Life’s Distractions
Bible verses
Introduction-
We have been working toward the cross of Easter and Lent we found was reflecting on the Lord and the cross and reflecting to make sure we are right in our relationship.
This morning I would like to look at scripture and see what the Lord says about distractions in our lives.
Those things that would keep you from doing, being, seeing, achieving what the Lord wants for our lives.
Now, if the Lord plays no part in the decision making process of your life, it will be different than one that does and my prayer would be that you would allow Him into the decision making process.
Every one of us has our own definition of what a distraction is - some have a tight rein and others a more loose rein.
Some do not see certain things as a problem or distraction while others do and it is very important to them.
Lets Pray- Father, help us this morning to be sensitive to what you are saying to us, your Spirit being allowed to speak to us and guide us in our walk with you. I pray this morning that no one feels like I have all the answers to what is a distraction in our walk with God but pray that we would just be open to take a look at where we are at and what you would like to do with us and through us. At the end of the day, we each make our own decisions, we all have to answer for what we did or did not do in our lifetime. In Jesus name Amen.
Definition of Distractions- (Dictionary) It is an action caused by the lack of ability to pay attention, lack of interest in the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention. (Repeat)
Not paying attention to what is priority.
Losing priority and making something else the priority.
Distractions take you away from focus.
Thanks for coming, if you learn that lesson and apply it to your life. You will be better off.
Proverbs 4:25- (NIV)
“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you” (Horse blinders)
“Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all the sideshow distractions.”
I like that one better- the sideshows are what get us out of focus.
The little side roads that sway us from being focused at the end goal.
As a believer, one who has accepted Christ as Lord, you have in your own way and maybe in front of some others stated that the Lord was Lord of your life.
You have surrendered your life to Him and your desire is to serve the Lord.
What that means in service is different for each of us but the Lord is captain of our ship.
When we start steering our own ship without him, it can lead you to bad decisions, times of sin, missed opportunities, and missing God’s blessings. Anyone been there?
When you lose sight of the focus (Lord) you head down paths you did not intend to go.
Don’t let the noise of the world keep you from hearing the voice of the Lord.
Maybe your thinking, I don’t recall many scriptures talking about being distracted, let me give you few.
1 Corinthians 7:35- (Apostle Paul)
“I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to God.”
Another version says- To help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.”
Mark 4:19-
“But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
Jesus very words to us- other things in priority will choke our relationship with Him.
It will cause us to worry about things we need not worry about.
If we are not careful, life crowds Jesus out of our lives.
Too much other- non-priority, worldly stuff, Will push and take space where God ought to be.
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Your calling as a believer, is not to be like the world, but the image of Christ.
To be more like Jesus, not more like the world.
The tag lines on our foyer wall of our church
We are not done with that yet but there are three words that were carefully selected to be what we as believers here would like to see happen in our lives.
Grow in Christ- To make Him Lord of our lives
Transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to change us into more the image of Christ. For others to see Him in our lives
Engage- That we not only are saved and on our way to heaven , but engage those we come into contact with and make an impact in the kingdom of God. To make the lives of others important in our life with our time and resources.
The focused approach to what we want the Lord to do in our lives
What are distractions according to God’s Word?
Anything that would cause you to lose your relationship with the Lord.
Anything that would cause you to backslide in your relationship with the Lord. Simply, your relationship with the Lord has to be priority.
Anything good or bad that takes your away from Him becomes a distraction.
It may not be bad for everyone, but if it causes you to stumble, it is a distraction.
What can we do about it?
If Distractions are keeping you from the Lord that is the question you must ask yourself-
Thanks for asking!
Stay focused on Christ and God’s people (Write down)
Hebrews 12:2-
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he 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 sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
KJV- “The author and finisher of our faith”
The beginning and the end of our faith.
We have got to stay focused and keep our eyes on Jesus! Eyes Straight ahead ignoring the sideshows that distract!
Illustration-
Clive Staples Lewis, known as C.S. Lewis (Understand why he goes by C.S. Lewis) was a novelist, a theologian, He taught at Oxford, Cambridge Universities. Most of you know him from his fictional movie he produced called the “Chronicles of Naria”.
He was a master at bringing biblical truths to the screen and in his books. He wrote a book called “The Screwtape letters”.
5 main characters- Screwtape- senior demon, Wormwood- His nephew, The Patient- Mankind, The Father below- Satan, Enemy- Jesus- remember , under the perspective of a senior demon.
31 letters Screwtape wrote to Wormwood to teach him how to distract and take the patient (mankind) off track.
Second letter, the patient (a man) gets saved and wormwood is chastised for allowing it to happen.
Screwtape says to wormwood that the safest road to hell is the gradual one-
Distractions can be good things that are in abundance that takes them away from the enemy (Jesus)
He says that most patients (mankind) think we put things into their minds as distractions, but our best work is done by keeping Godly things out. (Let that sink in)
Teach them to estimate the value of a prayer by immediate feelings and never let them understand the power of prayer and communication with the enemy (Jesus).
When we do not stay focused on Christ, we are limited to do things in our own strength and our own talents.
We lose the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and though us.
We take our eyes off the Lord and put them on people and situations.
The church today is losing the power of the Holy Spirit operating in the lives of the people of God.
Not because the power of God is weakened but because we are not seeking The power of the Holy Spirit active in our lives because we are being distracted by the things of the world.
Check this out-
Matthew 14:28-31
“Lord, if it’s you, peter replied, tell me to come to you on the water. Come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, Lord save me! Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, he said, why did you doubt?”
There are dangers of losing focus that can cause even a believer to drown. It will stop us from accomplishing all that the Lord intends for us.
Jesus miracle of the moment was walking on the water to the disciples- They were scared and thought He was a ghost.
The second miracle of the moment was Peter having the boldness and courage to ask Jesus to step out of the boat.
To quit the safety of the boat to step out into the storm and extend his hand to Jesus.
Peter, taking Jesus at his word- “Come” Somebody ought to be blessed!
You are safe in His everlasting arms!
We are more than conquers in Christ!
Following hard after God and he was safely in his right hand.
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Peter’s strength was in Christ- His weakness was not keeping his eyes on Christ in his storm.
Anybody getting this!
I make no apologies this morning, God’s people are being eaten up by distractions that take us away from our relationship with the Lord.
Technology has had great benefit and it has caused us to stumble in our relationships with the Lord and with each other.
People sitting at the table and both manhandling their phones and not paying any attention to each other.
Storms come into our lives and we do not know what to do with them or who to turn to help us.
I do not see a devil behind every tree but I am not silly enough to believe that he is not causing some to stumble and they do not even know it or see it.
“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, roaring about, seeking whom he may devour.”
“So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
We must prioritize our time, our money, our friendship, and our prayer life. We need to be in the house of the Lord-
“Fellowship with people of like minded faith.”
“not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
The day approaching- The end times- it is not going to get easier, it is going to get harder.
More distractions, more pressures, more things to pull you from your faith in Christ.
I am winding down-
Apostle Paul tells us that we should not let anything get between us and our relationship with the Lord.”
Galatians 1:10-
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?
Close
There are many types of distractions- Visual, Manual, and Cognitive Distractions.
The Department of Motor Vehicle believes it true for distractive driving.
Visual- Taking your eyes off the road.
Manual- Taking your hands off the wheel
Cognitive- Taking your mind off of driving.
That will preach when it comes to our being distracted by the world to the things of God.
Taking our eyes, hands, and mind off the Lord is disastrous.
There is only one way to keep from being distracted- Keep your eyes on the Lord and your hands on the wheel of your life.
Make time for the Lord everyday. Do not let a day go by that you have not reached out to Him to connect in your life.
Stay connected through prayer- intentional time that you set aside for Him- Your talking all day long as you go through your day but at some point each day, set time aside just for a you and Him moment.
Block out the distractions that take you on side roads that get you off track.
My mind races and it can be a plus or a minus- I say this verse often- “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever I right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”
Fill your mind with the things of God and don’t leave room for things that are not! REPEAT
You think about this and then we will pray-
Maybe you have not done a good job of keeping your mind centered on Christ- your prayer SHOULD be that the Lord would help you centered on Him.
Maybe your distractions don’t leave you much time with the Lord and that relationship has suffered- ask the Lord this morning to refresh in you a desire to seek and know Him in a deeper way.
Perhaps, it has been all about you, and the Lord is speaking to you about what part you play in other people’s life.
Lastly, if you do not know Jesus, this would be a great time to ask Him into your life and your world will change- not easy, but now you will not be doing it alone. Simply surrendering your life to him and allowing him in.
Be sensitive to what He is doing.
Let’s pray-
All kinds of things keep us distracted and away from what is best for our lives. Help each one of us to find a way to go deeper in our relationship with you- help us to make time, help us to stay focused. We ask these things in the powerful name of Christ.
