1. Use iPad and iPhone as distractions -- pretend to be reading email, texts, and receive a phone call from "Mom" to show how we can be distracted from our focus
2. Staying Focused
Men are notorious for being distracted. Most of us could qualify for having ADD -- Attention Deficit Disorder. I heard about a guy who was so distracted over one thing and another that he had to have his wife tell him almost everything. One day his wife came into the room and said, "Here's the sweater you asked me to find." He said, "Are we going somewhere, or am I cold?" That would be funny if it wasn't so close to home. I can't tell you how many times I have walked into a room and asked myself what I am doing there. I knew that I came there for a reason, but it was beyond me what it was because I became distracted by something else.
3. Revelation 16.12-16
4. Dads, there are at least two decisions you can make to aid your family's walk with God
I. Determine to Stay Awake
A. It can be Difficult to Stay Awake
1. [Driving late at night
2. The Disciples in Gethsemane slept while Jesus prayed -- Mark 14.37 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?
B. How to Stay Alert
1. Fight Temptation -- Mark 14.38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
2. Remember, Jesus IS Coming -- Mark 13.32-37 32 "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning-- 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."
[Calvin was daydreaming and looking out the window when his boss stopped by his desk. His boss asked, "Calvin, why aren't you working?" Calvin replied, "Because I didn't see you coming."
a. Jesus is Coming Suddenly, without Warning -- as a thief in the night -- Revelation 16.15
b. Jesus is Coming with a Wake Up Call -- Trumpets -- 1 Corinthians 15.52-53
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
c. Jesus is Coming, so Work While You Wait -- Luke 19.13 (KJV -- Occupy; ESV Engage in Business) -- Be stewards with what we have been entrusted
II. Decide to Dress for Success
[When I was in Junior High, my dad was transferred to GTMO Bay, Cuba for two years. During that time we had monthly evacuation drills in case Castro ever decided to invade the base. We were required to have suitcases packed with clothes for the season that was currently in Virginia. At first we were vigilant in case we were chosen for spot-checks. However, as time passed we let our guard down. We kept a suitcase for each family member, but we did not believe Castro was going to invade, so we did not care which clothes were in the bags. If we had to have evacuated, we might have been in a real mess with the wrong or no clothes.
A. Nakedness = vulnerability [hear a noise at night -- cover up with sheets and blankets
1. Adam and Eve -- saw their nakedness and vulnerability so they hid from God
2. Noah's son, Ham saw his nakedness
3. Jesus' shame on the cross
4. God's Judgment on Babylon -- Isaiah 47.3
Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.
B. Our Clothing:
1. Clothed with Christ -- Galatians 3.27
In the Roman society when a youth came of age he was given a special toga which admitted him to the full rights of the family and state and indicated he was a grown-up son. //Jewish Bar Mitzvah -- age of accountability
2. Clothed with the Armor of God -- Ephesians 6.10-20
a. We are engaged in spiritual war
b. Armageddon -- Revelation 16.16
[Pics of Megiddo and the Valley
3. Clothed with Wedding Garments -- Matthew 22.1-14 -- note verses 11-14
11 "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
1. Distractions we encounter:
a. Things, Careers, Wealth, Security, People, Entertainment, Education, Etc.
b. None is bad unless it distracts us from our #1 Focus -- God
c. A pilot was having difficulty landing his small plane since fog hid the runway, so the airport decided to land him by radar. As he received instructions he remembered a tall pole in his flight path. Overcome with panic he radioed to the control tower about the pole. A blunt reply came back, "You obey instructions; we'll take care of the obstructions."
2. Focus on Jesus and his instructions!
