One Necessary Thing
January 1, 2023

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January 1 | Pastor Clint Johnson

  • 46% of people who made New Years resolutions were successful.

  • 4% of non-resolvers were successful at achieving their goals.

  • A resolution is not just a good intention.

  • A half-hearted intention is usually a functional intention to quit.

  • When you are resolute, you are determined.

  • Resolutions are necessary

  • Resolutions also are revealing

  • Resolutions are costly

Luke 10:38-42
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

  • The Gospel is for ALL people.

  • She expects Jesus to intervene.

Luke 10:41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,

  • Jesus called her out for being worried and upset.

  • Jesus is concerned about Martha’s attitude.

Philippians 2:5-11
5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. 9For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  • It is the anointed, saving, soul satisfying Word of Jesus Christ.

  • While Martha was going frantic and worried, Mary was resolute to listen to the Words of Jesus.

Luke 10:41 TPT The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important?

  • Jesus doesn’t want us to become so distracted that we leave no time for the study of the Scriptures, for prayer and for praise and worship.

  • If the one necessary thing delights you more.

Luke 10:41 AMP But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;

  • Jesus allows Martha to give herself to lesser resolves, resolves that looked outwardly commendable, but revealed inner anxiety and trouble, until Martha finally said something.

Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’