WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.519 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:36.520 Today's scripture reading are various passages from the Gospel of Mark, as printed in your liturgy. 00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:40.000 A reading from the Gospel according to Mark. 00:00:41.060 --> 00:00:47.340 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 00:00:47.340 --> 00:00:57.680 Very 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. 00:00:59.120 --> 00:01:00.460 Then he said to them, 00:01:01.120 --> 00:01:04.400 The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 00:01:05.140 --> 00:01:08.159 So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:15.620 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 00:01:15.620 --> 00:01:21.300 He appointed twelve that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach. 00:01:22.660 --> 00:01:27.219 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother. 00:01:28.939 --> 00:01:36.980 Still others, like seeds sown among thorns, hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, 00:01:37.320 --> 00:01:42.180 and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:53.960 Others, like seeds sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop, some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown. 00:01:53.959 --> 00:02:00.379 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. 00:02:00.939 --> 00:02:06.299 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, 00:02:06.739 --> 00:02:07.459 he said to them, 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:11.259 Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:15.120 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:21.759 Immediately, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, 00:02:22.140 --> 00:02:23.740 while he dismissed the crowd. 00:02:24.680 --> 00:02:27.620 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:30.400 Jesus replied, 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:34.759 Are you not in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God? 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:40.639 Then he went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:42.539 Sit here while I pray. 00:02:44.179 --> 00:02:47.699 Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. 00:02:48.659 --> 00:02:52.979 Take this cup from me, yet not what I will, but what you will. 00:02:53.819 --> 00:02:56.419 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:02:59.379 Simon, he said to Peter, are you asleep? 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:02.099 Couldn't you keep watch for one hour? 00:03:02.099 --> 00:03:06.039 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. 00:03:06.799 --> 00:03:10.039 The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. 00:03:10.780 --> 00:03:12.659 This is the gospel of the Lord. 00:03:13.259 --> 00:03:14.840 Praise to you, O Christ. 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:18.299 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:03:18.519 --> 00:03:21.840 We're continuing today exploring the gospel of Mark, 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:27.060 which we have said is the earliest of the four gospels written in about 65 A.D. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:33.680 and you can also read this little book from cover to cover in about 65 minutes. 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:36.879 I encourage you, if you've never done that in one sitting, to try it out. 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:42.300 You can open in your Bibles there in the pews to page 812. 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:48.860 I encourage you to open that up and explore a little bit what we're going to be talking about. 00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:56.420 You can see there on the very first page that Jesus invites and he challenges Peter, Andrew, James, and John. 00:03:57.920 --> 00:04:02.780 He says to come follow me and I'll send you out to fish for people. 00:04:03.920 --> 00:04:08.260 How did they respond to that invitation to come follow me? 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:12.940 It says that they left their old life behind and they started a new life with Jesus. 00:04:12.939 --> 00:04:17.939 And we're exploring together what that new life with Jesus as disciples means. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:23.199 And last Sunday, we said that Jesus had this three-dimensional life. 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.439 He had three great loves, three great priorities, 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:32.839 and that the Jesus-shaped life is up with the Father, in with the disciples, and out with the crowds. 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:36.759 And my kids told me, Dad, you need to pull this out so we can actually see it. 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:42.819 And they said, you also need to write more words up there, which I've done. 00:04:43.159 --> 00:04:51.519 And you can see that I wrote up with the Father in red, in with the disciples in green, and out with the crowds in blue. 00:04:51.620 --> 00:05:01.920 And the reason I did that, the deep theological mystery behind that is that the markers come in a four-pack of black, red, green, and blue. 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:07.199 And that's why I randomly chose those colors to go with each of those themes. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:15.660 Jesus, wherever he went, he would build community in three particular ways. 00:05:16.259 --> 00:05:19.040 Up with the Father, in with the disciples, out with the crowds. 00:05:19.280 --> 00:05:28.680 And this forms the essential pattern of our life together if we truly want to live as a community of people who are following Jesus. 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:36.620 Last Sunday, we took time to kind of really dive into each of these, but really to dive into discipleship. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:38.180 What is discipleship? 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:40.960 If you missed that, I encourage you to go back and listen to it. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:46.500 We said that discipleship in the first century was this deeply committed covenantal relationship 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:54.899 in which a rabbi would invite his disciples to come and share every aspect of his life so that they could become like him. 00:05:56.100 --> 00:05:57.420 And that's what Jesus is doing. 00:05:57.420 --> 00:06:04.360 From the crowds, Jesus gathers this smaller group of disciples who are going to live in a kind of relationship with him 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:12.319 that not only taught them to know what he knew, but also to do what he did and ultimately to become like him. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:20.740 And so being a disciple of Jesus Christ, following him as your Lord, means that he's inviting you and he's challenging you 00:06:20.740 --> 00:06:27.819 to share the pattern of his life and to be conformed to the shape of these three loves, these three priorities. 00:06:28.840 --> 00:06:34.519 Now, you may be wondering why in the world we're just jumping all over the Gospel of Mark today with these readings 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:37.019 and not just focusing on one particular text. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.639 And that's because I want to ask this question. 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:43.519 What was Jesus' relationship with time? 00:06:45.579 --> 00:06:49.319 What was Jesus' relationship with time and how did he invest his time? 00:06:50.979 --> 00:06:58.120 Jesus experienced tremendous pressure in his life like none of us have ever experienced. 00:06:58.259 --> 00:07:00.199 He experienced tremendous pressure. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:05.259 He had countless demands on his time, but it did not overwhelm him. 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:08.180 And the question is, why? 00:07:09.159 --> 00:07:14.759 When we look at Jesus' extraordinary life, we can see that the secret of that life is that 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:22.319 he modeled these intentional, fruitful rhythms and patterns and habits of life, 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:25.719 and he trained his disciples to imitate his way of life. 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:29.860 I'm the way, the truth, and the life, so I want you to walk in my way and trust my truth 00:07:29.860 --> 00:07:32.219 and live my life, Jesus said. 00:07:32.220 --> 00:07:38.940 And so, we can see in these texts that Jesus spent time alone with his Father in prayer each morning, 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:45.100 and from that place, he would step out into the busy yet fruitful life that God was calling him to live. 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:51.740 We can see that Jesus took 24 hours for restoration and renewal every Sabbath day 00:07:51.740 --> 00:07:56.520 where he gathered with the people of God to worship and then to rest with his extended family. 00:07:56.519 --> 00:08:01.699 We can also see that after really, really busy seasons of life and ministry, 00:08:01.859 --> 00:08:08.339 Jesus took his disciples away to a quiet place where he would retreat with them 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:11.699 and give them a time of refreshment and reflection. 00:08:13.039 --> 00:08:18.039 Daily, weekly, seasonal rhythms of life. 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:19.939 For Jesus, these were not burdensome. 00:08:20.099 --> 00:08:24.879 They were not legalistic observance, but they were intentional times of renewal. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:32.340 And this is what I think gave Jesus the margin and the rest and the capacity 00:08:32.340 --> 00:08:35.860 when he met human need to respond with compassion 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:44.159 and to live this life that produced incredible amounts of fruitfulness for the kingdom of God. 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.059 So, when Jesus is saying, come follow me, 00:08:47.059 --> 00:08:55.019 he's inviting us to adopt these predictable patterns, these healthy habits, these life-giving rhythms, 00:08:55.659 --> 00:08:58.439 not so that we might earn the love of the Father, 00:08:59.119 --> 00:09:05.059 but so that all of us might enjoy more of the grace of the Father that's already been given to us. 00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:08.179 Enjoy is a key word today. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:10.599 What is the chief end of your life? 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:14.120 It's that you might glorify God and enjoy him forever. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:19.940 And we want to talk about habits of life that will enable you to do that now. 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:25.040 And so, here's the golden thread of this sermon, the thesis of my sermon. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.500 My kids said I need to say this more explicitly. 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:31.460 The golden thread of my sermon, the thesis of my sermon, 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:35.660 is that Jesus invites us to enjoy rest with our Father 00:09:35.659 --> 00:09:39.339 by imitating his weekly Sabbaths and daily prayers. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.959 Jesus invites us to enjoy rest with our Father 00:09:42.959 --> 00:09:46.860 by imitating his weekly Sabbaths and daily prayers. 00:09:47.779 --> 00:09:51.819 I want to start with enjoying the rest with our Father 00:09:51.819 --> 00:09:54.419 by imitating Jesus' weekly Sabbaths. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:10:00.279 Look with me at chapter 2, verse 27. 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:01.379 Then Jesus said to them, 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:10.960 Here's a strong statement. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:14.379 God's will for your life 00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:17.539 is that you, every one of you, 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:23.139 would enjoy a weekly 24-hour period of rest from your work. 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:27.679 That is the clear will of God for every person in this room. 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:29.980 It's in the Ten Commandments. 00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:32.480 It's right up there with do not kill and do not steal. 00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:35.600 And the first time we're given these Ten Commandments 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:36.620 in Exodus chapter 20, 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:39.740 we're shown that the pattern of God's own activity 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:41.360 as the creator of the world 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:43.620 is that he rested on the seventh day. 00:10:43.680 --> 00:10:45.399 And we're told that he blessed that day 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:46.560 and he made it holy 00:10:46.560 --> 00:10:48.800 and that therefore we are to bless that day 00:10:48.800 --> 00:10:49.560 and keep it holy. 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:52.940 When those Ten Commandments are given to us 00:10:52.940 --> 00:10:54.399 in Deuteronomy chapter 5, 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:55.820 we're told that the Sabbath rest 00:10:55.820 --> 00:10:58.039 is for the benefit of weary workers. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:10:59.679 We got any weary workers here today? 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:02.019 Anybody that has work that wearies you? 00:11:04.099 --> 00:11:06.219 This is reinforced by the prophets 00:11:06.219 --> 00:11:07.299 over and over and over 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:09.539 more than almost any other of the Ten Commandments. 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:12.759 And it's not this odd moral commandment, 00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:14.639 this burden that is to be observed 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:17.079 to earn merit or favor with God. 00:11:17.599 --> 00:11:18.980 The Sabbath is a sign 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:22.779 that we enjoy his blessing and his delight, 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:25.279 that we belong to the true God, 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.439 the creator of the world, 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:29.319 and that he himself is offering to us 00:11:29.319 --> 00:11:30.620 this precious gift 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:33.079 to receive from him 00:11:33.079 --> 00:11:36.379 restorative, humanizing rest. 00:11:38.819 --> 00:11:40.559 Does that feel like a burden to you? 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:47.319 Notice that Jesus calls himself 00:11:47.319 --> 00:11:48.199 the Lord of the Sabbath. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:51.600 And right after he calls himself that, 00:11:51.660 --> 00:11:55.300 what does he do in Mark chapter 3 verse 1? 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.980 It says that he goes and he finds this man 00:11:57.980 --> 00:11:59.600 with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:01.280 who needs to be healed. 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:02.020 And Jesus says, 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:03.540 which is lawful on the Sabbath, 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.940 to do good or to do evil, 00:12:05.020 --> 00:12:06.960 to save life or to kill? 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:10.200 And then Jesus makes this man's hand 00:12:10.780 --> 00:12:12.300 completely whole. 00:12:13.140 --> 00:12:14.060 And by doing that, 00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:16.899 he makes this man in his life 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:17.939 totally restored. 00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:21.199 And this is a sign for us 00:12:21.199 --> 00:12:21.799 that Jesus, 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.099 the Lord of the Sabbath, 00:12:23.579 --> 00:12:26.579 wants to use this 24-hour period of rest 00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:27.979 to do good to you 00:12:27.979 --> 00:12:30.219 and to give life to you. 00:12:31.179 --> 00:12:34.139 We may not bring a shriveled hand with us 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:35.699 to the synagogue today, 00:12:36.599 --> 00:12:39.039 but I imagine there's at least one person 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:40.439 that has a shriveled soul. 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:44.180 And if that's you, 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:47.160 if you brought a shriveled soul here today, 00:12:47.800 --> 00:12:50.040 the Lord of the Sabbath wants to heal you. 00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:52.360 He wants to restore you. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:55.580 He wants to humanize you with the rest of God. 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:58.520 He wants to give you the blessing of God 00:12:58.520 --> 00:12:59.760 and the delight of God 00:12:59.760 --> 00:13:02.380 and to give you the joy of the life-saving, 00:13:02.540 --> 00:13:04.620 life-giving goodness of God. 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:08.259 I read a book a few years ago on sleep 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:11.220 by Matthew Walker down the hill here 00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:12.379 at the Sleep Lab in Berkeley. 00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:14.039 And when I read this book, 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:15.820 I realized that one of the best ways 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:17.000 that I could love my family 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:17.940 and love this church 00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:19.620 is to sleep more. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:22.720 And I'm hoping this sermon will do that for you, 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.460 that one of the ways that 00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:26.560 you could love God more 00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:28.240 and love the people around you more 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.639 is to practice the Sabbath. 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:34.159 I actually want to just wonder aloud 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:36.799 that if over the next three months, 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:37.939 six months, 12 months, 00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:39.939 if all of us on Saturday evening 00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:41.159 after the sun goes down, 00:13:41.699 --> 00:13:42.799 if all of us were to take 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.600 a 24-hour digital fast, 00:13:45.460 --> 00:13:47.659 we were to put ourselves to bed 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.740 and put the people in our house to bed early 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:51.819 and get a good night of sleep, 00:13:52.659 --> 00:13:53.759 what kind of healing 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:54.600 the Lord of the Sabbath 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:56.379 would want to do in us, 00:13:56.439 --> 00:13:57.299 perhaps even healing 00:13:57.299 --> 00:13:59.360 we don't even know needs to be done in us. 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:03.639 You guys with me so far? 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.659 How did Jesus practice the Sabbath? 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.659 Did He sleep in, go to brunch, 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:10.759 read the New York Times, 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:12.539 hike in the hills, 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:13.960 hang at the beach with His friends, 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.699 post some photos on Instagram 00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:17.220 and say hashtag Sabbath? 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:20.460 For many reasons, 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:21.799 Jesus did not do that. 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:23.319 And one of the reasons He didn't do that 00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:24.279 is because He was Jewish. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:28.620 And if you look at Mark 1, verse 21, 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:29.059 it says, 00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:30.139 when the Sabbath came, 00:14:30.239 --> 00:14:31.419 He did what all Jews do 00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:32.459 and He went to the synagogue. 00:14:33.859 --> 00:14:35.019 And what did they do at the synagogue? 00:14:35.219 --> 00:14:37.859 Well, He worshipped with the people of God, 00:14:37.959 --> 00:14:39.919 which included prayers and songs 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:41.279 and readings from the law 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:41.859 and the prophets 00:14:41.859 --> 00:14:44.279 and expositions on the scriptures 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.079 and benedictions, 00:14:45.219 --> 00:14:46.919 much like we do here. 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:49.799 And Jesus and His disciples, 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:54.039 they were coming to center their lives. 00:14:54.119 --> 00:14:56.219 They were gathering with the assembled people of God 00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:57.440 to center their lives 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:59.720 on the love of the Father 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:01.320 and the power of the Father 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:03.779 and the presence of the Father. 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:06.259 You see, 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:08.340 Sabbath wants to do two things for us. 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:10.120 Sabbath invites us to realize 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.580 that if we stop working, 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:13.660 the world's not going to fall apart 00:15:13.660 --> 00:15:15.740 because it's in the hands of our Creator God. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:17.980 But more than that, 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:20.879 the Sabbath invites us to listen 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:22.399 like Jesus came to listen 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:25.560 to the voice of His Father and His Word 00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:28.919 and to see the great drama of redemption 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:31.440 that His Father was carrying out in the world 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:34.519 and to remember all these incredible promises 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:36.279 that had been made in the Old Testament 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:36.860 and for us, 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:38.940 all those promises that had been kept 00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:40.240 in the New Testament. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:43.539 The Sabbath is an opportunity for us to come 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:46.060 and to hear those great words 00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:47.980 from the Son of the Father 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.259 that were spoken on the cross. 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:51.080 It is finished. 00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:56.180 The work of salvation is finished. 00:15:57.560 --> 00:15:57.980 And therefore, 00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:59.940 salvation doesn't depend on us 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:01.080 and the work that we do 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:04.159 because that work has already been accomplished for us 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.860 by the work of another. 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:07.879 And that is how our restless souls 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:10.179 can actually come and find rest. 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:12.620 Now Jesus, 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.500 what's interesting is 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:15.179 Jesus took this Sabbath principle 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.620 and He injected it 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:18.740 into the really, really busy times. 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:21.600 And I want you to see in chapter 3, 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.519 verse 13, 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.320 it says Jesus went up on a mountainside 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:27.259 and remember this is after last week, 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:29.659 everybody's pressing so hard on Jesus 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.919 He has to get into a boat 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:32.539 and leave the land, right? 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:34.019 He's getting crushed 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:35.500 and it says they went up on a mountainside 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:37.399 and He called to Him those He wanted 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:39.120 and they came to Him 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.179 and He appointed 12 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:41.799 that they might be with Him 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:44.079 and that He might send them out to preach. 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:46.720 And what Jesus is doing here 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:48.379 is He's retreating 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:49.620 and He's inviting His disciples 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.779 to retreat with Him 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.959 so that they can focus 00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:53.600 on this smaller group 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:55.079 of 12 disciples together. 00:16:55.319 --> 00:16:55.699 Why? 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:57.659 It says so that they can just be with Him. 00:16:58.459 --> 00:16:59.799 So they can be with Him 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.779 and learn from Him. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:05.220 Look with me at chapter 6, verse 30. 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:05.480 It says, 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:25.039 These disciples have been working hard 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.700 day after day 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:28.000 doing what Jesus did, 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:30.000 saying what Jesus said. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.700 The crowds, because of that, 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:33.119 are demanding more and more 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:33.940 and more from them. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:35.160 They're pressured in their time. 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.519 They're pressured in their energy. 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.779 They can't even eat a meal. 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.180 And so what does Jesus do? 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.599 He injects Sabbath rest 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.380 into their lives. 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:46.079 And He teaches His disciples 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.880 this habit of regularly 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:49.240 pulling away together 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:50.039 into quiet, 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:51.039 into solitude, 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:51.720 and He says, 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.599 Come with me 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:54.380 and get some rest. 00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:57.660 And I imagine it was in this place 00:17:57.660 --> 00:18:00.080 where He said these words, 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:02.500 which He says in Matthew 11, verse 28. 00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:02.920 He says, 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.240 Come to me. 00:18:05.040 --> 00:18:06.220 It's not just that you need 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.340 a vacation somewhere. 00:18:08.020 --> 00:18:09.580 You need to come to me, 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:12.380 all you who are weary and burdened, 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:15.840 and I will give you rest. 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:18.840 Take my yoke upon you 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.940 and learn from me, 00:18:20.020 --> 00:18:21.940 for I'm gentle and humble in heart, 00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:23.779 and you will find rest 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:25.559 not just for your body 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:27.000 but for your souls. 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.559 For my yoke is easy 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:31.680 and my burden is light. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:34.080 And so I want to ask you today 00:18:34.080 --> 00:18:35.059 and just encourage you 00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:36.039 to look at your calendar 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:38.080 and how you schedule your time 00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:39.620 and just to ask yourself this question. 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.960 And if you're exploring Christianity, 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.519 this is your chance 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.940 to sort of look in the window 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.860 at what it means 00:18:44.860 --> 00:18:47.080 to become a Christian 00:18:47.080 --> 00:18:47.900 and follow Christ. 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:49.880 But if I'm following Jesus 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.740 as my Lord, 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.779 if I'm His disciple, 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.420 if I'm imitating His life, 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:58.799 am I taking a 24-hour Sabbath 00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.980 to enjoy the Father 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:01.519 as my powerful creator 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:03.059 and gracious redeemer? 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:06.139 And if not, why not? 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:08.879 What about your plan 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:10.420 is better than God's plan for you? 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:13.759 And another question is, 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.879 have I committed myself 00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:16.099 to a circle of disciples 00:19:16.099 --> 00:19:18.160 that's regularly retreating 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:18.900 with Jesus 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:22.060 to a quiet place, 00:19:22.580 --> 00:19:24.740 receiving that soul-deep rest 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:26.360 that only He can give 00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:27.360 by learning from Him 00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:28.500 His easy yoke 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.960 and His light burden? 00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:30.580 And again, 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:31.519 if not, 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.060 why not? 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:35.559 I read this great book 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.619 by James Clear 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:38.339 called Atomic Habits. 00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:41.000 And the subtitle of that book 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.359 is An Easy and Proven Way 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.399 to Build Good Habits 00:19:43.399 --> 00:19:44.480 and Break Bad Ones. 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.240 And I want to just ask 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.440 if we can pull up a slide. 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:48.740 I think we have a slide 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.519 from his book. 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:52.139 He says that it's really important 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:54.000 to clarify an action plan 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.980 of how you intend 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:56.579 to implement 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:58.000 a particular new habit. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:19:59.660 And so I want to invite you 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.500 to take out a pen 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.740 and a sheet of paper 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:03.720 and I'd love to see you 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:06.180 write this sentence down 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:08.960 and to fill it in for yourself. 00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:10.259 And the reason I'm urging you 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:10.839 to write it down 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.700 is because if you don't, 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:13.380 you won't really commit yourself 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:13.839 to anything. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.480 But what he says is, 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:18.359 after a particular habit 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:19.420 that I've already created 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:20.059 in my life, 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:23.779 I will do this new habit, 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:24.640 this new behavior 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:26.279 for this duration 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:27.619 at this time 00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.740 and in this location. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:32.039 And if you can fill in those blanks, 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.180 if you can write something down, 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.500 something you want to start doing, 00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:36.879 something you want to continue to do, 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.160 something that you used to do 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:39.680 that you'd like to get back to doing, 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.819 I urge you to write something down today. 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:45.299 Here's something you might write down. 00:20:46.139 --> 00:20:47.940 After making dinner on Saturday, 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:49.559 that habit that you already have, 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.960 you're going to eat, right? 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:53.279 I will light a candle 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:55.379 and take a Sabbath rest 00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:57.139 for 24 hours at 7 p.m. 00:20:57.299 --> 00:21:00.259 starting at my dinner table. 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:03.279 Or here's another thing 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.960 you might write down. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.799 After leaving work on Thursdays, 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:08.879 I will retreat to my community group 00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:09.799 for one and a half hours 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:11.619 at 7 p.m. in Berkeley. 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:16.639 Jesus is inviting us 00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:20.939 to enjoy rest with the Father 00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:24.199 by imitating His weekly Sabbath 00:21:24.199 --> 00:21:26.059 and injecting Sabbath rest 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:28.259 into our lives more and more and more. 00:21:29.959 --> 00:21:31.459 But not only that, 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:34.419 He's inviting us to enjoy rest with our Father 00:21:34.419 --> 00:21:35.819 not just through weekly Sabbaths 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.579 but through daily prayers, 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:40.419 through imitating His daily prayers. 00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:42.480 Last Sunday, 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:44.140 we talked about the source 00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.640 of Jesus' power and authority 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:49.000 was that He had this close relationship 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.580 that He maintained with His Father 00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.740 who's the King of the universe. 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.880 And He would spend quality time 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:55.800 in the Father's presence 00:21:55.800 --> 00:21:57.360 praying that He might be filled 00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:58.400 with the Father's Word 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:00.180 and with the Father's love 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:01.420 and with the Father's power. 00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:04.460 And we said it was like spiritual breathing 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.980 that Jesus would just inhale 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:07.019 the Word of His Father 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:09.500 that He might go out 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:11.139 and exhale the will of His Father. 00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:14.700 We said that Jesus was like a sponge 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:16.519 that was just there soaking up 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.539 the love of the Father 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.839 that He might go out 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.879 and the Father might just 00:22:19.879 --> 00:22:22.099 wring out that sponge of love 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:23.819 on all the people around Him. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:27.000 And we said that Jesus wants His disciples 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:28.759 to live this kind of life as well. 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.480 And so I want to look 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.680 a little bit deeper at that. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:33.119 Mark 1.35 says that 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:34.339 very early in the morning, 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:36.299 while it was still dark, 00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:37.519 Jesus left the house 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:40.379 and He went off to a solitary place 00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:41.279 where He prayed. 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.740 And what that's showing us 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:45.980 is that behind all the visible activity 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:47.859 of Jesus that we see in the Gospels, 00:22:47.959 --> 00:22:49.720 He had this hidden life 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:53.279 that was totally dependent on His Father. 00:22:54.459 --> 00:22:56.259 Jesus, before this verse, 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.579 He's just had a very intense 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:59.099 and demanding day. 00:23:00.179 --> 00:23:01.919 And in Mark 1.15, 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:04.300 we're told that He begins to tell people 00:23:04.300 --> 00:23:05.500 about the good news 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.660 about the kingdom of God. 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:08.840 And then He goes and starts showing people 00:23:08.840 --> 00:23:10.200 what that good news is all about, 00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.200 healing their diseases 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.840 and driving out demons. 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.060 And at the end of that day, 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:16.660 Jesus, I'm thinking He's pretty tired, 00:23:17.560 --> 00:23:19.940 and He knew that He had a need 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:22.200 for some fresh, God-given sense 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.940 of direction and inner strength. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.920 And so He continued 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:28.980 this intentional rhythm of life 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:31.259 where He nurtured His intimate connection 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.900 with the Father. 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:33.380 And so He went home that night 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:35.680 and He slept really, really hard. 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:39.980 And then He rose early that next morning 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.920 while it was still dark 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:43.019 and He sought out this deserted place 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:44.579 so that He could have quality time 00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.599 with His Father. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.400 And what He would do 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:49.079 is He would go up on the hillsides 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:50.279 there above Capernaum, 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:51.839 which was His home base 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.759 on the Sea of Galilee, 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:54.980 and there He would watch the sun 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:57.099 just rise up on the waters of the sea, 00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.839 this beautiful first light 00:23:58.839 --> 00:24:00.619 just shining and reflecting off. 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:02.659 And you can just imagine Jesus there 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:05.240 each morning spending time 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:07.919 being renewed in His covenant identity 00:24:07.919 --> 00:24:08.579 with the Father, 00:24:08.679 --> 00:24:11.740 just letting the light of the Father's love 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:14.299 rise and shine on Him. 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:18.500 And He would just soak in those scriptures 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:21.079 of Deuteronomy and Psalms and Isaiah 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:22.939 that we hear Him quoting from memory 00:24:22.939 --> 00:24:24.079 over and over and over, 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:27.220 and He would just be there enjoying the Father. 00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:29.879 And then and only then, 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:31.319 Jesus would dare to step out 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:33.099 into His kingdom mission from the Father, 00:24:33.179 --> 00:24:34.519 this daily rhythm He had 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:36.799 of going to do the will of the Father, 00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:39.379 telling people about the kingdom of God 00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:41.960 and showing them what the gracious rule 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.559 and the liberating reign of the Father 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.319 is all about. 00:24:45.939 --> 00:24:48.119 Jesus had time with His Father in the morning, 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.799 but He would also return to His Father 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.480 throughout the day, 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.740 and especially at night, 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:54.120 He would return to His Father. 00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:56.640 And you can see that in Mark chapter 30. 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:01.880 Sorry, Mark chapter 6, verse 45. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:05.039 There are not 30 chapters in the Gospel of Mark, actually. 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.299 It's only 16. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.880 Mark 6, 45, it says, 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:10.660 Immediately Jesus made His disciples 00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.360 get into the boat 00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:13.140 and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida. 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:15.019 While He dismissed the crowd, 00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:15.860 after leaving them, 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:18.599 He went up on a mountainside to pray. 00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:20.719 Now it's evening, 00:25:20.959 --> 00:25:21.899 and the sun is setting, 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:24.000 and He's just multiplied the loaves and fishes, 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:25.439 which we'll talk about next week. 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:28.339 He's had a very long day of teaching 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.439 and of feeding, 00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:32.639 and He doesn't go after this day 00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:34.059 and just numb Himself out 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.359 with some beer and media. 00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:37.740 You know, social media, news media, 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:38.899 Netflix media. 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:42.579 No, what He does is He walks up into the hills, 00:25:42.699 --> 00:25:43.240 and He says, 00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:44.759 Father, hallowed be Your name. 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:48.519 Father, thank You for all that You've done today. 00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:52.240 Father, Your kingdom is breaking through 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.299 into the lives of people 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.920 in a way it never has before. 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:56.859 Father, thank You that Your kingdom 00:25:56.859 --> 00:26:00.539 is erupting into all these multitudes of the crowds. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:03.379 Father, I prayed to You today for daily bread, 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:06.240 and I was totally desperate and dependent upon You 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:08.200 to bring us daily bread, 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:10.000 not just for me, but for the thousands, 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:11.319 and Father, You did it. 00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:11.779 Thank You. 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:15.660 And Father, just continue to deliver me 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.680 from the evil one 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:18.700 and continue to deliver all these people 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:22.059 from the schemes of the evil one in their lives. 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.279 Jesus just went up, 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:25.480 and He would pray like that. 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:27.200 We know He prayed like that, right? 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:29.200 That's how He taught us to pray. 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.779 Jesus' predictable pattern, 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.319 His healthy habit, 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.420 His life-giving rhythm 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:36.660 was morning and evening prayer, 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:39.779 and He modeled this for all of His disciples. 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:42.960 And you may be wondering, 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:44.619 well, how in the world do I do it? 00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:48.119 I want to encourage you to read the Psalms. 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:49.240 That's the prayer book of the Bible. 00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:51.759 It's where Jesus learned the language of prayer 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.899 and the patterns of prayer. 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:56.440 We've given you a guide to sort of help you. 00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:58.259 This is not the way to pray. 00:26:58.379 --> 00:27:00.000 It's just a way to pray 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:02.279 and have some training wheels on your prayer life. 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:05.539 I'm tempted to get deeper 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:07.859 into Jesus' prayer here in Gethsemane, 00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:10.139 but what's amazing is that Jesus, 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:14.000 it says in Mark 14, 32, 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:15.779 He went to this place called Gethsemane, 00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.939 and Jesus said to His disciples, 00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:18.319 sit here while I pray. 00:27:18.979 --> 00:27:21.479 They probably heard Jesus say that a thousand times. 00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:22.659 Sit here while I pray. 00:27:22.919 --> 00:27:23.859 Sit here while I pray. 00:27:24.159 --> 00:27:25.639 You can pray too if you'd like. 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.699 And what did Jesus pray? 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:29.099 He says in verse 36, 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.459 Abba, Father. 00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.659 Abba, Father. 00:27:33.379 --> 00:27:35.579 If you have no other words for prayer than those, 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.839 you can start to pray. 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:41.079 Because the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans chapter 8, 00:27:41.699 --> 00:27:42.019 he says, 00:27:42.199 --> 00:27:45.319 The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship, 00:27:45.399 --> 00:27:46.539 and by Him we cry, 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.899 Abba, Father. 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:50.799 He says in Galatians 4, 6, 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:53.119 God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, 00:27:53.199 --> 00:27:54.559 the Spirit who calls out, 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:56.259 Abba, Father. 00:27:56.259 --> 00:28:01.460 And Jesus just very simply wants to enjoy rest 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:03.879 with our Abba, Father 00:28:03.879 --> 00:28:07.259 by imitating His daily prayers. 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.940 Now, as we close, 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:12.259 how in the world do we come to share 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:14.079 in Jesus' habit of daily prayer? 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:18.819 It's much easier said than done, right? 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:22.640 I mean, we're talking about rewiring neural pathways, 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:25.800 which is way beyond what this sermon can accomplish. 00:28:29.100 --> 00:28:32.400 We're talking about the reformation of cells in your brain. 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:38.700 And I'm concerned that many of us might walk away 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:40.140 just totally unchanged. 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:41.160 Nice sermon, pastor, 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.900 but just like I've got the same old habits 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:44.580 that I had when I came today. 00:28:45.540 --> 00:28:47.780 And so I just want to turn to this little passage 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:50.460 from Mark chapter 4 as we close, 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.420 where Jesus says, 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:55.579 still others like seeds sown among thorns 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.500 hear the word, 00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:57.980 but the worries of this life, 00:28:58.859 --> 00:29:00.039 the deceitfulness of wealth 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:01.319 and the desires for other things 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.500 come in and choke the word, 00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:04.259 making it unfruitful. 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.680 Jesus here, He's talking about 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:08.160 the seed of the word of God, 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:10.240 which is the message of the kingdom of God, 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:12.839 which is the rule and reign of the Father in our lives. 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:15.059 And He says that there are three things 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:17.159 that threaten to choke God's word 00:29:17.159 --> 00:29:19.059 and His will and His work in your life. 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:22.139 Three self-centered concerns 00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:24.279 that take priority over the kingdom of God 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:27.980 and that will rival God for your loyalty 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:31.240 and will make you spiritually unfruitful. 00:29:32.379 --> 00:29:33.220 He says, first of all, 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.460 there are the worries of this life 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.240 or literally in the Greek, 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:36.859 it says the anxieties of the age. 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:40.859 Secondly, He says there's the deceitfulness of wealth, 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:43.139 all those promises of prosperity and pleasure, 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:45.000 all the seductions of success, 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:47.039 and the satisfaction it will bring you. 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:50.679 And thirdly, He talks about the desires for other things 00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:52.419 and I'm sure if Jesus were with us today, 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:54.259 He'd talk about the desires 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.859 for more and more digital dopamine 00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:58.559 or however you're getting your dopamine. 00:30:00.159 --> 00:30:02.279 The worries, the wealth, the wants 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:05.559 that choke out the kingdom of God in your soul. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:08.919 And I bring this up because I'm concerned 00:30:08.919 --> 00:30:10.379 that maybe for some of us, 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:12.119 the soil of our souls 00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:14.639 has become a little bit weed infested. 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:18.179 That maybe some of us have thorns 00:30:18.179 --> 00:30:20.359 that are threatening our spiritual vitality. 00:30:21.679 --> 00:30:22.899 That the kingdom of God 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:24.740 is trying to sprout up in you 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:26.559 and it's trying to grow 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:28.679 but it just can't get enough water, 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:30.419 it can't get enough nutrients 00:30:30.419 --> 00:30:31.700 because it must compete 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:33.740 with many, many distractions. 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:36.500 And it's getting crowded out 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:38.500 by other issues and other concerns 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:40.919 that have taken up the center of your life. 00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:42.120 And Jesus says to us, 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:42.500 He says, 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:44.380 if there's not space for God, 00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:47.480 if you've not created time for God, 00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:50.300 you're not gonna bear any spiritual fruit. 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:54.480 So how do you make daily time to enjoy the Father? 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.519 Jesus would say, 00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:57.039 you gotta clear out the weeds. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:59.340 You gotta root out the thorns. 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:01.759 You gotta say no to many, many good things 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:03.220 that are crowding God out in your life 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.500 if you're gonna say yes to God. 00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:06.420 There's a great book 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:07.700 I'd like to recommend to you today. 00:31:07.820 --> 00:31:08.100 It's called 00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:10.400 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. 00:31:12.560 --> 00:31:15.120 And I imagine there's just some things 00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:17.420 that you're going to ruthlessly need 00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:19.039 to eliminate from your life 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:21.400 if you're going to live the way that Jesus lived. 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:23.960 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. 00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:25.920 But secondly, 00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:27.000 I'd like to encourage you, 00:31:27.060 --> 00:31:28.480 if we can bring that slide back 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:30.000 and you could write something down again 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:31.920 to clarify your intention 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:33.940 for some sort of new habit, 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:36.299 for what you'd like to do 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.600 in terms of daily prayer, 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:41.400 I encourage you to write down 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:43.380 after whatever habit you have, 00:31:45.100 --> 00:31:47.700 whatever kind of prayer you'd like to do 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.660 for whatever duration, 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:49.580 at whatever time, 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:50.480 and whatever location. 00:31:50.820 --> 00:31:51.860 Here's what I said for me. 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.200 I said, 00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:54.840 after I make coffee and go on my walk, 00:31:54.860 --> 00:31:56.500 I will read the Word of God 00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:59.000 and pray for one hour at 6.45 a.m. 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:00.380 in my living room chair. 00:32:01.620 --> 00:32:02.820 And I'd love to encourage you 00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:03.820 to write something down. 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.820 If you haven't yet. 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.840 And as you're writing something down, 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.799 to pick a time 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:09.400 where you have the highest likelihood 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:11.600 of being consistent each day. 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.779 I'm not seeing many of you write, 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.980 so you've already written this down. 00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.480 It's amazing. 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.960 I want to encourage you 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:18.980 to pick a duration 00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:21.600 of at least 15 minutes, 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:23.680 and even better would be like 30 minutes, 00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:26.240 just to give yourself the opportunity. 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.759 I encourage you to pick a location 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.299 where you're going to be 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.860 least distracted and interrupted 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:32.299 and be most comfortable 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.240 yet attentive 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.439 and not falling asleep. 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:37.359 And having written something down, 00:32:37.419 --> 00:32:38.119 I want to encourage you 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:39.019 to go out today 00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:40.279 or some point this week 00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:41.839 and to tell two or three other people 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:43.039 or tell your community group, 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:45.839 this is what I sense God 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:47.659 calling me to do. 00:32:48.659 --> 00:32:49.879 And this is how I need you 00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:50.639 to support me, 00:32:50.719 --> 00:32:52.240 and this is how I need you 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:52.859 to pray for me. 00:32:52.919 --> 00:32:53.839 Now hopefully they have 00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:54.459 a habit of prayer. 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.559 They can actually pray for you. 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:58.740 And then I want to encourage you 00:32:58.740 --> 00:33:00.779 to expect about 66 days 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:05.200 of really significant effort 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:07.759 to establish this new habit 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.480 in your life. 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:11.220 And if you give 66 days 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.379 around Easter time, 00:33:12.919 --> 00:33:15.099 you might have the habit 00:33:15.099 --> 00:33:16.039 that Jesus had 00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:17.480 of enjoying time 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.720 with his Father. 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:24.680 The reason I'm inviting you 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.120 to do this 00:33:25.120 --> 00:33:26.620 is not to lay a burden on you. 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:31.440 It's because Jesus showed us 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.880 that in the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:35.279 prayer is what allows 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.500 God's Spirit to come 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.240 and work in us 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:39.779 so that we surrender 00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:40.880 our will to the Father. 00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:44.519 And so that we can have a space 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.720 where we learn to obey 00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.759 the Father no matter 00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.480 what it costs, 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:49.360 no matter how much it hurts. 00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:52.940 And I just want to ask us today, 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.940 aren't we glad 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:56.279 that Jesus persisted 00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:57.740 and prevailed in his praying? 00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.579 Even if you're like me 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:00.720 and you kind of stink in praying. 00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:03.599 Your prayers feel feeble. 00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.700 Your prayers feel weak. 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.819 They feel inconsistent. 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:10.840 Jesus prayed 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:13.360 and he prayed himself 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:14.579 all the way to the cross 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:16.840 as a sacrifice for our sins. 00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:17.140 He said, 00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:17.500 Father, 00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:19.059 if it's possible, 00:34:19.200 --> 00:34:20.440 let this cup pass from me. 00:34:21.740 --> 00:34:22.840 But not my will. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.000 Your will be done. 00:34:26.680 --> 00:34:27.380 His praying 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.740 accomplished the salvation 00:34:28.740 --> 00:34:29.340 of the world. 00:34:30.680 --> 00:34:31.700 And I want to invite you today 00:34:31.700 --> 00:34:33.079 just to rest yourself 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:35.019 in the prayers of Jesus. 00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.360 In the name of the Father, 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:37.640 Son, 00:34:37.680 --> 00:34:38.340 and Holy Spirit. 00:34:39.220 --> 00:34:39.539 Amen. 00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:39.660 Amen. 00:34:39.660 --> 00:34:39.700 Amen. 00:34:39.700 --> 00:34:39.720 Amen. 00:34:39.720 --> 00:34:39.740 Amen. 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:39.760 Amen. 00:34:39.760 --> 00:34:39.780 Amen. 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:39.800 Amen. 00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:39.820 Amen. 00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:39.840 Amen. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:39.900 Amen. 00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:39.920 Amen. 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:39.940 Amen. 00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:39.960 Amen. 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:40.000 Amen. 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.019 Amen. 00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:41.860 Amen. 00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:41.880 Amen. 00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:41.940 Amen.