1. The Power of a Focussed Life

2. I. THE NEED FOR VISION & FOCUS Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Prov 29:18, KJV) Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. (Prov 29:18 NKJ) I. THE NEED FOR VISION & FOCUS Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Prov 29:18, KJV) Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. (Prov 29:18 NKJ) Prov 29:18 بِلاَ رُؤْيَا يَجْمَحُ الشَّعْبُ أَمَّا حَافِظُ الشَّرِيعَةِ فَطُوبَاهُ.

3. To 'perish' means to 'wander around' or 'cast of restraint'.

4. The focused person is the person with a vision, a restrained person.

5. II. COMPONENTS OF A FOCUSED LIFE A. Overall life vision What do you want to be remembered for Five and ten year increments Schedule daily Schedule hourly Accountability

6. THOUGHTS ABOUT TIME THOUGHTS ABOUT TIME A little bit of wasted time A little bit of dedicated time

7. B. Life goals: Applying my life vision to each specific area of my life Long-term goals (over 10 years) and short-term goals (3 months–3 years) 1. Spiritually (prayer time, fasting days, Bible study, etc.) 2. Relationally (family, friends, etc.) 3. Vocation (marketplace calling, etc.) 4. Ministry (in the church, outside the church, etc.)

8. B. Life goals Applying my life vision to each specific area of my life 5. Economically (spending, giving, saving, investing, etc.) 6. Physically (exercise, health, diet, etc.) 7. Rest (recreation, vacation, play, entertainment, sports, etc.)

9. C. Action plan For each long and short- term goal in each area of your life.

10. D. Schedule Each action plan

11. Ephesians 5:14–17 The Lord says: "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (15) See then that you walk wisely, not as fools but as wise, (16) redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Eph 5:14 لِذَلِكَ يَقُولُ : « اسْتَيْقِظْ أَيُّهَا النَّائِمُ وَقُمْ مِنَ الأَمْوَاتِ فَيُضِيءَ لَكَ الْمَسِيحُ ». Eph 5:15 فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ تَسْلُكُونَ بِالتَّدْقِيقِ، لاَ كَجُهَلاَءَ بَلْ كَحُكَمَاءَ، Eph 5:16 مُفْتَدِينَ الْوَقْتَ لأَنَّ الأَيَّامَ شِرِّيرَةٌ. Eph 5:17 مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ لاَ تَكُونُوا أَغْبِيَاءَ بَلْ فَاهِمِينَ مَا هِيَ مَشِيئَةُ الرَّبِّ.

12. Free time is also time that can be 'wasted'. You can set aside your schedule for emergencies, for surprises, or when tired.

13. DEVELOP SELF-GOVERNMENT Whatever you fail to manage, you will loose. Without a schedule you will live in the tyranny of the urgent.

14. I. GOALS RELATED TO KNOWING THE BIBLE THE ACTION PLAN FOR BIBLE STUDY God wants you to encounter the Living Word (Jesus) through the Written Word (Bible).

15. Hebrew 4:12 For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Heb 4:12 لأَنَّ كَلِمَةَ اللهِ حَيَّةٌ وَفَعَّالَةٌ وَأَمْضَى مِنْ كُلِّ سَيْفٍ ذِي حَدَّيْنِ، وَخَارِقَةٌ إِلَى مَفْرَقِ النَّفْسِ وَالرُّوحِ وَالْمَفَاصِلِ وَالْمِخَاخِ، وَمُمَيِّزَةٌ أَفْكَارَ الْقَلْبِ وَنِيَّاتِهِ.

16. James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Jas 1:21 لِذَلِكَ اطْرَحُوا كُلَّ نَجَاسَةٍ وَكَثْرَةَ شَرٍّ. فَاقْبَلُوا بِوَدَاعَةٍ الْكَلِمَةَ الْمَغْرُوسَةَ الْقَادِرَةَ أَنْ تُخَلِّصَ نُفُوسَكُمْ.

17. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 …when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 1Th 2:13 مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ نَحْنُ أَيْضاً نَشْكُرُ اللهَ بِلاَ انْقِطَاعٍ، لأَنَّكُمْ إِذْ تَسَلَّمْتُمْ مِنَّا كَلِمَةَ خَبَرٍ مِنَ اللهِ، قَبِلْتُمُوهَا لاَ كَكَلِمَةِ أُنَاسٍ، بَلْ كَمَا هِيَ بِالْحَقِيقَةِ كَكَلِمَةِ اللهِ، الَّتِي تَعْمَلُ أَيْضاً فِيكُمْ أَنْتُمُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.

18. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Php 4:8 أَخِيراً أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَةُ كُلُّ مَا هُوَ حَقٌّ، كُلُّ مَا هُوَ جَلِيلٌ، كُلُّ مَا هُوَ عَادِلٌ، كُلُّ مَا هُوَ طَاهِرٌ، كُلُّ مَا هُوَ مُسِرٌّ، كُلُّ مَا صِيتُهُ حَسَنٌ - إِنْ كَانَتْ فَضِيلَةٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَدْحٌ، فَفِي هَذِهِ افْتَكِرُوا.

19. 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (13) Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (14) Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. (15) Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. (16) Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

20. 1Ti 4:12 لاَ يَسْتَهِنْ أَحَدٌ بِحَدَاثَتِكَ، بَلْ كُنْ قُدْوَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الْكَلاَمِ، فِي التَّصَرُّفِ، فِي الْمَحَبَّةِ، فِي الرُّوحِ، فِي الإِيمَانِ، فِي الطَّهَارَةِ. إِلَى أَنْ أَجِيءَ اعْكُفْ عَلَى الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالْوَعْظِ وَالتَّعْلِيمِ. لاَ تُهْمِلِ الْمَوْهِبَةَ الَّتِي فِيكَ الْمُعْطَاةَ لَكَ بِالنُّبُوَّةِ مَعَ وَضْعِ أَيْدِي الْمَشْيَخَةِ. اهْتَمَّ بِهَذَا. كُنْ فِيهِ، لِكَيْ يَكُونَ تَقَدُّمُكَ ظَاهِراً فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ. لاَحِظْ نَفْسَكَ وَالتَّعْلِيمَ وَدَاوِمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، لأَنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ هَذَا تُخَلِّصُ نَفْسَكَ وَالَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَكَ أَيْضاً.

21. IN THE NIGHT Psalm 4:4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah Psalm 63:6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Psalm 77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.

22. Matthew 13: The parable of the sower and the seed

23. Group 1: Wayside Matthew 13:4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

24. Group 2 – Stony places Matthew 13:5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. (6) But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. Matthew 13:20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; (21) yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

25. Group 3: Thorns Matthew 13:7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

26. Group 4: Good ground Matthew 13:8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13:23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

27. PRACTICAL GUIDELINES TO SPEND TIME IN THE WORD Study one book at a time. Parables of Jesus. Miracles of Jesus through the 4 gospels. Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Topical search e.g. salvation, holiness, forgiveness etc.

28. C. How to study a book of the Bible in 5 simple steps 1. Highlight – select two commentaries, read each one, highlighting the key sentences. 2. Title – in your own words each paragraph in the Bible book that you study. 3. Study Notes – write insights from the commentary for the key verses from each paragraph.

29. C. How to study a book of the Bible in 5 simple steps 4. Journal – write your personal meditations and observations. Sometimes write it down word for word, or in own words. 5. Prayer – write a brief prayer from the passage.

30. III. MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES A. Computer, Bible Study Notebook, two commentaries. B. Internet resources www.soniclight.com www.ccel.org www.otgateway.com www.crosswalk.com www.ihopkc.org www.jwipn.com