Magnificent Obsession

There was a book written about a person who was totally obsessed with the idea of fulfilling another person's goal in life. It was called "THE MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION." The dictionary says an obsession is "complete domination of the mind by one idea." I can see by this that I have an obsession: to be filled with all the fulness of God and come into the image of Jesus Christ, which is what I call "Sonship."

As God knows my heart, it is not a selfish desire. The reason I want to be like Jesus (come into full "Sonship") is, because I love Him so, but also because it is the only way I can ever be used in the restoration of fallen creation. I see the needs of the world around me, and realize that I am practically powerless to do anything about it. Oh yes, I can pray, believe God, and see occasional healings and deliverance's. But anyone who says that they have reached the place where their ministry is meeting the needs of the world is either blind to the needs of man, or a proud hypocrite.

ABRAHAM WAS OBSESSED

I see a man in the Bible who was obsessed with the idea that God had a country and a city that far transcended anything seen on earth. He had been promised this as an inheritance. And he would settle for no less. He sought for a city whose builder and maker was God. He would never build himself a city called after his name. He dwelled in tents, traveling across the land, always looking for this city. And in all of his searching, his God was always near. He had close, personal encounters with God, and conversations with his Maker. The blessing of God was upon him, and he became rich and powerful. He was a mighty warrior. He was a great man of faith and patience, one who made mistakes, but was never forsaken by God. And he never turned his back on the vision, however slow it was in coming. He had a magnificent obsession.

Abraham was so obsessed with the promise of his inheritance, that his obsession spilled over onto his son and his grandson. For Hebrews 11 says that Isaac and Jacob were heirs with him of the same promise. Neither did they build an earthly city. The Bible says that they "declare plainly that they seek a country.. A better country, that is, an heavenly." These men had a vision, a promise, that filled their minds completely. And because of this, God was not ashamed to be called their God. That seems to say to me that God is ashamed to be called the God of some people who are only obsessed with earthly possessions, pleasures, and desires. Some preachers are obsessed only with numbers, prestige, and the size of the offerings. These things fill their minds. Others think only of building a ministry and a reputation. There is a greater vision to fill our minds. It is total sonship.

THE MAN MOSES

Moses was born of Hebrew parents, at a time when all Hebrew boy babies were being killed by Pharaoh in order to guarantee that the Hebrews would never be strong enough to revolt against Egypt. It was the worst time in history for a Hebrew boy to be born. But it was at this time that God chose to bring Moses on the scene. He was rescued from the river by Pharoah's daughter, and raised in the palace, midst all the splendor of Egypt. No other boy in Egypt had the opportunity to be taken up with the things of the world as did Moses. But God's hand was upon him and the riches of Egypt could not get into his heart or fill his mind. He was obsessed with the needs of his own people. His mind was filled with the thought of their deliverance from slavery back to the land of promise that God had given them. He had a magnificent obsession.

After 40 years of exposure to Egypt's glory, and then 40 years of tending sheep in the desert, his ambitions was gone but his obsession remained. At the burning bush, God awakened his desire to see Israel brought out of Egypt. But he thought he was too old, too worn out, and of no value to God. How mistaken we are sometimes! We misjudge the ability of God to use the nothings of the world to do His work. There is no one too old, too poor, too uneducated or too physically handicapped to be used of God, if we just allow our minds to be filled with a magnificent obsession.

In the 40 years wilderness journey, Moses met constant opposition from the people. They were an unbelieving, rebellious people. Very few had any vision of what God was going to do. It looked impossible for this people to ever be the people that Moses saw in his vision. He saw a victorious people marching into Canaan, taking over the land, fulfilling the promise God had made to Abraham. How could these idolatrous complainers ever become such an army as that? Moses was tempted to stand back and let God destroy them off the face of the earth But he did not, because he had faith in a living God He believed God could take any people in any condition, and still bring His word to pass. So his faith was in God, not in the people. Oh friends, if we could only learn that! We would have far less problems with each other. We would be able to accept one another's frailties and imperfections much better, if our faith was in God, and not in each other. Moses was obsessed with the idea that God was going to bring this people in to the promised land, even if it took two generations to do it. He believed in the ability of God to fulfill His word. He had a magnificent obsession. It constantly filled his mind. It made him a man of
history.

APOSTLE PAUL - MAN OF DESTINY

Saul of Tarsus had a horrible demonic obsession. His mind was filled with but one thought: destroy the followers of Jesus. Make them recant, put them in jail, or kill them. He could not think of anything else. He used every force at his disposal to fulfill this obsession. Then he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. There was such a dramatic and immediate change in his life, it was difficult for anyone to recognize him. The old obsession had absolutely no part in his life from then on. He was saved "from the guttermost to the uttermost." He was now obsessed with the passion to serve and bless the very people he had been persecuting. When I hear of people being saved by stages, I think they should read the story of Paul. Some become believers, seek the "charismatic blessing," and then sometime later they start trying to give up their drinking. Their use of foul language, especially in times of tension and crisis, is something they wish they could get control of. The problem of smoking cigarettes is considered, and sometimes an effort is made to quit, but nothing seems to ever get accomplished. The spirits of anger, fear, insecurity, suspicion, depression, and lust are just things they learn to live with. After all, "no one is perfect."

But believe me folks, God is raising up a people with a magnificent obsession. They are so obsessed with the vision of the Son of God, and of our calling to be like Him, that carnal spirits and problems have no chance to fill their mind. Their vision is upward and outward, not inward. Their mind is always on Jesus Christ, and on ways to bless His people, His body. They fulfill the words of Jesus: "Love God.. then love your neighbor." Those who are obsessed with loving themselves, and being concerned only about their own needs, will always be plagued with inner problems and wrong spirits. Their lives will never have the victorious walk in God that they would like. They will always feel weak, frustrated, and unable to be a real Christ-like man or woman. Their mind is filled with the wrong person, themselves, Paul was obsessed with Jesus Christ, and with His earthly body, the Church. Sure he had problems, persecutions, battles with devils. But these things were incidental to the passion of his life. He really did not care what -happened to him. Whether he lived or died was not a big issue. Whether he had plenty or nothing, lived in comfort or suffering, did not trouble him. He had a magnificent obsession to build the Church of Jesus Christ. He was a man of history. Today little men with small visions spend their lives trying to make themselves larger. They are obsessed with their own needs. They come and go and are hardly missed when their time on earth is finished.

JESUS CHRIST - THE ULTIMATE MAN

Our Lord Jesus spent his brief time on earth obsessed with the idea of revealing the Father to His people, and meeting their needs. He was obsessed with love and compassion for all men in every walk of life. It did not matter if they were rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, friend or foe. He loved them all. He lived to meet their needs, to heal the sick, teach the kingdom of God, and to expose the hypocrisy of the religious system that men had created. He could draw a multitude at any time with his marvelous miracles, yet he gave himself to twelve men, to train them in the ways of God. They were to take over the leadership of the future Church. They were the foundation of something that was to shake the world. Jesus was single minded in His vision for this Church. It was to be His earthly body. It filled His mind. He had a magnificent obsession.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What is it that fills your mind? What do you plan your schedule around? What is it you are most willing to spend your money for? What in life are you most obsessed with? With some it is their families. They will quit their job, sell their home, and move across the country if it will keep their family together. With others it is their job or career. They will neglect their family to the point of divorce, if it interferes with their career. With others it is pleasure, meaning anything that pleases their ego or appetites. Sometimes all they can think about is money, or sex, or something that builds their ego. We all know how some get obsessed with drugs or alcohol. With such, nothing else matters. They will rob their loved ones to get drugs. They will neglect all the good things in life for another bottle of whiskey or wine. Worldly people are obsessed with things of the world.

But what about God's people? What fills our mind? I want you to know that there is a people being raised up today who are obsessed with the desire to worship Christ, and to know Him and learn more about His Kingdom. This is the People with a magnificent obsession. This is the people that will sit with Him on His throne and rule the nations. This truly is the overcomer. This is the Prize of the High Calling of God.