SPEAKER_00: 2:17

Hello and welcome to Let's Talk About It podcast. I am your host, Apostle Rosemary of RCN Ministries and OSGA Apostolic Network, along with my wonderful husband, Apostle Herbie. We are coming to you still with our unshaken series. On today, we're going to deal with episode seven of the series, which deal in the title or topic of this series today is The Fight to Stay Focused. The theme of this is protecting your purpose from the pull of distraction. So again, the title is The Fight to Stay Focused. So just a quick recap on what we spoke about on last month. The episode six was dealing with faithful with the little, focusing, just making sure that we put our focus or that our focus is not automatic, that it's literally a fight to stay focused. But last month it dealt with us as a people, as a body of Christ, being faithful with the little things that God has given us and entrusted us to do, the things He's given us to steward for the kingdom. And so when we begin to look at the anchor scripture for this text on today, we will be looking at Nehemiah chapter six and verse three. Okay. And it's going to be dealing with the fact that, well, let me just go ahead and read it. Nehemiah 6 and 3. And it says that I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. So it's dealing with just the struggle of everyday life, the things that we have to endure, the things that we have to overcome, the distractions in the world, in our lives, in our jobs, all of these things that come against us to get us off focus of the things of God, to get us off track of the work that God has placed in our hands to do for the kingdom. And so we as a people of God, we've really got to learn to stay focused in this season and moving forth. Because this is dealing with chapter six, like I said in Nehemiah, the whole chapter, it begins to deal, start out at verse one, and it's dealing with the enemy's plot or the plot of the enemy. So when we get down and we understand that what the Lord is telling us is that we cannot get distracted, we've got to stay focused on the works at hand, on what God is calling us to do. I know that it doesn't look good, it doesn't always feel good. There are many things that are going on globally, even here in the United States, but a lot of these things that are political, they are secular things, and we as a body of Christ, as the remnant of God, we've got to learn to stay focused. We've got to learn that this is the fight in this hour to literally and to really and honestly stay focused. So we cannot get distracted. Why? Because we understand as that anchor scripture in Nehemiah 6 and 3 tells us that I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. So, in other words, I'm doing a great work, I'm keeping my mind on the things of God. I cannot get distracted and I will not come down, but I'm going to continue to repair the breach in the walls, the oracles of the gospel, the things that have gotten eroded, the things that have gotten contaminated and polluted within the scripture and the doctrine of Jesus Christ and the word, the unadulterated word of God. And we've got to once again go back to and tear everything down in a biblical sense of the erroneous doctrine. And we've got to learn that we've got to rebuild from the foundations of the apostle and the prophets, but not first, not forgetting to first put the chief cornerstone in place rightly fitted, which is Jesus Christ. Once we laid the cornerstone in place, then we're able to set the foundation by pouring the foundation, which is the apostles and the prophets. Amen. So we need to understand that. When we're talking about that, I'm gonna go ahead and I'm gonna read this. I'm gonna do it in Nehemiah chapter six, verse three, and I'm gonna do it in amplified. And it says, So I sent messengers to them saying, I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop why I leave to come down to meet with you? So, in other words, we need to understand Nehemiah recognized that he was on an assignment from God, he had a mind, a mandate from God, he had a work to complete for the kingdom that God had given him, and his assignment was to rebuild the walls by God, to in other words, to fortify that which God has already given us. When there is a breach within the wall, then the enemy is able to come in, he's able to pitch a tent, he's able to cause discord, he's able to cause chaos. So we've got to learn to understand that no matter what it is and who it is and who God has connected to you, because remember, connected does not mean covenant. People will connect with you, but that doesn't mean that they come into alignment of covenant with you. How do we know that? Because you watch them by their maturity or their immaturity, you watch them by the character that they have in the lack of maturity that they may also have, and you begin to understand that okay, these are not sons and daughters. They cannot, they cannot partake of the sonship that God is giving us as men and women of God, but they can be connected, but they're not covenant. So that means that there is there are two different types of people that will that you're going to come in contact with in your life, people of God. And as leaders of the ministries and different things like this, and ministers of the gospel, we're going to understand that everybody connected is not covenant. Because covenant people understand protocol, covenant people walk in decency and order, and that all things must be done in decency and with order, according to 1 Corinthians 14 and 40. They understand maturity, they understand spiritual authority, they know the difference in when someone is holding them accountable and when someone is trying to control them. Because control and manipulation, the word of God tells us is witchcraft. But sometimes we as people of God, we allow distractions and we allow outside voices to begin to entangle and ensnare us where we become polluted and we start thinking like them. I I begin to tell people this watch a man or woman of God. And as a spiritual leader, and if you're looking for a spiritual leader, look for someone that you can relate to that understands your identity in Christ, and also someone that you look at and desire, something that's in them also be reproduced in you through the process of multiplication. So when you see that, then you'll understand what sonship is. Sonship is that reverence for the leader, that reverence for spiritual authority, that all things that I do, I have to align up with the word of God. It's not that they're trying to hold me back, it's that I'm trying to bring the correction in order to prune away some things in the identity or the characteristics of the men and women of God that we may see, my God, that has to cut and it has to die. My God, let me go on. I'm trying to preach it, I'm trying to just do a podcast. Apostle, reign me in. Okay, I'm going on. So we need to understand there is a war against your focus, men and women of God. Distraction is one of the enemy's most subtle weapons that you will encounter in your walk with God. The enemy will get you distracted, doing all kinds of other things, besides doing what God has called you to do. A lot of times we don't understand it, and we may be doing things that we think is conducive to what God wants us to do for the people, but then we have to ask ourselves, what is it that God has given me to do for the kingdom? And then we need to be able to identify that and to understand that. But in order to do all of those things, we have to know our identity. When we know who we are, when we know whose we are, we are going to move accordingly. So understand that distractions will come, but we must be able to use godly wisdom to identify when these distractions come. So then another thing when it comes to the war that is raising raging against our very focus to distract us, we have to learn to discuss the common focus killers. And and we do that through when we when we have things that are common to us that are killing our very focus, they're called focus killers. One thing is comparison. We have to stop comparing ourselves to others, to their mandate, to what God has called them to do, to becoming overcommitted, the overcommitment to pleasing people, being a people pleaser, and also a digital overload. When we've got our hands in too many pots, then we can't identify or truly and clearly hear from God. Every distraction comes with a cost, and that cost is your process. See, many of us should have been further along than what we are. It's time to take accountability, it's time to stop accusing others or feeling as though others have caused us as men or women of God to not be where we need to be in the things of God. No one can stop you, man or woman of God, no one can block you, man or woman of God, but you. So understand this is a fight, man and woman of God to stay focused. Nehemiah's focus and his blueprint. Apostle, you want to pick that up?

SPEAKER_01: 14:51

Nehemiah chapter six. He refused to come down from the wall to ent to entertain drama. The key principle is focus, and it means saying no to good things so you can so you can say yes to God. God things.

SPEAKER_00: 15:36

Apostle Herbie just read a key principle from Nehemiah chapter six about the key focus is we need to know learn how to say no to good things so that we can say yes to the things of God, to God's things. That's powerful. And like he just said, the real life application when to say no, why? Because I am I have learned to protect my God time, the time that I spend in consecration, the time that I spend in meditation, the time that I spend setting in his presence, the time that I spend fasting, the time that I spend setting healthy boundaries and relationships, the time that I spend where I realize that in this season, moving forward, that many will be promoted, demoted, or retained or held back in this season. But the reason that will happen, men and women of God, is because you did not stay focused. Go ahead, apostle. Strategies for um sharpened focus.

SPEAKER_01: 16:58

Okay, focus forces, clarity of calling, know what God assigned you to, consistency in habits, system protect your purpose, and courage to say no. Every yes is a no to something else.

SPEAKER_00: 17:30

So you have to start your day with a focus reset, set quiet time, set goals, and also set aside time for prayer. One apostle heard that said about the three focus focus forces, clarity, knowing your calling, knowing your kingdom identity, knowing your purpose, knowing where you know, this is not the season to be tossed to and fro. This is not the season to still not know clearly who you are and what God has called you to. We have to have consistency and habits in all things. We have to line up with the word in all things. We have to line up with the word in all areas. We can't pick and choose what what scripture and the word we're gonna obey and what scripture in the word we're gonna reject. Me and Apostle have had some heartfelt talks about strategies and protocols laying out for 2026 moving forward. Because we we have been global over 15 years, and so in ministry for equipping senior leaders, leaders, and emerging leaders, and what we have come to, we've come to a conclusion that character reveals your identity, your wisdom, as well as your spiritual maturity, and so we we can't you cannot spoon feed people that are not ready to go from milk or uh soft food to steak and and and meat. You can't do it. You have to be able to meet people where they are, men and women of God that are leaders, listen real well. Meet people where they are, and when God begins to show you that there is something or some things that they are wrestling with, then when God begins to reveal and release you to deal with it, move accordingly, according to scripture. But also, God puts leaders and shepherds as spiritual coverings, but also as spiritual authority over other men and women of God within the body of Christ to shepherd and guard the people, but also to give clear direction, to give correction, to bring reproof. When they are covenant, they will move accordingly, and they will do all things in decency and order. When they are only connected, they are going to do what they want to do. That stems from the arm of the flesh of the orphan spirit in the vagabond, and so we have to move according to what God shows us, what He allows us to discern, what He allows us to know in the realm of the Spirit, and that it it allows us to be able to pray accordingly for the men or the women of God. The courage to say no, like Apostle talked about. We have to learn to say no to some things. It it may, you know, obligation, obligation is a destiny killer. I need to put that up on my status. Obligation is a destiny killer. So many people have so many irons in the fire until they're running around doing XYZ, but they don't have time to clearly sit in the presence of the Lord because they're obligated to a man, or they're obligated to a woman, or they're obligated to a cause, or they're obligated to a people, or they're obligated to a job. This is where it comes to reset when you start your day and set aside that quiet time. Make sure you reset and set aside focus goals all as well as your prayer time. Encourage yourself. You are not weak for being distracted, you are human, but you are powerful with focus. Challenge is this, that's the encouragement part. The challenge is this. Choose one focus area this week and guard it intentionally. I'm gonna say it again. The challenge, choose one focus area this very week, men and women of God, and guard it intentionally. If that means that I need to set healthy boundaries, I need to stop being so accessible, or I need to I need to learn to do the Lord may be telling you to meditate 30 minutes in the morning, and he may be saying, Go back into your prayer closet another half hour. Then guess what? You're going to challenge yourself to get to where God is calling you. God is calling you to ascend. You cannot stay in the valley when God has given you a mountaintop mentality and mandate. That's good, right there, too. That's good. I need to don't don't y'all try to snatch that and post it now. Copyright. All right. So we also want to tell you that the next episode next month, just a little teaser, episode eight, is going to deal with the how the fact that we are built to last. So, just to recap on what we went over this morning with our podcast. Let's talk about it. Podcast here. We talked about that we are in the hour that this is the fight to stay focused, and then we need to understand that focus is a daily decision that protects your purpose. Nehemiah was the key scripture for this morning. Nehemiah 6 and 3. When Nehemiah had to tell the haters and all those that were sent by the enemy, Beelzebub, to distract them from their mandate and their call? How many out there know that there are people that are assigned to get you off focus? There are people that are assigned to cause you to walk contrary to your spiritual covering and leaders and men and women of God, my Lord, and even family members. How many of you out there know that the enemy has assignments against you to cause you to delay or to abort your purpose and your destiny? So Nehemiah recognized this and he said to himself, No, no, no, I'm doing a great work and I'm not coming down. I cannot. He didn't say I'm not coming down. He says I cannot come down. So, in other words, y'all can stop trying to ask me, I'm not coming down. I'm gonna stay on this wall until I complete my assignment. My God, my Lord. The enemy doesn't need to destroy you if he can just distract you. That's good, Post. Okay, you wanna just finish up those right here? The three focus forces wrapped up in courage.

SPEAKER_01: 25:47

You are not weak for being distracted. You're just human, right here.

SPEAKER_02: 25:55

Yeah, let's stop up here. Hello.

SPEAKER_01: 26:01

You were here the three focus uh forces of calling, consistency in habits, and courage to say no. Um what is stealing my focus in this season? What boundaries do I need to establish to protect my assignment?

SPEAKER_00: 26:36

We've got four questions here we're gonna ask, and we'll give you some answers. I'll do two and a pastor will do two. You wanna do the first two?

SPEAKER_01: 26:44

Okay. Why is why is focus so difficult in today's world? Because because because everything is built to grab your attention from from apps to people, expectation, focus is now a spiritual discipline, not just a mental one. The second one is what do I do when I feel like I have lost focus completely? Pause, reset, pray, go back to the last thing God told you and reconnect.

SPEAKER_00: 27:29

Clarity often returns when we return to silliness, and it's so important that we recommit when we go back to what God had told us, recommit to it and say, Okay, God, I I messed up and I didn't follow through on what you told me to do. I'm gonna recommit to accomplishing that which you told me. I'm gonna do the next one, the next two. Okay, the third question is this that we want to challenge you to ponder on when you ask yourself, I have too many responsibilities. How do I focus when everything feels urgent? The answer to that, people of God, is this ask what's important versus what's just loud, my Lord. God's assignments come with grace, business isn't always fruitfulness. That'll preach, that'll preach right there. And the last question is this how do I develop better focused habits spiritually? And the answer is this, men and women of God, set spiritual rhythms, daily prayer time, scripture before screens, before you jump on any apps, before you turn on the television, wake up and pray, set in the presence of God, seek his face, weekly planning with God, the more you train your spirit, the more focused your life becomes. So then I have to train my spirit, and I will begin to see the evidence of the fruits. How? Because the more focused that my life will become. Start doing some of these reflections, you know, the asking yourself like Apostle Herbie, what is still my focus in this season? And what boundaries do I need to establish to protect my assignment? I'm going to share right there and be a little transparent. The Lord has been dealing with me personally, and not just me with us, me and Apostle. And we discussed it that the Lord is telling us that we've got to set boundaries, we we've got to really get in his face even the more because there are some things that are coming on the horizon. Some things have already hit. Manifestation is coming forth within the next six to eight months, and God is telling us that we've got to be ahead of this wave, we've got to go out and pioneer, we've got to bring back the substance and the provision that the body of Christ needs and will need and shall need moving forth. And so we've got to set boundaries that anything, anyone that is bringing distraction, discord, chaos, rebellion of any form, any type of disrespect, anything like that, we have got to sever it. And so the reason why is because we cannot allow ourselves to be around contaminated, polluted things or attached to those types of things. We've got to stay focused, men and women of God. Our hearts have to stay pure. We've got to stay in alignment with God, with his word, with his mandate and his purpose for our lives, for the body of Christ. Apostles, anything you want to add before we get off? Nothing else. Okay. So we want to thank you all for joining us this morning. And we hope and pray that this episode, episode seven, which is the fight to stay focused, and it deals with men and women of God protecting your purpose from the pool of distraction. We pray that God blesses you, that God keeps you throughout today and the rest of this year. We pray that you have a blessed day in Jesus Christ. Amen and amen. God bless you until next month. You guys have a great rest of your day. And thank you for joining us on Let's Talk About It podcast. I am Apostle Rosemary. And this is Apostle Herbie of RCN Ministries and OSGA Apostolic Network. God bless.