Spiritual Distractions (March 3, 2024)

Sermon Outline for Sunday, March 3, 2024

Pastor Andy Lambert

PASSAGES: Luke 21:34–36; 1 John 2:15–17; Matthew 24:38–39; Daniel 12:1–2

 

Luke 21:34–36 (ESV) ~ “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

 

Luke 21:34–36 (KJV) ~ And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

 

Luke 21:34–36 (AMP) ~ But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth. Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.

 

The universe is suffering much and will be much more. All these things must happen as the world is prepared for the coming of the Son of God. There will be an increase …

 

 

Jesus as already warned us as to the things that are happening NOW and the things that will come. We must take heart, watch and pray.

 

Add A Note

 

The word “watch” in verse 34 means to give attention, to focus ones’ mind, to guard, to beware, to take care. How do we do this?

 

  • By not engaging in worldliness. Our heart is not the be overcharged, heavy, weighed down, burdened, overloaded, filled up, indulged over the things that are happening in the world – why? We already know the ending.
  • “Cares of this life” This means to indulge in cravings for more and more of this world. To often we give attention and focus of the mind upon more and more of this world. More as in …
  • food and delicacies
  • clothes and latest styles
  • houses and furnishings
  • property and holdings
  • cars and vehicles
  • free time and recreation
  • money and wealth
  • recognition and esteem

 

1 John 2:15–17 ~ “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

 

  • Why are we to take heed and watch and guard ourselves against these things? As a believer, we can be focusing upon these things and possessions of the world so much that we are caught unaware, snared and entrapped in the end time. The day of the Lord’s return can catch us unexpectedly and unprepared.

 

Matthew 24:38–39 ~ “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

 

Let’s take a look again at verse 35. That day, the end time, is going to catch the whole world unprepared. The terrible events and calamities of the end times are going to fall upon the earth and entrap all. All who dwell upon the earth shall be caught in the disastrous events, the destruction and devastation, distress and misery, misfortune and loss, suffering and affliction (Luke 21:5-33).

 

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Jesus warns us as believers, we must take notice, heed, pay attention, for in the end time the world will experience great tribulations unparalleled in history.

 

Daniel 12:1–2 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

 

 

So what are we as believers to do? Watch and Pray. The word WATCH means to be sleeplessness, awake, on guard. It means a spirit of being wakeful, of being restless, of guarding. Praying always means the believer is to live in a spirit of prayer …

 

  • praying all day, as he walks throughout the day
  • praying on all occasions and about everything
  • praying at appointed times, times set aside for nothing but prayer, devotions and quiet time with God

 

 

 

Add A Note

 

  

Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church

Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101

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