Prioritizing God's Presence Over Life's Busyness

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth that there is nothing better than God. This truth is not just a statement but a call to re-evaluate our lives and priorities. We often find ourselves caught up in the busyness of life, overwhelmed by obligations, and distracted by the noise around us. Yet, in the midst of all this, we are reminded that our true fulfillment and joy come from being in the presence of God.

Reflecting on the story of Mary and Martha, we see a powerful illustration of choosing what is truly necessary. Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet, prioritizing His presence over the busyness of service. This is a call for us to shift from a performance-driven faith to one that is rooted in intimacy with Christ. It's about moving from doing for God to being with God. When we serve, give, and worship from a place of overflow, it becomes a joy rather than an obligation.

We also discussed the subtle drift that can occur in our spiritual lives. This drift happens when we substitute relationship with routine, when ministry becomes more about results than intimacy, and when we measure success by numbers rather than nearness to God. Yet, there is hope. The very awareness of this drift is an invitation from God to return to Him, to sit at His feet, and to let our hearts burn for Him once again.

In our journey, we must guard against the danger of losing our first love. The church in Ephesus had the right doctrine but the wrong heart. They were doctrinally sound but had lost their passion for Christ. Jesus' command to them, and to us, is to remember, repent, and return. We are called to delight in Jesus for who He is, not just for what He can do.

As we move forward, let us be a church that prioritizes His presence over performance, His voice over the noise, and His love over labor. Let us be a people who burn with a passion for God, who find joy in His presence, and who serve from the abundance of what He gives us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Intimacy Over Obligation: Our relationship with God should be rooted in intimacy rather than obligation. When we serve, give, and worship from a place of overflow, it becomes a joy rather than a duty. This shift from doing for God to being with God is essential for a fulfilling spiritual life. [42:25]

2. The Subtle Drift: The drift away from intimacy with God does not happen suddenly but subtly. It occurs when serving takes priority over seeking, and when the noise of ministry drowns out the voice of God. Recognizing this drift is an invitation to return to a deeper relationship with Him. [56:51]

3. Choosing the Good Part: Like Mary, we are called to choose the good part, which is sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to His word. This choice is about prioritizing His presence over the busyness of life and finding our strength and joy in Him. [49:24]

4. Guarding Our Hearts: We must be intentional about guarding our hearts against substituting relationship for routine. Our time in prayer and scripture should be about personal revelation and intimacy with God, not just fulfilling obligations. [01:03:52]

5. Returning to Our First Love: The church in Ephesus had lost their first love, and Jesus' command to them was to remember, repent, and return. We are called to rekindle our passion for God and prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. [12:21]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [31:53] - Worship and Praise
- [33:08] - God's Transformative Power
- [34:32] - Thankfulness and Reflection
- [35:53] - Prayer for Those in Need
- [37:24] - Personal Reflections and Gratitude
- [39:28] - The Burden of Busyness
- [42:04] - Serving from Overflow
- [46:13] - The Story of Mary and Martha
- [49:24] - Choosing the Good Part
- [53:13] - Finding Rest in His Presence
- [56:03] - The Drift from Intimacy
- [01:00:04] - A Call to Passion and Presence
- [01:03:52] - Guarding Against Routine
- [01:12:21] - Returning to Our First Love

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 10:38-42
2. Revelation 2:4-5

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Observation Questions:

1. In the story of Mary and Martha, what was Mary doing that Jesus commended, and how did it contrast with Martha's actions? ([46:48])

2. According to the sermon, what are some signs that a person might be drifting away from intimacy with God? ([56:33])

3. What does the pastor suggest is the danger of substituting relationship with God for routine? ([01:01:07])

4. How does the pastor describe the church in Ephesus, and what was Jesus' command to them? ([01:12:21])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might Jesus have said that Mary chose "the good part" by sitting at His feet, and how does this apply to our daily lives? ([49:24])

2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between busyness in ministry and intimacy with God? How can one affect the other? ([44:42])

3. How does the pastor's description of the church in Ephesus serve as a warning for modern believers? What does it mean to lose one's first love? ([01:12:21])

4. The sermon mentions a "subtle drift" away from God. What are some practical steps believers can take to recognize and counteract this drift? ([56:51])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are there any areas where you feel you are serving out of obligation rather than joy? How can you shift towards serving from a place of overflow? ([42:25])

2. Consider the story of Mary and Martha. In what ways can you prioritize sitting at Jesus' feet in your own life amidst the busyness? ([49:24])

3. The sermon discusses the danger of routine replacing relationship. What specific routines in your life might be hindering your intimacy with God, and how can you change them? ([01:01:07])

4. Have you ever experienced a "subtle drift" in your spiritual life? What were the signs, and how did you address it? If you haven't addressed it yet, what steps can you take now? ([56:51])

5. The pastor calls for a return to our first love. What practical steps can you take this week to rekindle your passion for God? ([01:12:21])

6. How can you ensure that your time in prayer and scripture is about personal revelation and intimacy with God, rather than just fulfilling obligations? ([01:03:52])

7. Reflect on the pastor's call to prioritize God's presence over performance. What is one specific change you can make in your life to align with this priority? ([46:13])

Devotional

Day 1: Intimacy Over Obligation
Our relationship with God should be rooted in intimacy rather than obligation. When we serve, give, and worship from a place of overflow, it becomes a joy rather than a duty. This shift from doing for God to being with God is essential for a fulfilling spiritual life. The story of Mary and Martha illustrates this beautifully, as Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet, prioritizing His presence over the busyness of service. This is a call for us to move from a performance-driven faith to one that is rooted in intimacy with Christ. [42:25]

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize being with God over doing for God today? How can you create space in your life to sit at His feet and listen?


Day 2: The Subtle Drift
The drift away from intimacy with God does not happen suddenly but subtly. It occurs when serving takes priority over seeking, and when the noise of ministry drowns out the voice of God. Recognizing this drift is an invitation to return to a deeper relationship with Him. This awareness is a gift, a gentle nudge from God to realign our hearts and minds with His presence. It is a call to examine our routines and ensure they are not replacing our relationship with God. [56:51]

"But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first." (Revelation 2:4-5a, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you may have drifted from intimacy with God. What practical steps can you take to return to a deeper relationship with Him today?


Day 3: Choosing the Good Part
Like Mary, we are called to choose the good part, which is sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to His word. This choice is about prioritizing His presence over the busyness of life and finding our strength and joy in Him. In a world that values productivity and results, it is countercultural to prioritize being over doing. Yet, this is where true fulfillment and joy are found—in the presence of God. [49:24]

"But one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:42, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can choose the "good part" today, prioritizing time with Jesus over the busyness of life?


Day 4: Guarding Our Hearts
We must be intentional about guarding our hearts against substituting relationship for routine. Our time in prayer and scripture should be about personal revelation and intimacy with God, not just fulfilling obligations. This requires a conscious effort to ensure that our spiritual practices are life-giving and not just another item on our to-do list. It is about seeking personal encounters with God that transform and renew us. [01:03:52]

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)

Reflection: How can you transform your daily spiritual practices into opportunities for personal revelation and intimacy with God today?


Day 5: Returning to Our First Love
The church in Ephesus had lost their first love, and Jesus' command to them was to remember, repent, and return. We are called to rekindle our passion for God and prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. This involves a conscious decision to delight in Jesus for who He is, not just for what He can do. It is a call to return to the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. [12:21]

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with God. What steps can you take today to rekindle your passion for Him and return to your first love?

Quotes


I believe that sometimes we get so overwhelmed in our lives and so busy with things that are going on that the things that are most important and are necessary we neglect. You yourself find yourself get busy you get overwhelmed work is a lot sometimes taking care of the things at your home or working through the things with your family to care uh for family members in their time of need. [00:40:00]

We get busy and the anxiety shows up or we get a depression that comes on and or we get sick ourselves because our bodies can't handle too much and and we neglect the things that are most important in our relationship with the Lord church becomes an obligation to us giving becomes an obligation to us serving in the church becomes an obligation to us and we get frustrated easy. [00:40:59]

When we're serving out of obligation and we're coming to church out of obligation and we give in tithe and offering out of obligation you have now missed the joys of the Lord you understand what I'm saying it's no longer a joy to have to write a tithe check it's no longer a joy to have to show up and teach a Sunday school class. [00:41:48]

Every believer reaches a moment in their Journey where they realize they've been running hard for God but not always running with God. The demands of Life Ministry and even good works can slowly shift our Focus from Deep intimacy with Christ to a performance-driven faith. We can find ourselves serving, leading and striving but missing the one thing that truly matters sitting at his feet. [00:44:27]

At his feet is an invitation to return it is a call that we would ReDiscover the joy and the peace and the fire that comes from abiding in his presence it's about shifting from doing for God to being with God. It's a whole lot easier for us to give of our time to give of our money to give of our resources to give of our worship to give of our service when we have spent time with the Lord. [00:45:01]

It's about choosing his presence over performance his voice over the noise and his love over labor. I want you to turn with me to Luke chapter 10 I'm going to read from the nasb here for a moment when I get to verse 42 I'll shift the the the phrasing here maybe verse 38 and now as they were traveling along he Jesus entered a village and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. [00:46:00]

Martha was distracted with all her preparations and she came up to him and said Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone then tell her to help me but the Lord answered and said to her Martha Martha you're worried and bothered about so many things I circled so many things we get so worried about all the things that are going on. [00:47:18]

We get so worried as a church who serving and who's not serving we get S we worried about what's going on but the problem is is we're not serving the way in which we need to be serving but we're also not sitting at the feet of Jesus the way we need to be sitting at the feet of Jesus you see it'd be different and as a pastor I'd be a little more okay with us not serving. [00:47:58]

If we were actually in his pres more does that make sense if I saw us at the feet of Jesus a little more if our lives reflected being in his presence a little bit more it'd be a little different Mark if they didn't show up and help us get rid of all that meat because I knew that the church was happening in the sanctuary and there were people in his presence who were worshiping. [00:48:38]

The drift away from intimacy with God does not happen suddenly but subtly it happens when serving takes priority over seeking when the noise of ministry drowns out the voice of God and when we begin measuring success by numbers instead of nearness there is hope the very fact that we sense a drift in our own lives is evidence that God is calling us back. [00:56:37]

He's not condemning us but he is inviting us his voice is not one of shame but of Love Whispering come back to me sit at my feet again and let your hearts burn for me once again you used to do so many things but yet now all we do is come to church now we're obligated to give now will show up do you know that the average church member if you are to be considered a part of a regular. [00:57:17]

If we're not intentional about guarding our hearts it'll take hold before we even realize what has happened there're substituting relationship for routine what was once deep personal communication with God becomes a checklist I was pastoring in Urbana Ohio I was working for Verizon and I was studying to complete my Master's Degree at the time every time that I open up my Bible it was in order to prepare for the Sunday morning sermon. [01:01:02]

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Transcript
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