Spiritual Laser Surgery: Fixing Our Focus on Jesus

Hebrews 1-3

“What Are We Holding Onto?”

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great

contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other

times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property,

because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.”

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you

have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised… We are not of those who shrink back and

are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved” (Hebrews 10:32-36, 39).

Spiritual Laser Surgery: Fixing Our Focus on Jesus

As bad as our trials are, the worst trial is our trial of faith.

Correcting Our Focus: Fixed on Christ or on Our Crisis?

Correcting Where We Fix Our Focus: Hebrews 3:1

“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and

high priest whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1).

Correcting Our Focus: Fixed on Christ or on Our Crisis?

Correcting Where We Fix Our Focus: Hebrews 3:1

Correcting Our Focus: Fixed on Christ or on Our Crisis?

When Life Stinks, Our Perspective Shrinks

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and

chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be

afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’” Then Elisha prayed, “‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he

looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:15-17).

Correcting Our Focus: Fixed on Christ or on Our Crisis?

Correcting How Long We Fix Our Focus:Snapshot or Video?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that

hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right

hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not

grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Correcting Our Focus: Fixed on Christ or on Our Crisis?

Correcting Our Focus: Fixed on Christ or on Our Crisis?

You know my every need and thought,

May I never forget what Calvary wrought.

Fortifying Our Faith: Fixed on Who Christ Truly Is

Correcting Our Blurred Vision of Our Sovereign: Christ Is In Control!

“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus—the apostle and high

priest whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1).

“In these last days God has spoken to us by his Son,

whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation

of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:2-3).

Correcting Our Blurred Vision of Our Sovereign: Christ Is In Control!

Correcting Our Blurred Vision of Our Sovereign: Christ Is In Control!

Clinging to Our

Sustainer

“…sustaining all things by his powerful word.”

Correcting Our Blurred Vision of Our Sovereign: Christ Is In Control!

Clinging to Our Savior

“After he provided purification for sins…”

Correcting Our Blurred Vision of Our Sovereign: Christ Is In Control!

Clinging to Our

Sovereign

“…he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty

in heaven.”

Correcting Our Blurred Vision of Our Sovereign: Christ Is In Control!

Clinging to Our

Sovereign

“Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes

for us” (Romans 8:34).

Correcting Our Blurred Vision ofOur Shepherd: Christ Cares!

“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in

every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might

make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being

tempted” (Hebrews 2:17-18).

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to

sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have

one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let

us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews

4:15-16).

Clinging to Christ Who Is Able to Sympathize

with Us

Correcting Our Blurred Vision ofOur Shepherd: Christ Cares!

Clinging to Christ Who Is Able to

Help Us

Correcting Our Blurred Vision ofOur Shepherd: Christ Cares!

“See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense

accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently

leads those that have young” (Isaiah 40:10-11).

Connecting Our Family: Fixing Our Spiritual Eyesight

Correcting Our Sinful View of God’s Heart

Correcting Our Sinful View of God’s Heart

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and

tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not

known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest’” (Hebrews 3:7-11).

Correcting Our Sinful View of God’s Heart

Correcting Our Sinful View of God’s Heart

In their trials, they put God on trial.

Correcting Our Sinful View of God’s Heart

“How long will these people treat me with

contempt. How long will they refuse to believe in

me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have

performed among them?” (Numbers 14:10-11)

Correcting One Another in Love

“See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful,

unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God”

(Hebrews 3:12).

Correcting One Another in Love

Under Christ the great Shepherd,

we are to shepherd one another

toward Christ.

Correcting One Another in Love

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have

come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the

confidence we had at first” (Hebrews 3:13-14).

Can WeWe Be Spiritual Encouragers?

Can WeWe Be Spiritual Encouragers?

Spiritual Laser Surgery: Fixing Our Focus on Jesus

Hebrews 1-3