Traps and Distraction or "Squirrel"

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As I have shared with people that I was going to be preaching today I received a lot of positive responses. I just want to thank you for your prayers and I want to thank you for your warm reception. I also want to encourage you to share that same love I feel for Pastor Rich, P Cindy, and P Colin. That encouragement goes farther than you could ever imagine.

As we get started I want to ask the guys to play that first clip.

How many of you ever feel this way, how many of you feel this way now as you get notifications sitting there listening to me?

Intro

title Traps and Distraction or “Squirrel” if you prefer.

Today my message is titled Traps and Distraction or “Squirrel” if you prefer.

Our scripture is found in and I will be referencing other verses/ stories to help us gain a clearer picture of God’s heart on distraction and the different ways it is used to subvert God’s plan for our lives. But this will be the base that we jump from.

Before we read this passage I want us to know that today’s message does not come from a place of condemnation but is an exhortation It is God crying out to us from a place of love and concern.

But the path of the just (righteous) is like the light of dawn,

That shines brighter and brighter until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is like [deep] darkness;

They do not know over what they stumble.

Ask them to lean in

20 My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn;

Open your ears to my sayings.

21 Do not let them escape from your sight;

Keep them in the center of your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them,

And healing and health to all their flesh.

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

24 Put away from you a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth,

And put devious lips far from you.

25 Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage]

And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].

26 Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet,

And all your ways will be steadfast and sure.

27 Do not turn away to the right nor to the left [where evil may lurk];

Turn your foot from [the path of] evil.

Pray

The book of proverbs is my favorite book because of the wisdom it contains, interestingly enough it is one that much of the world can get on board with because there are many themes in it that just seem to be common sense.

This scripture lays out the importance of focus in our daily lives This proverb packs into it may principles that are found throughout the Bible.

I picture this proverb like a can of soda that’s been shaken up when you open it, all the stories about distraction explode out of it.

Point

Point 1

There is a lot of language in here that speaks where we fix our eyes and how it directs our path, the things we are to turn away from our sight is incredibly important when it comes to walking the path that God has called us to. Is it any surprise that our culture has moved in a direction where our gaze is constantly turned devices? How many of you have seen this before (grab phone and watch it while walking) How many of you have secretly prayed that tthat person runs into a telephone pole (you don’t have to raise your hand) that More on this later.

While phones and technology have become huge distractions I do not want to solely focus on that. Distractions can take many forms and we don’t have time to mention them all so I ask that you would right now begin to ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you what yours is if you don’t already know.

Point 2

In starting at vs 38 we see a story where Jesus comes to the home of Mary and Martha for dinner. If you don’t know the story Mary placed herself at Jesus’ feet Martha got frustrated because Mary wasn’t helping her to make the meal. She goes to Jesus to have him correct mary and gets corrected instead.

Vs 41 “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; 42. But only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken from her.”

I identify with Martha who I think was the older sibling watching as little sister hangs out with the guests while she does all the work and says Jesus can you help me out?

Jesus corrects Martha and points out that the meal is not the important part of the evening it is the time they get to spend together. We usually host Thanksgiving and I often find myself in Martha’s position, I run around the kitchen all day, because I love to cook. But more often than not I spend more time with the food than my guests… How many of us find ourselves so busy that we lose sight of what we should really be doing?

I identify with Martha who I think was the older sibling watching as little sister hangs out with the guests while she does all the work and says Jesus can you help me out?

Jesus corrects Martha and points out that the meal is not the important part of the evening it is the time they get to spend together. We usually host Thanksgiving and I often find myself in Martha’s position, I run around the kitchen all day, because I love to cook. But more often than not I spend more time with the food than my guests… How many of us find ourselves so busy that we lose sight of what we should really be doing?

Recently God showed me how often I say “I don’t have time for that” Now some of us are genuinely that busy but for me he has been revealing to me all the things that eat my time that should probably go. I have been trying to be more intentional about saying “I haven’t made time for it”. The truth is, if it’s important enough we’ll make the time. Which says an awful lot about you all being here today. So thank you.

Ask Helpers to come get set up

Recently God showed me how often I say “I don’t have time for that” Now some of us are genuinely that busy but for me he has been revealing to me all the things that eat my time that should probably go. I have been trying to be more intentional about saying “I haven’t made time for it”. The truth is, if it’s important enough we’ll make the time. Which says an awful lot about you all being here today. So thank you.

Ask Helpers to come get set up

Maybe it’s not service or scheduling maybe it's like Where Peter is called out to walk on the water with Jesus

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come on!” So Peter got down out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came to Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he was frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, save me!” At once Jesus reached out his hand, caught him, and asked him, “You who have so little faith, why did you doubt?”

Point 3

Maybe it’s not service or scheduling maybe it's like Where Peter is called out to walk on the water with Jesus

Perhaps for some of us it’s fear or lack of faith that is distracting us Peter was walking on Water!!! Jesus had called him to it!!! He took his eyes off his path, and began to sink. You don’t have to raise your hand but, Who is sinking in situations right now because of fear or lack of faith?

The last example, though there are so many more is in . The Nehemiah and the Jews had been given permission to rebuild the city of Jerusalem more specifically the wall protecting it. In this process their enemies came in and tried to distract them using different ridicule and discouragement. Again you don’t have to answer but who has been distracted as a result of hurtful or negative words, by intimidation.

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come on!” So Peter got down out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came to Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he was frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, save me!” At once Jesus reached out his hand, caught him, and asked him, “You who have so little faith, why did you doubt?”

Perhaps for some of us it’s fear or lack of faith that is distracting us Peter was walking on Water!!! Jesus had called him to it!!! He took his eyes off his path, and began to sink. You don’t have to raise your hand but, Who is sinking in situations right now because of fear or lack of faith?

Mousertap

Point 4

King David let his eyes get him into trouble

We serve a lord that can identify with us as seen in the temptation of Jesus at the end of a 40 day fast.

The last example, though there are so many more is in . The Nehemiah and the Jews had been given permission to rebuild the city of Jerusalem more specifically the wall protecting it. In this process their enemies came in and tried to distract them using different ridicule and discouragement. Again you don’t have to answer but who has been distracted as a result of hurtful or negative words, by intimidation.

Mousertap

Satan himself tried to distract Jesus at the end of a 40 day fast where Jesus was getting ready to enter into the ministry. And each of those temptations had to deal with the physical, the spiritual, and the emotional. Mathew 4

King David let his eyes get him into trouble

Lets go back to the Proverbs starting at vs 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage]

And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].

We serve a lord that can identify with us as seen in the temptation of Jesus at the end of a 40 day fast.

Satan himself tried to distract Jesus at the end of a 40 day fast where Jesus was getting ready to enter into the ministry. And each of those temptations had to deal with the physical, the spiritual, and the emotional. Mathew 4

26 Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet,

And all your ways will be steadfast and sure.

Lets go back to the Proverbs starting at vs 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage]

And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].

27 Do not turn away to the right nor to the left [where evil may lurk];

26 Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet,

Turn your foot from [the path of] evil.

And all your ways will be steadfast and sure.

Conclusion

27 Do not turn away to the right nor to the left [where evil may lurk];

As I mentioned before God has been /dealing with me on this topic for a while. While at the altar at the network conference I heard God ask me very clearly “ How many things in your life are you cultivating that will never bear fruit?” that has caused me to examine many things in my day to day. I believe today he wants to ask you the same thing

Turn your foot from [the path of] evil.

So in a moment we are going to have a chance to deal with those things that we cultivate that will bear no fruit. Along the Altar we have slips of paper and pens where you can write down those distractions and we are going to nail them to the cross and submit them to the Lordship of Jesus. If your distraction is on your phone, maybe it’s an app or game or social media platform take this opportunity to remove it put the bible app where it was (you will see how often you access it) and for many of us you will be in the Bible before you even realized what you are Doing.

Perhaps you think well that’s great but I don’t know what it means to submit to the Lordship of Jesus. If that’s you if you have never come into relationship with Jesus I want to meet you right here and I’ll help make the introduction.

Conclusion

As I mentioned before God has been /dealing with me on this topic for a while. While at the altar at the network conference I heard God ask me very clearly “ How many things in your life are you cultivating that will never bear fruit?” that has caused me to examine many things in my day to day. I believe today he wants to ask you the same thing

Take as much time as you need let’s take some time to refocus our lives on jesus and the Path we’ve been called to.

So in a moment we are going to have a chance to deal with those things that we cultivate that will bear no fruit. Along the Altar we have slips of paper and pens where you can write down those distractions and we are going to nail them to the cross and submit them to the Lordship of Jesus. If your distraction is on your phone, maybe it’s an app or game or social media platform take this opportunity to remove it put the bible app where it was (you will see how often you access it) and for many of us you will be in the Bible before you even realized what you are Doing.

Perhaps you think well that’s great but I don’t know what it means to submit to the Lordship of Jesus. If that’s you if you have never come into relationship with Jesus I want to meet you right here and I’ll help make the introduction.

Take as much time as you need let’s take some time to refocus our lives on jesus and the Path we’ve been called to.