No More Mashed Potatoes

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Luke 10:38–42 NKJV

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

Introduction

In the Belhaven neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi, there is something very strange that is going on...

As I sat down on the couch at my house after a long day, I picked up my phone to see one lone notification.

Anybody ever get these notifications sometimes that absolutely throw you for a loop???

I’ve got this weather app that gives me weather notifications with a little attitude. I got one recently that said exactly this: “Rain starting in 2 minutes. I won’t disclose whether it’s acid rain.”

So I’m sitting on the couch and, it’s a rare thing, but, there’s only ONE notification on my phone.

So, I’m thinking, “Only one?! Great! So what’ve we got for us today...”

And the Apple News headline reads as follows: “Mississippi Community Left Confused After Bowls of Mashed Potatoes Mysteriously Keep Appearing”

So at this point, I’m thinking, I have no choice but to read this article in its entirety!

And what I read was quite shocking...

In the Belhaven neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi, there is something very strange that is going on...

Body

The Story {show picture of bowl on mailbox}

The residents in this area are mystified as bowls of mashed potatoes suddenly have been appearing on their cars, their porches, and even their mailboxes.

Jordan Lewis described the Belhaven neighborhood as a quirky one, with residents decorating road signs and putting Christmas trees in potholes.

But this potato things is new, even for them.

Lewis told the reporters she spotted her first bowl of mashed potatoes on her car’s windshield.

“I walked outside yesterday morning at 7 AM and I got in my car and that’s when I noticed a white bowl on my windshield. It was full of rainwater. I threw it away and I was grossed out by it,” she said. “I just thought this is a harmless prank by some kids or college students in the area.”

Michaela Lin said she found a bowl of mashed potatoes on her mailbox. She said some of the potato-finders have connections to Belhaven University, a local private Christian university, which may be a clue.

“So far I have realized some of the ‘victims’ of the mashed potatoes are actually staff or Belhaven students or alumni. I feel like there has to be a connection there!” Lin told reporters.

However, another local said that some fear there’s a more sinister message behind the potatoes.

“Some people were thinking maybe the mashed potatoes were poisoned to kill animals or people,” Sebastian told news stations, noting he almost stepped into a bowl of potatoes Tuesday. “I didn’t taste it. I have a three-second tule, so I didn’t touch it. But some people were worried.”

Now - no one has reported eating, getting sick, or dying from these mashed potatoes.

And law enforcement is all over the place investigating each appearance, trying to sort it out and somehow make sense of it.

...

But - in the middle of this ludicrous, goofy story, something shocking happened in this town...

While all the police were scattered throughout the county, investigating this thing... somebody (possibly a person who recently cooked a ton of mashed potatoes)… walked right into a local bank and robbed them of every last cash dollar.

And they had enough time to get it all, because the police were so scattered and so consumed with mashed potatoes that by the time they got to the bank, the crook was long gone...

Body

The Point

Now I am fully aware that this is about the dumbest thing that’s ever happened in the history of everything...

But I want you to think about this for just a moment...

Today, we are living in a world that is consumed with so much that DOES NOT MATTER.

We have to understand that there is an industry that has a sole purpose of putting out content, products, images, and videos that will cause you to not stop watching, not stop buying, and not stop spending your days on.

The very fact that the ONE NOTIFICATION I mentioned at the beginning of this sermon captured all of my attention in a news story is proof enough!

Their ultimate goal is to get you hooked from the moment you start accessing that product, and never look back! Never check yourself on how far into it you are!

And much like Martha, we can become distracted by things that are of so little importance!

Distracted, much like in the news story, we are doing our own investigation into something...

Hear me today:

And all the while Satan has entered the First Bank of Your Relationship With God, and he is emptying your account of Anointing, Joy, Your Family, Your Peace, and Holy Ghost Power...

I don’t know exactly how that sits with you today - but I’ll just tell you how it makes ME feel:

“I’M TIRED OF BEING ROBBED BY THE SPIRIT OF DISTRACTION!!!”

THE SPIRIT OF DISTRACTION HAS STEPPED INTO LIVES AND ROBBED YOU BLIND.

The Potential In This Generation

I want you to understand that God is raising up a powerful generation of students, that you are a part of.

Martha welcomed Jesus into her house!

Although Martha had welcomed Jesus in, in her distractions, she was turned away from His word!

Don’t let the noise of the world keep you from hearing the voice of the Lord.

Jesus had miraculously made food before already! Why be so worried about food now?

Jesus had miraculously made food before already! Why be so worried about food now?

Satan places distractions like in that news story - on your porch, in your mailbox, on the hood of your car - in places where you will be so very likely to partake!

Conclusion