"Getting Ready For The Come Back"

Don’t Get Distracted!

Acts 1:1–11 TPT

1 To Theophilus, the lover of God. I write to you again, my dear friend, to give you further details about the life of our Lord Jesus and all the things that he did and taught. 2 Just before he ascended into heaven, he left instructions for the apostles he had chosen by the Holy Spirit. 3 After the sufferings of his cross, Jesus appeared alive many times to these same apostles over a forty-day period. Jesus proved to them with many convincing signs that he had been resurrected. During these encounters, he taught them the truths of God’s kingdom realm 4 and shared meals with them. Jesus instructed them, “Don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait here until you receive the gift I told you about, the gift the Father has promised. 5 For John baptized you in water, but in a few days from now you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit!” 6 Every time they were gathered together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, is it the time now for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He answered, “The Father is the one who sets the fixed dates and the times of their fulfillment. You are not permitted to know the timing of all that he has prepared by his own authority. 8 But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power. And you will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces—even to the remotest places on earth!” 9 Right after he spoke those words, the disciples saw Jesus lifted into the sky and disappear into a cloud! 10 As they stared into the sky, watching Jesus ascend, two men in white robes suddenly appeared beside them. 11 They told the startled disciples, “Galileans, why are you staring up into the sky? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but he will come back the same way that you saw him ascend.”

Luke 19:11–27 TPT

11 At this time Jesus was getting close to entering Jerusalem. The crowds that followed him were convinced that God’s kingdom realm would fully manifest when Jesus established it in Jerusalem. 12 So he told them this story to change their perspective: “Once there was a wealthy prince who left his province to travel to a distant land, where he would be crowned king and then return. 13 Before he departed he summoned his ten servants together and said, ‘I am entrusting each of you with fifty thousand dollars to trade with while I am away. Invest it and put the money to work until I return.’ 14 “Some of his countrymen despised the prince and sent a delegation after him to declare before the royals, ‘We refuse to let this man rule over us! He will not be our king!’ 15 “Nevertheless, he was crowned king and returned to his land. Then he summoned his ten servants to see how much each one had earned and what their profits came to. 16 “The first one came forward and said, ‘Master, I took what you gave me and invested it, and it multiplied ten times.’ 17 “ ‘Splendid! You have done well, my excellent servant. Because you have shown that you can be trusted in this small matter, I now grant you authority to rule over ten fortress cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Master, what you left with me has multiplied five times.’ 19 “His master said, ‘I also grant you authority in my kingdom over five fortress cities.’ 20 “Another came before the king and said, ‘Master, here is the money you entrusted to me. I hid it for safekeeping. 21 You see, I live in fear of you, for everyone knows you are a strict master and impossible to please. You push us for a high return on all that you own, and you always want to gain from someone else’s efforts.’ 22 “The king said, ‘You wicked servant! I will judge you using your own words. If what you said about me is true, that I am a harsh man, pushing you for a high return and wanting gain from others’ efforts, 23 why didn’t you at least put my money in the bank to earn some interest on what I entrusted to you?’ 24 “The king said to his other servants, ‘Take the money he has and give it to the faithful servant who multiplied my money ten times over.’ 25 “ ‘But master,’ the other servants objected, ‘why give it to him? He already has so much!’ 26 “ ‘Yes,’ replied the king. ‘But to all who have been faithful, even more will be given them. And for the ones who have nothing, even the little they seem to have will be taken from them. 27 Now, bring all those rebellious enemies of mine who rejected me as their king—bring them here before me and execute them!’ ”

What does it mean to gaze: To gaze is to look steadily and intently at something, especially at that which excites admiration, curiosity, or interest: to gaze at scenery, at a scientific experiment. To stare is too gaze with eyes wide open, as from surprise, wonder, alarm, stupidity, or impertinence: to stare unbelievingly or rudely.

DISTRACTION, n. L. 1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation.2. Confusion from a multiplicity of objects crowding on the mind and calling the attention different ways; perturbation of mind; perplexity; as, the family was in a state of distraction. https://av1611.com/kjbp/kjvdictionary/distract.html

WHAT CAUSES DISTRACTION?Distraction is caused by the lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention.

Four Areas The Enemy Will Cause Distractions

1. Distract Us from Our identity. Our identity will constantly be challenged because the enemy knows if he can convince us of something other than who we really are in Christ he will cause us waste year purpose.

2. Distract Us So We Miss God’s Timing. Timing in the Kingdom of God is critical. Often distractions come in this area for one or two reasons. The enemy will try to get us to act too soon, or not soon enough out of fear and insecurity.

3. Distract Us With A Temporary Solution. Often right at the point of breakthrough, the enemy will try to distract us with a counterfeit. It will look like the perfect job, the perfect relationship, the perfect outcome or an answer. But all of these things will also involve a compromise, like dating a non-christian or taking a job that moves you away from what God is doing in your life.

4.Distract Us In Our Worship. In the spirit of distractions, God wants all of our worship. He deserves our full attention. Worshipping God should never be based on our feelings. It should be based on one truth alone…God is worthy to be Worshiped!

So How Do We Avoid Distractions

1. We Have to Keep Our Eyes on Christ! Matthew 14:28-31 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?”

2. We Must Prioritize Prayer, Daily.Ephesians 5:15-16 So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil. Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

3. Keep Our Eyes On Heaven Matthew 6:19-21 “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But keep storing up treasure for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal, because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

4. Don’t Abandon The Lord, We Must Remember Our First Love. Revelation 2:3-4 You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.

5. Focus On The Lord By Meditating His Word. Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.