The Priorities of Jesus

Good Morning, it is such a great morning to be in the house of the Lord, I am so glad to be with you, so good to see all of you this morning. Please turn with me in your bibles this morning to the gospel of Mark.

Everybody stand up with me for a second, EVERYBODY SAY IM ALIVE, IM ALERT, EVEN THOUGH I’m TIRED I AM READY TO RECEIVE GODS WORD.

Mark 1:35–39 HCSB

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. Simon and his companions went searching for Him. They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You!” And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.” So He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Mark 1:35-

(Let’s pray)

Heavenly Father we have gathered in this place to hear your word and to worship you with how we listen to your word. What a blessing to be able to meet in this place and not have to worry about persecution and trouble. Help us hear Your Spirit this morning. Be glorified in this place in Jesus name and for His sake we pray..... Amen

The Priorities of Jesus.

It had been a long day for Jesus, it should have been a day of rest, after all it was the sabbath day.... but there would be no rest for Jesus. According to the day started in the synagogue in Caperneum, Jesus was the guest speaker that day. The assembly was blown away by what they heard Jesus teach, because He taught as One who had authority.

NOT AS THE SCRIBES

Suddenly the sermon of Jesus was interrupted by a man with an unclean spirit, who began to cry out with uncontrollable shreeks. But Jesus calmly and with authority commanded the Spirit to come out of the man. the demon obeyed, the congregation was all the more blown away by the authority of Jesus.

After the Sabbath service Jesus went to the house of one of His new and first disciples Simon, who in will be renamed Peter. Family and friends there informed Jesus about the condition of Simons mother in law who was sick with a fever.

Jesus went by the poor ladies bedside took her by the hand and spoke to her and immediately the fever went away, and her strength was so renewed that she got up off her bed of affliction and she served everyone in the house.

Throughout that afternoon apparently news began to spread around the city about the exorcism at church and the healign at Simons house. That night after much of the day was over Mark tells us that the citizens brought all of the sick people in the city, and all of the demon possessed to Simons house.

Imagine the scene throughout the night Jesus stands at the doorway of Simons house, healing the sick, and casting out demons. I wanna think Jesus got some rest that night but if so it wasnt much. None of us would have blamed Jesus if he wanted to sleep in the next morning, to catch up on some much needed sleep.

But tells us what actually happened the next morning.

Mark 1:35 ESV

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.

is one of only three passages in the entire gospel of MArk where we find JEsus in prayer. But this verse alone tells us that Jesus was truly a man of prayer. In fact, the prayer of JEsus in 35 obviously shaped His ministry decisions in verses 36-39.

Look up at the top of your Bible to

Mark 1:1 ESV

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I believe this is the whole point in why Mark is writing this gospel. I wasn’t too long ago that we began studying the gospel of Mark and then the Lord lead us away to focus on some specific details. But over and over again MArk is finding different ways to teach us that Jesus is the Son of God.

Mark tries to prove this is true by showing us that Jesus had soverign authority over different things in different ways. That makes this verse unique because in in humble submission rather than soverign authority.

here we see that Jesus had the authority that He did in His ministry not merely because He was the God man, but also because He was a Godly man. His private devotions fueled His public life.

As we watch the beautiful priorities of Jesus this morning, I hope you will get this big idea from this passage.

JESUS DID NOT LET ANYTHING OR ANYONE TO COMPROMISE HIS SPIRITUAL PRIORITIES

(repeat)

This is a lesson about who Jesus is, but its also a lesson about how we should follow Him.

What were the priorities of Jesus?

There really are only two:

JESUS PRAYED (35)

(36-39)

JESUS PREACHED

Let me walk you through the text

Jesus Prayed

Mark

Mark 1:35 ESV

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.

I could preach a whole sermon just on this one verse. That verse teaches us many lessons, but maybe the most important lesson here is the most obvious lesson, if Jesus prayed, how much more do you and i desperately need to pray?

Do you know who Jesus is?

Jesus is the mixture of God and man, JEsus is the meeting place of time and eterity, Jesus is the intersection between Heaven and Earth.

If JEsus the eternal Son of the living God found it neccesarry to pray, how much more do you and i need to pray?

JC RYLE- A PRAYING MASTER LIKE JESUS, WILL HAVE NO PRAYERLESS SAINTS

Here JEsus prayed.

Think about what this verse teaches us about prayer, but first think about what this verse teaches us about JEsus.

When did Jesus pray?

Where did Jesus pray?

What did Jesus pray?

First question: WHEN DID JESUS PRAY?

RISING VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK

EARLY IN THE MORNING, WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK

It was probably since some translations say it was the final watch of the night, it was probably somewhere between 3 am and 6 am. Then the next phrase saying it was still dark, is there to tell us that it was closer to 3 oclock than it was 6 oclock.

It was early in the morning, but early in the morning, Jesus went out to a desolate place and there He prayed. In we find that Jesus stayed up all night and prayed before He selected the men who would be His apostles.

Here Jesus woke up early in the morning, and went away to a desolate place to spend time alone with His Father in prayer. This is a subtle affirmation of the truth that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah.

Isaiah 50:4 ESV

The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

Isaiah

This is Jesus who morning by morning got up early to be taught and directed by His Father in Heaven. Pray must not be a matter of convienience but a matter of self-discipline and self-sacrifice.

The word here for prayer is the most generic word for prayer, He spent time in communion with God early in the morning. I am gonna submit to you guys this morning that you need to start your day with God if you want obviously present and actively in charge at work in your life throughout the course of the day.

Jesus woke up early in the morning, had spent the extended time in prayer with God the father in prayer. This was no text message prayer. Text messages are quick and convienient, but there are some things that shouldnt be communicated through a TEXT MESSAGE.

You do know that there are some things that shouldnt be communicated through text message right?

There are some things that should never be communicated over the phone or email, something may get lost in translation, they are some things you need to talk face ot face with a person about.

Your faith cant survive much less become stronger with just text message prayers, we have to learn from the example of Jesus and sacrifice if need be to make sure we have guardd extended and uninterrupted time with god in prayer.

One more thing about Jesus He got up early in the mornign to spend time alone with God in prayer He sacrificed sleep, and I need to show you that He didnt pray in response to a crisis. He prayed after a successful day of ministry. This is important point. Dont wait for things to go bad before you take prayr seriously.

You need to pray when things are going good just as much as you need to pray when things are going wrong.

PRAY

if you need a blessing, but pray harder when you get it

2. Where did Jesus pray?

HE WENT OUT TO A DESOLATE PLACE

Jesus got up early in the morning to pray but he did not find a place in Simons house to pray, for that matter He did not find a place in the city to pray, he walked out the city to a desolate place to pray.

The Greel word DESOLATE PLACE is the same term used in 12-13 during the temptation of JEsus, where it is translated there as wilderness. Did JEsus actually go back to the place where He was tempted by the devil and ministered to by angels to spend time alone with God in prayer?

Either way, He found some deserted place to be alone with God the Father.

Corperate prayer is important, but times together in prayer have to be balanced out by times alone in prayer.

Here we see Jesus going out where there is no distractions, where there could be no distractions, where none of His freinds could call Him, where none of His disciples could mess with him. Alone in the desert.

So that He could kneel, and plead and cry and sing and moan without interruption. A desolate place so that ti would be an example to us that your time of communion should be done in devotion to God not performace to be done in front of others.

Jesus got alone to pray.

Can i say for those of you who serve in ministry, for you teachers and deacons, and youth pastors, and even myself. All the more its vital that we spend time alone with God for spiritual refreshment. only God can pour back in what you pour out for others.

Spurgeon- secret prayer is the secret of prayer, the soul of prayer, the seal of prayer, ad the strength of prayer.

3. WHAT DID JESUS PRAY?

Mark 1:35 HCSB

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.

Mark tells us when Jesus prayed.... early in the morning when it was still dark

Mark tells us where Jesus prayed..... Alone in the desert

What did He pray?

The greek word used here for prayer just simply means to talk with God, but Mark dont explore what Jesus prayed. I think there is a slesson in the silence, He doesnt tell us what Jesus prayed because it was none of our buisiness.

theres a lesson, intimate time spent with God should not be shared with everyone. There are some things that are meant just for you and the Lord. There are things you are struggling with before god in prayer that you shouldnt spend alot of time talking to other people about.

I mentioned earlier that this is one of 3 times where Jesus prays:

There is this account after a long day of ministry

There is the second account when Jesus is about to feed the 5,000 with a Jerusalem happy meal.

There is the account where Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemene. i think there is a lesson in those as well. Jesus prays for Himself, Jesus prays when He feels the pressure of people, that might lead him down a different path than His Father had assinged and I believe that here Jesus amidst the pressures of the crowd gets away so that He might know and do the will of God.

Listen, prayer shouldnt be you giving God your lists of requests.

How do you feel when you only here from people in your life when they want something?

There times when your prayers shoundlt be so that you can get something, but you should wrestle in prayer so that you might know Gods will and stay in it!

Thats verse 35

HAVE YOU PICKED A TIME AND A PLACE TO MEET WITH GOD?

Listen this is good, YOU SHOW GOD IS A PRIORITY WHEN YOU ARE WILLING TO GET UNCOMFORTABLE JUST TO HAVE HIM…

MMM we need to think on that a minute.

I get up man and Im rushing to work, but I read my devotion… great start… BUT IF YOU WANT NEXT LEVEL CHRISTIANITY GET OUT OF THE COMFY ATMOSPHERE YOUR USED TO AND GO SOMEWHERE SPECIAL.

This is a relationship aint it?

Jesus loves you but sometimes its hard to take you and I seriously. we say we want God but are we willing to give up that extra hour of sleep to get Him?

Are we willing to find a quiet secluded place to meet with him?

We are called the bride of Christ, lets go to school for a minute.... the bible says we the bride of Christ right?

So this is a marriage isnt it?

When Jesus return to get his children the Bible even says we have seats at the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is good even if yall dont care just listen to what I am saying and let it sink deep inside.

you remember how it was when you were dating?

you remember before the wedding?

Guys you remember right? You actually planned out a date, do you remember that? Some of yall talked for hours on the phone, some of you bought flowers, some of yall stayed out way too late knowing good and well you had to get up early and go to work but he/she was important, you were trying to win the ultimate prize a spouse.

Men you actually bathed for the first time in your life, you cared about how your breath smelled, women you caked so much powder on your face you couldnt even smile it was caked on so thick.

It took time to get to lookin that pretty, men it took money to show her a good time.

BOTTOM LINE TIME AND MONEY ARE NO OBJECT THEY ARE WORTH NOTHING WHEN YOU CARE FOR SOMEONE.

YET IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT OUR LIVES THOSE ARE THE TWO AREAS WE ROB GOD THE MOST TIME AND POSESSIONS.

Both of which we have plenty but were not willing to give them up to truly follow the Lord.

(rich young ruler)

IF YOU LOVE GOD THEN WHERE ARE YOU MEETING WITH HIM, AND WHEN ARE YOU MEETING WITH HIM?

The practice of Jesus should be the example for Christians.

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU HAVE GIVEN UP SOMETHING AS PRECIOUS AS SLEEP TO SPEND TIME IN PRAYER?

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU RETREATED FROM OTHERS SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE CONCENTRATED TIME IN PRAYER?

YOUR PRAYERS WILL NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO GOD UNTIL THEY MEAN EVERYTHING TO YOU

Jesus Preached

verse 35 shows us a scheduled meeting that Jesus had with His father in Heaven that wouldnt be canceled for the busyness of His schedule, the weariness from his previous work.

the rest of the passage teaches us about an unscheduled meeting Jesus had with his disciples who foudn Him in the desolate place and interrupted His prayers.

Early that Sunday morning Jesus slipped away to the desolate place to pray when the sun came up the people came back to Simons house to see Jesus you know do it all again. But Jesus wasnt there, and His disciples didnt know where He was so they assembled a search party and they went looking for Jesus.

IT TOOK THEM AWHILE TO FIND HIM and when they found Him they tried to drag Him back to Caperneum. Jesus refuses and says naw

Mark 1:38 ESV

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.”

JESUS PREACHED

Jesus preached because of and in spite of

he lived to preach reminds us that we should live on purpose, we should live on mission.

Jesus preached in spite of

Mark 1:36-

Mark 1:36–37 ESV

And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

“Searched” is not strong enough to show you the original word. The orginial means to hunt down like an animal. It can also mean to pursue someone or something with bad intentions.

Mark tells us they hunted Jesus down. When they finally found Jesus these fishermen decided they were going to fuss at Him. EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR YOU!

Instead of being happy they found Jesus, they are irritated they had to find Him in the first place. Eveyone is lookinf for you

Sure the guys were concerned about the needs of the people, but I think they were more concerned about what they thought was a misssed opportunity.

(BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW BETTER THAN JESUS WHAT JESUS SHOULD BE DOING)

Mark 1:38 HCSB

And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.”

THEY GET ON TO JESUS

WE BELIEVE YOUR THE MESSIAH YOU COME OUT HERE AND DO THESE THINGS IN CAPERNEUM THAT POINTS TO THAT TRUTH AND THE PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING THEY ARE FOLLOWING YOU EVERYWHERE, THEY ARE UP ALL NIGHT WATCHING YOU DO MIRACLES

WHY ARE YOU OUT HERE PLAYING IN THE WOODS FOR?

IF YOU WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY WERE GONNA NEED A SECOND LOCATION IN CAPERNEAUM

Listen to Jesus

Lets go to the other town so I can preach there. He wasnt unconcerned about the needs of the people in the city He just left, but He knew that the people of the city of Caperneum were more concerned with seeing His works than hearing His word.

Jesus dint come to be a magician, He wanted hearts to be trnaformed so He insisted on preaching the word, Jesus was not preoccupied with crowd pleasing. The church today is too caught up in enthusiastic unbelief. all around us there are people who like Jesus but dont trust Him.

They wanted something from Him but wouldnt give theirselves to Him.

he says lets move on to preach

Luke 4:42 HCSB

When it was day, He went out and made His way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them.

The disciples tried to keep Him from leaving, do you know what that means the disciples have adopted the philosophy of the people.

ITS ONE THING WHEN THERE IS A CONSPIRACY AGAINS THE WORD OF GOD IN THE WORLD ITS ANOTHER THING WHEN THERES A CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD IN THE CHURCH.

THERE IS!!

The church has become all about meeting needs which is important dont get me wrong but there are many churches today that meet physical needs but never help the soul.

They dont preach the word of God. There are many who do but I would siggest that there are even more who dont.

ANYBODY CAN PUT A NEW SUIT ON A MAN, BUT ONLY THE WORD OF GOD CAN PUT A NEW MAN IN A SUIT!

For lives to be changed for eternity we have to be committed to proclaim the gospel!

Jesus preached in spite of and Jesus preached because of

Mark 1:38 HCSB

And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.”

He aint saying this is why I left the town of Capernaum HE is saying this is why I left Heaven was to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God!

If your in here this morning, it doesnt matter where you have been or what you have done it dont matter how young ya are in dont matter how old you are you can make a U turn this morning, this morning could be the first day of the rest of your life!

Mark 1:16 HCSB

As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen.

Run to the cross throw yourself on Gods mercy and cry out for Jesus to save you!

He is waiting for you

Luke 19:10 HCSB

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

THE SAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD IS THE WILL OF GOD

BUT

THE SAFE PLACE MAY NOT BE GODS WILL