New Covenant Fellowship - Union County Baptist 4 Valley Road, Clark New Jersey
Exit 135 off the Garden State Parkway

Thank you for coming by to visit. I pray you will return often; and whenever you have an opportunity please come by and join us. We meet Sundays 8:30-9:30 am; and Tuesday nights 7:00-9:00pm

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A Healthy Obsession

Scripture Reference: Philippians 3:7-16
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

I went through a large number of internet links to find a definition I could use for our discussion on obsession. But each one seemed worse than the last. One site defined it as: An unwelcome, uncontrollable, and persistent idea, thought, image, or emotion that a person cannot help thinking even though it creates significant distress or anxiety. Clearly there is nothing uplifting or happy about that definition, but I guess I’ll just have to go with it anyway.

Now based on that clinical definition most of us would view “obsessions” as something very bad, but I’d be willing to wager that all of us have been obsessed with something or someone during our lives. Tell the truth. We’ve been obsessed with television programs, certain foods, clothes, shopping, cars, telephones, cleaning, reading, movies, exercising or something. And of course each of us that have experienced love has been obsessed with the loves of our lives, right?

Well today I’m making the case for the development of a healthy obsession. Yes I contend obsession is healthy when you are obsessed with the Lord.

There is an overwhelming commitment in the words of Apostle Paul that is unmistakably filled with obsession. Listen to his words. Paul is obviously obsessed with Jesus Christ. He commits his life, strength, future and present passion to the will and ways of Christ. But unlike most carnal obsessions (that according to our definition has little logical basis), Paul’s obsession with Jesus has it basis in the fact God first loved us. His obsession is matched by the matchless sacrifice Jesus made on Calvary’s cross.

John 3:18 says it best, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” This is the beginning sentence of the greatest obsession ever. God is totally obsessed with each of us. His every thought and action is for our benefit and purpose. His entire word and Holy Scripture is for our edification, healing and deliverance. He loves us so much that he devised a foolproof method for us to be forgiven our sins to spend eternity in his presence. Think about it! God loves us so much that he disregarded his own flawless nature and wrapped the essence of himself in sinful and flawed flesh. And in the greatest act of obsession ever, God paid the ultimate price for our salvation…death.

So now it’s easy to understand Paul’s obsession. His obsession is not unreasonable, outrageous or excessive. In matter of fact, in light of all God has done for us, his obsession is the least that he (we) could do. Mediocre, reserved, dispassionate worship is really not worship at all. Indifference to service, souls and the things important to God can not be excused as a personality trait, upbringing or disposition. Once you truly know about the love of Jesus, feel the touch of his affection and the fire of his anointing you cannot ever be the same. Remember the true child of God lives by their faith, and faith creates in us a growing understanding of the will of the Lord. Over time this understanding evolves into a relationship, and as our relationship grows it becomes more and more an obsession.

Dear Children of God, there is nothing healthier than being obsessed with Jesus. Let him stay on your mind, in your heart and soul. Let him bathe you in the water of his word, and shower you in the rain of his anointing. But keep in mind if you do, you might just become obsessed!

God Bless

Milton B. Hobbs
Pastor
New Covenant Fellowship

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