THE ACTS OF JESUS

Introduction:

-It is so glad to be in church today. For this last Christmas we had over 26,000 people attend. Over 200 salvation's and 20 baptisms. Just in a few weeks we are also having are I have decided baptism event on January 14th. We’re going to have pools for people to get baptized. It’s going to be awesome so don’t miss it.

-Well I am so glad to share a word of encouragement and truth to you today. If you have your Bibles, smartphones. Turn with me to Mark chapter one verses 35 through 39. What you see in Marks Gospel is emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. This passage of scripture is one of the most profound passages when we talk about the life of Jesus. Jesus was not ordinary man, and he was a man of great courage, discipline, and initiative. We are going to take a deep journey into the life of Jesus, so lets check it out in .

“35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

1. Jesus prayed.

- This is one of three passages in Marks gospel where it mentions Jesus is spending time alone with God. The first, is found in which is the passage we just read. The second passage is found in Check it out.

“And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.”

-Here you see that Jesus went and prayed. He got away from the crowds of people, and the disciples and prayed.

- Alan Cole a famous commentator on Mark’s gospel explains this passage this way.

“It was after a busy sabbath of worship and ministry in the synagogue, at a time when others might seek rest and relaxation, that Jesus sought God in private prayer.”

Cole, R. A. (1989). Mark: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 2, p. 117). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

-One message that Mark is trying to apply here is that you need to get away from all the distractions in this world and spend time alone with God. Just you and Him.

-And, the last passage of Mark’s gospel is found in

“And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray’… And going a little father, he fell on the ground and prayed.”

-We are going to talk more about his passage next time, because it is simply the greatest passage on prayer in the whole Bible.

- It is important to notice what is going on when the Bible mentions Jesus praying. Jesus was constantly praying to his father. Thus, presents the question, why? One commentator of Marks gospel describes it this way. Prayer may be defined as the appeal of the soul of God. This means that we should cast our request on Him. Not to pray is simply saying that you can do it on your own. Jesus understood this, and therefore he spent vast amounts of time with the Lord.

- You need to hear what I am about to say. What you pursue is what you become. You become what you worship. Give example of what you are pursuing.

-If you are trying to get better a basketball. All you do is practice. Guess what you are going to become a better basketball player. Likewise, if you are spending more time in the presence of God you are going to become more like God. That is, God is a loving God so you will become more loving to those that are around you.

-When you are spending time with God in prayer you are saying you need the help of God. This is what God wants us to do. To cast our needs to him. God wants to take are burdens. He wants to provide for us. But we also must be willing to do just that. Put your faith in Him so that he can do such things.

- When you look at the life of Jesus it is important that you see this. Jesus was never unprepared. Jesus was always prepared. He was prepared for the encounters He was going to have with people. Encounters with evil spirits. And, with the physical world. Jesus had the power to stop a storm. That is amazing. But, how did Jesus do all of these amazing things? He spent time with the Lord.

“And rising very early in the morning while it was still dark, he went out to a desolate place and there he prayed.”

- He was praying for me for you. For everyone. He loved us so much that he gave his life for us. How did he do it? How can you possibly give your life for someone you don’t know. That’s it. Jesus knew each and every one of us. Check this out in

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,”

“With the help of the father. He had such a deep relationship with the father that he knew his will. The fathers will was for him to die and be resurrected, what? Die for us. Us? Unclean, sinful, filthy. What? He loved you despite everything you have ever done. That’s the Gospel Jesus loved you and still does. And, that is a wonderful reality. But, we can’t stop there. We see that Jesus prayed Now check this out.

-Jesus had a relationship with you before you were even born.

-With the help of the father. He had such a deep relationship with the father that he knew his will. The fathers will was for him to die and be resurrected, what? Die for us. Us? Unclean, sinful, filthy. What? He loved you despite everything you have ever done. That’s the Gospel Jesus loved you and still does. And, that is a wonderful reality. But, we can’t stop there. We see that Jesus prayed Now check this out.

2. Jesus went.

- That is what Jesus ministry was all about and still is all about. Sharing the love of God to everyone around us. Jesus was not afraid to go out and preach the Gospel. How can we tell he was not afraid? The phrase Jesus went is mentioned 117 times in the Bible. He was all about going to each person and loving them. Watch this in verse 39.

“And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”

- Jesus was all about going out and proclaiming the love of God everywhere, even if people did not want to hear. He knew that he was planting small seeds everywhere he would go. He loved us.

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- What is the mark of a true Christian? says Love. Let us love one another for love is from God. Jesus wanted to go and spread the love to all the cities around him. He wanted to make sure everyone felt the love of the father. He cared about others not himself. Jesus was selfless. He was loving. Watch this.

“36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”

- Everyone was looking for him. But, who was he looking for? Jesus was looking for the father. Jesus was caught praying to his father. The greatest leader of all was caught in relationship with God almighty. Jesus had such a deep desire to share the love of Christ to everyone around him.

“Let us go on to the next towns,”

- Jesus was like look they need love to let’s go and give it to them. He was urgent with his love. Every conversation he had he was urgent to express the love of God. You want to know how to reach people of brokenness, people who do not know the lord. All you must do is simply love them. Love them and they will experience the love of the father.

-A great doctor who passed away many years ago said that “the duty of medicine is sometimes to heal, often to afford relief, and always to bring consolation.”

-It was Jesus’ responsibility to carry out just that. To heal the sick, bring reassurance to the broken, and comfort all those who are hurt. Watch this in verse 39.

“And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”

-Despite his own weariness and exhaustion, he was still more focused on the insistent cry of human need. He wanted to serve his father first, and himself second.

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-He was so passionate about serving his father that he took the place of the fathers children. by going to the world and giving hims

3. Jesus Remembered

- Here is the really cool part when we think about Jesus. He remembered you. All the ugly things you have ever done. That doesn’t not even matter. Just look at the life of Noah. He was just as sinful as you and me but watch what God does.

“God remembered Noah” ()

-He remembered Noah and he remembers you. Jesus did not care about himself. He suppressed his ego and thought only of others. One of the most influential thinkers of our generation Ryan Holiday said:

“Throughout all your aspirations, successes, and failures; ego is your ultimate enemy.”

-Jesus knew this and he knew in order to truly save the human race he had to get rid of his pride. How did he do it? by identifying if the father.

-Now day’s it is so easy to identify in the things we do. The T.V shows we watch, relationships we invest into, and the political theory we practice. For some they even identity in their religion.

-For Jesus, he found himself in the Lord. You must find yourself in the Lord. When you do that God will remember you. He remembers his children. The children of God are those who believe in Him.

-For some they even identity in their religion.

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- God wants to forgive you, because he loves you. He thought of you when he was being tempted. He thought of you when he was being beaten. He thought of you when he died and resurrected. Why? Because he knew that he wanted to spend the rest of the age with you. You? He remembers those who love Him.

-You know there is something exciting about remembering. When you remember someones name you feel confident. When you remember a answer for a test you feel smart. When someone remembers your birthday or adversity you feel loved. In that same way God remembers you.

- When you give your life to Christ he justifies you of all your sins. That means that you were once a ugly creature, but he clothes you in his righteousness. And, he sees you has a clean spirit. A child of God. All you must do is accept into your heart. It is so easy, because Jesus already defeated evil at the cross.

- When I say that Jesus loved here is what I mean. Love is more than a feeling it must be acted out. Jesus love you so much that he demonstrated it to the whole world by giving the ultimate sacrifice. Himself.

- Do you love like Jesus loved? He loved the men you put the nails in his hands. When they were nailing him to the cross. He thought of them and loved them. Love is a demonstration. If you want to experience this love of God. Then give your life to him. He prayed for you, because he wanted to rescue you out of the darkness.

-He went, because he had a urgent love for you. If there are people who feel like they are not being pursued or feel lonely, understand this; God has been chasing after you since the time you were born. That’s the God of the Bible. Let’s pray.