Divine Disruptions

Hook:

Tunel vision happens so often in our lives. Tunnel vision in psychology involves intense focus on a single aspect or detail to the exclusion of other relevant information, often triggered by high-pressure situations or stress, leading to narrowed perception and potential oversight of crucial contextual details.

You lose sight of critical aspects of the reality around you (from https://mindpsychiatrist.com/what-is-tunnel-vision-in-psychology/#google_vignette)

Context:

The focus from this passage is the idea that Jesus is the King

The question is not about whether the king will enact his kingdom and meet the expectations of the nation of Israel. Instead, this passage focuses on the character of the king, and the loyalty of the servants of this king to do his agenda.

The question is: Is Jesus kingdom and his agenda at the center of my plans, in season and out of season?

Is Jesus kingdom and his kingdom’s agenda at the center of your summer plans?

Jesus was on an important mission. He was on his way to be proclaimed King of the Jews in Jerusalem. This is a very important even in the life of the Messiah.

Luke 19:10–11 NIV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

The people who were in the crowd with Jesus saw the signs, and believed that Jesus was going to bring God’s kingdom when he entered Jerusalem.

Jesus refers to himself as the Son of God. This is the tile of the Messiah. The redeeming king of Israel from the Book of Daniel.

Daniel 7:13–14 NIV

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Don’t you praise Jesus this morning for his might and power?

Israel lived with the hope of God sending this Messiah to rescue Israel from the oppressive forces of Rome and to restore the furtunes of Israel.

Israel had tunel vision: They had a specific kind of Messiah that would redeem the nation in the political arena but they didn’t consider that their Savior would need to give his life for the redemption of their sin.

Jesus promised to be with us wherever we are

Jesus, unlike me, didn’t suffer of tunel vision.

Jesus kept the Father’s agenda before him at all times. The small and the large details of life. The Son of Man… came to Seek and save the lost.

Jesus said it’s necessary for me to go to your house.

Jesus was all about his Father’s agenda

John 4:4 NIV

4 Now he had to go through Samaria.

Zacchaeus: the outsider

How do I know Jesus kingdom is at the center of my daily plans?

Being a disciple of Jesus means to be apprenticed by Jesus to live, think, and interact with others the way Jesus did. It goes beyond learning how Jesus intepreted the Scriptures, or participating in spiritual rituals. A true disciple of Jesus apprentices from Jesus. And a true servant of the King lives according to the King’s agenda. All they are and all the own belongs to the king.

Changing the car lights with Travis. I cannot consider learning watching a video on Youtube. It has to be a hands on project. I could have hired a person to do the job of changing my car’s lightbulbs. But in the case of God’s kingdom, God asks us to take care of the needs of people. We cannot hire someone else to do the job of a follower of Jesus Christ. In order of becoming an apprentice of Jesus, we need to put my hands on the tools, and get to work.

1. Your life makes God’s kingdom a source of curiosity.

Luke 19:3–4 NIV

3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

2. You see people, especially outsiders. Outsiders are not invisible to you any more. People stop becoming a hinderance, objects, means to an end, or enemies.

The political tensions of the last decade where political leaders used negtive speach to attract votes has created what sociologists call tribalism. Tribalism is the view of us versus them.

People, and especially random people, become more important than plans.

You are aware that changes of plans are a divine interruption.

Luke 19:5 NIV

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

3. You’re willing to put your reputation on the line.

Luke 19:7 NIV

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

The people around Jesus begun to gossip. They muttered something that was obvious to Jesus: Jesus was meeting with the leader of all sinners.

4. You affirm the work of God in the life of the other person and their identity in God.

Luke 19:9 NIV

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

Divine disruptions are one way God gets you out of your head and your tunel vision for the sake of his kingdom in the world and for the sake of your own life.

James 4:13 NIV

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”

Exiting the Spiritual Tunel Vision this summer:

Cognitive Behavior Therapy:

Find your identity in Christ

Find people’s identity in God

Mindfulness practices:

Prayer and meditation in God’s presence