“Keep your eyes on Jesus.” Author and Writer, Ronald Nelson

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2;

ENCOURAGING WORD:

The most prominent Bible verse for "keep your eyes on Jesus" is Hebrews 12:2, which encourages believers to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith," emphasizing looking to Him for strength and perseverance through life's trials, much like Peter who stayed afloat while looking at Jesus but sank when he focused on the storm. Other related verses include;

Key Takeaways from Hebrews 12: 2;

Focus on Jesus: Instead of worldly distractions or personal struggles, keep your gaze fixed on Jesus as your guide and example.

Perseverance: Jesus' endurance of the cross provides strength to overcome your own difficulties, preventing you from growing weary.

Example of keeping your eyes on Jesus: Matthew 14:22-32; “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”

These bible verses illustrate this: Peter walked on water while keeping His eyes on Jesus Christ,  but when He turned his focus on the storm, the wind and waves, he began to sink, highlighting the danger of shifting focus from away from Jesus. This is the perfect picture of why we should keep our eyes on Jesus Christ through every circumstance that we encounter. This is where our faith and trust in Jesus get challenged. It is so natural for us to try to deal with our problems on our own.

The problem with most people is that we try to handle our issues ourselves first, and then when all seems like there is nothing more that we can do, then we turn to Jesus. We have it all backwards, we should turn to Jesus first and give all our problems to Him right up front.

But here is another issue that we all face. Very few people really believe deep in their heart, that  Jesus will answer their prayers. We know what the Bible says, but yet we have a hard time believing it with all our heart because it goes way beyond our comprehension of what God can really do. We need to realize just how Big our God is. He created the whole universe and everything in it. If we were to travel from one end of the universe to the other, it would take approximately 28,000,000,000 light years to get across, God can do it in a thought. We have to know and trust that God will always do what is best for us. When we say a prayer asking for something ridiculous, there very little likely hood that He will answer it. If we pray for something that will glorify the Lord, we will receive it. The problem is this, we don’t know the difference between what will glorify God and want makes us happy. God wants us to be happy, but not if it will do us any harm in the future. Today’s happiness could be tomorrows disaster. God knows in advance how certain situations will affect us in the future. He will not let His children get in harm’s way, even when it might not seem that way to us.

Other important verses include; 

Psalm 56:3; "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You"(Jesus) and Romans 3:20-22; “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,”

This verse highlights faith in Jesus Christ for righteousness. 

Another key Bible verse about trusting in Jesus is; Proverbs 3:5-6; it encourages complete reliance on God, stating, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths". This popular scripture advises against self-reliance, urging us instead on total dependence on God's wisdom and guidance, promising that He will make your way clear and successful. 

This means a deep, unwavering faith, not just a partial or hesitant belief. This is where most of us fail in our faith. We don’t have the unwavering faith that we need to have for our prayers to be answered. If we pray and hope, that prayer will most not be answered. We have to know, not hope. Hope is defined as to (cherish a desire with anticipation : to want something to happen or be true.) Hope is a good thing, but it doesn’t necessarily equate to what you are hoping for. When we know something for a fact, it is something that will definitely happen. If you say, “I hope we can go on a nice vacation next year,” that is something that you are not sure of, but if you say, I know we are going on a vacation next year, barring some kind of tragedy that would enable them to go, they know they're going. In the Bible, "hope" means a confident, certain expectation, not a vague wish, grounded in God's promises. If our hope is in God promises, then you can know that hope in the right context is speaking of a definite event that will come to fruition, such as the Blessed Hope. The promise that He will remove the true believer before the seven year tribulation. God has not appointed us to wrath as we read in the following Bible verse.

1 Thessalonians 5:9; " For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,"

If your hope is in something that man says, your hope may just fade away to the point where there is no hope. Depending on how you use the word hope, it can mean two different things. It can be used as a verb and a noun.

Hope used as a verb; He hopes for a promotion

"Do we have enough?" "I hope so."

"Is it too late?" "I hope not."

“All doctors can do is prevent dehydration, wait for the disease to run its course, and hope for the best.

These uses of hope are not guaranteed.

Hope used as a noun; I have high hopes for success.

We have little/no hope of making the deadline.

They still hold out hope for a possible solution.

The differences may be subtle, but if you really pay attention to how you are using the word, you will see the difference.

When you ask someone, “Are you going to heaven?” there response is usually, I hope so. That’s not very comforting to me. The Bible tells us that we can know if we’re going to heaven or not as we read in the following Bible verse.

 1 John 5:13^; “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

Notice, it doesn’t say, “you may “hope” you have eternal life, it says you may "know" that you have eternal life.” If you put your faith in Jesus Christ and believe He paid for your sins, if it is a sincere commitment, then you can know that you are going to heaven. Also, notice, it doesn’t say, if you have good works you will go to heaven. “Believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” Pretty simple if you ask me. If you are attending a sect of Christianity that tells you that good works will get you into heaven, get out right away, because when you stand before Jesus Christ at the “White Throne Judgment” you won’t have a leg to stand on in your defense. You will be cast into the “Lake of Burning Fire” for all eternity. No exceptions!

The word "hope" is also something not yet seen, comes from; Romans 8:24; which states: "For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 

But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. This means true hope is an earnest expectation for future blessings and promises from God that haven't happened yet, requiring patience, unlike something already possessed.”

Hope is a desire for a positive future outcome, acknowledging uncertainty ("I wish this happens"). while knowing is a certainty based on truth or evidence

("I know this will happen"), often seen in faith as an assurance, moving from wishing for something (hope) to being certain of it (knowing). Hope is flexible, adaptable, and allows for other possibilities, whereas knowing is absolute and rooted in verifiable reality or divine promise. There seems to be a very fine line between hope and knowing, but there is a difference when praying to God. Very few will ever get to that position of knowing that their prayers will come true. This doesn’t mean that your prayer will definitely not come true, Gods will is to give us what we need, not necessarily what we want. He knows your heart, and He knows what you are praying for, if your prayer will bring glory to God, your prayer will most likely be answered.

The phrase you're looking for, "Anything that you ask the Father's name," likely refers to Jesus' promise in; John 14:13-14; "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it". It's about praying in Jesus' authority and for His glory, not just for personal desires, as detailed in; 

John 16:23, where Jesus says, “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.;

A very important message that is tucked away in this verse that many people avoid saying. (Whatever you ask in my name (Jesus Christ) He will give you. How many people end a prayer with; “In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.” If you do not pray in the name of Jesus. Your prayers will not be heard. Jesus said, whatever you pray in my (Jesus) name,  I will give you.

I’m going to ask a simple question that will upset many, but you need to consider what I am going to say before you get critical of me. When you pray the Rosary, do you end with “In Jesus Name I pray.” No, you don’t, so your prayers through Mary will not be heard. Stop wasting your time and stop using Mary as a crutch. We read in; Luke 1:42; “Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Mary is definitely blessed among woman, but she is not deity. She is not to be prayer too nor can she hear your prayers. This is a manmade law by Roman Catholosim, it is nowhere in the Bible that says Mary is equal to, or even close to the deity of Jesus Christ. Read what the following Bible verses declares.

Here is a verse that also rebukes praying the Rosary: Matthew 6:7; "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. This is exactly what happens when you pray the Rosary.

1 Timothy 2:5; “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”  Mary was last seen at the foot of the cross, and there is no mention of her anywhere in the Bible going forward. If you are upset that I said this, please prove me wrong by what the Bible teaches, not what Roman Catholicism teaches. The belief that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man is a central Christian doctrine, primarily based on;

1 Timothy 2:5 ("For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"), highlighting His unique role as the God-man who bridges the gap caused by sin through His incarnation and atoning sacrifice, reconciling humanity to God. While some traditions, like Catholicism, affirm Jesus as the sole ultimate mediator but allow for saints as intercessors, which is not Biblical. They are adding to the scriptures as they have done in many cases. The core message emphasizes Christ's unique

qualification as the one through whom salvation and reconciliation are made

possible. Nobody else.

Let me add some wisdom to this teaching.

Revelation 22:18-19; “For I (Jesus) testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: (The Bible) If anyone adds to these things, (things that are not supported by scripture) God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

If you support the Lutheran religion or Roman Catholicism, then you are guilty of this teaching. This is crystal clear, why do so many ignore what the Bible teaches? Do you believe the Bible or do you believe man. By the way, I do know the answer to this question. People do not necessary ignore the Bible, they are not taught the Bible from the pulpits of America. This is why it is so important to read the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit teach you. You will be held accountable for what you believe regardless of who taught you. You won’t be able to blame it on your Pastor or Priest that you believed all these years.

Now, ask yourself the following question. Who do I serve? The word of God or Roman Catholicism? You can’t say both, because Roman Catholicism doesn’t teach from the Bible. Oh sure, they may quote a few verses from the Bible, but then they most will most likely explain it way out of context. Let’s move on with the next couple of explanations that support this teaching.

Lean Not on Your Own Understanding: Don't rely solely on your own limited intellect or human reasoning; your understanding can fail. I have to be honest as I always am, I have a hard time with this command. There are a lot of things that I don’t understand about Gods Word. So, of course, I try my heart out to figure them out. All I do is get confused because there is no way some things make sense to me in my finite brain. If we try to figure things out as to what He does, we will all be lost, and we will lose our minds, because every conclusion that we come up with, will be wrong. The Bible can be very confusing if we take every word and try to figure out what it is saying. This is the reason that we need to be born again into the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the truth to us. If your listening to man’s explanation of the scriptures, you will be misled as is the case with most denominational churches.

Acknowledge Him in All Your Ways: Recognize God's presence and sovereignty in every decision and action, both good and bad. This one should be easy. Whatever you do, ask God to be present in everything, where again we read; Proverbs 3:5-6; "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths".

He Shall Direct Your Paths: When you honor God in everything, He promises to guide you, making your way smooth and successful. Romans 8:28; “ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and have become born again into the Holy Spirit, then everything that happens in your life is working out for the good. I can tell you from personal experience, that it sure doesn’t always seem like it at the time. Whenever I get into a fiery trail, I will often remind God that He said, “all things work out for the good” so, I believe Him, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy what I’m going through. I hate trials and God knows, I’ve had my share. It often feels like I get through one trail and there is another one waiting right around the corner. The Bible is also very clear that once you give your life to Jesus, you will go through trials.

We read this fact in; John 16:33; “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Notice, it says you will have tribulation, and this is not talking about the great tribulation that will come to all unbelievers left on earth after the rapture of the church.

This offers a message of peace through faith despite worldly troubles, as Jesus promises. His victory over the world is the source of believers' strength and hope. We also need to read the following truth. James 1:2-3; “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” This one is hard for us to swallow, but none the less, it is the truth. Trials are not fun. I have never been happy about going through a trial, but I do understand what it all means.

Peace in Christ: Jesus provides an inner peace (restfulness) that isn't dependent on external circumstances. Our rest, when speaking of true believers is found in Jesus Christ. If we search for happiness in this world, we will not find the same happiness that is found in Christ. If we find happiness outside of Christ, then there is a very good chance that you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior. The Bible is very clear that there will be no peace, until the Prince of Peace returns and that will not happen until after the tribulation. Jesus said that He did not come the first time to bring peace, He came to bring a sword as we read in the following Verse.

Matthew 10: 34; “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” The words that Jesus spoke here are in full force in the world in which we live. Our country is divided because of politics and religion. The old saying, “United we stand, divided we fall” is exactly what is happening today on a level that is unprecedented. Our country will fall soon because of all the evil that is taking over the world, and even more specifically, in America. The last three, not counting the current administration, have destroyed America to the point where it is beyond repair. There may be a glimmer of hope that we might get a reprieve, but it will be short lived.  At the second coming of Christ, He will bring judgement and then peace to all those that received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This will take place after the tribulation period when Jesus will set up His one thousand year Millennial Kingdom on Earth.

Reality of Tribulation: Believers will face hardship, distress, and suffering in the world before the tribulation by the hands of evil men that are just filled with hate! The Bible makes it perfectly clear that the true believers will not be present during the tribulation. If you believe that Christians will go through the tribulation, it is most likely because you believe that God has forsaken the Jews and the church is the Jews. If that were true, then yes, Christians would go through the tribulation as the Jews will, but this false doctrine has diluted the whole Bible in how the denominational churches perceive the Word of God. Christianity has been under persecution for the last two thousand years. This persecution will continue during the seven year tribulation to those that come to Christ during this time, but will conclude at Christs second coming. The tribulation is for two reasons. To judge those that take the mark of the beast and to bring the Jews down to their knees in repentance. The true church has no part in either one of these. Here are two verses that are in reference to the tribulation period.

1 Thessalonians 5:9; “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

"We are not appointed to wrath" is a key phrase from the Bible, specifically 1 Thessalonians 5:9, meaning that Christians are destined for salvation and eternal life, not for God's final judgment and punishment (wrath) on sin, which will be carried out during the tribulation, thanks to Jesus Christ's sacrifice. It offers assurance that believers will be saved from the coming judgment, though they still experience worldly persecutions before the tribulation starts.

Luke 21:36; “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The phrase "you may escape all these things" is from Luke 21:36, where Jesus urges His followers to "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, in reference to the tribulation and other evil events, and to stand before the Son of Man". This verse calls for constant spiritual readiness (watching and praying) to be aware of future events such as the tribulation. If you see that the tribulation is near, then you know the rapture is even closer. You may ask, what are we supposed to be watching for. God has warned us over and over with Bible prophecy what to watch for in the end times just before His return. If you support the denominational churches, then you don’t know what to watch for. Shame on your pastors and priest for not making you aware of what is coming. God has warned us about everything that is on the near horizon, but most Christians don’t have a clue, they are blind!

Courage & Overcoming: Jesus encourages His followers to "be of good cheer" (be courageous) because He has already conquered the world, giving them the power to overcome as well. 

This verse serves as an encouragement for Christians to find strength and confidence in Jesus' victory, even when facing difficulties. 

Psalm 56:3: "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You".

Psalm 56:3; is a well-known Bible verse where the writer, David, declares his choice to trust God amidst fear, often translated as, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You, emphasizing faith over fear by relying on God's word and presence, leading to the assurance, Psalm 56:4; "In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

Psalm 118:8: "It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man".

Psalm 118:8; is a powerful verse from the Bible that encourages finding security in God, stating, "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans" (or "man"), a sentiment echoed across various translations. The verse emphasizes that reliance on God provides greater safety and reliability than placing ultimate confidence in people or earthly rulers, highlighting God as the ultimate source of help and salvation, even amidst surrounding troubles. 

Jeremiah 17:7; is a Bible verse that declares, "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him or "Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD" It highlights that true blessings come from placing faith, hope, and reliance on God, rather than on human endeavors or worldly things, leading to a deeply rooted and flourishing life, even amidst life's challenges. 

I hope this message opens the hearts to all those that are being misled, and are following fables and lies about what the Bible teaches. 2 Timothy 4:3-4; “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will gather up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

These verses describe what is happening in our world today. Wake up people, we are living out all the end time promises that God told us to watch out for. You will have no excuse when all these things come to fruition. God has warned us about everything that is about to take place. Do you believe all the false teachings from your church or do you believe the Bible. They are not the same!

Now, I want to give you the opportunity right now, if you know you need Jesus, that you’ve been running from Him, that you’re not right with God, Stop running, Surrender. Let today be the day of your salvation. So, if you’re ready to give your heart to Jesus, pray these words.

Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, I have lived my life my own way and I have fallen short of your glory. I believe that you are the son of God. I believe that you died on the cross to pay for my sins. I believe that you shed your blood as the perfect sacrifice. I believe that you were buried and on the third day you rose  from the dead conquering sin and death. Right now, I turn from my sin, I repent. I surrender my life to you completely. Be my Lord, be my Savior, Make me new, fill me with your Holy Spirit. I give you everything, my past, my present, my future, I am yours, In Jesus name I pray. Amen.  

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.