From Distraction to Traction | Week 3 | Greener Series
BIG IDEA: To flourish in God’s purpose we must remove distractions.
10 Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
Genesis 2:10-14 NASB
Tigris River represents a keen mind or the ability to resist distraction.
15 Good understanding produces favor, …
Proverbs 13:15a NASB
Euphrates River represents a fruitful life.
8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
John 15:8 NASB
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control…
-Galatians 5:22-23a NASB
Mary and Martha
38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word. 40 But Martha was DISTRACTED with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.”
Luke 10:38-40 NASB
The opposite of DISTRACTION is not the ability to FOCUS… it is the ability to PULL the things that matter toward His purpose.
Distraction is the enemy of:
GODLY DISCIPLESHIP – “HER preparations” vs “Listening to His Word”
GODLY PURPOSE – “she came to Him” she was away from Him vs “Seated at His feet”
GODLY RELATIONSHIPS – “Lord do YOU care” & “my SISTER left me”
GODLY COMMUNITY - “By myself” - Loneliness is a direct result of distracted living.
GODLY CHARACTER – “help ME” – Self Centered vs Others Centered
41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered (distracted) by many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part which shall not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42 NASB
The “ONE THING” is not allowing anything, good or bad, to pull you away from His presence.
4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.
Psalm 27:4 NASB
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 NASB
WHAT IS PULLING YOU… NEEDS/DESIRES OR PRESENCE
If the engine that drives your relationship with God is situational desperation, then you are distracted.
Defeating Distraction:
Prioritize presence over problems
Prioritize people over projects
Prioritize your “NO” to allow your “YES” to God.
Am I trying to win the approval of human beings or of God?
Galatians 1:10 NASB - 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Prioritize purpose over popularity
Prioritize God disruptions over good distractions.
Prioritize progress over perfection
Prioritize the present over the past
Proverbs 4:25-26 NASB - 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet, And all your ways will be established.
Prioritize proactive habits over reactive habits
Colossians 3:2 NASB - 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.
Treat your distractions like the “adulterous woman” of Proverbs.
Proverbs 5:8-9 NASB - 8 Keep your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house, 9 Otherwise you will give your vigor to others, And your years to the cruel one;
Words of Knowledge
We believe there is someone who has had a tightening in the chest-caused from sickness and God is sending a wind through the chest and releasing all tightening and weight.
We believe the Lord is healing people of migraines.