WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.680 Hey, this is George Davis, and so glad to have you connected with us today. 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:07.599 Do I have an amazing series that's gonna be a blessing to you? 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:09.919 It's called Weapons of Mass Distraction. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:14.160 No, I didn't say weapons of mass destruction, weapons of mass distraction. 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:20.320 In this season, where I believe God wants us to have a fierce focus, the enemy of focus is distraction. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:27.359 And I want to walk you through and show what I believe are our four of the greatest distractions that we face as Christians or just as people in general. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:33.840 And I believe if we can get our focus right, keep our eyes on Jesus and don't allow these distractions to take us off course. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:36.640 God's got some amazing things awaiting us in our future. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:46.159 In fact, one of the very reasons you know God's got something great is that the enemy's trying his best to take your eyes off of the future and look back to the past or look around at something else. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:54.560 So buckle up, get ready for an amazing word today, because this episode today, this uh portion day is going to be a great blessing to you. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:56.479 Amen. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.000 God is faithful. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:01.039 Yes, that was a good moment in worship. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:02.960 I uh love spending time with God. 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:05.200 Um love it, love it. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:13.200 Uh, my name is Evelyn Gonzales, and I have the honor of serving here at the ministry as a director of education, head of school. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:18.400 Uh I serve Impact Christian Academy, I serve Step Five, and I serve Impact College. 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:20.959 So if you are interested, come see me after service. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:21.599 Amen. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:22.319 Amen. 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:24.159 Shameless plug. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:27.840 So we have started a new series. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:32.400 Uh, the series deals with weapons of mass distraction. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:42.560 And the first week we learned about uh the strange man and the strange woman and how they slowly can pull you away from the things of God. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:02:03.519 And then last week we learned about emotional baggage, uh, whether it's disappointment or grief or offense, uh, whatever it may be, even loneliness, how us carrying that baggage around and not leaving it at the foot of the cross can be a distraction to what God has for us in our lives. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:05.680 But this week is a little bit different. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:10.719 Uh, we are going to talk about, like last week was more of an internal voice. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.639 This week we're going to talk about external voices. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:24.639 And one voice that uh has a profound effect on this generation is that of the digital voice. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:40.560 Uh, the social media, Netflix, chat, Claude, uh, Gemini, co-pilot, and how that voice, oftentimes we have leaned in to hear that instead of leaning in to hear the voice of the Lord. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:57.759 Or we go on to social media looking for affirmation or advocacy or acceptance instead of sitting at the foot of the cross knowing that we've already been accepted by the one who loves us beyond our generation and beyond our shortcomings. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:02.159 Uh, we have subscribed to a counterfeit community. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:23.280 And we have run to our Instagram or our thread to hear encouragement when the word of God is full of encouragement, or your small group is full of encouragement. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:41.759 So we're reaching out to someone in India or someone in California or someone in South Brazil, and we're posting our hurts and our desires and even our all a report card, thinking that that community is enough. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:43.919 And can I tell you it's a distraction? 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:46.240 It's a distraction. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:54.800 You can stand up at the airport and announce, my mother just passed away, and there will be some people in the crowd who will come to you and have compassion. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:57.759 But for the most part, those people will go on with their day. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:12.639 It's the same thing with social media, but we don't realize it because we're looking for that next hit and we're looking for that next follow, and we're looking for that next share, share, and we're hoping that that will be enough to fill the void that only God can fill. 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:15.840 It is a digital distraction. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:18.959 A digital distraction. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:24.720 And um Bishop gave us a couple statistics that I want to share with you. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:35.920 Um, did you know that 30% of people, 31% of individuals, uh have anxiety about leaving their phone at home? 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:44.079 And uh the way he teaches it is that's because the other 60% didn't tell the truth. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:55.519 Or 40% of people would rather lose their voice for a day than not have their phone for 24 hours. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:04:59.839 That's a that is an addiction, ladies and gentlemen. 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:01.759 That is an addiction. 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:11.360 Uh this year, our our wonderful governor uh passed a law that middle school students could not bring cell phones to school. 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:12.800 And we enforced it. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:15.040 I don't know if Abby's here, but we enforced it. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:19.120 I have a couple ICA family in the front row, and ooh, it was tough. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:22.240 Because we enforced it for middle and high. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:23.759 It was tough. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:26.959 Ooh, the kids revolted, they kicked, they screamed. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:30.480 But by the end of the year, do you know they talk to each other at lunch now? 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:33.120 They talk. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:38.319 They talk, they clown around, they laugh, whereas before they would just sit on their phone. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:56.959 And I dare say that the 109 young people that gave their life to Christ by the end of the year is a result, is a result of us taking that addiction and setting it to the side, even for the seven and a half hours they're at the school. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:10.399 The enemy doesn't do anything new, he has tried to distract us from the will of God from the Old Testament on. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:16.959 He doesn't do anything new, it's a voice, and it's a voice that we should not give heed to. 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:21.360 In the book of Nehemiah, we hear how Nehemiah went to rebuild the wall. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:26.399 Um, and as they were building, they had built up the entire wall, but they hadn't added the gates. 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:32.720 And three men came, two in particular, Sambalat and Tobias, and they called to him. 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:36.959 They said, Hey, you need to come down and talk to us because we're hearing a rumor. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:38.319 And you know what he said? 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:40.720 He said, I am doing a great work. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:45.600 Who am I to come down and talk to you and leave this work unfinished? 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:57.759 Ladies and gentlemen, social media is calling you out from whatever it is that you're focused on, because truth be told, the enemy does not want you to complete that great work. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:01.839 How many of us pick up our phone to check the weather? 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:08.879 And then two hours later, we still are not dressed for work, sitting there laughing at dog videos. 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:32.560 Or worst case scenario, we get up at three o'clock in the morning looking at who's wearing what and who said what and who's dating who the digital distraction is bombarding the lives of our young people, but dare I say that it is bombarding the lives of adults as well? 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:38.240 How many of you checked Facebook or Instagram or threads before you came in today? 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:39.600 Please be honest. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.079 How many of you checked your text messages? 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:44.319 Look around. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:46.319 How okay, close hands down. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.040 How many of you opened your Bible to read some scripture this morning? 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:49.759 Don't raise your hand. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:50.639 Don't raise your hand. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:51.759 Don't raise your hand. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:54.079 I'm not I'm not trying to embarrass anybody. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:57.279 Let's start with our first scripture, 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 12. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:00.639 And it says, Someone will say, I'm allowed to do anything. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:05.360 Yes, but everything is not necessarily good for you. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:13.759 I could say that I'm allowed to do anything, but I will not let anything make me its slave. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:32.080 When you get up in the morning, if you have to reach for your cell phone first, and when you lay down at night, if you have to reach for your cell phone first, and when you have to make a huge speech and you have to confer with chat, sounds like slavery to me. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:36.080 Sounds like slavery to me or addiction. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:44.720 But here's the thing: it's not the social media, it's not the digital distraction, it's whether or not we regulate ourselves. 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:49.039 Because there are a number of things that we can do in moderation. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:54.000 Let's let's go to the book of Judges, Judges chapter 21, verse 25. 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:58.159 And it says, In those days, there was no king in Israel, Israel. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.200 Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:11.039 And oftentimes, when we want to make it known, when we want to, and I'm old school, give you a piece of our mind. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:14.000 We'll go on social media for somebody to support what we said. 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:14.960 And she did that. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:17.120 I've I'll be honest, I'm one of those people. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:20.080 I'm here for the threads, I'm here for the comments. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:22.879 I will go into the comments and get a nice little laugh. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.000 But the truth is, some of those people would never do that in person. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:34.639 So we throw off what we consider, yes, digital gangsters, as my husband would say. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:47.919 We throw off what we know is what God would require of us, and we say what we want to say, and we post what we want to post, and we attack people in this realm, or we are attacked by people in this realm. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:10:00.960 This morning, I want to expose four dangers of social media, four dangers of digital distractions, four dangers of been watching Netflix. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.480 Um, because you become what you behold. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:06.240 Let's start with that. 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:23.679 And it is truly hard, first danger, it is truly hard to know God when we are constantly distracting or distracted by Facebook, Instagram, uh chat, Claude, Netflix. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:26.000 And that's not to say that these things are bad. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:34.960 The the rub, where the rubber meets the road, is when we can't put them to the side, when we can't just sit and be still. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:45.120 Scripture says in uh Psalms chapter 46, verse 10, it says, and I know you know this, be still and know that I am God. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:51.679 And we are bombarded by text messages and updates and notifications. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:59.759 So all of this noise is causing us to look there for an answer when God is the all in all. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:02.159 God is the great I want, great, great I am. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:06.320 God has the answer to whatever it is we're facing, but we have to be still. 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:12.799 If we look at the Hebrew word for still, it there's certain things that it means, and I want to uh share that with you. 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:23.440 It means to sit, be quiet, abandon whatever it is that you were trying to do and seek him. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.279 This is what God is asking us to do. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:25.919 Seek him. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:28.799 You know the story about Martha and Mary. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:33.200 And Martha was about it's not that she was in sin, she was just trying to take care of business. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.639 It's not that you're in sin. 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:41.679 I'm just trying to check the weather, I'm trying to check my appointments, I'm trying to check my text message from Bishop this morning at 6:30. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:42.799 Love you, bro. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:48.240 I'm trying to get everything done, I'm trying to get information out, I'm trying to get information in. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:51.279 But God is saying, be still. 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:54.559 Martha was trying to serve everybody, but what did Mary do? 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:58.080 She was still and she sat at his feet. 00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:59.120 And guess what? 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:05.360 She didn't know about God, she knew God because she was still. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:13.360 It is very difficult to truly know God when we are constantly distracted. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:14.960 I didn't even bring my phone up here. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:15.679 That's so funny. 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:17.039 But everybody hold up your phone. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:36.399 When we are constantly distracted by something in our hands, but the issue with lacking intimacy with God, it actually leads to our next danger. 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:45.679 And that is a difficulty really understanding who you are. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:52.879 Because when you know whose you are, you can better ascertain who you are. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:13:07.519 So the second danger I want to talk about is it's hard to view yourself properly when you are listening to the voices that are attacking and invading your space through digital distraction. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:14.000 Now, you know there's nothing new under the sun, so I'm gonna take you back to the Old Testament because I love the Old Testament. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:17.200 And most of you know this story, so I'm not gonna have you turn there. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:41.759 But when you read the historical account of Saul and David's interactions, and I know you all remember this, and they came back from a battle, and the women cried out, Saul has killed his thousands and David his tens of thousands, and Saul grew angry, listening to external voices. 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:53.840 How many of us at one time or another, and we'll just say in the last 30 days, have looked down at some type of thread or post and read the comments, and on the inside was like, What? 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.840 How dare they? 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:00.080 Who do they think that who cares who they think they are? 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:09.600 We're listening to external voices, and for this generation, it is a digital distraction. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:20.559 We know that Saul grew so jealous that he eventually lost the kingdom listening to outside voices. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:37.360 Social media and what what happens in this digital sphere is so much about comparison that we begin to feel inadequate or insufficient or intimidated by what we see. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:41.519 As I was talking yesterday over what we were going to share today, I was talking to my husband. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:47.919 Uh, we we compare our real life to their real life. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:58.879 We compare what's really happening to their edits in the best light, with the best background, with the cutest outfit, with the right angle. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:05.840 But we see what is really going on in our life and we think it doesn't match up. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:10.080 And that comparison causes us to question ourselves. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:13.519 And that's just comparing to a couple of stills in a video. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:26.159 What happens when we we log on to somebody's blog who isn't born again, who doesn't know the word of God, and now their theology is washing over us. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:29.120 We become what we behold. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:34.480 So instead of lining it up and testing it against the word of God, that's good. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.600 That's a good word. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:50.960 Minister Donna and I were talking the other day, and she shared with me that she saw something online where they compared Jesus to a worm on a tree, and the worm gave birth, and then the the blood that came out of the worm was the blood that was on. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:53.039 What in the world? 00:15:54.159 --> 00:16:08.159 You want views that bad that you would compare my personal Lord and Savior and the atonement for my sin to a worm, but it catches and it goes viral. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:15.200 And now I'm looking for digital distraction when I have the word of God right here. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:26.320 Now that's not to say that there aren't very, very good clips online of men and women of God sharing the word of God, but again, everything should be done in moderation. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.440 We have the word. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:35.759 The Bible says, study to show yourself approved, a workman that doesn't need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:44.399 We cannot expect the digital realm to rightly divide the word of truth for us. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:48.879 It's a distraction, it is indeed a distraction. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:55.039 And please understand that nobody's life is as amazing as it appears online. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.200 And can I help you? 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.120 And I'm stealing this from Pastor Chris Sean. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.960 And it ain't about you. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:12.640 It's about the Father, it's about the Son, it's about reaching the loss for Jesus. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:26.079 Um which brings me to our next uh danger of digital distractions, and it it deals with being bombarded with sound. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:34.079 When we are distracted in this digital realm, it is hard for us to hear God speak. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:36.240 Now, I'm gonna give you an example. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:47.839 I have known Hannah Hervey since, oh God, but I knew I had a personal relationship with her when she moved here, and I was your teacher in 10th grade, yes? 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:51.039 Uh, and I have heard her sing since 10th grade. 00:17:53.039 --> 00:18:01.200 I can sit at home and my husband can turn on a video of service, and I can be in a different room and I can say, Oh, Hannah was leading worship that day. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.240 I can hear her. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.079 I know her voice. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:14.079 I know her voice because I know her, and she's been in my life for years, and I've watched her grow and develop into the beautiful young woman that she is, wife and mother. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:18.240 But I know her voice because I've spent time with her voice. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:22.720 When we spend more time, everybody hold up your cell phone again. 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:26.079 When we spend more time on our cell phone, go ahead and put it down. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:30.160 Well, you know what I'm checking to see because if it's lit up, that means you were on it at some point. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.640 It's old teacher trick. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.920 Old teacher trick. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:39.519 Or what you do is you turn off the lights in the classroom and you can see the phones glowing underneath the desk. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:40.799 Old teacher trick. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:48.000 Um, but I'm able coming back, coming back, but I'm able to differentiate her voice. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:50.799 Sarah kind of messed me up a couple times, I'll admit that. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:54.000 But I'm able to differentiate her voice because I know her. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:19:02.640 Um, are we able to clearly hear God's voice with all of the noises around us? 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:12.559 Can you sit there and honestly say, I hear the Lord saying to me, A, B, C, don't go there, don't do that. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.759 Please speak to that person, give to that person. 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:18.880 Can we can we honestly say, I hear it clearly? 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:20.880 And if the answer is no, that's okay. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:22.640 That's why we're here today. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:26.720 But we want to position ourselves so where we can hear the Father. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:29.680 So I'm gonna take you back to the Old Testament and they'll put this up on the screen. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.640 First Kings chapter 19, verse 11 and 12. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:35.920 And we are picking up in the historical account of Elijah. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:43.759 Now, uh, most of you know that Elijah was a great prophet who um who became intimidated and afraid. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:47.920 Now, he he went into a whose God is bigger battle. 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:52.640 And uh he said that the God that is God will answer by fire. 00:19:52.720 --> 00:20:02.799 If you all remember this, and um the other the prophets of Baal were just, oh, come on, they danced and they prayed and they shouted and they cried, and God would not answer by fire. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:05.279 So Elijah took water and threw it on the altar. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:17.200 He he drenched it, and this is the middle of a drought, so he's taking something precious to prove that his God is the true living God, and he called on the name of the Lord, and fire licked up all that water. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:19.920 Now, here's the rest that people don't realize. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:28.960 Then he killed all those prophets, and then a woman, one woman said, You killed them, and I'm gonna kill you. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:32.640 And that man picked up his hind apart and ran. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:44.160 He listened to the voice of one woman after he had killed and manifest the presence of God, and he listened to the voice of that woman and he ran. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:48.480 And he ran and he ran and he ran to a cave, and that's where we're picking up. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:21:00.079 Uh, and this is the message uh paraphrase, and it says, Then he, Elijah, was told, Go stand on the mountain at attention, fiercely focused. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:03.200 That's uh Bishop Davis added before God. 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:13.920 God will pass by a hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't found in the wind. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:25.599 And then an earthquake came, but God wasn't found in the earthquake, and then a fire came, but God wasn't found in the fire. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:27.920 Now they should have the scripture up on the screen. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:28.960 Let's read it together. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:40.079 God wasn't found in the fire, and I need you to pick up with me, but God and after the fire, a gentle and quiet whisper. 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:50.720 We need to find a place of stillness so that we can hear God whisper into our ears. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:53.519 Married people, we call it pillow talk. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:59.759 That intimate place where he'll turn to you with funky breath and say, Babe. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:02.480 Can you get me some water? 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.759 I love him. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.799 I make light of it. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:29.039 But God wants to have that intimate moment with you where he can whisper not sweet nothings, but he can whisper prophecy and he can whisper promises and he can whisper promotion that's coming your way and he can whisper provision that is on the onset of your life. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:38.480 But we're not able to differentiate his voice from the other voices that are bombarding us each day. 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:40.880 Don't pick up your phone, just look down at it. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:56.400 When we are digitally distracted, we live in a generation that is overstimulated, emotionally exhausted, constantly connected, and quite frankly, spiritually drained. 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.720 Drained. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:10.720 When we stay up for hours on end scrolling our phone, we don't realize it, but it is draining us. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:21.119 Anytime we feed on junk food day after day after day, our health begins to diminish. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:26.559 Quite a bit of what we scroll, what we see, it's junk food. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:29.839 A little bit of good in there, but it's junk food. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:34.480 And our spiritual health is beginning to diminish. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:49.279 We have to set the distractions to the side because whether we want to admit it or not, the bombardment of all of that noise begins to desensitize our spirit. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:24:00.319 And God can speak to us, and we won't hear it because we're too busy watching someone else talk about Lord knows what. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:12.960 And of course, Old Testament, because that's where I love to live. 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:24.720 If we go to the Old Testament and we look at the historical account of Samuel and how he was resting in the temple, and he was just laying there and he heard God call him. 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:26.960 He didn't even realize it was the Father. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:38.240 But it took a man of God to engage him and tell him, next time, go back and lay down and say, Yes, Lord, here I am. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:42.000 That is the type of community that we need. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:46.960 We need to be in community with people who can say, Hey, you're hearing God's voice. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.240 I need you to press into that. 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:51.680 I need you to find out what it is that God has for you to do. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:56.799 Because quite frankly, somebody in Bangladesh may not be able to speak into your life. 00:24:56.880 --> 00:25:00.000 They're gonna believe every little bit that you put online, too. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:10.240 So their wisdom will be wisdom from the natural, whereas the wisdom of God sees all things, knows all things, and can direct you through all things. 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:13.359 But we aren't gonna find that in the digital realm. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.839 We find that in the word of God. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:19.920 Digital distraction can be dangerous. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:24.079 It can make it hard to know God. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:33.759 It can make it hard to really understand who you are, it can make it hard to clearly hear what God is telling you because of the noise. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:43.359 And even when you do, being so digitally distracted can desensitize your heart to actually act on what it is that God is telling you to do. 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.200 But I'm not gonna leave you there. 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:51.200 There are solutions, and I'm not gonna sit here and say, put up all your cell phones, put them on the altar, stomp on them. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:54.400 I am not saying that you need to be abstinent. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:59.759 No, we need to flee fornication, but you are not gonna be able to flee your cell phone. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.799 It's not a run. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.839 I'm not asking you to run. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:12.400 What I'm asking you to do is do things in moderation. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:19.680 That is one of the first solutions I would ask you to implement in your life. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:34.319 And there's a quote here that says the problem is not social media or the digital arena, the problem is man's proclivity toward addictive behaviors. 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:45.119 We are built to crave, we're built to crave God, but when something starts to tickle our fancy, we begin to crave it instead. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:54.319 So what we need to do is as soon as we see that we have to reach for something, we need to walk away from that thing for a period of time. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:56.079 And I know this is hard. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:58.079 You like, but I'd use my phone for work. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:02.720 I understand that when it's time to sit down and eat dinner, don't use your phone. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:05.440 Or I I use my phone to check the weather. 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:15.200 Okay, check the weather the night before and get up and start your day in the word, or start your day in prayer, or start your day in worship, or start your day talking to your loved ones at home. 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:28.559 There are ways to invest in moderation so that the cell phone or the streaming video on the TV at home does not run your life. 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:31.680 We don't want to run, we want to regulate. 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.799 Amen. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:36.319 So we want to use moderation daily. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.200 Let me give you a scripture. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:39.200 First Corinthians chapter 9, verse 25. 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:44.240 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:50.880 Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 00:27:51.519 --> 00:28:02.559 This moderation will help us lock in to what God is saying so that we can hear clearly and that we're sense enough, sensitive enough to move on what it is that he's saying. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:07.839 So the first solution, the first step I'm asking you to do is regulate. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:11.119 Use moderation daily. 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:16.960 The next step I'm asking you to do, and oh Lord, Pastor Rodney calls it a cuss word, is fast. 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:20.880 Fast periodically. 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:25.920 And if you are sitting there saying, I cannot fast my cell phone, I have too much. 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:28.720 You are the very person that needs to fast. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:41.039 If you think that you are unable to do it, then that shows that there's an attachment to creation that should be attached to the creator. 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:47.599 Fasting reveals where your attachments are. 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:59.839 And fasting can refine you so that you shift back to the God of Israel, to the God of the universe, to your creator, to the one who loves you. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:06.799 I was gonna say, because them jokers don't love you, but I didn't want you to slip back to what we used to say. 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:07.440 Amen. 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.440 They don't. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:45.119 I once had someone tell me, Well, Jesus is my rest. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:54.720 Okay, he is, you can rest in him while you sit Johind parts down at least one day a week and disconnect. 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:57.680 Yesterday I turned off my phone. 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:00.160 I turned it on this morning. 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:02.799 I had 15 missed text messages. 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:06.480 Salt and air is having a sale if you all like salt and air. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:10.640 And my Timu delivery made it last night and I didn't pick it up from the door. 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:14.960 And Amazon, of course, let me know that my three packages are waiting for me at home. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:22.799 But I didn't need to know all that last night when I was spending time in the Word and spending time with my husband, and neither do you. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.680 Some of you have children. 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:30.400 I understand you need to keep your phone on because you have a child away at college or you have a loved one. 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:31.680 I understand that. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:39.119 Get a special ring, but you have to take time away. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:46.319 Where it's just you, just quiet, no rings, no notifications. 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:48.880 We are not the notification generation. 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:52.000 We are a royal priesthood. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:31:06.960 We are purposed and called to serve God, not Apple, not Samsung, and not whatever bootleg pickup phone that you might have in your purse as your bat phone, your throwaway. 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:10.000 We're not called to serve them. 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.759 We weren't created for them. 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:36.319 There's a quote that Bishop uh wanted us to cover today, and it says, We were never designed for the sedentary, indoor, socially isolated, fast food laden, and sleep-deprived, frenzied pace of modern life. 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:39.680 Indeed, we were not. 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:42.240 We were not. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:54.319 And this is the message paraphrasing, and it says, So here's what I want you to do. 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:55.920 God helping you. 00:31:56.240 --> 00:32:07.920 Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going to work, and working and walking around life and place it before God as an offering. 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:11.680 We're talking about Sabbath, we're talking about fasting, we're talking about moderation. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:17.599 Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:26.319 Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:30.240 Instead, fix your attention on God. 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:35.039 You will be changed from the inside out. 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:40.880 Your focus will form you. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:47.359 What you behold, you will become. 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:49.920 So let us behold Him. 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:56.640 Let us set our eyes and affection on Him and not on the noise around us. 00:32:57.920 --> 00:33:01.119 How many of you have just ever felt overwhelmed? 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:04.160 Like it doesn't stop, it just keeps going. 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:08.720 And when you wake up, it just keeps going and it keeps going and it keeps going. 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:10.240 There's no break. 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:12.400 I can't even breathe sometimes. 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:14.559 And I know I'm not alone. 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:20.880 But I have to turn down the thing that's pulling on me constantly. 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:25.599 And that's social media, that's digital distraction. 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:30.960 When I turned off my phone last night, I had so much peace. 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:41.039 It was quiet, and I could hear God clearly say, I love you. 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:44.880 Tell them I love them. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:48.319 And I want to hear their voice. 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:52.640 I want them to hear my voice. 00:33:56.880 --> 00:34:05.759 The devil doesn't bring distraction just so that you're out there like Peter sinking in the water. 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:11.360 He brings distraction so that you can't connect with Jesus. 00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:18.400 The wind was always there, the waves were always high. 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:25.920 But it wasn't until Peter took his eyes off of Jesus that he began to sink. 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:27.119 And can I say this? 00:34:27.199 --> 00:34:29.119 And I'm going to close on this. 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:33.440 The challenge may always be there. 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:38.400 The attack, the persecution, the walk of faith. 00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:47.760 But when you keep your eyes on God, he is the make away out of no way kind of guy. 00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:56.239 He is the great I am, whatever you need. 00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:59.920 Provision is already there, kind of guy. 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:05.679 He's the guy that knows the guy, that'll bring the guy that'll take care of the situation for you. 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:07.679 That's who he is. 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:15.679 We don't have to have a conversation with chat to get revelation of what God has for our lives. 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:19.039 We need to seek him. 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:25.280 So we we walk away from the strange man and we walk away from the strange woman because they want to pull us away. 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:39.440 And we let go of the grief and we let go of the depression and we let go of the loneliness and we let go of the offense because, again, they want to shift our attention and our affection to something that is other than the one that loves us. 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:44.000 And now today, what I'm asking you to do is use moderation. 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:59.599 Fast your digital life, even if it's just for a little bit, and then at least one day a week, pause and sit like Mary did at his feet. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:04.320 Listen for his voice like Samuel did when he laid in his bed. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:11.119 Ignore the voices of the people in the street. 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:18.239 Don't fall short like Saul did, because God has amazing things for us. 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:19.360 Amen. 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:21.840 Amen. 00:36:25.280 --> 00:36:28.079 Now I do have one additional question. 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:36.960 As part of seeking God's face and pulling towards him and drawing close to him, there's a step that we all must take. 00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:46.239 Some have already taken that step, and some you may be considering it now, and that is accepting him into your life. 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:55.599 In Romans chapter 10, it says that if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved. 00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:58.320 And there's some people that believe that he's Lord. 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:06.559 Even the devil knows that Jesus is Lord, and he knows it, but he's not saved because he doesn't confess him as his Lord. 00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:13.199 And then there's people you might run into on the street and you have them repeat after you and they say it, but they don't actually believe it. 00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:15.679 This is a two-part deal. 00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:19.679 You have to believe that he died for your sins. 00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:24.320 And you have to confess with your mouth, be my Lord. 00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:35.679 Now, if that is you and you would like to come into intimate relationship with the Father, I'm gonna ask everybody to close their eyes because this is no one's business but your own. 00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:40.320 There is a card in the pocket in front of you. 00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:43.599 There's a seat in front of you, and there's a card in the back pocket. 00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:46.000 And it says say yes to Jesus. 00:37:46.639 --> 00:37:55.519 If you want to come into a relationship with God, an intimate relationship, I'm gonna ask you to pull that card and just hold it up for me. 00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.800 And I'm gonna pray over you. 00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:58.480 Again, all eyes are closed. 00:37:58.719 --> 00:38:02.719 I just need you to reach for the card and hold it up and wave at me. 00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:04.079 All right. 00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:06.800 Yes. 00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:09.679 Yes, I see you. 00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:11.280 And so does God. 00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:14.800 So I'm gonna say a very quick prayer. 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:19.679 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your time today. 00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:22.239 We thank you for speaking into our lives today. 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:29.039 And we say in our heart that we believe that your Son Jesus died for our sins. 00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:34.480 We confess him as Lord of our life. 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:42.159 I add my faith to my dear sisters and brothers who raised that card and those who may not have raised it and should have. 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:50.719 And I ask that you continue to speak a word in due season, to whisper in their ear in the middle of the night, to send laborers across their path. 00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:53.519 In Jesus' name. 00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:54.559 Amen. 00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:58.719 Did you just make a decision for Jesus? 00:38:58.880 --> 00:39:00.159 Welcome to the family. 00:39:00.320 --> 00:39:01.039 We're so excited. 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:02.960 Trust me, we're clapping for you. 00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:06.159 And we believe that you've made an important decision today. 00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:08.239 We'd like to help you on your journey. 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:12.880 So if you'll follow the directions that are on screen, there is a free book you can download. 00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:16.079 It's going to take you five to ten minutes of your day for the next seven days. 00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:22.559 But our pastors have put together some amazing resources that we believe will help you on the journey ahead. 00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:27.360 If you don't want it, nobody's going to email you, text you, bother you, anything like that. 00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:30.639