What are you concentratng on now?

What are you concentrating on now?
Luke 10:38-42
Our church is the young church. Most of the church members are young. But don't forget. : Youth time is not so long. Time flies! Bible says, "The length of our days is seventy years-or eighty, if we have the strength ; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away."(Psalms 90:10)
Therefore, make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.(Eph 5:16) What does this mean? It means : Don't spend your time idly, or Don't spend your time on the worthless things, or Do concentrate your energies on the works of God. As lens gathers light and focus on one spot, it makes a paper burn. Likewise when we concentrate on one thing we can get power and we can accomplish something.
Today I have a question. "What are you concentrating on now? Are you concentrating on enjoying worldly pleasures till late night? Or are you concentrating on computer game? Or are you concentrating on English study with all your heart(soul, mind)? Or like a apostle Paul, are you concentrating on finishing the task the Lord Jesus has given you- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace?(Acts 20:24) What on the earth are you concentrating on now?
If you concentrate on study, you will have good marks in your study. But if you concentrate on watching internet till late night, your eyes will be bloodshot, and you will be so tired that you cannot attend even Sunday service.
But if you concentrate on prayer, you will meet God. And if you concentrate on spreading gospel, you will have much rewards in heaven. According as what you concentrate on, your future will be decided. I am a very concentrative man. But regretably I concentrated my energies and my times on playing, not praying. If I kept playing I would be a bum. But luckily I met God so that I have become a pastor from a bum. Hallelujah!
And just after I met God I felt very regretful for what I had done. So I decided not to live a regretful life any more. From that time on, I have been living for the glory of God, for the spreading gospel to enlarge the territory of the kingdom of God.
As I look back on my past life I think I have concentrated on the works of God. And I will concentrate on the works of God on and on. As the early church apostles said, "We will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."(Acts 6:4) I will give my attention to prayer and the ministry of the word, too. And what do you want to concentrate on?
Today I'd like to introduce the story of Martha and Mary. Their parent passed away long time ago. They are poor orphans living in poor village Bethany. They loved Jesus very much. They wanted Jesus to come to their home.
One day Jesus visited to their home. Martha's mind was distracted in preparing dinner for Jesus. But her younger sister Mary was listening to Jesus. Elder sister Martha didn't concentrate on Jesus, but younger sister did concentrate on Jesus.
All of sudden, Martha came to Jesus from the kitchen and complained, "Lord, I am so busy for much preparation for you, but you only talks to Mary? Don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
Then Martha said to Mary with her eyes, "You, come out, now! or something bad will happen to you!" Then the atmosphere turned strange! When Jesus leave their home, Mary will be rebuked by her older sister. So Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, Don't be angry. you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her!"
What do you think is better? What should we concentrate on? Bible says, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."(Matthew 6:33) We must concentrate on the better things. Then it will not be taken from us, just as Mary concentrated on the better thing. I ask you to concentrate on the best thing that is the work of establishing the kingdom of God.
Bible says, "Be diligent in these matters ; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.(1 Tim 4:15) Brothers and sisters, Let's give ourself to the world mission in order to make our church the model church for the world mission. Let's do our best. Let's be first to do the works of God. Let's be diligent. Let's keep our spiritual fervor. Let's love each other deeply. Let's pray fervently.
Do you know who can meet God? And who can experience the miracles of God? The concentrative persons on praying to seek God can meet God. Let's see Elijah. He was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.(James 5:17-18) Since he concentrated on praying, he as a great prophet could go his way. If he failed to concentrate on praying to God he could not experience the miracles of God.
Jacob is same. Because he prayed fervently all night, because he wrestled with a angel of God till daybreak, he could see the Sun of blessing rise above him. Let's see the Syrian Phoenician woman. She never gave up. She said to Jesus, "Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters' table. Please, give me the crumbs. "She asked persistently so that her daughter was completely healed from demon-possession.
And Jesus also prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.(Luke 22:44) Bible clearly says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."(Jeremiah 29:13) "Those who seek me find me."(Prov 8:17) "You will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul"(Deuteronomy 4:29)
"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."(2 Chronicles 16:9) "Blessed are they who seek him with all their heart."(Psalms 119:2) Bible did not say, "Blessed are they who believe in God with vague attitude. Jesus said to us, "I wish you were either cold or hot.(Rev 3:15)
Brothers and sisters, Let's be hot in praying. (giving thanks to the Lord, spreading gospel, supporting missionaries, doing works of God) Don't be afraid to be heard from others. "You are out of your mind!" Even Paul heard, "You are out of your mind!" because he spread gospel with all his heart!
Brothers and sisters, Don't be absorbed in the worldly pleasure but in heavenly pleasure. The most distinguishing character of the Full Gospel Church members is eagerness, enthusiasm, concentrating. Just like Mary in today's scripture, let's be enthusiastic for the best thing, then we will never lose it. and we will never say, "I am regretful."