Apple of God's
Eye
Isaiah 49:13-16
- Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O
mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his
afflicted. But Zion
This
message closes a seven part series[1] on
the power and principles for soaring through focusing on God (Isaiah 40:31;
Hebrews 12:1-2). A story is told - a
young man committed an offense for which he was to be killed. However, on
second thought the king gave him a test to pass in order to avert
execution. The test was to carry a
glass full of water from the palace on a hill to the market place below. The
king arranged two rows of people by the two sides of the street. The people on
one side were praising him while the ones on the other side were criticizing
and abusing him. He successfully carried the water to the market. When they
asked the secret of his success. He said, “I did not care about the praises or
the abuses. I just concentrated on the water because I knew my life depended on
it.” That is how to overcome faith distractions. Simply remember your life is
dependent on maintaining focus on God. You can focus on something so much until
it becomes a part of your life. A rural person visiting the city will be more
aware of noises by crickets and other insects in the hustle and bustle of city
life. Whereas people in the city with a different preoccupation are better
tuned to the sound of a coin that drops on the pavement. Similarly, despite all
the voices scrambling for your attention you can still hear the still small
voice of God if you can make focusing on him and spending time in his presence
a priority (Hebrews 12:1-2; Colossians 1:3-6; 2:6-10).
Whatever
God has asked you to do He has done for you. The purpose of this message is a
reminder He focused on you first. The
Bible presents a loving God whose center of focus is his people. Even angelic
beings wonder why he is so mindful of people (Psalms 8:4). Making God center of
your focus is an appropriate response. The problem is often believers are
ignorant or forgetful of what God has done.
>> Isaiah
49:13-16
on one hand, exhorts the heavens, earth including mountains to break into song
for what the Lord has done for his people. He has comforted them and will have
mercy. On the other hand is a sad
picture of the people for whom the rest of creation is celebrating. They are
mourning that the Lord has forsaken and forgotten them. God however reassures his people, “Can a
woman forget her sucking child, and that she should not have compassion on the
son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of
my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Is it not encouraging that your
life and interest are before God’s eyes.
The Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake (1 Samuel
12:22).
>> Hebrews
12:2
encourages believers to looking unto Jesus because he gives and perfects faith.
From what the saints ought to do, it mentions what the Lord has done. He was so
focused on his people and their welfare that it became his source of joy for
which he endured the cross, despising its shame. Isaiah 53:11 prophesied that He would
reflect on the travail of his soul, and be satisfied that it was worth it all.
The truth is God loves you unconditionally and no one can do anything about
it. God is passionate about His
people. God is emotionally involved with His people. It excites Him, it delights Him, it is what
He has always wanted—to live in and be among His people (1 Peter 2:9).
>>Zechariah
2:8
says the LORD who rules over all has said of his people - anyone who touches
you touches the pupil of his eye. No
wonder the Psalmist prayed, keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the
shadow of thy wings (Psalm 17:18). The LORD’S portion is his people everything
else he allots to them and protects them like the apple of his eye (Deut
32:9-10). The apple or pupil of the eye
is something gentle but precious, something you set attention to and watch over
carefully. You do not something you touch carefully and will not let anyone
touch. Even when you sleep, the eyes close to protect the pupil.
Further,
even if God had called his people his pets, to be God’s pet would have been
great. Yet he preferred to make us a part of him. Not only a part but also a
vital part. He chose to see through his people. His goal is that you see as he
sees. You cant see your eye pupil except
in a mirror or on your image. The lens through which God sees us is his word
and the image on which he sees us is his son.
He has chosen to make you indispensable despite your imperfections, otherwise,
he would have made a new group of people but instead he died for you. That is
how much he treasures and protects you. If you are fond of someone, you talk
about them, keep their pictures, wear their label, include them on your budget
and time allocation. God does the same
for you. He loves hanging out with you and he dresses up for you. Max Lucado (A
Gentle Thunder, 1995) wrote, “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be
on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers
every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he’ll
listen. He can live anywhere in the
universe, and he chose your heart… Face it, friend. He’s crazy about you.”
That
is why you can focus on him and surrender to him withholding nothing.
NOTE: What the Positioned to Soar, Series Covered:
-
The power of focus to dominate, shape and attract things to a person.
-
How a person empowers what he/she gives attention to – at whose feet do u sit.
Eve lost her focus by listening to the serpent,
-
The importance of being more aware of and responsive to what helps your values
and goals
-
Having a single grand attraction that helps you define distractions and
overcome them.
-
Focusing/concentrating your resources such as time and finances on activities
that are important (QII activities)
-
Being sure that the anchor of your faith will hold and you will be unmoved when
you go through storms. When your anchor holds you enjoy strong foundation,
peace, and stability. Cast your anchor/faith up to the rock of ages.
-
Prayer as an appeal worth directing
only to God. He hears prayer and because
of this right of appeal, it is never the end of story until his will is done.
- Focusing access to your life by how you directing your power to say yes or
no, to accept or reject. Right of admission into your life is reserved for you.
R.O.A.R. (RIGHT OF ADMISSION RESERVED).
The
average TV owner spends about three hours watching TV every day. That equals
about 52 days of TV watching per year. By the age of 65, the average American
will have spent nearly nine years glued to the tube. What would happen if the
time were spent differently? Focusing on God is proof that you are experiencing
heaven on earth. You cannot be in his presence and see anything else bigger,
greater deserving more attention than him. Focus on Christ opens eyes to Gods
power, provisions, and promises. It is the heart of worship. Discipline is
ability to hold or keep focus by overcoming distractions, delays and
disappointments.
Hebrews 12:1-2 -
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.
Message by Dr.
Kurai Chitima.
Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center
Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building
204B Bram Fischer drive,
Randburg, Johannesburg South Africa
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