Printer Friendly VersionAs you know, we are looking carefully at the life of Jesus as
written by Mark.
Observation: If public worship was important to Jesus, it should
become a part of our lifestyle too. In fact, public worship was important
to Jesus, and public worship is one of Stillmeadow’s core values. It
is important, if you want to grow in Christlikeness and to be mature in Christ,
that you do “not neglect the assembling of yourselves together, as some
are in the habit of doing.” No, we should assemble for prayer, praise,
and proclamation.
So after worship, what did Jesus do next? According to Mark,
Jesus entered into ministry (service) and healed a man possessed by an evil
spirit. Then He went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew,
where He healed Simon’s mother-in-law of a serious fever. The word got
out that Jesus was in town, and so people began to flock at the door and Jesus
healed many who had various diseases. He even drove out demons. His day was
filled with both teaching (preaching) and compassionate ministry to persons
(Mark 1:39).
But what Jesus did next may surprise you! (Read Mark 1:35-39.)
After a time of public worship and compassion-filled ministry, Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, had His private devotions. Why? Several possibilities! (I’ll
share two!)
I. Jesus Needed Time Alone with the Father for Personal Renewal
A. His disciples made demands of Him (questions, personal problems,
inter-personal tensions, etc.).
B. The multitude was very demanding as well. Let’s not
forget, Jesus was fully human and fully God. Jesus was not immune from the
demands of life. Could it be He was just emotionally drained and spent?
C. Notice: After Simon and his companions realized He was gone,
they went on a search for Jesus. We don’t know how long they searched
but when they found Him they said, “Jesus, everyone is looking for you!”
D. The verb “looking for” is zeteo in the Greek. This
verb is always used by Mark in a rather negative sense. Four examples:
1. In Mark 3:32, we find Jesus’ family “looking for”
Him (zeteo) to take Him back home because they think He has lost His mind.
2. In Mark 11:18, we find the Pharisees “looking for”
a sign from Him that would prove He is the Messiah.
3. In Mark 14:55, we find the high priests and elders “looking
for” evidence to destroy Him.
4. In Mark 16:6, we find a woman “looking for” a dead
man in a tomb.
E. All these people (His disciples, the sick, even His enemies)
made demands on Jesus, and had expectations for Jesus, and it drained Jesus
entirely, maybe spiritually.
F. I believe that’s why, while it was still night, way
before dawn, Jesus got up and went out to a secluded spot for private worship,
time alone with God, personal devotion, and for personal renewal.
G. Oh, listen Church: the life of discipleship is demanding
and it is draining. God has called us to minister to people, some of them
very draining people. What to do? Be like Jesus. Spend time alone with God
in personal devotions, “for they that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength.” Why?
II. Jesus Needed Time Alone with the Father for Divine Direction
A. Notice with me Mark 1:38-39. When they had found Jesus, what
was Jesus’ first response to them? (Read)
B. Jesus was not only restored and renewed emotionally and spiritually,
Jesus emerged from His time alone with God with a clearer sense of God’s
direction on His life—a new vision for what God the Father wanted Jesus
to do.
C. I can only guess that Simon and the others were taken aback
by the new direction in Jesus’ ministry. “What? You mean we’re
not going back to Capernaum? Man, that crowd back there is ready to follow
You. You talk about a bodegas offering. We could finance our whole ministry
back there!”
D. Jesus said, in essence, “You know, I’ve been alone
with the Lord. I have My marching orders for the day. Sometimes, the Father’s
will is unexpected and surprising. Jesus said (and John recorded it in his
gospel), “the winds of the Spirit blow where they will, and man cannot
predict their movement” (John 3:8).
E. We need daily directions from the Lord. That’s why we
need daily devotions. (A personal observation: my entire ministry comes out
of my devotional time!)
F. About a year ago, I found a marvelous book by one of my favorite authors,
Gordon MacDonald, The Life God Blesses. He states, “I spent time alone
with God devotionally in order to pursue order and vitality in my interior
world, so that the convictions and actions of my life are rooted in my soul
and not in the external world around me.”
G. Folks, let me tell you why “devotions” is one of
Stillmeadow’s core values: personal devotions are what prepare us for
everything else. Prayer, meditation, Bible reading, study, and putting yourself
in a place where God can grace you is the best part of the day.
H. My vision for this congregation is that every person will
understand the value of a vital walk with Christ, be taught how to foster
a personal life, and urge one another on to growth in this vital area of our
spiritual journey.
I. So, here are the five steps toward a meaningful devotional
life:
1. Ask the Lord Jesus to empower you to develop the necessary
discipline. This is the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:2 and 2
Corinthians 13:3-5).
2. Choose a time. Jesus loved the morning. Maybe you’re
a night owl. Find the time that best fits your rhythms and life demands.
3. Choose a place.
4. Choose an aid. (My Utmost for His Highest, The Purpose Driven
Life, etc.)
5. Do it!
