"Youth Living For Jesus"

"Staying Focused"

 Young people have difficulty staying focused.  This world is attempting to pull our young people away from Godliness.  We cannot escape every aspect of the world.  In some form or another each of us young or old alike will come into direct contact with fallen humanity.  Look at this outline and determine if you believe what you read.

THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE WHILE STAYING FOCUSED

Psalm 119:9 "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."

If you as a young person are going to be successful in living the Christian life, that young person must come to the point of making a decision in their personal private lives.  If this is difficult for adults and it is, it will be just as difficult for you also if you do not think about how you are going to live out the Christian experience.  Follow along with me and see where you fit into this outline.  You may be young, but if you are truly a responsible young person, you will obey and stay focused.  See how the Psalmist puts it, we stay focused if we take a lot of time in the word of God.

I. THE IMPLICATION IS THAT THERE HAS TO BE A CONSTANT FOCUS IN LIFE:

A. If I think more about the world and it's allurements, I will most likely find myself taken in, seduced, engrossed, possessed by this very world.  When the world has you under its control, you become the looser.

B. If I am taken in by the world, the text suggest that I loose a keen sense of being clean.

C. Lastly the text suggest that the very word is the classifier for my life.  It dictates for me how I am to live. 

 See this next scripture;  Proverbs 15:5   "A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent."

 II. STAYING FOCUSED BEGINS WITH THE DICTATES OF THOSE WHO KNOW:

A. The implication of this text is that there are two kinds of persons;  Can you figure the two kinds of persons?

B. The preacher states that the difficult one "The Fool" rejects knowledge.

C. The preacher states that the other is prudent in that he benefits from the assistance of those who retain knowledge.

 POINT: Please note the result of staying focused; Proverbs 23:22-24  Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

POINT: Each of us have an obligation to Christ of staying focused.  Are we fulfilling the task?

Hebrews 11:24-26  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  "The Passing Pleasures Of Sin" 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.  "He was looking for the reward"

 III. A PRIME EXAMPLE OF ONE THAT SAW THE BENEFIT OF BEING FOCUSED:

A. V.24 implies that something happens when a person grows up.

1. He refused to be governed by those that were un-disciplined.

2. He saw that there was more to life than blood line. (Heart Start)

B. V.25 This man choose to follow, thereby suffering for the cause of God.

1. In doing so, he gave up worldly pleasure. (Staying Focused)

2. He saw that pleasure was only momentary. (Staying Focused)

3. He also saw that there were other like himself that were going through the tensions of life. (You are not alone, so, Stay Focused)

C. V.26 This man saw that what Christ had to offer, was far greater than the allurements of a fading world.

1. The Lord has promised substance for a life well lived. / The world?

2. The evidence that we are well focused is seen in our ambition:

 CONCLUSION: 1 John 2:17; "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

THEREFORE IN THE LIGHT OF ALL OF THE ABOVE I AM TO STAY FOCUSED BECAUSE

1. This chaotic unrighteous system of sin will not last forever.  As I grow, I will get better in my life.

2. The allurements of the world are transitory;  They will change, the Lord never will change.

3. The physical satisfaction that it offers will not always pay off.  It will bring dismay.

4. Therefore; my focus ought to be on a biblical system; V.17b " but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

I have taught youth for years in the church.  I believe that if given the chance to see if the word works in the heart of each Believer, even young people can have victory in their lives.  If you are a young person pass this outline on to others.  Have them come to the site with you while you discuss the ramifications of the scriptures.  Live it in the real.  

Pastor John E. Coleman  December 2000