Nothing Else Matters

Big Idea:

The allure of a little can hinder us from the reality of alot. Lord Help us to see the the Big picture and value what matters most. We could loose more chasing less. It is all from a limited and incomplete perspective. Today we will teach the benefits and strategy of How live a laser focused life of worship

Scriptures:

Psalm 73:1–2 “1 Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.”

Psalm 73:3–4 “3 For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.”

Psalm 73:5–6 “5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.”

Psalm 73:7–8 “7 Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. 8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.”

Psalm 73:16–17 “16 When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.”

Psalm 73:18 “18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.”

Psalm 73:21–22 “21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. 22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.”

Psalm 73:22–23 “22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.”

Psalm 73:24–25 “24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.”

Psalm 73:26 “26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Introduction:

THEME:

Theme for 2025: More

In this season God is calling us to More. Not the more we want. But the more we need. More of his presence.

This year we seek to gain a deeper and richer experience with God, deeper and more fulfilling interpersonal relationships (John 10:10), more impactful spiritual, personal growth and discipleship, more robust mental health that will drive our outcomes in 2025.

FAST:

We are entering a season of fasting and consecration. What is fasting? In simple terms:

Fasting is a deprivation of the flesh for the rejuvenation of the spirit.

Fasting is a time when we move aside distractions and make fellowship with our creator a primary focus. Although we start at the beginning of the year, it is not merely resigned to a New Year’s push. It is a discipline that heightens our focus and awareness on the things of God?

What should I fast? Fasting is generally food for a particular predetermined period of time where one spends time with God in devotion and meditation. My rule of thumb is when fasting find the thing that if it was picked would make you say, “Pick something else!”

In this season it is vital that we stick close to God. It is a season to FOCUS:

SS: “Focus!”

TEXT:

This morning as we listen to the writer Asaph, He gives us positive confirmation that God is good to Israel. That is a confirmation that can be agreed upon by just about every church person in the world. We can all agree that God is good to us. As a matter of fact, we have even created a similar saying…”God is good all the time! And all the time God is good!”

But it is at this point that Asaph begins to have some uncomfortable honesty. I like the psalms because we get to see the realness of theology working in hearts of broken men.

Asaph tells us in this moment that for a particular point in time, He began to question just How good God was. He began to question the equity and the fairness of God.

Asaph says that he was Jealous that sometimes in this fallen world, it seems that the sinner has better fortune than the saint…

We know Matthew tells us that general blessings from God rain on everyone.

Matthew 5:45 “45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

This is the reality. However, an honest look would agree that we have all at some point wondered why the wicked prosper…..Asaph is saying this focus on the inequities of the world between the righteous and wicked were taking his Focus. What is Asaph teaching us just in the first verses of this text?

In this season:

as we endeavor to be closer with God and fast and deny ourselves

as we look to know God in a deeper way

As we seek to remove influences that would feed the flesh but starve the soul

As we seek to reflect on the goodness of God

1. WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF DISTRACTIONS!!!

dis·trac·tion /dəˈstrakSH(ə)n/

noun 1. a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else

Distractions are defined a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else. Meaning the OBJECT or SUBJECT may get attention, but not the attention that is deserved!

Aseph is telling us this morning that “I got distracted” TYN and say I get distracted sometimes.

I was going to read the word of God but I got Distr…..

Pastor I was on my way to church. I had good intentions. But I got Distr…..

I would join in the fast but I get too distracted!

In this season if we don’t PAY attention to our relationship with GOD, we will end up SPiRITUALLY and MORALLY bankrupt.

PASTOR, I feel spiritually bankrupt in this season! What is going on? I have to ask, “What have you been PAYING attention to?…

Aseph is lovingly warning us by letting telling us:

“ I was looking at how good God was to everyone else and almost forgot how good he was to me…”

Transition

Why is it important to destroy distractions? Distractions cause us not to focus on what matters most and…

2. There are some things that can only be revealed in the presence of God.

73:17 until I went into the sanctuary of God The psalmist gains a new perspective after he enters God’s sanctuary to worship. Psa 73 depicts several choices the psalmist makes in the face of his despair; the choice to worship is crucial to the new outlook he develops.

John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 73:17.

Asaph tells us his foot almost slipped because he was distracted. I want to tell you that the enemy wants you distracted. Because when your focus shifts to Holiness before the Lord, things start to change.

TYNS: “ Nothing changes until you do!”

A. When I worship my perspective changes.

Worship takes my focus off me and put’s the emphasis on God. A renewed perspective will yield an uncommon result. The presence of God is where revelation is seated. There are some things I am not seeing clearly and I need a better way to assess what is really going on. I need maturity but:

“Maturity does not come with age. It comes with perspective.”

- Pastor Willie Berry

Daniel 2:22 “22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.”

Solution: Rather than focus on your problems, fixate on his Presence.

Power Principle: Rather than focus on your problems, fixate on His presence.

Psalm 73:16 “16 When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me—”

Asaph tells in vs 16 there are some realities that are two overwhelming for us outside of the presence and perspective that is in the SANCTUARY

Some of us could get better into his presence

As we begin our season of fasting, I want to encourage to stay on the wall. God has some spiritual blessings in store for those who will Trust him in the season.

But you will not be developed if you get don’t get distracted.

3. I must Eliminate to Elevate

Psalm 73:26–27 “26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.”

Psalm 73:28 “28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.”

Conclusion

Asaph lets us know that despite the issue, I am fixed in my focus and Trusting in God. In short, in comparision. Nothing Else Matters.

Jeremiah 29:12 “12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”

Jeremiah 29:13 “13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Today I pray for vision for you. That you would see the bigger picture. The pursuit of God is the biggest picture. I pray that we pursue what is profitable which is steadfast commitment and relationship to Christ

Bonus Content:

When we are pursuing God, may he open our eyes to not be derailed by things that in the grand scheme that don’t really matter.

We are chasing bags and not God.

Chasing the Bag could end you up in a bind

1 Timothy 6:6–7 “6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

1 Timothy 6:8–9“8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.”

Paul is not warning against wealth. Paul is highlighting the sufficiency of God and the peace that comes with that. When we look to God for provision, we trust him to bless the work of our hands. We will not a put a pursuit of him in the back seat to a pursuit of wealth.

Power Principle: The allure of things we want can distract of from the pursuit of things we need.