The Right Focus in Prayer

By Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” Colossians 3:2.

​The world focuses on earthly things, but we focus on heavenly things. We aren’t of this world; we are of God so we should set our minds on the things of the kingdom. The treasures of God are in His kingdom. We should seek God’s kingdom above all else. When we focus on God and his kingdom we live in abundance of blessings and become an overflow of his blessings as we are filled with the fullness of God.

• Eph 3:19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. NKJV

We are not a funnel but a vessel to be filled to the brim and are drenched to overflow.  Rivers of living waters gush from the overflow to others so that we are never dry ourselves!!! The Scriptures said that out of the fullness of the Lord Jesus we all partake in blessings upon blessings cascading down from His overflow.

• Eph 1: 7: Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood—the total cancellation of our sins all because of the cascading riches of his grace. TPT
• Prov 10:22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.KJV

 The Lord is the source that makes blessings flow. The Lord himself is the blessing, when we don’t have him, we are really poor and have nothing meaningful. So first we have to focus on him then the blessings will flow. The most important of all is His life in us called eternal life and then other spiritual blessings of his kingdom.

Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority! “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” Colossians 3 1-2.

We must change our paradigm so we won’t be moved by things of this world or let it steal our heart and love for the Lord Jesus. As a man thinketh, so shall it be. When we think like this world we will be limited and frustrated. When we focus on Christ Jesus, we live in the realm of glory. We live in the realm of faith in Christ where all things are possible to them that believe. We live beyond limitations. Our lives will need to be explained. Because it is peculiar and completely Holy Spirit guided and empowered. WE MUST HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE ABOUT LIFE..GOD’S PERSPECTIVE. WE MUST SEE THINGS IN A NEW LIGHT..THE LIGHT OF THE WORD OF GOD.IT IS ALL IN THE BIBLE . READ IT

In Genesis we see that Joseph was a prosperous man and God was with him. Genesis 39:4 says, “And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his head.” The blessings of the Lord bring abundance and riches. The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.

The life of Christ produces the spirit life which is not the same with the normal human life. Joseph lived an extraordinary life because God’s Spirit was with him. His master’s wife tried to get Joseph to lie with her but he refused. This was not normal. It was because of the grace of God upon him. The power of the Spirit with him produced this blessing of victory over the flesh. Joseph knew something about himself, He said later that God sent him there. So he knew who was with him. That knowledge and perspective changed his life. He had a presence he knew was there but the woman did not know.

Now we have the presence of the same Spirit IN US. We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. Should we live a less powerful victorious life?

Joseph was a faithful man. His bosses testified to that. The power of the Spirit was working in His life producing this blessing of faithfulness! Should we be less faithful even when we are in lack? Joseph was as a slave and He let God bless him instead of stealing to bless himself

Whenever Joseph was in trouble, the Lord (the ultimate blessing) was with him. Even in prison, the Lord showed him favor. The keeper of the prison committed all the prisoners to Joseph’s hand.

When the Lord is with you, you will be the head and not the tail. Pharaoh had a dream that only Joseph could interpret, causing Joseph to be pulled out of the dungeon they had him in.  He solved mysteries and gave solutions that no one could come to. The blessing was manifesting in unusual abilities. Out of this world abilities of the Holy Spirit. Joseph never claimed that all of this was his doing, only the Lord’s. God showed him mysteries about his life and even led him to understand why his brothers sold him away. This kind of diligence and enablement only comes from the Lord.

We need to hunger to know Jesus so he can reveal Himself to us and unfold the mysteries of this life. The word of God will build our faith so that we can trust him and live the life he set out for us. The treasure of the word of God is indescribable. Proverbs 4:5 says, “Get wisdom; develop good judgement. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.” We have to seek the kingdom to know the wisdom that comes from above. We rule with Christ on earth because we have his word that has built our faith. The word of God is a treasure of the kingdom. It reveals who God is. When challenges come, we know how they are going to end because of the faith we have in Him and in His word. The word builds faith and helps us live the life that pleases God. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Everything we do with God is only on the basis of faith in Christ and nothing else

Colossians 2:2 says, “I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.” Christ himself is the blessing. We have overcome the world because of him. He lives in us, moves in us and is doing unimaginable exploits using us as vessels. If we continue to cooperate with His Spirit as He guides us daily, filling us with His fullness to overflow!!!!Out of our belly will flow rivers of living water cascading over us and wetting every person that comes our way with His blessings. We should talk to people, pray with them, love them, etc. as He inspires us. You are a vessel not a funnel!!!

Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel is the Senior Pastor of Fountain of The Living Word Church, New Jersey.