4 Focus Points to Greater Kingdom Impact

I’m sure you have heard it said just like I have; “If there are so many Christians, then why aren’t we seeing a greater impact on our society and world?”  Personally, I don’t believe it is from a lack of concern.  Every Christ-follower that I have had discussion with has a genuine concern over the moral and spiritual decline we are witnessing in society.   Now, I may be wrong, but I also don’t believe I have ever met a true believer who wasn’t deeply burdened for those who are without a personal relationship with Christ.  Yet, that still doesn’t answer the question, “Why aren’t Christians making a greater impact?”

As I mentioned, I don’t think it is from a lack of concern.  I believe for many of us, the enemy is using a different tool from his evil collection; he has got us distracted.  Christians are not exempt from the everyday pressures of life.  Like everyone else, Christ-followers have families to raise, jobs to go to, lawns to mow, dishes to wash, bills to pay, PTA meetings to attend and the list goes on and on. Satan knows that he doesn’t have to harden our heart, he can simply distract our focus.

I love the story about former New York Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra.  He was known for his
ability to distract hitters with nonsense chatter.  In the 1958 World Series, Yogi tried his techniques on Hammering Hank Aaron.  As Aaron stood in the batter’s box, Yogi said, “Hank, you are holding your bat wrong.  You have to turn it so you can read the label when you swing.” On the very first pitch, Aaron crushed the baseball into the left-field bleachers.  After Hank rounded the bases he looked at Yogi and said, “Yogi, I came up here to hit, not to read.”

Hank Aaron taught us a wonderful lesson.  If we are going to make an impact on our world for Christ, we must not our lose focus and get distracted.

Here are 4 areas to set our gaze to minimize the devil’s distractions…

1.      Focus on your Value.

I am convinced that most Christians live defeated lives and have little impact on others because we are defeated in our minds.  Romans 12: 2 challenges us to not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  In fact, this conviction is the drive behind my latest writing project.  I hope to finish my manuscript for a book on this subject in a few months.  Our mind is the battlefield where we fight our toughest battles. If the enemy can get us to view ourselves as defeated, we will live defeated.  If he can convince us that we don’t deserve grace (which we don’t, that is why it is called grace), then, we will keep trying to earn God’s love instead of receiving it.  Satan loves to play head-games with us.

The only way to get rid of stinky-thinking and see ourselves the way God does is to saturate our mind with what God has said about us in His Word.

·         *  God says He loves you with an Everlasting Love...

“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

·         *  God says you are the apple of His eye...

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 17:8) 

*   God says you are special!

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. ³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. ³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10: 28-32)

You are more valuable than you think… Second,

2.      Focus on your Purpose.

Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t rapture a believer straight to heaven the moment they receive Christ as their Savior?  It is because we have a purpose.  Jesus told His disciples that the reason He came to this earth was to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10).  Shortly after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples as they were locked away in hiding.  To prove Himself that He had indeed raised from the dead, He showed them His hands, feet and the wound in His side.  Then Jesus made the great transfer.  He said to them, “As the Father sent me, even so, I send you” (John 20:21).  At that moment, Jesus transferred the incredible responsibility of sharing the message of the Gospel onto all who follow Him.

Think about this…

·        *  You are God’s Ambassador...

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

What is an ambassador?  They are one who lives in a country not their own, to represent the homeland they are from. When we become a follower of Christ, we become a citizen of heaven.  We no longer represent this world, now we represent the Kingdom and reign of the Lord Jesus to this world.

·         *  You are salt...

“You are the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13)

What does salt do?  Salt adds flavor.  Salt preserves.  Salt purifies.  Salt heals. Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth.  We are to add flavor to life.  Galatians 5: 22-23 says that our lives should be marked by the Holy Spirit.  We are to be a people of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  We have an incredible impact on our world.

·        * You are light...

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)

Are you still questioning your value? Your purpose?  Jesus says that you are the light shining in the darkness that directs people to Him.  No wonder the enemy wants to distract you.  You are called and gifted to represent Christ on the earth and led others into a dynamic relationship with God.

3.      Focus on the Fundamentals.

How did Hank Aaron hit that first pitch over the left-field wall with Yogi trying to distract him?  He stayed focused.  He knew who he was – he was Hank Aaron.  He knew what he was there for – he came to hit. He also knew to follow the fundamentals of hitting.  There are times when the voices of distraction are ringing in our ears, at that moment, we must go back to the fundamentals.

In Matthew 22: 37-39, Jesus gives us our fundamentals.

“Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind….You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

By the time Jesus came to this earth, the religious system had taken the 10 Commandments that God gave through Moses and turned them into more than 613 commandments or rules.  People were weary and discouraged.  Jesus refocused the people on two simple commandments.  If you will love God with all your heart and love people, you will keep all the commandments.  What a breath of fresh air!

If we follow those two simple commandments, love God with all our heart and love people, what kind of impact can we make on this world?  It will be amazing!

Finally,

4.      Focus on Surrender.

We must realize that impacting our world for Christ is not as much about what we do, as it is, what we give up.  Jesus said, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10: 39).

The Christian life is about surrender.  We surrender our will to God’s will.  Staying focused on impacting this world for Christ takes a daily decision to lay our lives, our goals, our desires before Christ and invite Him to change our plans if He desires. Following Christ is the conscious decision to pick up our cross and follow Him.

Distractions are everywhere, but we can’t afford to lose our focus.  You are on the greatest stage of all….life, and you represent the greatest Kingdom ever established….God’s, and you are the ambassador for the greatest King to ever reign….Jesus.  Stay focused. Get up every morning and remember who you are.  Look in the mirror and remember why you are here.  Refresh yourself every day in the fundamentals and remember to surrender.