Do you find yourself easily distracted on the journey of faith? Remember that there is a war being waged for your ATTENTION and the prize is your AFFECTION. Learn how to identify the devil's tactics and defeat distraction in this practical sermon with Brother Chris titled, 'The Trap Of Distraction'.
"Before you check your phone, check your heart - because if you pick up your phone without a purpose, rather than you using it, it may end up using you." - Brother Chris
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"Before you check your phone, check your heart - because if you pick up your phone without a purpose, rather than you using it, it may end up using you." - Brother Chris
➡️ Receive Daily Encouragement on WhatsApp - https://godsheart.tv/whatsapp/
➡️ Information about Interactive Prayer - https://godsheart.tv/interactive-prayer/
➡️ Volunteer as a God's Heart TV Translator - https://godsheart.tv/translate/
➡️ Share your testimony - https://godsheart.tv/testimony
➡️ Join our Live Prayer Service on the first Saturday of every month - https://www.youtube.com/godshearttv/live
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TVTranscript
00:00There is something far more dangerous than getting off track.
00:05It is thinking you are still on it.
00:08There is something far more dangerous than missing the mark.
00:13It's thinking you've hit it.
00:15There's something far more dangerous than being distracted.
00:20Not seeing it.
00:23Not realizing it.
00:28Wow.
00:30Grace and peace to you all.
00:34Wonderful children of God, you are welcome once again to another interactive prayer service.
00:41Here at the God's Heart TV studio.
00:43People of God, let us begin this message with a moment of prayer.
00:52Join me in prayer right now.
00:54O Holy Spirit, let your light shine in our hearts and minds.
01:11That we may understand your word.
01:17That we may abide in your word.
01:22That we may apply the truth of your word in our daily lives.
01:32In Jesus' mighty name we pray and the children of God said, Amen.
01:44I want to start this message with a very, very serious statement.
01:50We're going to jump straight into the word.
01:53Think about this statement, people of God.
01:55Right now, there is a spiritual battle being waged for your attention.
02:06As Christians, we should not be ignorant of the devil's influences.
02:192 Corinthians 2 verse 11.
02:22We should not claim ignorance of the devil's devices.
02:27There is a spiritual battle ongoing for your attention.
02:36Because you are what you give your attention to.
02:49Now, when I say there is a spiritual battle going on, some of you are looking at me and saying,
02:56What do you mean, Brother Chris?
02:58What do you mean there is a battle taking place?
03:02Well, the heart is always busy.
03:04The question is, what are we busy with?
03:08Think about this.
03:11Think about how easy it is for you to give your time to things that have no eternal significance.
03:32This is an opportunity.
03:34Think about how easy it is for you to reflect on your life.
03:40Think about how easy it is to waste our time on things that have no lasting value and significance.
03:59It is far easier to find worldly distraction than godly direction.
04:06If you are wondering whether or not there is a spiritual battle taking place, just check yourself.
04:22Think about how easy it is.
04:26If you pick up your phone and want to check something for a few minutes.
04:28If care is not taken, it can become hours.
04:32It is a spiritual battle.
04:38It is a spiritual battle.
04:40Take your own life as a Christian.
04:42Then, if you don't create time for your devotion, you will surely find time for distraction.
04:48To read the word of God, or let me say to study the word of God, because God's word is not meant to merely be read.
04:58It is meant to be studied with full attention with all of our hearts when you want to pick up your Bible and read many things.
05:10You try to discourage you, try to sidetrack you, try to take your time, your mind, your attention away, even to join this service.
05:25Oh, this interactive prayer service.
05:29If you don't mean it, you will miss it.
05:32If you are not determined, you will get distracted.
05:38There is a spiritual battle going on for your attention.
05:47And the prize is your affection.
05:52Because where attention goes, affection tends to follow.
06:02People of God, I want you to think about what I am saying right now.
06:08I want you to think about what I am saying right now.
06:10It is a serious message.
06:12The reality of this spiritual warfare is not a reason to be fearful, it is a reason to be watchful.
06:22Watch and pray.
06:26Why?
06:28Because as a child of God, the devil holds no sway over your life unless he finds a way into your hearts.
06:44Oh, for him to deceive us into sin, he will first distract us because distraction dulls our conscience from danger.
07:04Because distraction makes you insensitive to intrusion.
07:16And when your guards are lowered, the intruder can become an insider.
07:26Let me give you an example.
07:28Let me give you an example.
07:30As Christians, we know that God has sent His Spirit, Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see how wrong our sins are.
07:48Yes, to convict us when we sin, but also to warn us before we sin.
08:00Many believers today, their conscience only strikes with conviction after they have sinned.
08:12Instead of their conscience striking with warning before they sin.
08:18Because we are too easily distracted and not consistently connected.
08:32When you knowingly give your heart to distraction, then you willingly,
08:48start the path towards destruction.
08:58This is the message I want to talk about today, people of God.
09:04The trap of distraction.
09:09Be careful.
09:12The trap of distraction.
09:17Turn with me to a scripture in the New Testament in the book of 1 John 2.
09:25Look.
09:27We're in a world where there is no shortage of distractions.
09:32We're living in a world where there is no shortage of temptations.
09:38We are in the world.
09:39We are in the world.
09:40But how do we live in this world without this world living in us?
09:48The answers are in the Word of God.
09:501 John 2.
09:53Let me read from verse 15 to verse 17.
09:57It says this.
09:58Do not love the world or the things in the world.
10:05If anyone loves the world.
10:07The love of the Father is not in Him.
10:10For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world.
10:25The world is passing away.
10:27The world is passing away.
10:32The world is passing away.
10:40The world isemi-posed inside of the one who were bijему.
10:44The world is having HejkyPLE.
10:45You are in the world with rent make exercise.
10:46Don't race that's too much tricks.
10:47Don't race, don't race as we don't go in there.
10:48Come on.
10:49Don't race that is too comfortable in a and not one who gets over, don't get too comfortable in a danger zone which is not your home.
10:53The world is passing away and the lust of it.
10:59There are many today who are busy building mansions in a market.
11:10A place that is passing away, fading away.
11:17No matter how long you live there, you will one day live there.
11:26Whether this world is laughing with you or laughing at you, one thing is clear.
11:36We do not belong here.
11:40Don't get too comfortable in a dangerous zone.
11:45Let me finish that scripture.
11:48Verse 17, and the world is passing away and the lust of it.
11:56But he who does the will of God abides forever.
12:04Thank you, Jesus.
12:06Remember what I said.
12:10The prize of that spiritual war is not simply your attention.
12:14It is your affection.
12:16The devil wants to take your love from God and transfer it to the things of this world.
12:28The lust of the flesh.
12:31The lust of the eyes.
12:33The pride of life.
12:34The devil uses what attracts us to distract us.
12:43The lust of the flesh.
12:45What you see.
12:46The lust of the eyes.
12:47I see this.
12:48I want it.
12:49I see this.
12:51I must have it.
12:52I look at this.
12:55I want to taste it.
12:57He wants to shift your focus from what is unseen to what is seen.
13:08This is a trap.
13:10The trap of distraction.
13:14Now, children of God, let me describe a scenario to try and illustrate what I mean by the danger of this distraction.
13:29Just imagine there is a ship sailing in a vast ocean and it's heading clearly in one direction.
13:42This is the path.
13:44This is the course.
13:46This is the way it is going.
13:48But suddenly, there is a gentle breeze that subtly shifts the direction of that ship.
14:04Instead of going straight, it shifted off course.
14:10And if care is not taken, the captain may not even know he has gone off track.
14:20Oh, I don't know if you understand this illustration, children of God.
14:26There is something far more dangerous than getting off track.
14:31It is thinking you are still on it.
14:34There is something far more dangerous than missing the mark.
14:39It is thinking you have hit it.
14:41There is something far more dangerous than being distracted.
14:46Not seeing it.
14:49Not realizing.
14:52If you don't know.
14:55If you don't know that you are going astray.
14:59You will not know the part to play to get back on the right way.
15:09The trap of destruction.
15:17As you are listening to this sermon right now, I want you to look at your own life.
15:25To avoid this entanglement in this web of destruction woven by the devil, we must identify his tactics.
15:40Look at your own life.
15:41Look at your own life.
15:43Examine yourself.
15:47Recognize what are the sources of destruction in your own life.
15:53Take a moment and think about that right now.
15:55No one knows you better than you know yourself.
16:05What is it that is a source of destruction in your Christian journey?
16:16I know there are so many areas your hearts may be highlighting at this point.
16:28But I just want to give everyone a very practical word of advice.
16:36People of God, before checking your phone, check your hearts.
16:47Because if you pick up your phone without a purpose, rather than you using it, it may end up using you.
17:09For many of us, connected at this moment, the source of our destruction is right now in our pockets.
17:23Many people fall into the trap of destruction because they pick up their phone without a clear purpose.
17:37And before you know it, something that you look at for a few minutes can turn into a few hours.
17:46When it comes to meaningful activities, you must mean it.
17:53When it comes to meaningless or mindless activities, you will find the time for it.
18:00And you will waste the time on it.
18:02This is the case of many people today.
18:06We're falling into the trap of destruction.
18:11And we're trading our attention for the sake of temporal enjoyments.
18:19In today's generation, in this world that we're living in today, where there's so much connectivity, 24-7 streams of information available.
18:34Many of us, the source of our destruction is in our pockets.
18:38Look, many of us, when you wake up in the morning, you greet your phone before you greet God.
18:47Even when you are going to go to the toilets, you first take your phone.
18:53You are using your phone in the toilets.
18:55Can I give you an advice?
18:58When you go to the toilets, you are sitting down.
19:02Before checking your phone, check your heart.
19:05Check your heart.
19:06Is your heart right with God?
19:09Is there an issue you need to settle?
19:11Is there someone you need to reconcile with?
19:14Is your focus in the right place?
19:16Don't just bring out your phone.
19:18Before you check the news, check your hearts.
19:22Before you examine your social media feed, examine your hearts.
19:29To avoid the trap of distraction.
19:33When you wake up in the morning, we should greet God first before anyone or anything else.
19:42To get down on your knees and say, thank you, Jesus, for a new day.
19:49Before you open your phone and check for messages or what someone has sent to you.
19:55Greet God before your phone.
20:02This is just a practical word of advice in the light of this message.
20:07People of God, let me be clear.
20:12I'm not here to demonize your phone.
20:16I'm not saying you can't watch things on your phone.
20:21Let's be real, people of God.
20:23When it comes to recreation, you are relaxed.
20:27You want to look at something.
20:29Don't simply look for something entertaining.
20:32Look for something edifying.
20:34Because the devil does not recognize your relaxation.
20:38Ho!
20:39Satan is ready 24-7 to strike.
20:46He's looking for an opportunity to deceive and empty your hearts.
20:53Your time off is his time on.
20:58Some of us deceive ourselves.
20:59We say, okay, I will just look a little bit.
21:02In 10 minutes, I will finish.
21:04By 8 o'clock, I will stop.
21:06You put the time.
21:11You don't employ self-control to manage distraction.
21:17You employ self-control to avoid distraction.
21:20I will just look at this for five more minutes.
21:25If care is not taken, it will become hours.
21:29I will stop doing this by 8 p.m.
21:31Look, if you set a time for doing what is right, you set yourself up for doing what is wrong.
21:37Because you are always only one decision away from distraction.
21:42One decision.
21:43One decision.
21:46One decision.
21:49Away from distraction.
21:53Can I also say something very direct, people of God?
21:58Please be careful.
22:00Isolation often amplifies temptation because lust feeds on loneliness.
22:09When you are alone, the voice of temptation often becomes louder.
22:18But when you think no one is watching you, remember the one who never sleeps nor slumbers.
22:35There is no secrets that can be kept from God's Spirit.
22:49There is nothing hidden from His sight.
22:56The concept of secret sin, hidden sin, exists only in your mind as a mechanism of justification.
23:10Because what happens in the dark will eventually come to the light.
23:15If you don't deal with it, it will one day deal with you.
23:22This is not a message of condemnation.
23:25No.
23:26As I said to you, the reality of this spiritual battle is not a reason to be afraid.
23:37It's a reason to be alert.
23:40To watch and pray.
23:42Because you are always one decision away from distraction.
23:48Watch and pray.
23:50Watch and pray.
23:52Watch and pray.
23:53This is the way out.
23:54You hear a message and say, but there's so many things capable of distracting me.
24:00There's so many issues that life brings.
24:03There's so many things that are present in this world, in this generation around me.
24:09That can easily take my focus and time away from God.
24:12Away from what I'm meant to be doing.
24:14What's the way out?
24:16Let me encourage you.
24:18Let me encourage you today.
24:21Yes, we are weak.
24:25Yes, we're living in a world with a lot of distraction.
24:29Therefore, you must consciously surround yourself with things that remind you of God and intentionally invest daily time with him.
24:48The best defense against distraction is godly habits.
24:59Because when you take the word of God into your hearts, the light of his word shines in your hearts and opens your eyes to see where you have gone astray, where you have missed the mark, enabling you to get back on track.
25:20Yes, we can be distracted.
25:25Yes, we will be distracted.
25:28But how quick are we to realize and get back on track?
25:33To get back on track, we need to dedicate ourselves to the word of God.
25:42There's no other secret shortcuts to get back on track with God.
25:47As you read his word, study his word with devotion, you see yourself clearly.
25:59You see life clearly.
26:03You can identify, oh, this was the tactic the devil used to distract me.
26:09Oh, this was the weapon the devil used to shift my focus.
26:15You realize it.
26:17You recognize it.
26:19You repent from it.
26:20You get back on track with God.
26:22That's the way out.
26:24Yes, there will be distraction.
26:27But please, people of God, take this message seriously.
26:32We can't claim ignorance of the devil's influence.
26:37There's a spiritual buzzword being waged for your attention.
26:49And if you don't engage your heart with God, the world will engage it.
27:01As I bring this message to a conclusion,
27:07I want to read a profound word of wisdom from the Proverbs.
27:17Proverbs chapter 4.
27:20And I'm going to read from verse 20 to 27.
27:25Ponder on these words.
27:28The answer to distraction lies within the truth of God's word.
27:35Verse 20.
27:36My son, my daughter, give attention to my words.
27:45Incline your ear to my sayings.
27:49Do not let them depart from your eyes.
27:54Keep them in the midst of your heart.
27:59For they are life to those who find them.
28:04And health to all their flesh.
28:09Keep your hearts with all diligence.
28:14For out of it spring the issues of life.
28:19Put away from you a deceitful mouth.
28:22And put perverse lips far from you.
28:27Let your eyes look.
28:31Straight ahead.
28:35And your eyelids.
28:37Look right before you.
28:39Ponder the path of your feet.
28:46And let all your ways be established.
28:50Do not turn to the right or the left.
29:02Remove your foot from evil.
29:09May God bless his word in the midst of our hearts.
29:21As we stay alert to avoid the trap of distraction.
29:31Whilst navigating this wicked world.
29:36In Jesus' mighty name we pray.
29:43Amen.
29:43May God bless his word.
29:47May God bless you.
29:47Amen.