Listening to Jesus Without Distractions

LISTENING TO JESUS WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS; Luke 10:38-42, MHAFB, 28 July19 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Series: Prayer / Topics: Teachings of Jesus; Prayer; Listen; Before Service: Pray with leaders! Songs for Worship: Psalm 5:1-3 (Psalm 85:4–9; Habakkuk 2:1) Opening Verse: Lord You are Good; Shout to the Lord; Trust in You ----------------------------------------------------------------------------SLIDE-Transition to Sermon, Ps. 119:105 Introduction 1. Attention: a. As chaplains you know that one of the services we offer is counseling for individuals & couples. b. For couples that pursue counseling due to conflict issues, a common area that we need to focus on is communication; Specifically... i. Speaking assertively (not passively, nor aggressively, but clear enough for your partner to understand you) & ii. Listening attentively (giving feedback for further clarity or to let your partner know that you heard & understood him/her). c. Healthy communication requires a balance of both of these! d. Consider for a moment the key relationships in your life... i. Do you speak assertively, honestly & clearly expressing your ideas? ii. Do you listen attentively listening, limiting distractions & ensuring you truly understand what is being shared? e. How healthy is your communication in your key relationships of your life? f. How healthy is your communication in your key relationship with God? i. Do you speak assertively? ii. Do you listen attentively? 2. Big Picture: Today starts a three-part mini-series from me on prayer a. SLIDE-Title: We are kicking this off with a focus on an oft-overlooked element of prayer—listening b. A Psychology Today article shares that only 10% of us listen effectively in our relationships w/each other 1. (Sources: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-balance/201610/are-you-reallylistening-or-just-waiting-talk & https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/resolution-notconflict/201111/the-art-listening-how-open-are-your-ears) i. I imagine it may be an even smaller number when it comes to effectively listening to Jesus! ii. From modern technology to our own thoughts, we are a highly distracted people. iii. The article goes on to share, 1. “We often think that we are listening but we're actually just considering how to jump in to tell our own story, offer advice, or even make a judgment— a. in other words, we are not listening to understand, but rather to reply. . . 2. Hearing is a physiological act; a. Listening involves our ability to unpack the meaning of words, and the silences in between.” iv. And so today God challenges us to better listen to Jesus v. SLIDE-Thesis: As we see this in Luke 10:38-42 I hope that you will see that… 1. Listening carefully to Jesus must be a highest priority in our lives! 3. Verses: So, let’s talk briefly about Luke 10:38-42… a. Context: This is the first time that Luke introduces us to two sisters, Martha & Mary i. They also lived with their brother, Lazarus, who isn’t mentioned here. ii. This family became great friends of Jesus & are most popularly known because Jesus later resurrected Lazarus from the dead. iii. In Luke’s gospel, however, he focuses on this story—one that teaches us how to listen to Jesus b. 3 SLIDES-Luke 10:38-42: So, I invite you to stand with me as we now read… Luke 10:38–42 CSB 38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” c. Please be seated. 4. Transition: a. Martha welcomed him into her home, but then she did not listen. i. One thing was necessary & Mary made the right choice. b. Today, let us take to heart that i. Listening carefully to Jesus must be a highest priority in our lives! c. So, how can we set aside the many distractions of our modern world & listen at our Savior’s feet? i. Let us explore this now and first realize that it all begins with… A Listening Heart 1. Main Point 1a: Verses: While the verses start by showing Martha’s hospitality to welcome Jesus into her home, they immediately change their focus to Mary’s listening heart (Luke 10:38-39) 2. Explanation: a. In Jesus’ day the place of a disciples was at his rabbi’s feet i. More than merely being a sign of respect, this is a posture of attentive listening ii. You are close enough that not a word passes through lips that you do not hear iii. And it is here that we find Mary b. MP1b: Luke ensures we know that Mary was not simply sitting there, she was attentively listening i. MP1c: The Greek word used here points out a continual action ii. MP1d: That is to give careful attention to another, to hear & understand iii. This requires focus which often requires the removal of distractions! iv. It is the same word used to communicate God the Father’s words to Peter, James, & John on the Mt. of Transfiguration when He declares, “This is my Son. Listen to Him!” (Luke 9:35) v. While Mary of Bethany was not there—she got that message... 3. Illustrate: As many of you know, I have been a teacher for much of my career, from Elementary to Secondary schools a. As such, I have closely experienced many examples of bad & good listeners b. I love to work with the good listeners! i. These students are open to receive new information and have an appetite to learn from another’s perspective ii. They have postures of attentiveness, looking up, wide-eyed, & waiting to learn! iii. They actively work against misunderstandings and explore what they are listening to with questions like How? & (the beloved) Why? iv. Then the real listeners work to apply the new ideas that they learn to their own life & ideas! c. If child can do with his teacher then we can certainly do it with our Savior i. Between you & the Lord—what type of listener are you? 4. Expand: a. MP1e: Mary attentively listened to Jesus—she put aside everything else for this! i. MP1f: She cared enough about what He said to cancel that day’s plans ii. She even neglected cultural expectations and family obligations iii. She put it all aside to sit at the feet of Jesus, look up at Him with eager eyes, and listen to His every word. 5. Transition: While we would all highly applaud her example… a. We often live in the reality that conflicts with this… b. We find ourselves in the state of Martha. c. So, let us consider what so often stands in the way of a listening heart—a busy heart A Distracted Heart 1. Main Point 2a: Verses: As vv40-41 share, “But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things...” 2. Explain: a. In quite the contrast from Mary, we find Martha i. MP2b: “distracted (or pulled away) by her many tasks (literally, much service or ministry)” 1. She busied herself with the household chores required to serve her Guest ii. MP2c: Jesus clarified that she was also worried & upset! b. But we can’t be too hard on Martha, can we? i. She is to be praised for initially receiving Jesus as a guest! ii. And her many tasks were most likely serving Him as a guest— 1. And who doesn’t think that serving Jesus is a good idea?! iii. She showed hospitality; a noble quality, highly valued by her culture & even by our God! 1. Hospitality is greatly honored throughout the Scriptures c. Martha (Gk. for ‘Mistress’) was merely fulfilling her duties as the head lady of house i. But in doing this, she lost track of what was most important... ii. MP2d & e: She chose something “good,” that was far from the “best” iii. And how many of us are ‘without sin' here, ‘able to throw the first stone,' so to speak? (John 8:7) 3. Illustrate: Too often we are like Martha a. Charles “Chuck” Swindoll (well known evangelical pastor, author, teacher, & preacher) once had a similar issue: i. Finding self w/too many commitments in too few days ii. He got nervous & tense about it iii. In his book “Stress Fractures,” he recalled, 1. “I was snapping at my wife & our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, & feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day... 2. Before long, things around our home started reflecting the patter of my hurry-up style. a. It was becoming unbearable. 3. I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger daughter, Colleen. a. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. b. She began hurriedly, ‘Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin' and I'll tell you really fast.’ 4. “Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, a. ‘Honey, you can tell me -- and you don't have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly.” 5. “I'll never forget her answer: a. ‘Then listen slowly.’” b. We are a busy people... i. Focused on little, distracted by much. ii. Every day brings a barrage of possible activities, time commitments, technology overload, & many other things that distract us from what is necessary—far from the least of which is listening to Jesus… 4. Expand: a. I'm quite sure that Martha heard much of what Jesus said, i. MP2f: But she was not "listening,” or in Colleen’s words, she was not “listening slowly” ii. MP2g: Her focus was not on Jesus, but on her agenda; not on His words, but her tasks b. Our own lives distracted by many things: i. Unpaid bills, incomplete homework, projects at work, upcoming appointments, social drama, family activities, games, youtube videos, the daily news, ministry, and more! ii. Just as Martha was “worried & upset about many things,” so are we. 1. And while some of these things are ‘good,’ but they are not the ‘best’ c. MP2h: But God calls us to be undistracted listeners of Jesus, our Great Teacher (Luke 9:35) i. But we can never do this when we let these distractions run our lives 5. Transition: Such distractions, even those ‘good’ ones, run rampant in our life, a. But Jesus calls back from all of this—back to the example of Mary. b. And so let us now transition to now consider... One Necessary Thing 1. Luke 10:41-42 Pic: Verses: Listen again to the words of Jesus, Luke 10:41-42, “The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”” 2. Explain: a. Main Point 3a: While Martha intentions may been noble, to serve her guest, she had a key problem-i. She was distracted from listening, from listening slowly, to Jesus ii. MP3b: It was for her as it is with us—Spirit-quenching “noble distractions” keep us from intimacy with her Creator b. And she asked Jesus to tell Mary what she needed to be doing-i. Instead, the Lord told Martha what she actually needed to be doing! ii. “one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.” c. Perhaps she first entered this relationship with Jesus for the wrong reasons… 3. Illustrate: a. There is a story involving Yogi Berra, well-known catcher for NY Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. b. Teams playing in World Series, & as usual Yogi keeping up his ceaseless chatter, to both pep up his teammates and distract his opponents batters. c. As Aaron came to plate, Yogi tried to distract him saying, i. “Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark.” d. Aaron didn’t say anything, but with next pitch hit it into the far left-field bleachers. e. After rounding bases & tagging at home plate, f. Aaron looked at Yogi Berra & said, i. “I didn’t come up here to read.” 4. Expand: a. So, what about you? When you come to God—what is it to do? i. Do you wish to serve Him? Give gifts to Him? Praise Him? Thank Him? ii. All of these are noble things! iii. But let us take a lesson from Jesus and Mary here— 1. MP3c: Listening carefully to Jesus must be a highest priority in our lives! b. Jesus says i. MP3d: That this is “necessary”: It was a great shortcoming that needed to be fulfilled! ii. MP3e: When pursued by His followers, this will “not be taken away”: Why would God send His child away when she is so earnestly seeking Him? c. This “one necessary thing”—must be a highest priority in our lives—Is it? 5. Transition: Now, let’s begin to transition to this key movement—How can we do this? a. In answering this we see how these verses emphasis two key responses. Conclusion 1. Reiterate: a. Today we have seen… i. Example of Mary: A listening heart ii. Counter-Example of Martha: A distracted heart iii. Counsel of Jesus: To listen carefully to Him above all else b. Listening carefully to Jesus must be a highest priority in our lives! 2. Conclusion-a: Apply: So, how can we apply this to our lives? How does this truth manifest itself in your life? a. Con-b: Remove Distractions: Let this be our first response… i. This means anything that you want to listen to instead of Jesus or that pulls you away you when you try to listen to Jesus? 1. Worries of this life & the daily stress? a. This is what Martha listened to. b. Learn the ‘cure to anxiety’ that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 6:25-34 2. The deceitfulness of wealth? a. Consider where your truth treasure is found (Matthew 6:19-21) 3. Media? a. Turn off the TV, radio, computer, phone; put away magazines & newspapers 4. Studies? a. Set aside time daily to put books aside 5. Other people? a. Walk away from the computer, totally silence your phone(s), retreat to a quiet space to be alone 6. Serving God? a. Deliberately set aside time when you will not serve but will listen slowly instead ii. Whatever it is that distracts you—make the changes necessary to remove these. 1. Rework your weekly schedule to prioritize actual scheduled time where you can be undistracted with Jesus! iii. Learn how to quiet your mind of the thoughts that pull you away during such moments. 1. Something that I’ve found helps me is to jot down quick notes of what I keep thinking about, or what I’m afraid that I’ll forget; those notes will be waiting for me to start thinking through again once I’ve had my time with Jesus. iv. Do whatever it takes to create that undistracted time 1. But this is all just the first step—the next, necessary step is effectively use that time to… b. Con-c: Listen to Jesus...: i. While Mary had the honor & ease of sitting at the feet of Jesus while He was physically in her house-ii. Today have the greater honor & ease of... 1. The Holy Spirit’s continual presence a. Going through all of life with us, b. Guiding us & speaking to us, and c. Reminding us of everything Jesus said to us (John 14:15-28)! 2. The written Scriptures, both Old & New Testaments, in great abundance a. In both written & audio forms, b. Translated completely (683) or in part into 3,350 languages! (Source: http://www.wycliffe.net/statistics) 3. These gifts are far greater than what Mary had! iii. We must habitually... 1. Make deliberate times to draw near to God & hear His voice a. Times when we immerse ourselves in His Word & in prayer 2. And learn to listen in every moment for His “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) iv. Con-d: Through Scripture: 1. Let us read the Bible for intimacy, not merely information 2. Approach the Scriptures as a hearty & savory spiritual meal a. Take your time as you work through it b. Don’t scarf it down so quickly you can’t enjoy the flavors & it doesn’t digest well! c. Read it slowly, chew on it a while, savor it, digest it well. d. Dwell on His Words, ponder them, meditate on them, even memorize them! e. Be present with the text 3. Ask God to speak powerfully to you through His Word each time you encounter it— a. From Sunday morning to evening or morning devotions. b. Consider how what you are reading could change your life right now c. How should it affect your thoughts, feelings, actions, & future choices 4. Instead of reading the Bible primarily to “get something from God” (like information or wisdom) a. Read the Bible simply to spend time with Jesus. 5. This is a key way that God has blessed our place & time with the ability to listen to Jesus a. His words—both those inspired by Him throughout the Scriptures & those which He spoke that the Gospel authors recorded for us—are ready for you to listen to right now. b. And as You listen to Him in His Word—always do it while also listening to God… v. Con-e: Through Prayer: 1. Prayer that is educated, answered (at least in part), & guided by Scripture 2. They reveal the theology of prayer, why we can pray, how we should pray, & what we should pray for a. Our prayers should be infused by God’s Word; b. Learning through listening, we speaking back to God in ways guided by what He has taught 3. And quite often, the Scriptures will also be how God answers your prayers! a. That may sound odd to some who view prayer as a means to get something from God i. (doing something for you, giving you a specific yes/no answer, etc.) b. But I challenge you to consider that, like Scripture, prayer is… i. More about intimacy than information ii. More about moving you than moving God c. Furthermore, I feel we sometimes agonize in prayer over something that God has said, “Why are you asking me about this still? I gave you the answer in my book. Read it! Spend time with Me there.” 4. And when you listen to God in prayer... a. Allow Him to take the initiative & lead you i. Again, the Scriptures are an amazing guide in this! ii. Take the Psalms as an example! iii. They guide us in hearing God through so many seasons of life! b. And when you are listening for specific answers-i. Realize that God does not only answer with “Yes, No, or Wait.” ii. Do you have ANY dynamic, intimate relationships where those three answers are the primary words you hear from the other person? iii. God is much more dynamic than a limited three-word answer-machine; 1. Ask Him to introduce Himself to you as such! 5. And finally, two other quick ways that you should listen to God… vi. Con-f: Through Church: Learning through God’s family 1. Jesus taught Martha to learn through Mary 2. There are Christian brothers & sisters that God wants you to learn from a. He will use these men, women, & children to speak to you, if you are humble enough to receive it 3. Finally, listen to God… vii. Con-g: Through Circumstances: 1. Realize that God is not limited to your scheduled prayer times… a. He may interject at any time in your life—be ready for it... Pay attention! 2. He may even use life situations to teach you something a. When you have a sense that this is true—pursue Him in prayer, His word, & Christian counsel about it. viii. One final word of caution concerning hearing God through prayer, church, or circumstances— 1. Always test what you think God said to what He has already said in His Word. 2. God will not contradict Himself & His God-breathed Scriptures are intended to teach, rebuke, correct, & train us in righteousness so we are complete & equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 3. Appeal: But now—let’s close this off... a. Luke 10:41-42 Pic: A listening heart or a distracted heart—where do you stand today? b. Only with these two application response, removing distraction & listening to Jesus, will you do the one necessary thing, the right choice that Mary did i. And only through this will we attain such great benefits as hearing Jesus & a growing intimacy with God. c. God wants you to hear His voice, i. He wants to reveal Himself to you ii. He wants you to know, trust, seek, & love Him better. d. Work to be a better listener. i. Start small if you need to—but start nonetheless ii. Do not remain stagnant in the same status quo you have been in. e. If you can do this, & keep doing it, a new and powerful depth will come in your relationship w/the Lord 4. Conclude: Pray with me... a. Father, renew our desire to set aside all distractions in our lives & to focus on You alone. b. Help us to clear our schedules, to limit technology, to clear our minds of worry & interfering thoughts c. Help us to reorder, reprioritize each day so that we can have undistracted time simply listening to Jesus d. Speak to us through prayer, Your Word, Your church, and even our daily circumstances in such a way that we can hear & grow in our intimacy with you. e. Thank You for listening to us. f. Be with us now, we pray, in Jesus Name—Amen.