Going Overboard!

Jesus told the rich man in matthew 19, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Guess what guys? We're rich! This post may come across as kind of..... whats the word I'm looking for..... Ahh yes! Dinkish. So if your one of those people who get offended easily, do yourself a favor and just stop reading here. I feel as though I might tick a few folks off with this one. Now where was I? We're rich. You might be thinking "I'm not very rich Justin, I only make 20,000 dollars a year! I struggle to pay the bills and feed my family and to boot, I drive a piece of crap car." Your still rich dude! Even though our country is broke, we still manage to keep on living like kings. Sure some of us have had to make some cut backs in our lives but when we step back and look at the rest of the world, we've still got it made. But at the same time, because we've got it all, we've also got a boat load of dead weight! I'm talking about our luxuries. On facebook, I've recently asked a few questions just to challenge people, and see what they had to say, It was interesting to hear some of the responses.

Why do 3rd world countries seem to have greater faith then the western church does?   The most popular answer was, "because the western church has more distractions!" How true, this is. We have so many distractions it's not even funny. We got the big hitters like T.V, internet, video games, and work. Followed up with other little distractions that are usually some kind of personal pleasure. And we hear it at church and in small groups all the time. "It's just so hard, with all the distractions that life seems to have." Ever heard somebody say that before? I know I have,  like 50 million times! I'm guilty of saying it myself.....probably like 49 million times! and to be honest, I'm really starting to get sick of hearing it!

If we all agree that distractions are what keep the western church from having greater faith, then why do we choose to live with them?" Wow, what a good question! We all act like these distractions we've got are holding us back from having greater faith! We act like we don't have a choice but to surrender to them and let them control our level of Spiritual intimacy with Christ. I got some news for you, in case you didn't know. We are without excuse! Ladies and gentlemen may I purpose to you an idea? We could all stop using the "to many distractions" excuse, by getting rid of our distractions! Wow, Justin! your soooo smart, why didn't I think of that before? Please, thank me later.  It seems so elementary, to just get rid of them.  Call me crazy but I think it might work.  A.W. Tozer says in his book The Pursuit of God, "There can be no doubt that this possessive clinging to things is one of the most harmful habits in the life. Because it is so natural it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is; but its outworkings are tragic."


Many people in our church are ditching these distractions, so that they can grow in the Holy Spirit. Thats what I want hear!  People who are choosing to destroy their distractions, rather than keep them, and then use them as an excuse for struggling to grow. Some people have taken it as pointing the finger when other people destroy their xboxes or get rid of their distractions.  If this is how your receiving this message, then please let me clarify.  Distractions are different for everyone.  If T.V is not a distraction, then whatever dude! don't get rid of it then.  If internet is your weakness, then you have a choice to make.  We all know that God has so much more to offer.  The stories I hear about what happens in Africa, make me want to live like they do. (with less)  Heidi Baker who is the founder of Iris Ministries, operates out of Africa, and has some of the most mind blowing testimonies you've ever heard.  Did you know that every single deaf person they pray for is healed....Thats 100%... EVERY SINGLE DEAF PERSON IS HEALED!  Why do I mention this?  Because I feel, that if we (the western church)  could only step it up a notch and choose to live with less, choose to live without all the riches and luxuries of life, then God would move more powerfully then we've ever seen!  The Holy Spirit would move, and the church would move with him!  Revival!  YES!  Isn't this what the church should be craving?  Lets do it, guys.  Lets kick these distractions to the curb, and let the Holy Spirit be our distraction!  Lets show our Father that we care more about his Kingdom, then we do our favorite t.v program.  This is not a "finger pointing" message people!  It is a challenge, however.  Many of our distractions are our luxuries, and these luxuries may seem like something we can't live without. It really is different for everyone.  But God knows what you need to kick in order to go deeper. 


"Any revelation from God's Word that does not lead us to an encounter with God only serves to make us more religious. The church cannot afford "form without power", for it creates Christians without purpose"  ~ Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth


Lord I pray, that you begin to reveal to your people the distractions you would have us remove from our lives.  And show us the better way of life!  The Holy Spirit way of life!  The way you intended life to be. More Lord!