Distractions
I. According to history, the disciple Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, yet as soon as Christ came in to his life, his focus changed.
A. John 1:35-40. He left the ministry of John the Baptist immediately and followed Christ.
B. In John 1:41 he introduced Jesus to his brother Peter.
C. Matt 4:18-20 Jesus called Andrew, and he dropped his nets and followed Him. No distractions, no delays. He just did it immediately.
D. After the crucifixion of Christ, Andrew went on to preach the Gospel in Russia, Byzantium, and finally Greece. He led the wife of the Emperor to Christ in Greece and was crucified as a result.
E. He was crucified by being tied to an upside down cross shaped like an X, thus giving rise to the universal symbol of St. Andrew, the X. (He is the patron saint of Scotland, and is what the X represents on the Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain.)
F. While he was being crucified, he preached to the crowd for 2 days, leading many to the Lord. When he was about to die, the crowd came to his rescue and tried to get him down, but he refused. His eyes were pointed toward heaven, and he refused to take them away. He did not want to be distracted.
1. God has given us commands about what we should be doing, but we are distracted, instead doing things that will pass away.
a. When is the last time we witnessed?
b. When is the last time we did something for the poor?
c. Do we pray without ceasing?
II. What are distractions? Anything that gets our attention off of what it should be on.
A. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev used to tell of a time when there was a wave of petty theft in the Soviet Union. To curtail this, the authorities put up guards around the factories. At one lumber factory in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), the guard knew the workers in the factory very well. The first evening, out came a worker with a wheelbarrow and, on the wheelbarrow, a great bulky sack with a suspicious-looking object inside. "All right, Petrovich," said the guard, "what have you got there?" "Just sawdust and shavings," he replied. "Come on," the guard said, "I wasn’t born yesterday. Tip it out." And out came nothing but sawdust and shavings. So he was allowed to put it all back again and go home. When the same thing happened every night of the week the guard became frustrated. Finally, his curiosity overcame his frustration. "Petrovich," he said, "I know you. Tell me what you’re smuggling out of here, and I’ll let you go." "Wheelbarrows, my friend," said Petrovich, "wheelbarrows" (The Devil’s Gauntlet by Os Guiness).
III. What is our focus?
A. Neh 6:1-19 He was busy building a wall, and would not be distracted from his work. Are we as diligent to do our work for the gospel?
B. In 2 Cor 6:4-10 we are told to keep on, even though much “stuff” may happen to us, both good and bad.
C. Matt 19:16-22. 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
1. The rich young ruler was distracted from his walk with God by his wealth. It was his main interest and he obviously placed importance on it over all other things at the moment. This was a major distraction away from what was commanded of us. Our focus should be on God.
D. Luke 10:38-42 Martha complained to Christ because her sister was doing all the work, but as Jesus said, that stuff doesn’t matter. It is all just distractions that will pass away.
E. Matt 8:24-27 Sometimes life can through some very large distractions your way. Remember though, Jesus can calm the storm, or He may calm his child. Either way, the storm itself is a distraction devised by the enemy to keep you from doing what is commanded.
IV. Matt 15:8 “This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” What is their heart on? We may go to church, but we are focused on “bigger” priorities at the moment. We are consumed with thinking about certain things. These things are distracting us from the best thing that they could be doing. Work. Sports. Hobbies. Family. TV. Etc…….
A. Luke 10:38-42 “38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
1. Martha was distracted by all of her household responsibilities. Not that they are not important, but they take a back seat to the things of God
` B. Luke 9:59-62 59 And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." 60 But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." 61 Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
1. Nothing takes priority over God, even funerals.
2. No one is fit for the kingdom after looking back? Have we looked back? Are we doing it right now? Are we in danger of it?
V. Eph 6:13 “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
A. What are you resisting? The devil and his distractions.
B. By stand, he means to not be distracted, keep focused on what is the best. We have to assume that we are now “standing.” What does this mean to your life as you live it now? What things are keeping you from being focused on God and his plans?
C. Keep your eyes on what you are supposed to be doing. There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series. Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, "Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark." Aaron didn’t say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn’t come up here to read."
1. What did you come here to do? Are you doing it? What is keeping you from doing it?
