Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27 ESV

Distraction is a simple strategy the enemy uses to keep us from what God wills for us.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Distraction verses a Jesus focused faith.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2 ESV

Humanity

Indirect drama is a distraction the enemy uses to keep us from focusing on God what He wills for our own relationships and situations. (Facebook has become like going to priest)

Hobbies and Habits!

Good is no good if it’s not God

Money, Job, Career, Possessions

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Matthew 6:24-32 NLT

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. Colossians 3:23-34 NLT

Let money rule you and it will rob you of the contentment you thought it would buy you.

Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me. 2 Timothy 4:10 ESV

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 NLT

We should be compassionately motivated to introduce people to Jesus and the life we’ve found in Him.

When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:15-23 ESV

Any church that isn’t seriously involved in helping fulfill the great commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist. - Oswald J. Smith

Not called did you say? Not heard the call, I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear him bid you go… William Booth

It all starts with knowing Him for the sake of knowing Him.

You can’t know Jesus and His love in the way we’re meant to know Him and not find a way to make Him known!

If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, indeed I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9 ESV

You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Mathew 5:14 NLT

We shine more brightly when we shine together.

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 NLT

Don’t shine a light on others, but for others.

We can see Jesus through us reach our world, one strategic and intentional connection, conversation, and relationship at a time.

Everyone should get to have a real relationship with a true God follower at least once in their lifetime.

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 ESV

Nothing is more meaningful than sharing first hand how God’s word and will have impacted your life.

One of the most important prerequisites for an impactful witness is a grateful and surrendered life, which may be in itself the greatest witness of all.

For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. Romans 1:14-16 NLT

Jesus came for and has sent us to every demographic and community on planet earth. 

#ToSeekAndSave

There came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. Luke 8:41 ESV

And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. Luke 8:41-42 ESV 

What is dying in your life today and what are you gonna do about it?

As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. Luke 8:43 NLT

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, having spent everything she had on doctors, she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. Luke 8:43-44 NLT

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” Luke 8:45 NLT

Being a part of the crowd isn’t the same as pushing through to be with Jesus. 

But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” 

Luke 8:46 NLT

Any honest effort to touch the heart of God will always be honored with His presence and attention.

When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:47-48 NLT

Faith in Jesus is the pathway to healing and the restoration of identity in the family of God. 

While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.” Luke 8:49-50 NLT 

Don’t let comparison, obstacles or difficulties destroy the hope you’ve found in Jesus.

When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened. Luke 8:43-56 NLT

The miraculous belongs to the messiah and is for His Glory and our good! 

---Sunday Notes---

Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:17-18 ESV - - Rock: double meaning…

For the Church to be the Church, it must be built on the word and will of Jesus. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” Acts 1:8-11 NLT

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 NLT

We’re called to Christ following community that works together for God and good.

We are made to be together in a way that honors God, prioritizes community and discipleship, and expedites compelling reach.

And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 NLT

Photo’s when I start talking about 828 Church… 

What matters most isn’t what, but whose the Church is!

I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:17-18 ESV

I still believe in the Church because the Church is His! 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19 ESV

I believe being deeply involved in a church that loves God and pursues His purposes is the best thing I can do for my family and the most impactful thing I can do with my life.