“NO ONE WANTS THEIR SHIP TO SINK IN HARBOUR.”

Early in the morning on December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise torpedo attack on the US Naval Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On December 8, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a speech, also known as the “Infamy Speech” to the American citizens, informing them that this happened while the US was in the midst of talks to keep peace. That same day, America entered into World War II.

Close to 360 Japanese planes attacked about 33 American ships. America sustained a loss of 170 aircraft that morning as well as 18 ships. 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded; few Japanese died.

Another man in history also watched and LOST his ships as they sunk in his harbor. The King of Judah experienced his own loss, pain and sorrow. “Jehoshaphat also built a fleet of trading ships to sail to Ophir for gold. But the ships never set sail, for they met with disaster in their home port of Ezion-geber. (1 Kings 22:48)

So just what went wrong with this Kings success? He reigns at the age of 35 for 25 years. He also came under attack from three surrounding nations that attempted to wipe his nation Judah off the face of the map. Jehoshaphat immediately sought the face of God for direction. Ammon, Moab and Mt Seir came with a vengeance to destroy them but met their own fate by turning on each other and destroying one another. Judah never drew a sword in the battle but instead lifted their voices with great praises to their God. As a result it took three days for Judah to collect all the plunder, riches and treasures from off the dead bodies.

So what caused Jehoshaphat to build ships in order to seek after gold? Could that have been a sign that his focus was in the wrong place? God’s Word tells us prior to this move that he was asked by the King of Israel, “Ahab” to partner with him in fighting against the nation of Aram. Jehoshaphat quickly agrees without even asking the Lord what His will would be in this matter. Ahab was a wicked King who worshipped false gods. Why would he so quickly agree to partner in this battle with this king? What can we learn from Jehoshaphat’s Losses?

“PAST SUCCESS DOESN’T GUARANTEE FUTURE VICTORY.” If King Jehoshaphat had asked God the right questions, (not if they would win in this battle with Aram), but are you for me making this NEXT move with this King?

“HE PARTNERED WITH WICKED MEN, AHAB AND AHAZIAH.” Jehoshaphat had always leaned on the Lord as his partner, for his next move in every battle. Not this time, he moved without God’s direction and approval. God tells us not to be unequally yoked. What does light have in common with darkness?  Be careful who You get “in bed with” in business, marriage or this world.

“HIS FOCUS SHIFTED FROM CHASING GOD'S GLORY TO CHASING GOLD.” There is nothing wrong with God blessing you with gold; but what’s more important is a heart chasing after God. Chase after God and He will more than give you blessings.  What are you chasing these days?

"WE MUST NEVER FORGET TRUE SUCCESS COMES FROM GOD.” God’s the REASON that King Jehoshaphat experienced Victories, Relationships, Riches, and Blessings. “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”(Matthew 6:21) NLT

Video Message

Focused?

It was a mild October afternoon in 1982 and Badger Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin was packed. Over 60,000 die-hard University of Wisconsin fans were watching their beloved football team take a beating by Michigan State. What seemed odd was that as the score became more and more lopsided, bursts of cheers and applause kept being heard in the stands. People began to wonder who these strange people were who were cheering while their team was being pummeled. As it turns out, 70 miles away from Badger Stadium the Milwaukee Brewers were beating the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of the World Series. Many of the Badger fans in the stands were listening to portable radios and responding to something else besides what was happening right in front of their eyes.

How many times do we lose heart when we FOCUS on things that are right in front of us? When things just aren't going your way! When the score becomes more and more lopsided in your life, each of us has to choose what we’ll focus on.  Possibly your marriage is experiencing its hiccups, your job has become empty and wearisome, your health is deteriorating, and the kids are in rebellion. What will you focus on?

In Medieval times, the enemy would take their victims and dismember them by chaining four horses to the condemned's arms and legs, thus making them pull him apart. I’m convinced that Satan who comes to steal, kill and destroy is doing the same today by pulling men apart by destroying their focus. Satan is out to divide your thoughts, interest, and focus. Is it even possible to stay focused in this day and hour?

I encourage you to stay FOCUSED on:

God    Why should anything else take priority or precedent over your Lord and Savior? Did not Christ give His very own life so we could experience an abundant life? He said Himself, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and He shall add all these other things to you.” Matthew 6:33

Family  “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22) It’s sad the average marriage in America only last 7 years. Don’t be surprised if the Four Horsemen don't attempt to rip your marriage apart with some distraction from this culture.

Purpose   You are here for a reason. Life is too short to live for another reason. Doctors were created to help people get well; electricians were created to bring power and light to society, lawyers were created to help people with legal issues, Pastors were created to encourage, educate, and equip people in their faith in God. Ask God to show you.

The Finish Line   Jesus said; “Remember lots wife.” (Luke 17:32) She lost her life in a blaze of fire all because she refused to stay focused on God and chose to look back at the world she loved. Refuse to allow the enemy to pull you apart with your focus, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2 “You will never reach your destination if you stop to throw stones at every dog that barks along the way.” Winston Churchill    Are you FOCUSED?

Focused - video message

Am I Procrastinating Being "All In?" - Part 2

Can you tell me who Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Hoshea,  Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethurson, Nahbi, Geurlor, or even Paltison are? Most of us would have to go on the Internet to research  who these people possibly are. The reason 99.9% of us don’t recognize their names is because they never did anything positive in helping advance or move Israel closer toward the Promises of God. These are the names of the 10 spies who came back to Moses and said, “We are not able to go in and possess the Promise Land.”

Why would you remember somebody who never did anything positive to advance moving people closer to the promises of God?

It had nothing to do with them being smart, energetic, well groomed, or even favored with leadership. These 10 men came back with an evil report. How would you like to be labeled as one who had nothing positive to bring to the table of God’s plan and purpose?

These 10 spies had several deficiencies.

They said, “Let’s Play it Safe”

You will never get to where God wants to take you by playing it safe. When my wife and I came to Jacksonville Florida, we both heard the enemy whisper in our ears, “You might starve to death; how are you going to put food on the table, gas in the car, and pay your insurance? You are going to go broke.” Well, yes we really didn’t have two nickels to rub together. But I simply refused to listen to Satan’s nonsense. He said, “If you go, you may never come out of the hole again.” Satan never does have anything positive to say to any of us about our future.

Why would you want to line up with the enemy? Why would you want to say what he says?  These 10 men ended up causing a million plus to die in the wilderness, all because their doubt led them in the wrong direction. Why would you want to wander in the wilderness? Nearly 3,500 years ago, the Lord Delivered His people from Egyptian bondage as described in Exodus, chapters 1-12. They were to take possession of the land God had promised their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. Don't fall into the same trap of putting God off and missing the promises of God.

 Today, choose to take a Risk and do things God’s way. Are you procrastinating His direction for your life? You must decide if you’re “All In” or not? Quit dabbing your foot in the water; dive in and accept His love and grace that will get you where you need to go.

Am I Procrastinating Being “All In?”

When my kids were young, I taught each of them how to swim. They had been in many kiddy pools up to their knees, but had never truly swam in a deep pool past their neck. As I was teaching them, they all had a tendency to hang onto my neck, the side of the pool or some float nearby. It wasn’t until they turned loose, or let’s say, I turned loose that they experienced being “ALL IN.” Then they moved themselves across the water without my assistance.

You will never learn to swim by just reading a book, lying out on a lawn chair, or just watching how to swim on a YouTube video. Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who, along with her father and other family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II and was imprisoned for it. Her most famous book, The Hiding Place, describes the ordeal. When you finish reading her story, you will surely see that Corrie was  “ALL IN” for the Lord.

Jim Elliott was a missionary who took the love and light of God to the Indians in Ecuador. It cost him and four other missionaries their lives, but today, thousands of those people know Christ as a result of men who were “All In.” Jim lived by his own saying; "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Would you say that people today in the body of Christ are, “ALL IN?” Can you and I truly say, “Lord, I’m all in?” There have always been times in the history of the church, where God’s people have grown SLACK. In Revelation 3:2 John writes, “Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.” Those are very strong words, but we dare not ignore them, since they are from the Lord Jesus Himself.

We have so many excuses where we say, “I’m just too busy; my work requires so much of me. I have to pay my bills; my family needs me. I just can’t commit like I want to.” That all may be true, but what about our Lord and Savior who requires not just 30% or even 65%? He requires that we love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Where does that Scripture fit in with our own agenda?

When will we come to the place that we say, Lord, I am yours regardless. Lord I will give regardless. Lord I will serve regardless. Lord I will be faithful to You regardless. Friend, don’t get caught up in the quicksand of complacency when it comes to saying, “Lord, regardless I’m All In.”

There are many undertows in the world today that will attempt to suck you into its vortex. Will you be bold and courageous enough to declare like Paul, “³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Declare with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me."
                     Procrastination - ALL IN - video message