factors:
Circumstances and Lack of focus applied at the right time with the right
energy.
Do circumstances matter? Is it possible to take advantage of both
“good” and “bad” circumstances? God, the Bucket, and the Man
in the Boat.
The power of uniting circumstance with focus …
For FOCUS to work:
Simplify to the one or few – Timing – Apply passion (energy)
Focus …
Biblical Focus
Fall of Jericho (Joshua 6)
Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6)
Focus …
Lack of Focus …
Biblical Lack of Focus
Lot’s wife (Genesis 19:26)
David and Bathsheba
(2 Samuel 11)
Application of Focus
At home - finances, time with family
At work - consistency, revenues, growth
Personal - exercise, relationships
Spiritual - prayer, reading, reaching
When applied properly, it's power multiplies.
It’s good for your family … your relationship with God … your
Company … your Church … all that you do multiplies with Focus
Focus: Simplify
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the
gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate,
and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there
be that find it.
Your “don’t do” list …
What you don’t do is as important as what you do.
Think about it like this: If you stopped doing “everything” and
bundled your spare time into the “one” or the few … If you only
did one or a few things … and did them tremendously well … all
of your resources would naturally FOCUS and multiply.
Applies to all aspects of your life … or your organization.
Saying “no” is a master skill.
SIMPLIFY.
(it’s harder than it seems)
Focus: When?
Ecclesiastes 3: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every
purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time
to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill,
and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a
time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to
dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get,
and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to
rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a
time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Focus: When?
Ecclesiastes 3: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every
purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time
to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill,
and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a
time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to
dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get,
and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to
rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a
time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Focus: When?
1)
a time to
11) a time to
21) a time to
2)
a time to
12) a time to
22) a time to
3)
a time to
13) a time to
4)
a time to
14) a time to
5)
a time to
15) a time to
23) a time to
24) a time to
25) a time to
6)
a time to
16) a time to
7)
a time to
17) a time to
8)
a time to
18) a time to
27) a time of
9)
a time to
19) a time to
28) a time of
10) a time to
20) a time to
26) a time to
A Time for Everything
There is the “right” time and the “wrong” time for everything you do.
A time to:
Finish High School. Go to College. Get Married. Have Children.
The right “time” should be part of any prayerful decision you make.
Have you ever done the right thing at the wrong time?
Focus: Passion-Listen to the Leading
1 Kings 19:11-13 And he said, Go forth, and stand
upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord
passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the
mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the
Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the
wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the
earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the
Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small
voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he
wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and
stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there
came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou
here, Elijah?
Focus: Passion
For focus to work – there has to be “a fire in your belly”
“Do” … what you … “Love”
How do you “create” passion … the drive to do something?
… You can’t. Passion is intrinsic to you – what motivates you – is
different for every person at different times in their lives.
But … God can. Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your
life … 1 Kings 19:4 (Elijah’s doubt – God answers by leading
Elijah to ultimate victory over Jezebel, Ahab and Ahaziah)
The Multiplier Effect
Achievement in anything requires discipline …
… To say “no” [God’s guidance to SIMPLIFY your life]
… At the right times [wait for WHEN God wills it]
… In alignment with energy [PASSION as you are led by God]
Focus = Simplify X Timing X Passion
Success is when Focus properly meets the
Circumstances God presents.
FOCUS FORMULA
SIMPLIFY: Do you have a "Don't do" list? Saying “no” is a master
skill. The LORD will help you discern what you should be doing
and what you should not be doing. The narrow gate of Matt 1:13.
WHEN: "When" is as important as "what". The LORD provides
the circumstances, you have to take advantage of them at the right
time. A time to … the timing of Ecc. 3.
PASSION: Do you pour energy into the important or the
unimportant? Are you one who reacts or “proacts?” The LORD
will help energize you towards the right goals. The still small voice
of 1 Kings 19.
SUCCESS
What guides your focus? Reactivity? What's easy? What makes you
feel good? Are you hearing God’s call?
Salvation is an act of focus – at the right time, you made a “don't do”
list, let go of the unimportant and put your energy towards a goal –
The New You.
Success is when Focus [Simplify X Timing X Passion]
properly meets the Circumstances God presents.
Questions?
Business Meeting
July 11, 2012
Resolution to Sell
1039 North Greece Road
Resolved: That First Bible Baptist Church
sell the buildings and 13.3 acres of land
known as tax account number 058.03-030450, at 1039 North Greece Road, to The
East Henrietta Road Church of Christ for a
purchase price of $1,500,000.
Resolution to Sell 5 Acres
of land on Manitou Road
Resolved: That First Bible Baptist
Church sell 5 acres of land off the south
end of our church property at 990
Manitou Road to TLC Adventures in
Child Care, Inc. for a purchase price of
$75,000.