Apostle Allison Smith Conliff discusses the spiritual importance of staying focused on the divine commission rather than material additions. Drawing from the Book of Luke, she emphasizes that a disciplined relationship with the Word of God and the Holy Spirit provides the strength necessary to overcome life's challenges. The message recounts the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, illustrating how he used scripture to defeat Satan’s worldly allurements. Apostle Conliff encourages believers to maintain personal purity and humility, warning that earthly accolades should never come before one's commitment to God. She concludes by urging the congregation to live as word believers, ensuring their lifestyles reflect a devotion that remains untouchable by evil. Through these teachings, she highlights that true spiritual authority and provision are found only through total obedience to God's will.

Key Points:

Focusing on the spiritual commission prevents distraction because it aligns a believer's priorities with the principle of seeking the kingdom of God first, which ensures that material "additions" follow naturally rather than being the primary goal,. The commission involves seeking God’s righteousness and carrying the gospel into the world, not necessarily by preaching to everyone, but by living a life so unique that others recognize something special about the individual.

The following insights explain how this focus shields believers from being distracted by additions:

When believers function within their commission, the additions, such as financial resources, housing, or even unexpected opportunities like travel, are provided automatically by God. Serving God faithfully with one's all guarantees that He will grant what is needed and beyond. For example, the Apostle mentions a family trip to Israel that was not a prayed-for "need" but a "favor" granted by God while they were simply functioning in their commission. By trusting that God is "Jehovah Jireh" (The Provider), believers do not need to seek after additions, which prevents them from being "bamboozled" by worldly distractions.

The Word of God is the primary tool for staying focused. Jesus demonstrated this when he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness; although he was offered "all the kingdoms of the world" (the ultimate additions), he remained focused on his mandate by quoting scripture: "It is written". Believers are encouraged to "eat the word of God daily" to become "word believers". This deep connection to scripture ensures that when distractions or "allurements" arise, the believer can use the Word to resist them.

Focusing on the commission requires being "full of the Holy Ghost," which makes a believer sensitive to God’s leading rather than the "influence of food" or material desires. Spiritual disciplines like fasting quiet the "flesh" and its taste buds, creating a "beautiful realm" where the believer can be more sensitive to the Spirit of the living God. This spiritual sensitivity makes it easier to recognize when Satan is using an "opportune time" to offer a distraction or a "business opportunity" that might lead one away from God's will,.

Focusing on earthly accomplishments, such as degrees or elite positions, can lead to pride or becoming "devilish". By staying focused on the commission, believers maintain humility, following the examples of biblical figures like Luke the physician, the tax collector Matthew, or Joseph the prime minister, all of whom put God above their earthly status. This focus shifts the goal from storing up earthly accolades to "storing up treasures" on the other side and leaving a spiritual legacy.

Rec. Date: 14th January, 2024