Priorities of a Follower of Jesus

Intro: Lets review what has happened over the past day. Jesus had taught in the Synagogue. He had healed a man the was demon possessed. Then He went with Peter, and Andrew to their home, James an John were with them.

Peters mother in law was very sick, Jesus healed her, then she served them. As the sun went down and the Sabbath was over, many people, with different kinds of problems came to Jesus and He healed them.

It had been a long day and night. (He was tried after a long day) But He didn’ sleep in, He got up early, before anyone else did and He Prayed. That was His first priority.

What is a priority? It is something that you do first, because it is important to you.

Top priorities. Sports, hobbies, T.V, F.B work, family, (without prayer, how will things go with your family)

For Jesus, prayer was His top priority. His disciples learned this, later they would ask Him, “Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples”

We are to be like Jesus.

Matthew 5:14–15 KJV 1900

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

What are we doing when we are the light of the world? Love as Jesus loved, have grace, show mercy, faith, we are live a life that is an example to those around us.

If we are going to live that life like Jesus, if we are going to be the light of the world, prayer has to be a top priority. Pray the verse of the week, and ask the Lord to help you make prayer the Top priority.

I. First Priority, Prayer. VS 35-36

When you do a study of the original langue in VS 35 it says Jesus got up when it was “exceedingly early while it was still night. (Between 3 and 6 am)

When you do a study of the original langue, it says Jesus got up when it was “exceedingly early while it was still night. (Between 3 and 6 am)

Jesus lost sleep to pray. He was God, but he was also man, He got tried just like we do. But prayer was such an important thing to do, he was willing to loss sleep.

a. When you have a priority in your life, you are willing to do them no matter what.

b. For Jesus, it was prayer. We see this others times in the Bible.

Luke 5:16 KJV 1900

16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke

c. At times He prayed all night.

Luke 6:12 KJV 1900

12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

d. If prayer was so important to Jesus, it should be a great need in our life too. He was God, but He was a man too, and He needed to spend time with the father.

e. We may need to do as Jesus did, and get up early and spend time alone with the Lord. When you can may depend on somethings. Elab. But it has to be a top priority in our life.

2. He found a solitary place. READ VS 35 AGAIN.

a. Jesus didn’t pray while He was lying in bed, He got up left the comforts of Peters home. He got up while the others were sleeping.

b. He found a solitary place. This refers to a place that is uninhabited. He found a quiet place where could be alone.

A. We see other times when Jesus sought out private locations to pray.

Luke 9:18 KJV 1900

18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

Luke

Matthew 14:23 KJV 1900

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Matthew 14:23

B. At times his quiet place was in the mountains.

Key. He was alone.

Mark 6:46 KJV 1900

46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

C.Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed a distance from His disciples.

Matthew 26:36 KJV 1900

36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

D. Jesus taught His disciples to enter into a place like a closet to pray.

Matthew 6:6 KJV 1900

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew

2. Why is it so important to find a solitary place to pray?

a. Less interruptions.

b. Better concentrations.

A. Make it a top priority in your prayer time to find a quiet solitary place to pray.

3. He prayed for a long time. VS 36

Jesus got up early, a long before the sun came up. And found a place to be alone and prayed.

a. Try are times when our prayers need to be short, but there are times when we need to spend a long time in prayer. (Sunday nights after 119 Psalm we will doing a study on prayer)

b. Long prayer is great, but the Lord is not interested in long showy prayers.

c. Jesus would condemn the scribes doing this.

Mark 12:40 NKJV

40 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

Mark

Mark 12:40 NASB95

40 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”

Mark 12:39–40 NKJV

39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

Mark 12:

d. God is looking for sincerity. Not fancy words, just speaking your heart.

e. But God desires that we spend quality time with Him in prayer. We must spend more than just a few minutes in prayer each day.

f. When we spend a good quality time in prayer, we have made prayer a priority in our lives.

II. Second priority, preaching (proclaiming.) VS 37-39

I. Jesus was focused on preaching.

VS 37

a. Peter, Andrew, James and John. They slept in VS 36

b. When they find Jesus, and they were looking “pressed after Him” AMP (pursuing Him eagerly, and hunting Him”

c. The disciples were more focused on the miracles from the day before. (can’t blame them, it was an exciting day, and they still had a lot to learn)

Mark 1:37 AMP

37 And they found Him and said to Him, Everybody is looking for You.

d. They bring some news to Jesus, something they were excited about. “All men seek thee” “Everybody is looking for you”

e. Why they looking for Jesus? The excitement of the miracles. I believe the disciples really liked the praise of man.

f. What Jesus didn’t do was go back and heal more people. Was healing (miracles) a good thing? Oh yes, it showed the power of Jesus, it showed that he was God. But that is not why He came to earth.

Luke 19:10 KJV 1900

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

g. That is done when the preaching of the gospel is done.

Look at Jesus’ answer. VS 38

Mark 1:38 KJV 1900

38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

2. I know some may be thinking, I’m not a preacher.

a. The word “preach” means to proclaim, herald, to publish.

b. Jesus was not focus on impressing the people, He was focused on proclaiming the good news, the gospel.

3. Our focus as a church has to be the proclaiming of the gospel. This has to start with prayer. (Prayer verse of the week) (study on prayer on Sunday night) (Group prayer here at church)

a. Training on sharing the gospel. Events here to share the gospel. Invite someone to church.

B. It was instructive.

Mark 1:

Mark 1:39 KJV 1900

39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

Jesus preached the truth, because He was the truth, and there was no other way to reach the lost.

a. Jesus preaching was clear and Holy Spirit empowered, and the people were astonished His doctrine. His preaching was not about entertaining. It was about bringing conviction.

b. Many churches today have gotten away from preaching the truth. The truth of the gospel has to be proclaimed.

2. Jesus said in VS 38. The preaching of the gospel is way he came into this world.

a. He knew it was important to get out unto the towns and preach. People needed to hear the gospel before they could believe.

Romans 10:14 KJV 1900

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

II Timothy 4

Preacher (proclaimer)

b. Sharing the gospel is urgent, because those who do not believe are doomed.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 KJV 1900

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

II Thessaloni

Conclusion: Two priorities of Jesus were, praying and preaching. As a follower of Jesus, your should be the same. If they are not, I challenge you to adjust your priorities in your life.