Winter Sermon Series

Practice His Presence

Mark 1:35-39

Opening Words: For the past few weeks we have looked at Jesus' time in Capernaum. The activities that are recorded revolve around a single day. We are told it was the Sabbath. Do you remember the stories? In the morning he teaches and preaches in the synagogue. The crowd is impressed because he taught as one with authority. To underscore his authority he exorcises the demonic. In the afternoon he doesn't take a nap but he heals many of sick, including Simon's mother-in-law. To say the least it had been a long day.

Today’s text happened the day after the Sabbath. It is Sunday, the first day of the week. Jesus gets us early to find some quiet time to pray. His plan works perfectly but his solitude is suddenly broken by Simon and his companions. Jesus is told that everyone is looking for him! However, Jesus shies away from the crowd and instructs the discip les they will he leaving Capernaum to preach in nearby villages. Verse thirty-nine says, “So they traveled throughout Galilee preaching and driving out demons.” We find ourselves today once again in the first chapter of Mark, verses thirty-five through thirty-nine. Let me call this message Practice His Presence. May God give you ears to hear.

Mark 1:35-39 35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" 38Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." 39So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

The founder of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland was John Knox. He died on November 24, 1572. Historians tells us as he laid on his death bed he asked his wife, thirty-two years his junior, to read the prayer in John 17. You remember that sacred chapter. Jesus is about to be arrested so Jesus prays for himself, the disciples and all believers. As he heard Jesus’ prayer Knox seemed to forget his own weakness. Suddenly he began to pray. He prayed for his fellowmen. He prayed for the ungodly who had thus far rejected the gospel. He prayed for the recent converts. He prayed for protection for the Lord 's servants, many of whom were facing persecution. He prayed a word of thanksgiving. As Knox prayed, his spirit went home to be with the Lord. The man of whom Queen Mary had said, "I fear his prayers more than I do the armies of my enemies," ministered through prayer until the moment of his death.

What is it about prayer that makes it so powerful? One of the great privileges I have in the ministry is praying with people. I have prayed with people at some in creditable times. Both the best and worst in life seem to lead us to prayer. I have prayed with young couples who have just welcomed a child into the world. I have prayed with couples who have just decided to unite in marriage. I have prayed with people who have decided to end their marriage. I have prayed with families who are waiting for a loved one to pass. I have prayed with families during a long surgery. I have prayed before church dinners and meetings. I have prayed for a sick pet and the blessing of a home. I have prayed early on Easter morning and late on Christmas Eve. I have prayed for those who were incarcerated and those who are miles off serving our country. I have prayed for strangers and for the people I love the most. I have asked people to pray for me went I confess my own human limitations. What is it about prayer that makes it so powerful? Martin Luther said, “If I should neglect prayer but a single day, I should lose a great deal of the fire of faith ..” So today I want to talk about prayer.

In this morning’s scripture lesson we find Jesus praying. According to the text it is Sunday, the first day of the week. Physically, emotionally and spiritually Jesus is spent. Saturday had been a long day. We will never know how long he taught in the synagogue. We will never know how many people healed that day. We will never know how many demons were exercised. What we do know is that Jesus was tired but the population of Capernaum was energized about Jesus. Verse thirty-five says Jesus got up the next day extra early to pray. We do not know the content of his prayer but it must have been something special. He decides to leave his popularity in Capernaum and teach in other synagogues throughout Galilee.

However there is more to this story then discovering Jesus’ itinerary. It models for us the importance of prayer. So today let us look at three divine truths about prayer that Jesus models for us. My goal is simple. I want to enhance your prayer life so you can tap into your full potential as a disciple of Jesus Christ. So if you are ready to become a prayer warrior say, “Amen!“

Prayer must be practiced intentionally.

Divine truth number one: is prayer must be practiced intentionally. Look at the text with me. Verse thirty-five says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the h ouse and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” In other words, Jesus had a plan. He didn’t wait until an opportunity presented itself. Jesus was very intentional about prayer. He got up early and went to a private place to pray. Are you intentional in your prayer life or does prayer just happen in your life when an opportunity presents itself? Why is this point so important? It is my experience that people find time for things that are important to them.

Years ago when I was a seminary student Christmas fell on a Sunday. I remember that year clearly because it was the first Christmas morning I wouldn’t be home. I served a little country church near Danville, Kentucky and duty called. I preached on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. I planned to leave for home after Sunday morning worship. My parishioners worried about me driving home. They lived in Garrard County and rarely left their little corner of the world. They saw northeastern Ohio as another planet. They asked for a short service on Christmas morning so I could get on the road because they didn’t want me to get home too late. It was about 450 miles. One of the men surprised me by filling up my car during the service and I drove from Danville, Kentucky to Akron. When I got to Akron I needed a break and some gas. The only gas station that was open was manned by a hairy young fellow with warn out jeans. His shirt looked like something that was stolen from Goodwil l, it was large multicolored hooded wrinkled sweatshirt. When I walked in I said, “I stinks to work on Christmas Day!” He smiled and said, “I don’t care. I am off on New Years Eve! I am having a party! I don’t care less about Christmas but I wouldn’t miss the party.” He asked me, “What are you doing on New Years Eve?” I said, “I don’t know.” I hadn’t even thought about New Year’s Eve. It is all a matter of priority. Have you ever noticed people make time for what is important to them?

How much time do you spend in prayer? How much time do you spend at work? How much time do you spend golfing? How much time do you spend watching television? How much time do you spend watching football? How much time do you spend playing with the children in your life? How much time do you spend in prayer. It is all a matter of priority? Divine point number one says prayer must be practiced intentionally. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Prayer cultivates a friendship with God.

Divine truth number two: says prayer cultivates a friendship with God. That is the simplest definition of prayer I can find. Prayer cultivates a friendship with God. My mom always said you have to be a friend to make a friend. In friendship there is always give and take. Real friendships take time to grow. There i s nothing better then an old friendship.

Have you ever noticed how much time Jesus spent praying? He is cultivating a friendship with God, an intimacy with God. Let me give you a short incomplete list of all the times in scripture that Jesus prayed.

1. Mark 1:35 Jesus prayed in the morning

2. Mark 6:46 Jesus prayed in the evening

3. Luke 5:16 Jesus heals the leper and retreats for prayer

4. Luke 6:12 Jesus prays all night and then calls the twelve

5. Luke 9:18 Jesus is praying with the disciples

6. Luke 22:41 Jesus is praying in the garden of Gethsemane

Do I have to go on? Jesus was always praying because it was a priority to him. Prayer was a priority to him because he was trying to stay connected to God. When you pray you are cultivating a friendship with God.

I love the story of Bill Moyers, who was a special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson. He was asked to say grace before a meal in the family quarters of the White House. As Moyers began praying softly, the President interrupted him with "Speak up, Bill! Speak up!" The former Baptist minister from east Texas stopped in mid-sentence and without looking up replied steadily, "I wasn't talking to you, Mr. President."

I am always humbled when I say this but when we pray we are talking to the God of the universe. Maybe the reasons you don’t feel a n intimacy with God is because you haven’t spent enough time cultivating your friendship? Prayer is not just informing God of your needs and your wants. Prayer is taking the time to development a relationship. Einstein once said, “Physics is easy, relationships are complex.“ Take time to cultivate the most complex relationship you will ever hold, your relationship with God. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

Prayer leads us to human need.

This is divine point number three: prayer leads us to human need. Jesus got up early to pray. Then the disciples came and told him everyone was looking for him. He was the talk of the town! But Jesus wasn’t interested in popularity. He was more concerned about others. Prayer lead Jesus to the physical and spiritual needs of his world. Verse thirty-eight and thirty-nine says, “Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. That piece of scripture tells us prayer calls us to action. Martin Luther said, “Pray as if everything depends on God, then work as if everything depends on you.” Where are your prayers leading you?

Years ago, the Salvation Army was holding an international convention and their founder, Gen. William Booth, could not attend because of physical weakness. He cabled his convention message to them. It was one word: "OTHERS."

That is the one message that God has sent to our world from the very beginning. The problem is we are listening. We are we so consumed with ourselves we have missed it. Prayer is not about our needs and wants. Life is not about our needs and our wants. Life and prayer is about OTHERS! God is sending you to the intersection in your life where personal interest meets human need. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!“

I love the story of the five college students were spending a Sunday in London, so they went to hear the famed Charles Spurgeon preach. While waiting for the doors to open, the students were greeted by a man who asked, "Gentlemen, let me show you around. Would you like to see the heating plant of this church?" They thought he was one of those professional Trustee types. They were not particularly interested, for it was a hot day in July. But they didn't want to offend the stranger, so they consented. The young men were taken down a stairway, a door was quietly opened, and their guide whispered, "This is our heating plant." Surprised, the students saw 700 people bowed in prayer, seeking a blessing on the service that was soon to begin in the auditorium above. Softly closing the door, the gentleman then introduced himself. It was none other than Charles Spurgeon.

Does anyone here want to be part of a great church? All we need is a heating system. I don’t mean a new furnace. I mean a heating system where people prayer for God to do great things. Maybe you are just the person we need? If you are then never forget these three things. First, make prayer and intentional part of your life. Second, make God a personal friend. Third, make others more important then yourself. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”