Wednesday Night Bible Study
The Deception of Distractions
14 The farmer sows the word.
19
Be
Careful Of The Distractions In Life
19 but the
(KJV 1900) Mk 4:19 And the
(The Message) Mk 4:19 but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.
(AMP) Mk 4:19 Then the
DISTRACTIONS HINDER YOUR GROWTH
We will be discussing distractions in this study.
There are three things mentioned in this verse. Cares of this world
things that are important to this world. Of concern in this world.
deceitfulness of wealth
desires for other things, other than the word of God
this is what ruins many people.
My life story:
the call at six by God
introduced in college to the truth by white society
the derailment by white society; five years of wandering
a new quest for truth
Afrocentric theology through Islam
Universalism
atheism
Satanism
quest for religious enlightenment
denominationalism
Socialism versus democracy
capitalism versus communism
the end of the destructive path – suicide
the turn in the acceptance of the call
the acceptance of pastor
learning to be a father
growing in the apostolic
My purpose in life
(NIV84) Eph 4:12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
My job is to disciple you! Satan will seek to distract you from your purpose in this church. This is a discipling church!
Distractions
and subtleties are one of the major tools that Satan uses to destroy all of us!
(NIV84) Ge 3:1 Now the serpent was more
DISTRACTIONS MOVE YOU AWAY FROM THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD
The serpent was more subtle (crafty, clever, shrewd). Look at his wording.
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” what does this mean?
It is actually opposite of what God said. This lets us know that Satan works to the opposite of what God says.
God said:
(NIV84) Ge 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
He causes doubt and then lies to distract
(NIV84) Ge 3:4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.
See the distractions
(NIV84) Ge 3:6 When the woman
She sought wisdom other than the wisdom of God. She was seeking the knowledge of good and evil.
She was focusing on something other than what God told her to focus on.
What is to be life's focus?
(NIV84) Ec 12:9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.
Of making many books there is no end, and
These are the concerns of life
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
There are many things we can focus our attention on. Many things that can distract us from the right things that we need to do. We must keep in mind that we all have to give an account to God one day for the way we have lived our life.
(NIV84) Heb 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
Many of us lose sight of what is major in life until sickness or death begins to bring us back around to what is important in life.
All that matters is,
what we do for Christ.
(NIV84) Pr 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Ultimately there is only one thing that matters!
25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet
One can
lose/miss it or one can give it up forfeit/pursuing
WE MUST BE FOCUS ON SALVATION!
There are many good things to do, but only what God says to do it what is important.
(NIV84) 1 Co 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
There are good things we should from time to time be focused on, but ultimately there is only one thing that is important. We must remember that all things will pass away. Only what we do for Christ will last.
(NIV84) 1 Co 10:23 “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.
Don't let the world get you caught up in its distractions. Keep your eyes on the prize!
Keep your eyes on Jesus and his desire for your life.
We have to avoid distractions
that will keep us from what truly matters
AVOID THE DISTRACTIONS IN LIFE
(NIV84) Lk 10:38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
40 But Martha was
Martha’s problem was that she became distracted.
Greek word means twisted, to be drawn here and there, to be distracted. The idea is that Martha was drawn around and twisted with anxiety and worry. She was distracted, running here and there, being drawn by the cares of this person and that person that she lost sight of the
priority to worship Jesus.
(NIV84) Tt 3:8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.