42 Luke 10: Preaching/Teaching:

Quiet Time

Pre talk

We want to give tools so that people can walk with God for a lifetime.

Friend (George who just got through AA) Walk with God for a lifetime.

If you could only do one thing in the Christian life: what would it be:

Feed the poor. Go to Church. Read your Bible. Share your faith

The Bible gives us the answer to this question.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS SPEND TIME WITH GOD

Spending time with God is called quiet time.

I remember in college, right after I became a new believer; I longed to spend time with God. I had that fire; I wanted to be with the king of kings. Even in school, college basketball, being with God became my favorite thing.

But now, as I have walked with God for over 25 years, this is still my passion. But it is not always as easy as it was back in college.

Satan does not want us to do it. He will keep us busy with even good things. It is not always easy. The passion is not always on a mountain top.

I was reminded of how hard quiet times are this week as I prepared a talk on spending time with God. I struggled to spend time with God when preparing a speech on how to spend time with God: think about that for a second.

Has it ever been hard to spend time with God for you?

Today we are going to do something a little different. We are going to walk through a passage about spending time with God. Then we are going to spend time with God together.

Luke 10:38-42 “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 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.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.””

What we can learn about prioritizing our quiet time with Jesus

WE MUST PRIORITIZE TIME WITH GOD BECAUSE WE CAN BE ALL IN WITH JESUS AND MISS JESUS.

38-Martha was all in (host)

She was all in [We are called to serve]. Martha was the person you wanted in the Church. She would get it done. If someone did not show up for children's, she filled in.

If someone was sick and needed a meal, she was your girl.

She would serve.

Missing God as a believer is a scary reality-Now this can happen to any follower of Jesus.

Missing God can happen to any of us.

Spending time with God helps us not miss God.

WE MUST PRIORITIZE TIME WITH GOD BECAUSE VULNERABILITY IS NOT NATURAL (39).

Luke 10:39 NASB95

She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.

39-There has to be a sibling involved.

Can't we all relate to sibling rivalry?

Maybe you were the brother constantly being compared to your better sibling. Why can't you be more like your brother?

Or maybe you were the sibling who was the perfect one.

Why can't you be more like Mary?

WE MUST PRIORITIZE OUR TIME WITH GOD BECAUSE VULNERABILITY FORCES US TO GIVE UP OUR AGENDA (40).

Luke 10:40 NASB95

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.”

a. Do we have any to-do list people here?

We must give up our to-do list when we spend time with God.

When we sit, we don't get to check anything off. People will even check off their quiet time except for the extensive checklist.

b. We are vulnerable when we sit (Act this out)

Now I know in Church, we have to say we want to do what God wants us to do, but in the practical, I got stuff to do. And Mary was sitting there; she could have been serving and sitting at Jesus' feet. Giving up her agenda to be with the king.

WE MUST PRIORITIZE OUR TIME WITH GOD BECAUSE GIVING UP THE LESSER LEADS TO THE GREATER

Luke 10:41–42 NASB95

But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

What are some signs that we are not living this passage out.

We are worried and bothered.

Are you worried and bothered right now?

Martha’s irritation was ruining the evening for everyone.

Are you overextended?

Irritation could be a sign.

Service is not bad. The story right before this is all about serving it is the story of the great Samaritan.

We have to allow him to minister to us.

The great commandment is to love God and then love other.

If we et this order wrong all becomes a mess.

To hear his word allows us to minister properly.