Disciplined in Silence and Solitude

“Disciplined in Silence and Solitude” - Luke 5:15-16

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 5

15 But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.

Intro

Talk about the noise we have in our world. Cell Phones, TV’s, the news media, social media.

New Media - For profit industry. So politcally charged and fear driven. Keeps you engaged for ad revenue. I remember when COVID first began, CNN had a virus ticker. Showing the amount of cases and deaths in the world. How depressing to sit there and watch that every day.

Social Media - There is a lot of good on social media. But there is a lot of bad. Too much can be toxic to your soul. The impact its having on our youth, especially teen girls is devastating.

Cell Phones - One of the greatest innovations today but it has become an addiction.

A survey found that 77 percent of young adults answered “yes” when asked “When nothing is occupying my attention, the first thing I do is reach for my phone.

“The noise of the modern world makes us deaf to the voice of God, drowing out the one input we most need.“ - John Mark Comer

As a church we need to be disciplined in the practice of silence and solitude. How do we define these terms?

Silence is the discipline of getting quiet so you can listen for the Lord. Solitude is the discipline of setting aside some place where you and the Lord can be alone together.

Where are we in the text?

There was a man in one of the towns Jesus was visiting that had leprosy.

Leprosy is chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a bacterium similar to the tuberculosis bacillus. The disease is manifested by changes in the skin, mucous membranes, and peripheral nerves.

Luke Comments

Victims of leprosy in biblical times were ostracized from cities and towns and from interaction with others.

He saw Jesus and fell down and begged him. “Lord , if you are wiling, you can make me clean.”

His posture showed reverence and respect.

Called him Lord!!!!!

Jesus touched him and healed him

No one would touch this man , but Jesus

Jesus told the man not to tell anyone about him being healed but the problem was is that leprosy was such a big deal and everyone knew a person who has not well therefore when this brother went back home healed, people were amazed.

Jesus prioritized Silence and Solitude

the scripture says that Jesus withdrew himself.

The word withdrew means to retire.

When the world was telling him to draw in, he chose to withdraw himself.

Over the Hero Mentality

Explanation - Jesus could of healed everyone that came to him but he choose to heal only one. Jesus being fully man understood the his limitation

Jesus taught his disciples to understand their limitations

Mark 6:31–32 CSB

He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place,

As humans we have limitations! We are not God. We are not computers.

Silence and solitude teaches us to trust God

Psalm 46:10 CSB

“Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”

Over the self seeking, populist mentality

Social Media has mastered and taken advantage of our need to be connected. When someone likes our post it does something to us. There can be an unhealthy urge today to go viral and So you will see people doing things that are un-natural and it places an unhealthy expecation on social media.

We may think since no one likes our post and we don’t have lots of followers, something is wrong with me.

You can do good for the wrong reasons. You can serve just to get attention.

You don’t need likes to prove that you are worth something. Jesus defines your value and worth.

Jesus practiced Silence and Solitude

Yet he often. This was a regular practice of Jesus.

Matthew 14:23 CSB

After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone.

Mark 1:35 CSB

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

Luke 6:12 CSB

During those days he went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.

My son Jaiden is a great athlete. He was telling me his goals of becoming better at football and basketball. If you are coming to become better, you have to practice. I was telling him about my friend in school names Jamar Williams. As a freshman, Jamar was on the B team. He went home one summer and grinded. He came back and was a softmore one varsity. Later drafted by the bears and played 5 years In the NFL.

What are some actions we can take?

1. Have some moments of silence in the morning

2. Dedicate a place for silence and solitude

3. Tare a vacation to a quiet place vs one filled with activities

In your morning routine, have some moments of silence. These new tools about mindfulness and meditation are nothing new And should be nothing new to the believer. Jesus practiced these tools years ago.

During your time of silence just think about God and praise him. Be silent before him.

Conclusion

Mark 4:18–19 CSB

Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.