0:00:00.160,0:00:05.200 There is something far more dangerous than getting off track. 0:00:05.200,0:00:08.680 It is thinking you are still on it. 0:00:08.680,0:00:13.360 There is something far more dangerous than missing the mark. 0:00:13.360,0:00:15.840 It is thinking you've hit it. 0:00:15.840,0:00:21.200 There's something far more dangerous than being distracted - 0:00:21.200,0:00:26.280 not seeing it, not realising. 0:00:29.000,0:00:35.720 Grace and peace to you all, [br]wonderful children of God. 0:00:35.720,0:00:40.840 You are welcome once again to another Interactive Prayer Service 0:00:40.840,0:00:43.560 here at the God’s Heart TV Studio. 0:00:43.560,0:00:52.600 People of God, let us begin this message with a moment of prayer. 0:00:52.600,0:00:55.720 Join me in prayer right now. 0:00:55.720,0:01:12.560 Oh Holy Spirit, let Your light shine [br]in our hearts and minds 0:01:12.560,0:01:17.800 that we may understand Your Word, 0:01:17.800,0:01:22.880 that we may abide in Your Word, 0:01:22.880,0:01:34.360 that we may apply the truth of [br]Your Word in our daily lives. 0:01:34.360,0:01:40.720 In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. 0:01:40.720,0:01:45.160 And the children of God said, “Amen!” 0:01:45.160,0:01:51.000 I want to start this message with[br]a very serious statement. 0:01:51.000,0:01:53.000 We're going to jump straight into the Word! 0:01:53.000,0:01:55.200 Think about this statement, people of God. 0:01:55.200,0:02:08.760 Right now, there is a spiritual battle being waged for your attention. 0:02:08.760,0:02:22.840 As Christians, we should not be ignorant of the devil's influences (2 Corinthians 2:11). 0:02:22.840,0:02:28.480 We should not claim ignorance [br]of the devil's devices. 0:02:28.480,0:02:38.920 There is a spiritual battle ongoing [br]for your attention. 0:02:38.920,0:02:49.400 Because you are what you [br]give your attention to. 0:02:49.400,0:02:55.160 Now, when I say there's a [br]spiritual battle going on, 0:02:55.160,0:02:59.040 some of you are looking at me and saying, ‘What do you mean, Brother Chris? 0:02:59.040,0:03:02.800 What do you mean there's [br]a battle taking place?’ 0:03:02.800,0:03:05.360 Well, the heart is always busy. 0:03:05.360,0:03:08.880 The question is, what are we busy with? 0:03:08.880,0:03:11.360 Think about this. 0:03:11.360,0:03:24.040 Think about how easy it is [br]for you to give your time 0:03:24.040,0:03:32.960 to things that have no eternal significance. 0:03:32.960,0:03:40.600 This is an opportunity to reflect on your life. 0:03:40.600,0:03:53.440 Think about how easy it is [br]to waste our time 0:03:53.440,0:04:00.560 on things that have no lasting [br]value and significance. 0:04:00.560,0:04:07.960 It's far easier to find worldly distraction [br]than godly direction. 0:04:07.960,0:04:16.080 It's far easier to be entertained [br]than to be edified. 0:04:16.080,0:04:23.080 If you're wondering whether or not there's a spiritual battle taking place, just check yourself. 0:04:23.080,0:04:25.600 Think about how easy it is - 0:04:25.600,0:04:29.440 if you pick up your phone and want to check something for a few minutes, 0:04:29.440,0:04:32.800 if care is not taken, it can become hours. 0:04:32.800,0:04:40.760 It's a spiritual battle. 0:04:40.760,0:04:43.360 Check your own life as a Christian. 0:04:43.360,0:04:51.040 If you don't create time for your devotion,[br]you will surely find time for distraction. 0:04:51.040,0:04:55.200 To read the Word of God, or let me say - [br]to study the Word of God... 0:04:55.200,0:04:58.680 Because God's Word is not meant to merely be read. 0:04:58.680,0:05:05.000 It is meant to be studied - with full attention, with all of our hearts. 0:05:05.000,0:05:14.480 When you want to pick up your Bible and read, many things try to discourage you, 0:05:14.480,0:05:23.400 try to sidetrack you - try to take your time, your mind, your attention away. 0:05:23.400,0:05:34.360 Even to join this Interactive Prayer Service -[br]if you don’t mean it, you will miss it. 0:05:34.360,0:05:40.360 If you are not determined, [br]you will get distracted. 0:05:40.360,0:05:49.920 There's a spiritual battle [br]going on for your attention, 0:05:49.920,0:05:54.560 and the prize is your affection. 0:05:54.560,0:06:03.040 Because where attention goes,[br]affection tends to follow. 0:06:03.040,0:06:09.160 People of God, I want you to think [br]about what I'm saying right now. 0:06:09.160,0:06:12.600 This is a serious message. 0:06:12.600,0:06:20.120 The reality of this spiritual warfare [br]is not a reason to be fearful. 0:06:20.120,0:06:29.360 It's a reason to be watchful.[br]Watch and pray. Why? 0:06:29.360,0:06:34.640 Because as a child of God, 0:06:34.640,0:06:47.240 the devil holds no sway over your life[br]unless he finds a way into your heart. 0:06:47.240,0:06:54.760 For him to deceive us into sin, [br]he will first distract us. 0:06:54.760,0:07:05.440 Because distraction dulls our [br]conscience from danger. 0:07:05.440,0:07:15.000 Distraction makes you [br]insensitive to intrusion. 0:07:15.000,0:07:26.320 And when your guards are lowered,[br]the intruder can become an insider. 0:07:26.320,0:07:30.720 Let me give you an example. 0:07:30.720,0:07:41.960 As Christians, we know that God [br]has sent His Holy Spirit 0:07:41.960,0:07:50.040 to open our eyes to see [br]how wrong our sins are, 0:07:50.040,0:08:00.360 to convict us when we sin but [br]also to warn us before we sin. 0:08:00.360,0:08:13.920 Many believers today - their conscience only strikes with conviction after they have sinned, 0:08:13.920,0:08:19.600 instead of their conscience striking [br]with warning before they sin. 0:08:19.600,0:08:31.760 Because we are too easily distracted and not consistently connected. 0:08:31.760,0:08:43.480 When you knowingly give[br]your heart to distraction, 0:08:43.480,0:08:57.680 then you willingly start the [br]path towards destruction. 0:08:57.680,0:09:03.640 This is the message I want to talk [br]about today, people of God: 0:09:03.640,0:09:08.920 “The Trap Of Distraction.” 0:09:08.920,0:09:16.880 Be careful of the trap of distraction. 0:09:16.880,0:09:24.840 Turn with me to a Scripture in [br]the New Testament in 1 John 2. 0:09:24.840,0:09:31.960 Look, we're in a world where there is no shortage of distractions. 0:09:31.960,0:09:37.800 We're living in a world where there is [br]no shortage of temptations. 0:09:37.800,0:09:47.880 We are in the world - but how do we live in this world without this world living in us? 0:09:47.880,0:09:58.200 The answers are in the Word of God - [br]1 John 2:15-17. It says this, 0:09:58.200,0:10:04.560 “Do not love the world or [br]the things in the world. 0:10:04.560,0:10:10.480 If anyone loves the world, the love [br]of the Father is not in him. 0:10:10.480,0:10:20.680 For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - 0:10:20.680,0:10:40.440 is not of the Father but is of the world.[br]And the world is passing away...” 0:10:40.440,0:10:50.160 Don't get too comfortable in a danger zone which is not your home. 0:10:50.160,0:10:58.120 “...the world is passing away, [br]and the lust of it...” 0:10:58.120,0:11:11.360 There are many today who are busy building mansions in a market - 0:11:11.360,0:11:18.520 a place that is passing away, fading away. 0:11:18.520,0:11:27.080 No matter how long you live there, [br]you will one day leave there. 0:11:27.080,0:11:35.440 Whether this world is laughing [br]with you or laughing at you, 0:11:35.440,0:11:40.400 one thing is clear - we do not belong here. 0:11:40.400,0:11:45.560 Don't get too comfortable [br]in a danger zone. 0:11:45.560,0:11:49.360 Let me finish that Scripture - 1 John 2:17. 0:11:49.360,0:11:56.800 “And the world is passing away, [br]and the lust of it; 0:11:56.800,0:12:05.080 but he who does the will [br]of God abides forever.” 0:12:05.080,0:12:07.600 Thank You, Jesus. 0:12:07.600,0:12:09.920 Remember what I said. 0:12:09.920,0:12:16.880 The prize of that spiritual war is not simply your attention - it is your affection. 0:12:16.880,0:12:28.440 The devil wants to take your love from God and transfer it to the things of this world - 0:12:28.440,0:12:36.880 the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. 0:12:36.880,0:12:44.000 The devil uses what attracts us to distract us. 0:12:44.000,0:12:46.320 The lust of the flesh - what you see. 0:12:46.320,0:12:53.480 The lust of the eyes - ‘I see this, I want it. [br]I see this, I must have it. 0:12:53.480,0:12:57.640 I look at this - I want to taste it.’ 0:12:57.640,0:13:08.360 He wants to shift your focus from [br]what is unseen to what is seen. 0:13:08.360,0:13:15.240 This is a trap - the trap of distraction. 0:13:15.240,0:13:26.560 Now, children of God, let me describe[br]a scenario to try and illustrate what I mean 0:13:26.560,0:13:29.520 by the danger of this distraction. 0:13:29.520,0:13:42.640 Just imagine there is a ship sailing in a vast ocean and it's heading clearly in one direction. 0:13:42.640,0:13:44.320 This is the path. 0:13:44.320,0:13:45.920 This is the course. 0:13:45.920,0:13:50.080 This is the way it is going. 0:13:50.080,0:14:04.920 But suddenly there is a gentle breeze that subtly shifts the direction of that ship. 0:14:04.920,0:14:12.240 Instead of going straight, [br]it’s shifted off course. 0:14:12.240,0:14:21.480 And if care is not taken, the captain may not even know he has gone off track. 0:14:21.480,0:14:26.280 I don't know if you understand this illustration, children of God. 0:14:26.280,0:14:31.320 There is something far more dangerous than getting off track. 0:14:31.320,0:14:34.800 It is thinking you are still on it. 0:14:34.800,0:14:39.480 There is something far more dangerous than missing the mark. 0:14:39.480,0:14:41.960 It is thinking you've hit it. 0:14:41.960,0:14:47.320 There's something far more dangerous than being distracted - 0:14:47.320,0:14:53.280 not seeing it, not realising. 0:14:53.280,0:15:00.320 If you don't know that you're going astray, 0:15:00.320,0:15:09.520 you will not know the part to play [br]to get back on the right way. 0:15:09.520,0:15:18.400 The trap of distraction. 0:15:18.400,0:15:26.920 As you're listening to this sermon right now, I want you to look at your own life. 0:15:26.920,0:15:37.160 To avoid this entanglement in this web of distraction woven by the devil, 0:15:37.160,0:15:40.800 we must identify his tactics. 0:15:40.800,0:15:46.360 Look at your life. Examine yourself. 0:15:46.360,0:15:52.640 Recognise what are the sources of distraction in your own life. 0:15:52.640,0:15:57.560 Take a moment and think [br]about that right now. 0:15:57.560,0:16:06.080 No one knows you better [br]than you know yourself. 0:16:06.080,0:16:19.400 What is it that is a source of distraction [br]in your Christian journey? 0:16:19.400,0:16:29.880 I know there are so many areas your heart may be highlighting at this point. 0:16:29.880,0:16:37.960 But I just want to give everyone a [br]very practical word of advice. 0:16:37.960,0:16:49.560 People of God - before checking your phone, check your heart. 0:16:49.560,0:16:54.240 I said this is a very practical word of advice. 0:16:54.240,0:17:00.360 Before checking your phone, [br]check your heart. 0:17:00.360,0:17:04.800 Because if you pick up your [br]phone without a purpose, 0:17:04.800,0:17:11.200 rather than you using it, [br]it may end up using you. 0:17:11.200,0:17:18.360 For many of us connected at this moment, 0:17:18.360,0:17:25.600 the source of our distraction is [br]right now in our pockets. 0:17:25.600,0:17:32.880 Many people fall into the [br]trap of distraction because 0:17:32.880,0:17:36.800 they pick up their phone [br]without a clear purpose. 0:17:36.800,0:17:41.200 And before you know it, something [br]that you look at for a few minutes 0:17:41.200,0:17:46.400 can turn into a few hours. 0:17:46.400,0:17:53.920 When it comes to meaningful [br]activities, you must mean it. 0:17:53.920,0:17:58.480 When it comes to meaningless [br]or mindless activities, 0:17:58.480,0:18:02.920 you will find the time for it and [br]you will waste the time on it. 0:18:02.920,0:18:06.760 This is the case of many people today. 0:18:06.760,0:18:11.320 We are falling into the trap of distraction 0:18:11.320,0:18:21.040 and we're trading our attention for [br]the sake of temporal enjoyment. 0:18:21.040,0:18:27.400 In today's generation, in this world [br]that we’re living in today, 0:18:27.400,0:18:33.880 where there's so much connectivity, [br]24/7 streams of information available - 0:18:33.880,0:18:39.040 many of us, the source of our [br]distraction is in our pockets. 0:18:39.040,0:18:43.400 Look, many of us, when you [br]wake up in the morning, 0:18:43.400,0:18:47.640 you greet your phone [br]before you greet God. 0:18:47.640,0:18:53.000 Even when you are going to go to the toilet, you first take your phone. 0:18:53.000,0:18:57.200 You are using your phone in the toilet. 0:18:57.200,0:18:58.600 Can I give you an advice? 0:18:58.600,0:19:06.720 When you go to the toilet, you are sitting down - before checking your phone, check your heart. 0:19:06.720,0:19:09.120 Is your heart right with God? 0:19:09.120,0:19:11.320 Is there an issue you need to settle? 0:19:11.320,0:19:14.480 Is there someone you need [br]to reconcile with? 0:19:14.480,0:19:16.800 Is your focus in the right place? 0:19:16.800,0:19:19.280 Don't just bring out your phone. 0:19:19.280,0:19:22.560 Before you check the news, [br]check your heart. 0:19:22.560,0:19:30.080 Before you examine your social media feed, examine your heart - 0:19:30.080,0:19:33.880 to avoid the trap of distraction. 0:19:33.880,0:19:37.360 When you wake up in the morning, 0:19:37.360,0:19:44.080 we should greet God first before [br]anyone or anything else. 0:19:44.080,0:19:49.680 Get down on your knees and say, [br]“Thank You, Jesus, for a new day” 0:19:49.680,0:19:55.120 before you open your phone and check for messages or what someone has sent to you. 0:19:55.120,0:20:02.320 Greet God before your phone. 0:20:02.320,0:20:11.080 This is just a practical word of advice [br]in the light of this message. 0:20:11.080,0:20:16.200 People of God, let me be clear.[br]I'm not here to demonise your phone. 0:20:16.200,0:20:20.760 I'm not saying you can't [br]watch things on your phone. 0:20:20.760,0:20:23.000 Let's be real, people of God. 0:20:23.000,0:20:29.480 When it comes to recreation, you are relaxed and want to look at something - 0:20:29.480,0:20:34.600 don't simply look for something entertaining; look for something edifying. 0:20:34.600,0:20:39.960 Because the devil does not [br]recognise your relaxation. 0:20:39.960,0:20:46.040 Satan is ready 24/7 to strike. 0:20:46.040,0:20:53.520 He's looking for an opportunity to [br]deceive and enter your heart. 0:20:53.520,0:20:58.200 Your time off is his time on. 0:20:58.200,0:21:02.440 Some of us deceive ourselves. We say, ‘Okay, I will just look for a little bit. 0:21:02.440,0:21:12.200 In ten minutes, I will finish. By 8pm, [br]I will stop.’ You put a time. 0:21:12.200,0:21:17.760 You don't employ self-control [br]to manage distraction. 0:21:17.760,0:21:22.600 You employ self-control [br]to avoid distraction. 0:21:22.600,0:21:25.560 ‘I will just look at this for five more minutes.’ 0:21:25.560,0:21:29.240 If care is not taken, it will become hours. 0:21:29.240,0:21:31.560 ‘I will stop doing this by 8pm.’ 0:21:31.560,0:21:38.040 Look, if you set a time for doing what is right, you set yourself up for doing what is wrong. 0:21:38.040,0:21:53.000 Because you are always only one [br]decision away from distraction. 0:21:53.000,0:22:01.560 Can I also say something very direct, people of God? Please, be careful. 0:22:01.560,0:22:12.840 Isolation often amplifies temptation[br]because lust feeds on loneliness. 0:22:12.840,0:22:23.600 When you are alone, the voice of temptation often becomes louder. 0:22:23.600,0:22:30.840 But when you think no one is watching you, 0:22:30.840,0:22:44.760 remember the One who never sleeps [br]nor slumbers (Psalm 121). 0:22:44.760,0:22:50.680 There is no secret that can [br]be kept from God's Spirit. 0:22:50.680,0:22:59.440 There is nothing hidden from His sight. 0:22:59.440,0:23:07.680 The concept of secret sin, hidden sin[br]exists only in your mind 0:23:07.680,0:23:10.480 as a mechanism of justification. 0:23:10.480,0:23:15.800 Because what happens in the dark[br]will eventually come to the light. 0:23:15.800,0:23:22.360 If you don't deal with it, [br]it will one day deal with you. 0:23:22.360,0:23:27.320 This is not a message of condemnation. No! 0:23:27.320,0:23:37.680 As I said to you, the reality of this spiritual battle is not a reason to be afraid. 0:23:37.680,0:23:43.320 It's a reason to be alert, to watch and pray. 0:23:43.320,0:23:48.640 Because you are always one [br]decision away from distraction. 0:23:48.640,0:23:53.720 Watch and pray. 0:23:53.720,0:23:55.560 This is the way out. 0:23:55.560,0:24:00.400 You hear this message and say, ‘But there's so many things capable of distracting me. 0:24:00.400,0:24:05.680 There's so many issues that life brings. There's so many things that are 0:24:05.680,0:24:09.080 present in this world, [br]in this generation around me 0:24:09.080,0:24:12.640 that can easily take my focus [br]and time away from God, 0:24:12.640,0:24:16.920 away from what I’m meant to be doing. What’s the way out?’ 0:24:16.920,0:24:22.840 Let me encourage you today. 0:24:22.840,0:24:25.480 Yes, we are weak. 0:24:25.480,0:24:30.040 Yes, we're living in a world [br]with a lot of distraction. 0:24:30.040,0:24:40.720 Therefore, you must consciously surround yourself with things that remind you of God 0:24:40.720,0:24:50.040 and intentionally invest daily time with Him. 0:24:50.040,0:25:00.360 The best defence against [br]distraction is godly habits. 0:25:00.360,0:25:05.560 Because when you take the Word of God into your heart, 0:25:05.560,0:25:12.280 the light of His Word shines in your heart, 0:25:12.280,0:25:16.560 and opens your eyes to see [br]where you have gone astray, 0:25:16.560,0:25:21.360 where you have missed the mark,[br]enabling you to get back on track. 0:25:21.360,0:25:25.880 Yes, we can be distracted. 0:25:25.880,0:25:28.920 Yes, we will be distracted. 0:25:28.920,0:25:33.760 But how quick are we to realise [br]and get back on track? 0:25:33.760,0:25:42.720 To get back on track, we need to dedicate ourselves to the Word of God. 0:25:42.720,0:25:47.560 There's no other secret shortcut to [br]get back on track with God. 0:25:47.560,0:25:59.760 As you read His Word, study His Word [br]with devotion, you see yourself clearly. 0:25:59.760,0:26:03.280 You see life clearly. 0:26:03.280,0:26:10.000 You can identify - ‘Oh, this was the tactic the devil used to distract me. 0:26:10.000,0:26:16.000 Oh, this was the weapon the devil [br]used to shift my focus.’ 0:26:16.000,0:26:22.640 You realise it. You recognise it. You repent from it. You get back on track with God. 0:26:22.640,0:26:24.200 That's the way out. 0:26:24.200,0:26:27.720 Yes, there will be distractions. 0:26:27.720,0:26:32.320 But please, people of God, [br]take this message seriously. 0:26:32.320,0:26:39.040 We can't claim ignorance [br]of the devil's influence. 0:26:39.040,0:26:50.040 There is a spiritual battle being [br]waged for your attention. 0:26:50.040,0:27:04.120 And if you don't engage your heart[br]with God, the world will engage it. 0:27:04.120,0:27:10.120 As I bring this message to a conclusion, 0:27:10.120,0:27:25.080 I want to read a profound word of wisdom from the Proverbs - Proverbs 4:20-27. 0:27:25.080,0:27:28.360 Ponder on these words. 0:27:28.360,0:27:36.600 The answer to distraction lies within [br]the truth of God's Word. 0:27:36.600,0:27:49.400 “My son, give attention to my words;[br]incline your ear to my sayings. 0:27:49.400,0:27:59.840 Do not let them depart from your eyes;[br]keep them in the midst of your heart; 0:27:59.840,0:28:08.960 for they are life to those who find them,[br]and health to all their flesh. 0:28:08.960,0:28:18.760 Keep your heart with all diligence,[br]for out of it spring the issues of life. 0:28:18.760,0:28:27.560 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,[br]and put perverse lips far from you. 0:28:27.560,0:28:40.120 Let your eyes look straight ahead,[br]and your eyelids look right before you. 0:28:40.120,0:28:50.320 Ponder the path of your feet,[br]and let all your ways be established. 0:28:50.320,0:29:12.280 Do not turn to the right or the left;[br]remove your foot from evil.” 0:29:12.280,0:29:22.320 May God bless His Word [br]in the midst of our hearts 0:29:22.320,0:29:30.960 as we stay alert to avoid [br]the trap of distraction 0:29:30.960,0:29:37.640 whilst navigating this wicked world. 0:29:37.640,0:29:45.240 In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. Amen!