Make Room: Preparing for a Move of God

Joke: Why did the cat family move next door to the mouse family? So they could have the neighbors over… for dinner.

Theme: Often before God will pour out His power, we must clear out our distractions.

Aim: To lead the church into a place of surrendered simplicity so they can fully receive what God wants to pour out in the coming season.

For Social: Distraction is one of the greatest enemies of our relationship with God. If we want God to move in power, we have to make space in our hearts, our calendars, and our church for Him to dwell fully.

Have you ever tried to make space in your garage?

You start with one good Saturday. You move boxes around. Maybe you donate some old clothes. But halfway through, you realize — this is going to take more than one Saturday. Why?

Because it’s not just cluttered.

It’s been neglected. It’s layered. It’s full of things that used to matter… but now? It’s just in the way.

And I wonder today…

If that’s not just your garage.

I wonder if that’s what your spiritual life looks like right now.

I wonder if the clutter has crept into your soul.

Maybe the Spirit of God is saying to us right now:

“I want to move. I want to pour out. But first… make room.”

Summer is quickly going to pass us by, and we will be in the natural season of harvest.

But I also believe our church is entering a different kind of season—one of spiritual harvest. A time of reaching, welcoming, birthing new ministries... and making space for the power and presence of God..

But first... He’s calling us to make room.

Not just room in our calendar, but in our hearts.

Before revival, there’s always a call to repentance, reflection, and reordering.

Let’s go to our main scripture for today:

Luke 10:38–42 CEV

38 The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said. 40 Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!” 41 The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, 42 but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Let’s talk about what’s really happening in this story.

Mary and Martha were both doing what they knew. But Mary didn’t just plop down on the floor because she was lazy

She took a posture that, in her day, was bold. Radical even. Sitting at a rabbi’s feet was a position reserved for male disciples. Mary was claiming the place of a student—and Jesus didn’t push her away. He welcomed her. He wanted her there.

This was a moment of invitation.

Let me bring this a little closer to home:

Have you ever been sitting in church and thinking more about what’s for lunch than what the Spirit is saying?

You’re not alone.

We’ve all been Martha—busy, distracted, doing the right thing the wrong way.

Let me ask you:

When’s the last time you sat down with no agenda… just to listen to Jesus?

Jesus was making it clear: in His kingdom, there’s room for anyone—man or woman, busy or broken—to come and sit close, to learn, to grow.

And right now, He’s giving you that same invitation.

The problem we often have is distraction. It is one of the greatest enemies of devotion. If we want to see God move, we have to make space in our hearts, our homes, and our habits.

Distraction is the Enemy of Devotion

Let’s get this straight — Martha isn’t doing something wrong.

She’s not sinning.

She’s not rebellious.

She’s just… distracted.

In fact, she’s doing exactly what was expected of her. This was her house. Hosting Jesus wasn’t just a good thing—it was a sacred duty. In Jewish culture, hospitality was a sign of honor. So it’s no wonder she was overwhelmed.

She was trying to make everything perfect for Jesus... and in the process, she missed the fact that He didn’t come for the perfect table. He came for her heart.

And distraction is just as dangerous as disobedience — because it’s subtle.

It makes you busy with good things, while blinding you to God things.

Jesus tells her: “Martha, you are worried and upset about all these details.”

Let me say this to someone in the room:

You’re serving… but you’re stressed.

You’re doing everything you think you're supposed to… but you’re not sitting at His feet.

God’s not just calling you to be active — He’s calling you to be available.

The first step in making room for God is recognizing:

“I’ve filled my life with so many good things that I’ve lost sight of the God thing.”

ILLUSTRATION:

It’s like trying to pour water into a cup that’s already full.

You can pray for more of God — but if your cup is full of everything else, there’s nowhere for Him to land.

Some Things Need to Be Thrown Off

Hebrews 12:1 NIV

…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…

Now watch this — it says “everything that hinders” AND “sin.”

So not everything that’s cluttering your heart is sinful.

But it’s still in the way.

That overpacked schedule?

That constant scroll through social media?

That relationship that’s draining you spiritually?

It may not be sinful…

But is it stealing your attention from Jesus?

Devotion Requires Attention

Let’s go back to Mary.

Luke 10:39 CEV

39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said.

You know what’s crazy?

This story falls right after the parable of the Good Samaritan.

One scene shows us how to love people. This one shows us how to love God.

And Luke puts them side by side on purpose.

Serving matters—but not at the expense of sitting.

Action and adoration aren’t enemies—they’re partners.

But when our action replaces our adoration, we’ve missed the better part.

Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening…

That didn’t happen on accident.

She chose to sit.

She chose to listen.

She made room.

You won’t drift into devotion — you have to decide to dwell.

Parents, when your kids walk into the room, do they ever catch you reading your Bible?

When’s the last time they saw you lingering with Jesus instead of just checking a box?

Your devotion is teaching them more than your lectures ever will.

Couples, what if instead of bingeing another show this week, you took 30 minutes to pray together for your marriage, for your home, for what God is doing in this church?

Because…

God doesn’t yell over the noise.

He waits to be wanted.

This is where the Holy Spirit is calling us today:

“Clear the table. Turn down the noise. Come sit at My feet again.”

WHAT YOU MAKE ROOM FOR, MULTIPLIES

Back to Martha —

She made room for tasks, and guess what? The stress multiplied.

Mary made room for presence… And peace multiplied.

Whatever you make room for will grow.

Make room for gossip? Division grows.

Make room for anxiety? Fear grows.

Make room for worship? Faith grows.

Let me remind you what Jesus said to Martha—

“Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken from her.”

That’s a promise.

Every time you choose Jesus over hurry…

Every time you choose presence over performance…

Every time you choose stillness over striving...

It won’t be taken from you.

It might not look impressive to the world. It might not check boxes. But it anchors you. It nourishes you. And Jesus Himself says it lasts.

You may feel behind. You may feel like you’re wasting time that you need to get things done. But if you choose to sit at His feet today… nothing and no one can take that moment away. These moments have the power to change EVERYTHING

How to Clear the Clutter This Week:

Look at your week.

Ask yourself: What’s taking up space that shouldn’t be?

Fast from the noise.

Shut down social media for a week. Carve out silence.

Prioritize presence.

Set a time to meet with Jesus every single day, and guard it like your life depends on it. Because it does.

Talk about it with your family.

Ask your spouse or your kids: What’s something we can let go of so we can seek God more?

CALL TO ACTION:

“If you're here today, and you know that clutter has crept in.

You’ve been so busy, so distracted, maybe even serving, but you’ve lost the one thing that matters most… Today is the day to clear the clutter and come sit at His feet again.”

We are praying for God to move in this house, but revival doesn’t land in cluttered places. It lands where hearts are open.

What if the outpouring we’re asking God for starts with us—clearing the clutter?

Here are four questions I want you to take home or even answer right now at this altar:

What’s one area of my life that’s overcrowded?

What’s something I need to say “no” to this week so I can say “yes” to Jesus?

What would it look like to sit at His feet this week?

Who is watching my life to learn what devotion looks like?