[0:00] Praise the Lord. If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn with me very quickly to the Gospel of Luke. Luke chapter 10 and starting with verse 38.
[0:12] Luke chapter 10, starting with verse 38. We will read down to verse 42. For the next few moments of time, I want to preach to you a message simply entitled, Distracted.
[0:32] Distracted. How many of you, as of late, you have felt exactly that way? Distracted. Distracted from that which is important in your life.
[0:45] Distracted from maybe goals or dreams or relationships. So many different things in this generation that pulls at our attention and that brings exactly that.
[0:59] And that is distraction. Well, I want this message today that I know that the Holy Spirit has birthed within my heart to impact you and to minister to you.
[1:09] That maybe when you leave this place today that you are free from the distraction. Let's look at Luke chapter 10 verse 38. The Word of the Lord says this. Now it happened as they went that Jesus entered a certain village and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.
[1:33] And he had a sister called Mary who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word. But look at this. But Martha was distracted with much serving.
[1:47] And she approached Jesus and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.
[1:59] And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing. Somebody say one thing.
[2:10] One thing. Is needed. And Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her.
[2:21] This is quite the interesting story that's tucked away in the Gospel of Luke. It is a story concerning a family dispute between two sisters.
[2:34] Now imagine with me this morning of having the honor, the distinct honor and joy of having the opportunity to host Jesus himself at your house.
[2:48] Can you imagine what an honor that would be? What a joy, what a privilege, what an opportunity that would be that you would have that distinct honor to host Jesus, the son of the living God, at your house.
[3:04] Well, that's exactly what is being depicted in our text scripture today in Luke chapter 10. It says that Martha gave an invitation to Jesus as he was passing through her town to come and to be with her at her and her sister's Mary's house.
[3:25] What an honor, again, that would be. But can you also imagine with me this morning the stress that would come along with that pristine opportunity.
[3:37] Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. You know, when you begin to host a party or in a gathering or event at your house, you know, sometimes we just get stressed out to the max because we want everything to be just right.
[3:52] We want everything to be perfected. We make our plans. We write out our to-do list. The house has to be tidied. It has to be clean. You know, we develop the menu and so on and so on and so on.
[4:06] And things like that, events like that can be oh so stressful. How many knows what I'm talking about? Can you imagine the stress that Martha and Mary had to have upon them to know that they were going to be hosting Jesus himself, the son of the living God?
[4:24] I'm sure Martha and Mary, though, had a strategic plan of how everything was going to go, how it was all going to play out all the way down to who was going to clean up and who was going to wash the dishes.
[4:40] But notice in verse 40, it states that Martha was distracted. What was she distracted with?
[4:50] She was distracted with much serving. How many times do we, like Martha, find ourselves distracted?
[5:03] This word, this term distracted, it means this. Having one's thoughts or attention drawn away. Unable to concentrate or give attention to something.
[5:18] How many has been there before? How many are there right now in this season of your life? You find yourself distracted.
[5:29] Your thoughts, your attentions are being drawn away by so many different things in your life. You're unable to put one thought with the next thought or one sentence with the next sentence.
[5:41] You're unable to concentrate, to give attention to those things that are the most important in your life. I know I'm talking to some folk in this place today.
[5:52] To be distracted is to submit to the temptation to give the focus and the energy needed for something that is highly important to something that is quite often insignificant.
[6:08] Did you hear what I said? To be distracted is to submit to the temptation to give your focus and your energy that is needed for something that is of great importance.
[6:23] Instead, you give it to something that is often quite insignificant. You see, we live today in an age of unprecedented distraction.
[6:35] How many knows what I'm talking about? Never before are there so many different ways, so many different vehicles, so many different things that are screaming for our attention.
[6:48] That if we are not careful, it will cause us to be exactly this. Distracted. From smartphones to social media.
[7:01] And the list goes on and on and on of the daily distractions that bombard our minds, our hearts, our spirits, and our very beings.
[7:13] Statistics clearly show that the leading cause, listen to this, of car accidents is directly due to what? Distracted drivers.
[7:25] Did you know that? The leading cause of automobile accidents is directly related to distracted drivers.
[7:36] Drivers that don't know how to put their phones down. Huh? Help us, Jesus. Distractions. Distractions. See, distractions can be deadly if not dealt with appropriately.
[7:49] Did you hear what I said? I said distractions can be deadly if not dealt with appropriately. You see, it doesn't really matter what is distracting you this morning.
[8:03] What matters is that you deal with that distraction in an appropriate manner. Because if you do not deal with the distractions that are competing for your attention, for your focus, that is drawing you away from that which is truly important in your life, I promise you those distractions, no matter how innocent they may appear to be, it will bring destruction in your life.
[8:33] But it's important to know this morning that some of the most dangerous distractions aren't always those things that we deem as sinful or wicked.
[8:47] Did you hear what I said? I said it is very imperative this morning that you understand that some of the most dangerous distractions aren't always those things that we would deem as sinful or wicked.
[9:04] Such examples as, remember the account, we talked about it briefly last Sunday when King David stayed at home from the war, from the battle that was at hand, and he found himself out on his balcony and looking down over his province, over his kingdom.
[9:23] And who brought distraction to his life? It was Bathsheba who was bathing on her rooftop. She brought distraction that brought destruction to his life and to her life.
[9:38] What about this example of Samson, the great Samson? Who brought distraction to his life? It was none other than Delilah. Remember the account? She brought great distraction to the life of Samson that in return brought great destruction to his life.
[9:58] Again, those are great tremendous examples of distraction. But some of the most damnable and destructive distractions are not always those things that are such as these examples.
[10:12] They're not always those things that we would deem as sinful and wicked. Sometimes the most dangerous distractions can be way more subtle and even innocent in its very appearance.
[10:31] Did you hear what I said today? Some of the most destructive distractions can be way more subtle and even innocent in its appearance.
[10:43] Look again in Luke chapter 10 verse 40. Martha was distracted by what? By her serving.
[10:55] Is that not what the scriptures declare? Martha was distracted by her serving. You see, sometimes distractions can come from your job.
[11:08] Hello? I know it's mighty quiet in here today. I'm trying to help some people. I said sometimes some of the most greatest and destructive distractions in your life, it can come from your job that you're so devoted to.
[11:25] Your career that you are so allegiant to. Let me tell you, nothing wrong. I commend everybody. Everybody ought to be working. Everybody ought to be a productive member of society.
[11:38] But can I promise you today that very job and that very career that you are so devoted to and so allegiant to, if you leave tomorrow, they're going to replace you within a week.
[11:50] Hello? Hello? I've never been by the bedside of someone that is leaving this earth and heading into eternity that said, Pastor, I wish I would have worked one more shift.
[12:07] I wish I would have, I wish I would have pulled a few more hours. I wish I would have, you know, gave just a little bit more ample time to my employer.
[12:18] See, some of y'all, y'all are working yourselves to death, working two and three jobs, working overtime, trying to get the intention of your employer, trying to be promoted, trying to get to the next bracket in your company, in your business or your organization.
[12:36] Could that not be a deadly distraction in your life? I said, sometimes the most deadly destructive distractions are more subtle.
[12:47] In its very appearance, it seems innocent. What about this one? Sometimes those distractions could be your hobbies. I'm about to say some things in here.
[12:59] Going to make some of you parents mad. But I'm going to say it anyways. Never in my life have I seen so many homes and so many parents that are running themselves ragged, going from one ball game to the, oh my God.
[13:17] I'm not against sports. I'm not against your favorite hobby. But let me tell you, if you're not careful, you're going to train your children up that that ball, or whatever it is, a football, a soccer ball, a baseball, a softball, is more important than serving Jesus Christ in their life.
[13:38] When those sports keep you out of the house of God, you have your priorities all whacked up. Nobody's saying nothing in this place today. If looks could kill.
[13:52] I'm going to need somebody to pray resurrection over me for this is over. Come on, put a smile on your face. You know I'm telling the truth. Some of y'all worship that kind of stuff.
[14:04] Some of y'all are living through your children. Huh? I'm talking about distractions that are deadly. There's nothing wrong with involving your kids in sports and extracurricular activities.
[14:17] But that does not take the place of the kingdom of God in their life and in their home. Because I promise you, the biggest majority of them are not going to make it big time.
[14:27] That's a news flash. And that sports and those activities that you are devoted to and that you are practically worshiping, where's Jesus at in all of it?
[14:40] This will probably be my last Sunday and I don't even care. Sometimes your greatest distractions, look at this one.
[14:53] I'm about to talk to the preachers now. Can be ministry. Huh? I learned a long time ago. I grew up in a pastor's home.
[15:04] My grandfather's a pastor. He still is a pastor. I know what the ministry is. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And I promise you, there's a whole lot of ugly. There's a whole lot of ugly.
[15:15] It's not for the faint of heart. But I grew up in a time where ministry superseded the family. Ministers, pastors, they put their churches and they put their ministries before their family, before their marriage, before their spouse, before everything else.
[15:34] Can I tell you that ought not to be so? I learned a long time ago that my family is going to be put before my ministry. My marriage is going to be put before my ministry because there's going to come a day, God willing, that I'm going to retire from this thing.
[15:51] Not from the kingdom. Not from Jesus Christ. But from the ministry. And you know what? All I'm going to have left then is my family. And if I don't treat my family and keep them in a place of priority in my life, I may not even have that when I get to the end of the way.
[16:08] I'm talking about priorities. I'm talking about being free from the distractions in your life. You say, well, pastor, I just got a fire in me.
[16:18] I got to tell somebody. Well, tell somebody, but be free from the distraction and the idol of ministry. There's nothing wrong with ministry. Thank God for ministry.
[16:28] I love ministry. But let me tell you, it's not my God. Some of you, you're so consumed in it because that's what you find your identity and your value in is the praise and the applaud and the accolades of men and women.
[16:45] Let me tell you, if you don't clap for me, that's all right because I know God called me and you didn't call me. Because if I live for your applause, if I live for your accolades, let me tell you, your criticism is going to kill me.
[16:59] But that's why it doesn't matter what you think about me. I'm talking about distractions. What about this one?
[17:10] Sometimes it can be your family. Huh? Did you realize that? Family is important. It ought to be one of our greatest priorities. But let me tell you, it becomes an idol when all your focus is on your children and your grandchildren.
[17:28] Nobody's saying nothing today. I said sometimes that greatest, most destructive distraction can be your very own family or some other type of important relationship in your life.
[17:42] Hello? Some of y'all, y'all so desperate. Y'all so hungry. Y'all so thirsty. Nobody's saying nothing.
[17:54] For love and affection, it ain't even really love, it's lust. That you spinning your wheels, you doing your thing, and you're running all over the place trying to find your next connection and your next hookup.
[18:09] Who am I talking to today? Huh? You say, Pastor, you shouldn't speak that way. No, let me tell you something. I got to expose the devil.
[18:19] The devil that's trying to steal, kill, and destroy your life. You're so focused on a relationship. You're so focused on love that it's become a deadly distraction in your life.
[18:36] Listen to this. Sometimes it can be your religious rituals and activities. Huh? Let me tell you, I believe in the church. I believe in attending the house of God.
[18:49] I believe in being faithful to the house of God. I believe in getting plugged in and volunteering and serving. All those things are wonderful. But again, so many times we find ourselves just like Martha in Luke chapter 10.
[19:04] She was distracted, according to Jesus, by her much serving. We ought to serve the Lord with gladness. But the problem is in the church world today, we got a lot of people serving and a lot of people volunteering.
[19:20] And they're running themselves ragged because 80% of the church is satisfied with sitting on their tail on a padded chair somewhere. While the rest of us are doing all the work to put on an experience like you're experiencing today.
[19:34] And they're burning themselves at both ends. They're running themselves ragged. They're so devoted to their act of service and their volunteer work inside the house of God that there's no longer any relationship or intimacy with the one who they're supposed to be serving.
[19:54] Huh? Huh? I've been there before. I know what I'm talking about. And that's when you will experience burnout. And that's where a lot of us are at today.
[20:06] You see, religion can be one of the most subtle yet most destructive and destructive distractions. Did you hear what I said? I said religion can be one of the most subtle yet the most destructive distractions.
[20:22] Hello? Martha's distractions drove her to frustration. Her distractions drove her to worry and to anxiety.
[20:39] How do I know that? Because again, our text says that but Martha in verse 40 was distracted with much serving. And what does she do? She approached Jesus and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?
[20:56] Therefore, tell her, command her to help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, you are what? Worried. And you are troubled about many things.
[21:08] I said Martha's distractions drove her to great frustration, to worry, and to anxiety. You see, some of the most frustrating people that I've ever encountered are religious people.
[21:22] Huh? Let me tell you, as a preacher of the gospel, as a minister, as a pastor, most of the time you ain't going to find me rubbing shoulders with other pastors.
[21:34] I love and honor pastors. But let me tell you, sometimes the most miserable people you can get around are religious people. Huh? Huh? You ain't going to find me rubbing shoulders with a lot of religious people because let me tell you, I find it very taxing.
[21:50] I find it very exhausting. I find it very frustrating because so many people are ate up with religion. You get around them and all they talk is negativity.
[22:01] All they talk is doom and gloom. I told somebody the other day, that's exactly why nobody wants to be around you because every time we get around you, all you want to do is preach a sermon of hellfire and brimstone.
[22:13] Let me tell you, sometimes I just want to talk. Sometimes I just want to chat. Sometimes I just want to laugh. Everything don't have to be so serious all of the time. I said some of the most frustrating people are religious people.
[22:29] You see, your distractions will drive you to frustration. You wonder why you're frustrated? Because you're distracted. You wonder why you're full of worry and anxiety? Because you are distracted.
[22:42] We must learn this morning to differentiate between that which is urgent and that which is important. We must learn to distinguish between that which is urgent and that which is important.
[22:58] You see, Martha wasn't necessarily committing some sin. She wasn't doing anything that was not appropriate. She was simply distracted by that which was urgent at the moment to the point that she was neglecting that which was most important.
[23:20] That's what being distracted is all about. You were distracted by the demands of the day. You were distracted by the emails. You were distracted by the phone calls.
[23:32] You were distracted by the text messages. You were distracted by social media. You were distracted by the employer that's pulling on you. You were distracted by issues in your home, in your family, in your marriage.
[23:44] You were distracted by those things that are seemingly urgent to the point that you were neglecting those things that are the most important in your life.
[23:56] Oftentimes, it's those things that seemingly are urgent in our day-to-day lives that scream for our attention. And when we become distracted by the urgent, again, we will begin to neglect those things that are the most important.
[24:14] Martha was distracted by the urgency of the hour of prepping for dinner. You know, making sure everything was just right for Jesus.
[24:24] Nothing wrong with that. That had its place. There was nothing sinful or wicked about that. There was nothing that was inappropriate about that. But yet, she found herself frustrated, worrisome, full of anxiety, even against her very own sister, because she was distracted by that which seemed urgent at the moment.
[24:48] That she was neglecting that which was the most important. And guess who was engaging in the most important thing at the moment? And that was her sister, Mary.
[25:00] So what do you do when you find yourself distracted? I'm going to give you two things this morning. What do you do when you find yourself distracted? Number one, you reprioritize your life.
[25:15] Did you hear what I said? I said, what do you do when you find yourself distracted? Number one, you reprioritize your life. Matthew chapter 6, verses 31 to 34 says this, Therefore, do not worry.
[25:31] Do not be distracted. Saying, what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or what shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all of these things.
[25:45] But look at this. But seek first. Somebody say first. First. The kingdom of God. Not more likes and interaction on your social media account.
[25:59] Huh? Not the next promotion at your job. Huh? Not the praise and the accolades of men. Not the notoriety of society.
[26:11] Not your favorite hobby. But seek ye first. What? The kingdom of God. And his righteousness. And all of these things shall be added unto you.
[26:24] Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow. For tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own troubles. I said, what do you do when you find yourself distracted?
[26:35] You must reprioritize your life. You must go back to the drawing board. And you must see what you have out of alignment. What you have in an improper way of priority in your life.
[26:50] And when you identify that, then it's time for you to correct it. Somebody look at your neighbor and say, it's time for you to get your priorities in line. See, the reason why a lot of us are frustrated, a lot of us are full of worry and anxiety, it is simply because our priorities are out of place.
[27:11] We have so many different things that hold a number one spot and ranking in our life. When Jesus plainly told us the secret to success, the secret to living a life of peace, to living a life of blessing, is to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.
[27:34] And he said, and I'll add all these other things to you. Number two, what do you do when you find yourself distracted? You regain your intentionality and devotion to the one thing.
[27:47] Did you hear what I said? I said, when you find yourself distracted, number two, you regain your intentionality and your devotion to the one thing. What am I talking about when I use that terminology?
[27:59] The one thing. Again, look back at our text in Luke chapter 10. It says, Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. You're distracted, Martha. But one thing is needed.
[28:12] Somebody look at your neighbor and say, one thing is needed. And who chose it? Your sister Mary. She has chosen the good part which will not be taken away from her.
[28:23] You see, the one thing is your intimacy and relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the one thing that is in your life. That is the one thing that if you put number one in your life, God said, I will take care of everything else.
[28:37] God said, I will fix your marriage. God said, I will straighten out your children and your grandchildren. God said, I will provide for your life. I will bring promotion. I will bring increase. All these things that you are working yourself to death for, God said, I will fix all of those things when you put your priority on me and your relationship with me.
[28:57] Seek first the kingdom of God. The one thing is your intimacy and your relationship with Jesus. It is doing exactly what Mary did. What does she do?
[29:08] She was seated at the feet of Jesus. It's sitting at his feet and it's knowing him and his voice. You see, his words will nourish you.
[29:24] I said, his words will nourish you. Everybody's looking for another word. Everybody's wanting somebody to prophesy over. Speak a word of knowledge over me.
[29:34] Speak a word of understanding. A word of wisdom over me. They get in prayer line after prayer line. Altar call after altar call. Looking for some prophetic word. Let me tell you, the greatest words you'll ever receive is when you open up your Bible and read it for yourself.
[29:46] I said, his words will nourish you and they will sustain you. That is where we find Mary seated at the feet of Jesus.
[30:00] She was choosing the one thing. She was making the one thing. Her number one priority. Seated at his feet, hearing his voice and knowing him.
[30:11] I said, his words will nourish you and they will sustain you. And look at this. Worship will get you through the roughest times in your life. Why?
[30:22] Because worship shifts your focus from the problem to the problem solver. Did you hear what I said? I said, Mary was seated at the feet of Jesus in awe of him.
[30:35] In worship of him. Knowing him. Knowing his voice. Hearing the words of life that proceeded out of his mouth. If you want to be free from the distractions in your life, it's time for you to get back to the feet of Jesus.
[30:51] If you want to be free from the pressures and the stress of life. The things that are screaming in your head, in your heart, in your spirit. Pulling you in so many different ways. It's time for you to get back into your prayer closet.
[31:05] It's time for you to get back into a relationship of intimacy with your creator, God. Hear his voice.
[31:16] Know him. Be in awe of him. Worship him. You see, when I find myself distracted like crazy. Come on, I've been there in my life even here recently. Where I can't even put two thoughts together.
[31:27] I can't put two sentences together. I can't keep my focus. I can't keep my attention. I'm stressed out. You want to know what the greatest game changer is to get me free from those distractions?
[31:38] It's when I just begin to worship him. Because you see, when you begin to worship him, you put him back into a place of priority in your life. You center your attention and your focus upon him and his holiness and his grandeur and his power and his majesty.
[31:54] And all of a sudden, all of these things that are vying for our attention and for our focus, they begin to disappear in our life when you begin to worship him.
[32:05] I said your worship will get you through some of the roughest places in your life. Stand to your feet all over this place. Listen to this as we close.
[32:15] Distraction is the destruction of your dream in slow motion. Did you hear what I said? I said distraction is the destruction of your dream in slow motion.
[32:34] You want to know why distractions are so deadly if they're not dealt with properly? If you will continue to allow yourself to be distracted, to be pulled in this direction and in that direction, I promise you that it will bring great calamity and destruction to the God-given dream that he has placed within your life.
[32:58] I don't know about you, but I know the Holy Spirit's about to liberate some people in this place today from the distractions. From the distractions and the things that are happening in your mind, your heart, and in your spirit.
[33:12] See, one of the greatest battlefields is right here. It's right here. It's not what's going on over in Israel as much as that breaks our heart and Iran, Iraq, all those places in the Middle East. The greatest battlefield is right here.
[33:25] And so many of y'all are plagued by so many different distractions right here. You can't even function. You can't even operate in what you're supposed to be doing and who you're supposed to be.
[33:41] But God sent me by here to remind you today that it's time for you to lay down the distractions. And it's time for you yet again to find a place of intimacy at the feet of Jesus and hear his voice.
[33:54] Know him and enter into a place of intimate worship with him so that all of the things that are screaming for your attention will vanish away in this moment of time.
[34:08] Thank you.