The Purpose of Preaching Part IV
It Captivates the Distracted
Intro: We are
living in a distracted society. There
are more distractions now than ever before.
People are “multi-tasking” almost all day. The ability to focus has been
greatly hindered by the technology and inventions around us. It is almost impossible to carry on a
conversation with someone without them checking their phone for emails, texts
or social media updates. With these devices, people are more accessible than
ever before, but less attentive. We are
constantly being bombarded with calls, emails, texts, notifications, etc. It is astounding at how many people we
converse with during a day, but how few we actually talk to. One of Satan’s greatest achievements is to
keep the people of God so distracted that they can’t focus on what God is
trying to tell them.
I. The Number of
Distractions
People are distracted by:
1. Finances – money, bills, needs, wants,
late fees, credit scores, struggles, etc.
2. Family – the drama, the conflicts, the
issues, the heartaches surrounding family relationships
3. Friends – now with social media, people
can keep up with hundreds of people 24/7
4. Fun – sports, movies, games,
activities, get-togethers, social life, hobbies, dominates so much time
It doesn’t leave much time for people to focus on FINDING
& FOLLOWING GOD’S WILL.
One of the benefits of preaching is it has the ability to
cut through all the noise and distractions and provide clarity and focus.
The very nature of preaching confronts and captivates.
It forces us to pay attention and lend our heart and our
mind to the voice of God for a little while.
II. The Numbness
of Distractions
Information Overload:
exposure to or provision of too much information or data
Sensory Overload:
occurs when one or more of the body's senses experiences over-stimulation from
the environment. There are many environmental elements that impact an
individual. Examples of these elements are urbanization, crowding, noise, mass
media, technology, and the explosive growth of information
Paul the Apostle warned of a condition known as “being past
feeling”.
·
Ephesians
4:17 ¶ This I say therefore, and
testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the
vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from
the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness
of their heart: Who being past feeling
have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with
greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ;
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the
truth is in Jesus: That ye put off
concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to
the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
We are warned not to walk as other Gentiles walk – in the
vanity of their mind.
·
VANITY:
what is devoid of truth and appropriateness
III. The
Neutralizing of Distractions
A. A
Prevailing Distraction
God had a very important message for Moses.
He had something He wanted to tell him.
NOTICE: God could have just knocked him down and spoke to
him like He did Paul on the road to Damascus.
But God chose to use a poor, common, unnamed bush to deliver
His message.
Moses was busy; he was working; he was distracted.
But there was a prevailing distraction – a burning bush from
whence a message from God would be dispatched.
I am thankful for the burning bushes that God has put in my
life to distract me from my distractions!!
·
There was something unnatural about this bush.
·
There was something unrelenting about this bush.
·
There was something uncompromising about this
bush.
·
There was something unprecedented about this
bush.
Sometimes God has to put something or someone in your life
to pull you away from the distractions of the mundane.
B. A
Personal Detour
The only way a person can cut through the distractions is to
purpose to pull away from them.
At the burning bush, Moses had to make a conscientious
effort to “turn aside”.
Sometimes, people miss out on the message because they have
yet to “turn aside”.
TURN ASIDE: to depart; to leave; to come to an end
Moses said – I am going to leave where I am and leave what
I’m doing to focus on this burning bush.
C. A
Pursuing Desire
Moses wasn’t just content to see the bush not burn up.
His Desire for Exploration turned into a Desire for an
Explanation!
He wanted to know why.
·
Exodus
3:3 And Moses said, I will now turn
aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
You know what happens when God starts talking? When God has
a message?
You can either walk away, or you can come forward and desire
to learn more.
·
Moses could have denied it was happening.
·
He could have settled for a long-distance
awareness.
·
He could have tried to put it out. (I’ve seen
plenty of people that wanted to do that!)
·
He could have argued that it was impossible and
something wasn’t right.
·
But he chose to pursue it and learn more. To
discover the secret behind the fire.
D. A
Permanent Decision
Exodus 4:18 – He left that altar call at the burning bush a
changed man.
He went home, packed his suitcases and left for Egypt.
·
God called unto him – Ex. 3:4
·
God called him – Ex. 3:10
Conclusion: If
you and I would just “turn aside” and get close enough to the burning bush, God
WILL call unto us!
Why do we need preaching? Because it is necessary to bring
clarity and focus to those of us that are distracted.
