Silence The Noise: Busy and Broke (Sunday Sermon Notes)
The Chosen Church
Speaker: Pastor Craig
Series: Silence The Noise
Title: Busy AND Broke
Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)
38 “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Don’t BE busy AND broke…..don’t BE broke AND busy!!!
Question: What is your ultimate goal in life?
Your ultimate goal in life often reflects your current values, priorities…..AND the direction you're moving towards. What you choose to pursue determines our outlook of our life.
Note: Whatever your age is, you still have to pursue something. If you still have breath in your body, there is still something you have to do. You must continue to pursue your first portion. Jesus is our first portion. ONE thing is NECESSARY in our pursuit…..➡️➡️➡️ Pursuing God first is your first duty! In EVERY pursuit, our first duty is to seek God above all else.
• Before chasing success…pursue GOD!
• Before chasing wealth…pursue God!
• Before chasing influence…pursue God!
• Before chasing ANYTHING/ANYBODY…pursue God.
• Before ANYTHING/ANYBODY our relationship with GOD should BE OUR first and highest priority.
When God comes first, every other pursuit finds its proper place.
✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
Matthew 6:33 Seek God FIRST!!! 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “(ESV)
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Friendly Reminder: PURSUE GOD FIRST. EVERYTHING ELSE FOLLOWS FROM THERE.
Seek in Matthew 6:33 means:
• To look for
• To desire
• To strive after
• To pursue
This should be our number ONE goal in life. If you do this first: Meaning——First MEANS priority!
He’s giving us the blueprint to a successful life. Why is it a blueprint for a successful life? Because it’s a life based in HIM! Your end goal should BE Matthew 6:33 in its entirety. It’s HIS way of being and doing right. It’s the attitude AND character of HIM
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Matthew 6:33 (Amplified) 33 “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”
A preacher once said…..The Kingdom is an everlasting style of government where Jesus is KING. It’s simply seeking to aim at and strive after HIS way of DOING and BEING right and all these “things” will BE added unto you. If this is being pursued first…..EVERYTHING else will line up.
Essentially…NO matter what you go through in life the intimacy and the fortitude that’s been built with HIM…because He’s been FIRST priority supersedes the noise which we face in life.
We must have the attitude AND character of God meaning when you get weary, you won’t faint. Jesus Himself had a moment of weariness. However, HE dug DEEPER instead of fainting.
If you're wondering where you are in your due season...if you're wondering when your harvest will come...if you've been asking, "Lord, when is my appointed time? When will I see the fruit of all the good I've done? When will my season arrive?” In the midst of all the questions….don't faint, don’t give up AND keep seeking GOD first.
Some have missed their moment because they fainted!!!!
Sidebar: BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE!!!!!
Keep striving to BE who and what GOD called you to BE!! DO⬇️ Right ⬇️ Everything else adds up ⬇️
• The intimacy with Him will silence the noise in life.
• You have to have the attitude and character of God.
• Jesus was tempted….BUT HE dug deeper, instead of fainting!
• Don’t FAINT!!
• Do GOD = DUE SEASON!
• Keep striving!! While waiting on your due season to come:
• Don’t quit!
• Don’t give up!
• Don’t faint!
• Keep seeking God FIRST!
When you become weary…DO good. If we quit…..We will miss our season. Why do we quit? Because we allow the noise to consume us. The noise makes one weary.
PLEASE: Don’t let the noise consume you! Sis/Bro…..The noise isn't always the devil……
• Sometimes…it's YOU.
• Sometimes..It's not always your haters…Its YOU.
• Sometimes.. It's not the people who have hurt you…it’s YOU.
• Sometimes….the greatest obstacle isn't what’s happening around you…it's what's happening WITHIN you.
• Sometimes…. Our biggest issue is us creating the noise around us.
• Sometimes the fear, the doubt, the excuses, the pride, or theunwillingness to let go become the LOUDEST voices.
Before blaming the enemy or others…..ASK God to reveal YOUR OWN heart. Sometimes….it's simply YOU. And when you surrender YOU to God, the noise begins to quiet….AND GOD’S voice BECOMES louder. Our BIGGEST issue isn't always what's around us... sometimes, it's us.
We create the most NOISE in our own lives. We become our BIGGEST DISTRACTION. One of the greatest distractions we allow is BUSYNESS to always be our business. It becomes one of the greatest enemies to our number one priority—seeking GOD'S way. We become so BUSY that we don't even realize we're spiritually BROKE. EVERYTHING is competing for our attention…..AND if we're not careful, we'll allow the NOISE to lead us into pursuing things that never benefit our soul.
What’s COMPETING for your time and attention?
• Social media - Some give social media platforms their time and attention.
• Cell phones - Some check their phones before they read their bibles. Busyness is a distraction!! We sometimes do things that don’t benefit us spiritually.
NOTE: Just as your phone sends alerts from social media AND you IMMEDIATELY give them ALL your attention…….the HOLY SPIRIT is constantly prompting, convicting, guiding, and speaking to those who are ACTIVELY seeking HIM
(MATTHEW 6:33).
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
The question is: Are you paying attention? If every notification from the world gets your attention…..BUT you never recognize the promptings of the HOLY SPIRIT, something is out of order…SOMETHING is OFF. KNOW that A heart that is yielded to GOD becomes sensitive to His voice AND seeks to please HIM.
DON’T let the world's notifications become LOUDER than the HOLY SPIRIT'S leading. Silence the NOISE….AND make room for GOD’S voice. Church……We need to check scripture more than we check our phones/social media. One thing is NECESSARY. Some have allowed the noise of life to pull their attention toward what looks good on the outside while neglecting what’s happening on the inside. We can look clean on the outside, BUT if there’s no intimacy being built with the LORD, if we’re NOT seeking His ways, then we’re only clean on the outside while rotting on the inside.
We are to DO what we are SUPPOSED to DO➡️➡️➡️➡️SEEK the KINGDOM first!! Some put GOD on a schedule BUT howso????…when HE made the schedule. You do NOT have to have a title to be who GOD wants you to be.
PLEASE: Don’t SEEK what you want, SEEK what GOD wants you to have.
Everything that’s good to you doesn’t mean good...you can get all the money you want in the world, but you can still be broke mentally AND spiritually. Most of what we want looks good for us because we want it…..BUT wait until GOD gives “it/them” to you.
How will you know if it’s GOD➡️➡️➡️➡️By seeking GOD. Wait like Jesus instead of waiting on Jesus. How? By taking on the character of Jesus? How do we take on the character of Jesus? By pursuing the kingdom of God FIRST (Matthew 6:33). This will make you a better person in life! Meaning the King's way is about being conformed, formed and transformed, not only about being saved.
Who you are becoming will inform you where you are going. If you don’t know who you are or where are you going is because your pursuit is misaligned. If your pursuit is misaligned it can lead you to be busy and broke.
Take Note: We need to be intentional about the pursuit of The Lord.
What are some ways we can be intentional about pursuing The Lord:
• Seeking God FIRST.
• Making Him a daily priority.
• Praying.
• Reading His Word.
• Obeying His Word.
• Stewarding well.
Simply Put: A heart that continually seeks to KNOW and FOLLOW Him is the posture we should have. You have to MAKE peace! Blessed are the peacemakers.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Matthew 5:9 (NASB). Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Meaning…..in order to get peace, you have to learn how to go through war! Stop falling! BUT if you fall…..Get back up again!!
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Proverbs 24:16 16 “For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster.” DO NOT LET THE DEVIL STOMP YOU OUT!
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Greater is HE that is in ME than HE that’s in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NASB).
We are MORE than CONQUERS
⬇️️⬇️
Romans 8:37 (NIV) “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Sometimes we become more familiar with the songs we sing than with the GOD we are singing about. We tend to listen to the music, but we must also read, know, AND pursue the ONE at the center of it ALL (Jesus).
Plot Twist: We can easily spend more time singing about Jesus than seeking to KNOW Jesus. The songs may be powerful, but they are NOT more powerful then the ONE we should be reading about, learning from, and following. If your praise and worship is your scripture, you gotta die before you die.
There are two seasons you will go/grow through:
1. Waiting season
2. Wanting season.
If you don’t know how to go/grow through those seasons, you are going to be in trouble. Mary and Martha taught us that they needed Jesus to come rescue Lazarus and they had to endure the wait. Jesus received the message BUT He waited two more days to come to where they were.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
LOVE IS PATIENT. LOVE IS KIND? 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NASB)
Mary and Martha teach us:
• To silence the noise.
• To steward our time with Jesus.
• How not to be busy and broke.
There are TWO sisters (Mary and Martha) with two different postures. Two sisters are right, but one sister has the order of pursuit misaligned. There are times when people have the right intentions, but have the wrong order. This story shows us how to NOT to become BUSY and BROKE. But fruitful and good stewards of our relationship with Jesus.
Luke 10:38 (NASB) “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.”
Luke 10:38 Significant of this verse:
• In that culture, at that time women were looked at as just a step above animals.
• Woman had no voice or no say.
• The Greek and Jewish customs were strict and crazy!
• Woman didn’t have a voice or say so.
• It was known for woman to live with a man.
However, it is believed that she lived alone.
Martha did not have a husband.
She may have been a widow or never married.
It was dangerous to be associated with Jesus during that time.
Martha was a strong and independent woman.
Martha was in her waiting season.
Martha was a woman who wanted what she wanted and when she wanted it.
Martha risked her reputation and well-being.
Martha was distracted with serving.
Martha acted the same in her waiting season AND in her wanting season.
Martha was a woman that wanted what she wanted, when she wanted it and would let you know in a passive aggressive way. It was frowned upon for a man to enter into a non-married woman’s house. Martha opened her home to a wanted man and to His disciples.
Jesus was a wanted man and a target for murder BUT Martha risked it all….showing how strong of a woman she was. Martha risked her reputation and well-being by opening up her home for Jesus.
Luke 10:39 (NASB) “And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word.”
Mary sat at the feet of Jesus after Martha opened her home up to Jesus.
• Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to listen to what he was saying.
• Mary and Martha set barriers! They broke barriers. They were some strong women.
• Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus was major because women usually had to be in a separate room when the Rabbi or when men showed up.
• Mary did not care about what was going on around her, she sat at the feet of Jesus!! Three are THREE recorded encounters of Mary at the feet of Jesus.
⬇️⬇️
• Mary broke all religious traditions.
• Jesus was Mary’s portion.
• Mary attached herself to Jesus.
• Mary became a disciple when only men could become disciples.
This is a fact because a disciple is a learner, a posture, student, or devoted follower.
The Three Encounters of Mary at the Feet of Jesus:
• Listening to His Word: In Luke 10:39, Mary sits quietly at Jesus's feet to listen to his teachings while her sister Martha works.
• Grieving a Loss: In John 11:32, Mary falls down at the feet of Jesus in sorrow when he arrives after the death of her brother Lazarus.
• Worshiping and Anointing: In John 12:3, Mary pours expensive perfume on Jesus's feet and wipes them with her hair before his crucifixion.
Questions: What would you do if you had Jesus in your house? Would your house be prepared for Him? What would your posture BE? How is your inside? Is your inside cluttered? Is your house in order?
OTN: If you STAY ready….You don’t have to worry about getting ready.
Some folks have so much clutter inside their homes (temple) that the Holy Spirit cannot operate in them.
Real Questions: Is there room for God? Is there too much clutter for Him to come inside? Are you hoarders?
Luke 10:40 40 “But 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 the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.”
Note: Distracted in this passage means:
• Dragged around.
• Pulled apart.
• Mentally divided.
But she’s serving Jesus!
Martha was distracted serving Jesus.
Martha was mentally divided serving Jesus.
Martha was pulled apart serving Jesus.
Martha was pulled apart, mentally divided, dragged around serving Jesus.
She’s being pulled for SERVING who’s she’s trying to SERVE.
Martha is being divided by who she is trying to serve.
In Luke 10:1-8. The Lord sent out 72 disciples and told them the harvest is plentiful BUT the laborers/servers are few.
To serve in the Kingdom of God is a good thing. Martha was trying get order in the house to please Jesus. Some know how to look a part but the inside doesn’t match. They have the appropriate appearance, clothing, or demeanor for a specific role, situation, church etc….BUT the inside doesn’t match their appearance!!
You get more for what you put in. You get more harvest BUT...what is it and how do you serve. Some expect a big harvest, but they did not sow.
PAY ATTENTION: To how much time how much time we put on the outside versus how much time we give the inside.
Galatians 6:8-9 “ 8. For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” “ 9. Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 “Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously.” For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
Some expect to pass a test when they have yet to study for the test. So, you cuss someone out because you are NOT prepared NOT to cuss them out.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Note: Just because something is not in your presence does not mean is present. Triggers happen when you see the trigger. If something resurfaced from your past, and it causes a trigger means that you were NOT healed from “IT”. Ma’am/Sir you just changed locations.
You moved away from the problem rather than fully resolving it.
AGAIN: If something resurfaced from your past, and it can cause a trigger means that you were NOT healed from 'IT'. Some triggers come and take us back to the moment of the offense…..Why though? Because we do not heal from what triggers us.
A trigger...something such as sight, sound, smell, situation, or memory. It brings up a strong emotional or physical reaction, often connected to a past experience. Sometimes we do not take the time to fix the inside of us. Some are more concerned than the outside appearance...example...they stay busy getting degrees, businesses etc.
Scripture tells us that we can gain the whole world and lose our souls.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Matthew 16:26 26 “For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?”
FYI: You can go to heaven or hell with a full bank account.
Back to Martha...She was distracted with much service….This is where being STRONG goes WRONG
⬇️⬇️
Martha asked Jesus a question: 40 “But 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 the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.”
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
It’s easy to start seeing everybody else doing and you miss when you are out of order.
PEEP THIS: Martha was not wrong for serving…. But she was out of order when serving pulled her away from Jesus.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
• Sometimes the loudest noise is not the crowd, it’s your responsibilities.
• Sometimes we have allowed ministry to BECOME the noise.
• Sometimes we allow serving God to become louder than hearing from God.
We should never get to a place where we're so busy doing for Jesus that we've stopped enjoying being with Jesus. That's when we become BUSY and BROKE. You can outwardly serve well but be inwardly dying. Some get too busy making sure the outward appearance is in order…..while dying inwardly (spiritual death). We cannot become so busy that we miss what matters most…GOD’S presence.
It's possible to be active in ministry and ABSENT in intimacy with The Lord. God never intended for our service to replace our relationship with Him. If our schedules are so full and God is at the bottom of our list of things to do….we no longer make time to sit at His feet.
Question: Are you a Martha or a Mary?
We should NOT allow our work to overshadow the GOD of the work. You can outwardly serve well but be inwardly dying. Again...Martha was distracted by much serving, and this is how you become just:
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
You can become a JUST:
• Just a musician.
• Just a youth Pastor.
• Just on the prayer team.
• Just a greeter.
• Just on the media team.
• Just a member of the church.
• Just on the praise team.
• Just a greeter at the church.
Stop putting ourselves in position of productivity before His presence.
Note: activity does not mean intimacy with God. Busyness does not mean you’re building.
Example of this according to the text:
• Martha wanted to change the way her outside looked and wanted to serve Jesus as well. • Mary wanted and waited at the feet of Jesus to change her inside completely.
To Ponder: You can have Jesus in your house and still miss Him.
Exodus 33:15 (NASB) 15 “Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.”
Lord if your presence is not with me…I don’t want to do it. Noise is MORE than a sound it’s anything that’s competing for your attention and pulling you away from Jesus. LOOK WHAT HE SAID TO MARTHA
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Luke 10:41-42 41 “But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
TAKE NOTE: Jesus called Maratha’s name TWICE. Anytime Jesus says your name twice its sympathy followed by correction. Jesus called her name twice that was deep love, and affection. Martha was worried, anxious in troubled by many things.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
We cause the noise in our lives. We cause ourselves to be so busy that we are broke. When we put ourselves in position to lose the intimacy with God, we’re lining ourselves up for favor, but that’s not how Jesus do…..Jesus doesn’t rebuke her for serving, He rebukes her for her anxiety.
Martha wanted Mary to leave what she was doing to help her in her distractions. Mary recognized that before you can serve the teacher (Jesus), you gotta sit at His feet. The phrase sit at Jesus’ feet was a posture of a disciple. Luke wasn’t telling us just where Mary was sitting, He was telling us of who Mary had become. Mary had assumed the posture of a disciple. A disciple stays in a posture of being at the feet of Jesus.
If your service to God is not flowing from communion with God, then Ministry without intimacy becomes exhausting.
Question: Are you burnt out? Are you doing what you’re doing for the Lord or are you JUST serving.
What you doing should be done for Christ, it will last and you will serve Him well. Martha wasn’t spiritually broke or bankrupt because She was serving. Martha was spiritually depleted because her service had been disconnected from the ONE thang!!
Luke 10:42 42 “but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Mary was connected to the ONE thang.
Question: have you lost your ONE thang?
Mary showed us our FIRST calling is not to do something for Jesus BUT to BE with Jesus. Everything else flows from there. DON’T LOSE intimacy with that ONE thang. Jesus said Mary chose what was good!! What are you choosing today?
Aren’t ya tired:
• Of being busy, broke and having nothing to show for it.
• Tired of worshiping and not feeling God‘s love?
• Worshiping God without doing it in spirit and in truth?
• Of being broke? • Aren’t you tired of having no power?
You do this because you don’t tap into the POWER to pray for yourself.
️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Prayer⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Philippians 4:6:7 Romans 26: 27 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Some are BROKE because they are so BUSY. Some study and achieve everything else BUT does it benefit your soul??
Question: How does your SOUL look? Lord! Help us to lean on You for strength, peace, and guidance.
Psalm 42:1 (NASB) “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God.”
Some come to church fronting but:
• They are impatient with their kids.
• You are impatient with your wife.
• You are trying to pour from an empty vessel.
The noise WE create is because we gotta get back to the ONE thang! God meets people who make room for Him. We cannot serve the Lord from an empty place. Before you pour into others, you need to allow God to fill you.
This led me to the statement Pastor Craig said….BE HOLY and WHOLE!! POINT TO
PONDER: A lasting, fruitful service flows from a life that is continually being renewed by God, instead of relying only on your own strength. We cannot stand in the same spot expecting different results. If you have to set a new goal every year because you never completed the last one, your pursuit is wrong.
We need to examine ourselves when this happens.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
We need to get back to that ONE thang!!
REAL QUESTIONS: Will you get back to that ONE thing? Will you stop being busy and broke, with nothing to show for it……not naturally…..BUT spiritually? Aren’t you tired of falling? You should want a new test.
AGAIN: Aren’t you tired from falling from the same stuff? Some people keep missing their new season because they can’t stop clapping back.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
This week PRACTICE the spirit of shut-up.
We get tripped up over small stuff like:
• Folks talking about you. Let THEM!
• Folks lying on you. LET THEM!
• They won’t speak to me. LET THEM!
Facts: Some lose energy over the smallest of things. Your home should be your altar. Your home should be a place that is dedicated to God and reflects His presence. Your home is not just a place where you live; it is a place where you host God’s presence, practice faith, and make your everyday life an offering to Him. Declare from humble place…..I’m tired of being busy and broke! I am free from being busy and broke . Thank You GOD!!!
Speaker: Pastor Craig
Series: Silence The Noise
Title: Busy AND Broke
Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)
38 “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Don’t BE busy AND broke…..don’t BE broke AND busy!!!
Question: What is your ultimate goal in life?
Your ultimate goal in life often reflects your current values, priorities…..AND the direction you're moving towards. What you choose to pursue determines our outlook of our life.
Note: Whatever your age is, you still have to pursue something. If you still have breath in your body, there is still something you have to do. You must continue to pursue your first portion. Jesus is our first portion. ONE thing is NECESSARY in our pursuit…..➡️➡️➡️ Pursuing God first is your first duty! In EVERY pursuit, our first duty is to seek God above all else.
• Before chasing success…pursue GOD!
• Before chasing wealth…pursue God!
• Before chasing influence…pursue God!
• Before chasing ANYTHING/ANYBODY…pursue God.
• Before ANYTHING/ANYBODY our relationship with GOD should BE OUR first and highest priority.
When God comes first, every other pursuit finds its proper place.
✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
Matthew 6:33 Seek God FIRST!!! 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “(ESV)
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Friendly Reminder: PURSUE GOD FIRST. EVERYTHING ELSE FOLLOWS FROM THERE.
Seek in Matthew 6:33 means:
• To look for
• To desire
• To strive after
• To pursue
This should be our number ONE goal in life. If you do this first: Meaning——First MEANS priority!
He’s giving us the blueprint to a successful life. Why is it a blueprint for a successful life? Because it’s a life based in HIM! Your end goal should BE Matthew 6:33 in its entirety. It’s HIS way of being and doing right. It’s the attitude AND character of HIM
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Matthew 6:33 (Amplified) 33 “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”
A preacher once said…..The Kingdom is an everlasting style of government where Jesus is KING. It’s simply seeking to aim at and strive after HIS way of DOING and BEING right and all these “things” will BE added unto you. If this is being pursued first…..EVERYTHING else will line up.
Essentially…NO matter what you go through in life the intimacy and the fortitude that’s been built with HIM…because He’s been FIRST priority supersedes the noise which we face in life.
We must have the attitude AND character of God meaning when you get weary, you won’t faint. Jesus Himself had a moment of weariness. However, HE dug DEEPER instead of fainting.
If you're wondering where you are in your due season...if you're wondering when your harvest will come...if you've been asking, "Lord, when is my appointed time? When will I see the fruit of all the good I've done? When will my season arrive?” In the midst of all the questions….don't faint, don’t give up AND keep seeking GOD first.
Some have missed their moment because they fainted!!!!
Sidebar: BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE!!!!!
Keep striving to BE who and what GOD called you to BE!! DO⬇️ Right ⬇️ Everything else adds up ⬇️
• The intimacy with Him will silence the noise in life.
• You have to have the attitude and character of God.
• Jesus was tempted….BUT HE dug deeper, instead of fainting!
• Don’t FAINT!!
• Do GOD = DUE SEASON!
• Keep striving!! While waiting on your due season to come:
• Don’t quit!
• Don’t give up!
• Don’t faint!
• Keep seeking God FIRST!
When you become weary…DO good. If we quit…..We will miss our season. Why do we quit? Because we allow the noise to consume us. The noise makes one weary.
PLEASE: Don’t let the noise consume you! Sis/Bro…..The noise isn't always the devil……
• Sometimes…it's YOU.
• Sometimes..It's not always your haters…Its YOU.
• Sometimes.. It's not the people who have hurt you…it’s YOU.
• Sometimes….the greatest obstacle isn't what’s happening around you…it's what's happening WITHIN you.
• Sometimes…. Our biggest issue is us creating the noise around us.
• Sometimes the fear, the doubt, the excuses, the pride, or theunwillingness to let go become the LOUDEST voices.
Before blaming the enemy or others…..ASK God to reveal YOUR OWN heart. Sometimes….it's simply YOU. And when you surrender YOU to God, the noise begins to quiet….AND GOD’S voice BECOMES louder. Our BIGGEST issue isn't always what's around us... sometimes, it's us.
We create the most NOISE in our own lives. We become our BIGGEST DISTRACTION. One of the greatest distractions we allow is BUSYNESS to always be our business. It becomes one of the greatest enemies to our number one priority—seeking GOD'S way. We become so BUSY that we don't even realize we're spiritually BROKE. EVERYTHING is competing for our attention…..AND if we're not careful, we'll allow the NOISE to lead us into pursuing things that never benefit our soul.
What’s COMPETING for your time and attention?
• Social media - Some give social media platforms their time and attention.
• Cell phones - Some check their phones before they read their bibles. Busyness is a distraction!! We sometimes do things that don’t benefit us spiritually.
NOTE: Just as your phone sends alerts from social media AND you IMMEDIATELY give them ALL your attention…….the HOLY SPIRIT is constantly prompting, convicting, guiding, and speaking to those who are ACTIVELY seeking HIM
(MATTHEW 6:33).
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
The question is: Are you paying attention? If every notification from the world gets your attention…..BUT you never recognize the promptings of the HOLY SPIRIT, something is out of order…SOMETHING is OFF. KNOW that A heart that is yielded to GOD becomes sensitive to His voice AND seeks to please HIM.
DON’T let the world's notifications become LOUDER than the HOLY SPIRIT'S leading. Silence the NOISE….AND make room for GOD’S voice. Church……We need to check scripture more than we check our phones/social media. One thing is NECESSARY. Some have allowed the noise of life to pull their attention toward what looks good on the outside while neglecting what’s happening on the inside. We can look clean on the outside, BUT if there’s no intimacy being built with the LORD, if we’re NOT seeking His ways, then we’re only clean on the outside while rotting on the inside.
We are to DO what we are SUPPOSED to DO➡️➡️➡️➡️SEEK the KINGDOM first!! Some put GOD on a schedule BUT howso????…when HE made the schedule. You do NOT have to have a title to be who GOD wants you to be.
PLEASE: Don’t SEEK what you want, SEEK what GOD wants you to have.
Everything that’s good to you doesn’t mean good...you can get all the money you want in the world, but you can still be broke mentally AND spiritually. Most of what we want looks good for us because we want it…..BUT wait until GOD gives “it/them” to you.
How will you know if it’s GOD➡️➡️➡️➡️By seeking GOD. Wait like Jesus instead of waiting on Jesus. How? By taking on the character of Jesus? How do we take on the character of Jesus? By pursuing the kingdom of God FIRST (Matthew 6:33). This will make you a better person in life! Meaning the King's way is about being conformed, formed and transformed, not only about being saved.
Who you are becoming will inform you where you are going. If you don’t know who you are or where are you going is because your pursuit is misaligned. If your pursuit is misaligned it can lead you to be busy and broke.
Take Note: We need to be intentional about the pursuit of The Lord.
What are some ways we can be intentional about pursuing The Lord:
• Seeking God FIRST.
• Making Him a daily priority.
• Praying.
• Reading His Word.
• Obeying His Word.
• Stewarding well.
Simply Put: A heart that continually seeks to KNOW and FOLLOW Him is the posture we should have. You have to MAKE peace! Blessed are the peacemakers.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Matthew 5:9 (NASB). Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Meaning…..in order to get peace, you have to learn how to go through war! Stop falling! BUT if you fall…..Get back up again!!
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Proverbs 24:16 16 “For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster.” DO NOT LET THE DEVIL STOMP YOU OUT!
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Greater is HE that is in ME than HE that’s in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NASB).
We are MORE than CONQUERS
⬇️️⬇️
Romans 8:37 (NIV) “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Sometimes we become more familiar with the songs we sing than with the GOD we are singing about. We tend to listen to the music, but we must also read, know, AND pursue the ONE at the center of it ALL (Jesus).
Plot Twist: We can easily spend more time singing about Jesus than seeking to KNOW Jesus. The songs may be powerful, but they are NOT more powerful then the ONE we should be reading about, learning from, and following. If your praise and worship is your scripture, you gotta die before you die.
There are two seasons you will go/grow through:
1. Waiting season
2. Wanting season.
If you don’t know how to go/grow through those seasons, you are going to be in trouble. Mary and Martha taught us that they needed Jesus to come rescue Lazarus and they had to endure the wait. Jesus received the message BUT He waited two more days to come to where they were.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
LOVE IS PATIENT. LOVE IS KIND? 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NASB)
Mary and Martha teach us:
• To silence the noise.
• To steward our time with Jesus.
• How not to be busy and broke.
There are TWO sisters (Mary and Martha) with two different postures. Two sisters are right, but one sister has the order of pursuit misaligned. There are times when people have the right intentions, but have the wrong order. This story shows us how to NOT to become BUSY and BROKE. But fruitful and good stewards of our relationship with Jesus.
Luke 10:38 (NASB) “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.”
Luke 10:38 Significant of this verse:
• In that culture, at that time women were looked at as just a step above animals.
• Woman had no voice or no say.
• The Greek and Jewish customs were strict and crazy!
• Woman didn’t have a voice or say so.
• It was known for woman to live with a man.
However, it is believed that she lived alone.
Martha did not have a husband.
She may have been a widow or never married.
It was dangerous to be associated with Jesus during that time.
Martha was a strong and independent woman.
Martha was in her waiting season.
Martha was a woman who wanted what she wanted and when she wanted it.
Martha risked her reputation and well-being.
Martha was distracted with serving.
Martha acted the same in her waiting season AND in her wanting season.
Martha was a woman that wanted what she wanted, when she wanted it and would let you know in a passive aggressive way. It was frowned upon for a man to enter into a non-married woman’s house. Martha opened her home to a wanted man and to His disciples.
Jesus was a wanted man and a target for murder BUT Martha risked it all….showing how strong of a woman she was. Martha risked her reputation and well-being by opening up her home for Jesus.
Luke 10:39 (NASB) “And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word.”
Mary sat at the feet of Jesus after Martha opened her home up to Jesus.
• Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to listen to what he was saying.
• Mary and Martha set barriers! They broke barriers. They were some strong women.
• Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus was major because women usually had to be in a separate room when the Rabbi or when men showed up.
• Mary did not care about what was going on around her, she sat at the feet of Jesus!! Three are THREE recorded encounters of Mary at the feet of Jesus.
⬇️⬇️
• Mary broke all religious traditions.
• Jesus was Mary’s portion.
• Mary attached herself to Jesus.
• Mary became a disciple when only men could become disciples.
This is a fact because a disciple is a learner, a posture, student, or devoted follower.
The Three Encounters of Mary at the Feet of Jesus:
• Listening to His Word: In Luke 10:39, Mary sits quietly at Jesus's feet to listen to his teachings while her sister Martha works.
• Grieving a Loss: In John 11:32, Mary falls down at the feet of Jesus in sorrow when he arrives after the death of her brother Lazarus.
• Worshiping and Anointing: In John 12:3, Mary pours expensive perfume on Jesus's feet and wipes them with her hair before his crucifixion.
Questions: What would you do if you had Jesus in your house? Would your house be prepared for Him? What would your posture BE? How is your inside? Is your inside cluttered? Is your house in order?
OTN: If you STAY ready….You don’t have to worry about getting ready.
Some folks have so much clutter inside their homes (temple) that the Holy Spirit cannot operate in them.
Real Questions: Is there room for God? Is there too much clutter for Him to come inside? Are you hoarders?
Luke 10:40 40 “But 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 the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.”
Note: Distracted in this passage means:
• Dragged around.
• Pulled apart.
• Mentally divided.
But she’s serving Jesus!
Martha was distracted serving Jesus.
Martha was mentally divided serving Jesus.
Martha was pulled apart serving Jesus.
Martha was pulled apart, mentally divided, dragged around serving Jesus.
She’s being pulled for SERVING who’s she’s trying to SERVE.
Martha is being divided by who she is trying to serve.
In Luke 10:1-8. The Lord sent out 72 disciples and told them the harvest is plentiful BUT the laborers/servers are few.
To serve in the Kingdom of God is a good thing. Martha was trying get order in the house to please Jesus. Some know how to look a part but the inside doesn’t match. They have the appropriate appearance, clothing, or demeanor for a specific role, situation, church etc….BUT the inside doesn’t match their appearance!!
You get more for what you put in. You get more harvest BUT...what is it and how do you serve. Some expect a big harvest, but they did not sow.
PAY ATTENTION: To how much time how much time we put on the outside versus how much time we give the inside.
Galatians 6:8-9 “ 8. For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” “ 9. Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 “Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously.” For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
Some expect to pass a test when they have yet to study for the test. So, you cuss someone out because you are NOT prepared NOT to cuss them out.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Note: Just because something is not in your presence does not mean is present. Triggers happen when you see the trigger. If something resurfaced from your past, and it causes a trigger means that you were NOT healed from “IT”. Ma’am/Sir you just changed locations.
You moved away from the problem rather than fully resolving it.
AGAIN: If something resurfaced from your past, and it can cause a trigger means that you were NOT healed from 'IT'. Some triggers come and take us back to the moment of the offense…..Why though? Because we do not heal from what triggers us.
A trigger...something such as sight, sound, smell, situation, or memory. It brings up a strong emotional or physical reaction, often connected to a past experience. Sometimes we do not take the time to fix the inside of us. Some are more concerned than the outside appearance...example...they stay busy getting degrees, businesses etc.
Scripture tells us that we can gain the whole world and lose our souls.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Matthew 16:26 26 “For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?”
FYI: You can go to heaven or hell with a full bank account.
Back to Martha...She was distracted with much service….This is where being STRONG goes WRONG
⬇️⬇️
Martha asked Jesus a question: 40 “But 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 the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.”
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
It’s easy to start seeing everybody else doing and you miss when you are out of order.
PEEP THIS: Martha was not wrong for serving…. But she was out of order when serving pulled her away from Jesus.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
• Sometimes the loudest noise is not the crowd, it’s your responsibilities.
• Sometimes we have allowed ministry to BECOME the noise.
• Sometimes we allow serving God to become louder than hearing from God.
We should never get to a place where we're so busy doing for Jesus that we've stopped enjoying being with Jesus. That's when we become BUSY and BROKE. You can outwardly serve well but be inwardly dying. Some get too busy making sure the outward appearance is in order…..while dying inwardly (spiritual death). We cannot become so busy that we miss what matters most…GOD’S presence.
It's possible to be active in ministry and ABSENT in intimacy with The Lord. God never intended for our service to replace our relationship with Him. If our schedules are so full and God is at the bottom of our list of things to do….we no longer make time to sit at His feet.
Question: Are you a Martha or a Mary?
We should NOT allow our work to overshadow the GOD of the work. You can outwardly serve well but be inwardly dying. Again...Martha was distracted by much serving, and this is how you become just:
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
You can become a JUST:
• Just a musician.
• Just a youth Pastor.
• Just on the prayer team.
• Just a greeter.
• Just on the media team.
• Just a member of the church.
• Just on the praise team.
• Just a greeter at the church.
Stop putting ourselves in position of productivity before His presence.
Note: activity does not mean intimacy with God. Busyness does not mean you’re building.
Example of this according to the text:
• Martha wanted to change the way her outside looked and wanted to serve Jesus as well. • Mary wanted and waited at the feet of Jesus to change her inside completely.
To Ponder: You can have Jesus in your house and still miss Him.
Exodus 33:15 (NASB) 15 “Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.”
Lord if your presence is not with me…I don’t want to do it. Noise is MORE than a sound it’s anything that’s competing for your attention and pulling you away from Jesus. LOOK WHAT HE SAID TO MARTHA
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Luke 10:41-42 41 “But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
TAKE NOTE: Jesus called Maratha’s name TWICE. Anytime Jesus says your name twice its sympathy followed by correction. Jesus called her name twice that was deep love, and affection. Martha was worried, anxious in troubled by many things.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
We cause the noise in our lives. We cause ourselves to be so busy that we are broke. When we put ourselves in position to lose the intimacy with God, we’re lining ourselves up for favor, but that’s not how Jesus do…..Jesus doesn’t rebuke her for serving, He rebukes her for her anxiety.
Martha wanted Mary to leave what she was doing to help her in her distractions. Mary recognized that before you can serve the teacher (Jesus), you gotta sit at His feet. The phrase sit at Jesus’ feet was a posture of a disciple. Luke wasn’t telling us just where Mary was sitting, He was telling us of who Mary had become. Mary had assumed the posture of a disciple. A disciple stays in a posture of being at the feet of Jesus.
If your service to God is not flowing from communion with God, then Ministry without intimacy becomes exhausting.
Question: Are you burnt out? Are you doing what you’re doing for the Lord or are you JUST serving.
What you doing should be done for Christ, it will last and you will serve Him well. Martha wasn’t spiritually broke or bankrupt because She was serving. Martha was spiritually depleted because her service had been disconnected from the ONE thang!!
Luke 10:42 42 “but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Mary was connected to the ONE thang.
Question: have you lost your ONE thang?
Mary showed us our FIRST calling is not to do something for Jesus BUT to BE with Jesus. Everything else flows from there. DON’T LOSE intimacy with that ONE thang. Jesus said Mary chose what was good!! What are you choosing today?
Aren’t ya tired:
• Of being busy, broke and having nothing to show for it.
• Tired of worshiping and not feeling God‘s love?
• Worshiping God without doing it in spirit and in truth?
• Of being broke? • Aren’t you tired of having no power?
You do this because you don’t tap into the POWER to pray for yourself.
️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Prayer⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Philippians 4:6:7 Romans 26: 27 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Some are BROKE because they are so BUSY. Some study and achieve everything else BUT does it benefit your soul??
Question: How does your SOUL look? Lord! Help us to lean on You for strength, peace, and guidance.
Psalm 42:1 (NASB) “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God.”
Some come to church fronting but:
• They are impatient with their kids.
• You are impatient with your wife.
• You are trying to pour from an empty vessel.
The noise WE create is because we gotta get back to the ONE thang! God meets people who make room for Him. We cannot serve the Lord from an empty place. Before you pour into others, you need to allow God to fill you.
This led me to the statement Pastor Craig said….BE HOLY and WHOLE!! POINT TO
PONDER: A lasting, fruitful service flows from a life that is continually being renewed by God, instead of relying only on your own strength. We cannot stand in the same spot expecting different results. If you have to set a new goal every year because you never completed the last one, your pursuit is wrong.
We need to examine ourselves when this happens.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
We need to get back to that ONE thang!!
REAL QUESTIONS: Will you get back to that ONE thing? Will you stop being busy and broke, with nothing to show for it……not naturally…..BUT spiritually? Aren’t you tired of falling? You should want a new test.
AGAIN: Aren’t you tired from falling from the same stuff? Some people keep missing their new season because they can’t stop clapping back.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
This week PRACTICE the spirit of shut-up.
We get tripped up over small stuff like:
• Folks talking about you. Let THEM!
• Folks lying on you. LET THEM!
• They won’t speak to me. LET THEM!
Facts: Some lose energy over the smallest of things. Your home should be your altar. Your home should be a place that is dedicated to God and reflects His presence. Your home is not just a place where you live; it is a place where you host God’s presence, practice faith, and make your everyday life an offering to Him. Declare from humble place…..I’m tired of being busy and broke! I am free from being busy and broke . Thank You GOD!!!
Posted in Silence The Noise, Sunday Sermon Notes
Posted in #SilenceTheNoise, #MarthaandMary, #BusyandBroke, #TCC #CHOSEN #BLOGGING, #Luke10
Posted in #SilenceTheNoise, #MarthaandMary, #BusyandBroke, #TCC #CHOSEN #BLOGGING, #Luke10
Recent
Silence The Noise: Busy and Broke (Sunday Sermon Notes)
July 25th, 2026
Silence the Noise: Don't Lose It (Sunday Sermon Notes)
July 11th, 2026
The Necessary Struggle: Part I (Sunday Sermon Notes)
July 4th, 2026
The Necessary Struggle: Part II (Sunday Sermon Notes)
July 4th, 2026
Pursuing His Perfection - Finding Greatness
July 4th, 2026
Archive
2026
February
March
Appetite Part 1 (Sunday Sermon Notes)Appetite Part 2 (Sunday Sermon Notes)Appetite: Satisfied Part 1 (Sunday Sermon Notes)Appetite: Satisfied Part 2 (Sunday Sermon Notes)Forgive and ForgeAppetite: Stay Hungry But Watch Your Weight Part 1 (Sermon Notes)Appetite: Stay Hungry But Watch Your Weight Part 2 (Sermon Notes)
April
The Trial of Perfection Part 1 (Sunday Sermon Notes)The Trial of Perfection Part 2 (Sunday Sermon Notes)You Gotta Die: Part 1 (Sunday Sermon Notes)You Gotta Die: Part 2 (Sunday Sermon Notes) CopyAppetite: Holy Digest Part 1 (Sunday Sermon Notes)Appetite: Holy Digest Part 2 (Sunday Sermon Notes) Appetite: Full of It Part 2 (Sunday Sermon Notes)Appetite: Full of It Part I (Sunday Sermon Notes)
May
Appetite: I'm Not Full Yet Part 1 (Sunday Sermon Notes)Appetite: I'm Not Full Yet Part 2 (Sunday Sermon Notes)Don't Get It Twisted: Part I (Sunday Sermon Notes)Don't Get It Twisted: Part II (Sunday Sermon Notes)One More Push: Part I (Sunday Sermon Notes)One More Push: Part II (Sunday Sermon Notes)Silence the Noise: Part I (Sunday Sermon Notes)Silence the Noise: Part II (Sunday Sermon Notes)Group Effort: Part I (Sunday Sermon Notes)Group Effort: Part II (Sunday Sermon Notes)
No Comments