The Consequence of Overcrowded Life
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Introduction
Introduction
Text
Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”
So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.
And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.
For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”
But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing,
He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him.
But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
Key Questions
What things fill are filling your life today?
With the things that fill your life today, are you fulfilling God’s purpose?
Are you maturing in your Christian life?
Main Arguments
Having too many things in life is not always a blessing. Often times, the stuff that fill one’s life hinder that person from attaining the real purpose of life.
God designed life in such a way that having too much of too many things will result in failure instead of success
plants with too many branches and leaves don’t bear fruit as much as it should
cows that produce too many milk die earlier
Sons of God were not designed and intended to have too many things in this life, otherwise...
Jesus would set the example!
Abraham and Lot would not have separated
Main Points
Main Points
The Signs
The Signs
Is your life overcrowded?
Signs of an overcrowded life
Signs of an overcrowded life
More stuff, more work, more projects, more activities, result in...
less or no time to pray, read and study the Bible
no time to spend in other services
no time to focus on the Word of God on Sunday
no time to learn, meditate, feed on and practice new instructions from God’s Word
The Consequence
The Consequence
The Consequence of an overcrowded life
The Christian becomes “unfruitful”
The Christian becomes “unfruitful”
Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
When was the last time you brought a lost soul in church?
When was the last time you won a soul?
When was the last to shared the
Note these 3 things:
cares of this life
deceitfulness of riches
desire for other things
When a Christian’s life is overcrowded with earthly cares and ambitions, there’s no opportunity to read, study, meditate on the Word of God. There’s no time to devote to ministry and service.
The Christian becomes tied up to weak and worthless things
The Christian becomes tied up to weak and worthless things
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
How much time do we spend with earthly things compared to godly activities?
Galatians 4.9
How much money are we spending with earthly treasure compared to heavenly treasures?
Note these words
weak - powerless
beggarly - poor, worthless, contemptible
When a Christian’s life becomes overcrowded with earthly things, he becomes less satisfied with heavenly things, and enjoys more the powerless and worthless stuff.
The Christian becomes deceived into believing that everything is alright.
The Christian becomes deceived into believing that everything is alright.
Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
Revelation 3.1
The worst kind of deception is “self deception”
The worst kind of deceived person is a deceived son of God!
A non-reading Christian is worse than a non-reading unbeliever!
When a Christian’s life is overcrowded with earthly stuff, he becomes oblivious (not aware, not concerned) of spiritual dangers.
The letter end becomes worse than the beginning!
The letter end becomes worse than the beginning!
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
A non-praying Christian is worse than a non-praying unbeliever!
A non-reading Christian is worse than a non-reading unbeliever!
A non-reading Christian is worse than a non-reading unbeliever!
A non-reading Christian is worse than a non-reading unbeliever!
The Consequence
The Consequence
A non-reading Christian is worse than a non-reading unbeliever!
The Solutions
The Solutions
First, we need an Understanding of God’s purpose and why Satan wants to fill our lives with stuff
First, we need an Understanding of God’s purpose and why Satan wants to fill our lives with stuff
God created us in Christ for “good works”
In Christ means - we were forgiven, justified, sanctified, filled with the Holy Spirit
“Good works” means - God’s intended work, not our works
God placed us in the church, not to save us (we were already saved) but to make us useful for others - to the lost and the converted ones
God wants preachers and teachers of the Bible
God wants missionaries and volunteers
God wants evangelists and teachers
God wants pastoral workers, counselors, encouragers
God wants people who will build up other people, families
God’s work is inversely proportional to earthly stuff (things, activities, etc.)
more earthly stuff = less work of God!
more earthly activities = less church activities
more carnal works = less manifestation of God’s power
more earthly beauty = less glory of God
Note - Jesus was not always pleased with the “crowd”
the crowd were not all believers!
When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
Mark 5.27
many are called but few are chosen
God does not elect a crowd - He elects us individually!
the crowd later left Him
the crowd ultimately had Him crucified
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.
So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
Mark 15.15
That’s why - Satan wants to fill our lives with cares, riches, desire for more things!
more things to do!
more opportunities!
more needs and problems!
more people we care!
more
God is not always
Second, we need to “make room” for God!
Second, we need to “make room” for God!
Don’t let the “crowd” hinder you!
When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.
For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Mark 5.27
And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Remove the noisy crowd in your life!
Mark 4.23-2
When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing,
He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him.
But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Destroy the walls and ceiling that separate you from God
Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.
And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
Luke 5
Take off (lay aside) the weight and the sin that ensnares
Hebrews 12.1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
You cannot endure the race when your life is overcrowded with excess baggage!
You cannot even look to Jesus when you are overcrowded!
Let go of your reasoning that leads to self-deception!
Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
Revelation 3.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What’s the opposite of overcrowded life?
The “good ground”
it is not choked up with cares, riches and desire for things
But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
hears the word, accepts it and bears the fruit!
Mark 4.19
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
hears the word and understands it, and bears the fruit!