WEBVTT 00:00:00.500 --> 00:00:05.080 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:05.139 --> 00:00:08.199 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:08.519 --> 00:00:11.179 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:15.839 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:19.300 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:24.280 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good, 00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:27.760 they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad, they can't have it, 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:33.780 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. 00:00:34.340 --> 00:00:36.740 We're continuing our series in the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:42.579 You'll remember the Gospels tell the story of Jesus in His life and His death and His resurrection, 00:00:42.760 --> 00:00:47.219 and we're turning this morning in Mark 1, verses 35 through 39. 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:50.980 We're going to be looking at Jesus in His life of prayer. 00:00:51.120 --> 00:00:54.359 And so I invite you to turn there with me now. 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:56.200 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:58.100 You can turn on your phone. 00:00:58.340 --> 00:00:59.660 You can turn in your Bible. 00:01:00.100 --> 00:01:03.060 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:07.740 God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold, 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:12.620 and that it is sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:01:12.960 --> 00:01:17.520 And so that's why we read now together Mark 1, starting at verse 35. 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:25.799 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, 00:01:26.199 --> 00:01:27.219 and there he prayed. 00:01:28.219 --> 00:01:33.039 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:35.420 everyone is looking for you. 00:01:36.020 --> 00:01:42.980 And he said to them, let us go on to the next town so that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out. 00:01:43.660 --> 00:01:48.740 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. 00:01:48.739 --> 00:01:53.319 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:01:54.060 --> 00:02:01.199 Our Father in Heaven, we thank You that You do speak to us, and we simply ask that You would do that this morning. 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:06.519 We confess that we are simple people and often hard of hearing. 00:02:06.859 --> 00:02:13.079 And so we ask that You would soften our hearts and speak clearly to us that we would love You and that we would serve You, 00:02:13.079 --> 00:02:18.560 not because we hope to earn anything, but because of what You have already done for us through Your Son. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:22.620 And it's in His name that we pray, the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:02:24.699 --> 00:02:31.319 If you remember from previously in the Gospel of Mark, you know that Jesus has had this exceptionally long day. 00:02:31.699 --> 00:02:34.500 We could go back all the way when He arrived in Capernaum. 00:02:34.920 --> 00:02:39.039 On Saturday morning, He was preaching in the synagogue, and then while He was preaching, 00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:41.780 He had this man interrupt Him who was yelling. 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:47.980 This man had an evil spirit, so Jesus had to perform this exorcism in the middle of the sermon. 00:02:47.979 --> 00:02:51.219 Then Jesus leaves the synagogue. He goes home. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:55.039 Surprise, surprise, when He shows up at the house of Simon and Andrew. 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:59.699 Simon's mother-in-law is sick near death, so He has to raise her from the dead. 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:04.099 Now, we don't know at that point whether Jesus took a nap in the afternoon, 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:07.939 but what we do know is that that night, once it was sunset, 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:12.179 their whole house, we're told, was surrounded by people coming for healing. 00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:14.620 And so Jesus has been working. 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:17.740 He apparently got up early, probably, to prepare to preach, 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:21.480 and then He's up late at night healing people and casting out demons. 00:03:21.980 --> 00:03:23.360 And so the point is this. 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:27.840 As we look at this passage, Jesus' Saturday was epic. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:34.460 Jesus had a super long Saturday, and anyone deserves a lazy Sunday. 00:03:34.460 --> 00:03:39.240 It is Jesus, and it's with that that we come to verse 35. 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:43.100 It is what makes verse 35 so shocking and unexpected. 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:46.280 Jesus has had this incredibly long day of ministry 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:49.280 where He's been preaching, casting out demons and healing. 00:03:49.760 --> 00:03:50.819 And then we see this. 00:03:50.980 --> 00:03:54.800 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, 00:03:54.900 --> 00:04:00.040 He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. 00:04:00.039 --> 00:04:06.199 And so we expect Jesus to sleep in, and He, in fact, does the opposite. 00:04:06.359 --> 00:04:08.259 He goes out somewhere very early, 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:11.319 probably skipping some of the rest that He needs to pray. 00:04:11.579 --> 00:04:15.319 Now, there's a lot of different directions we could take this. 00:04:16.159 --> 00:04:18.139 We could go really legalistic with it. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:19.939 And I could tell you, you know what? 00:04:20.019 --> 00:04:22.240 If you want to be a faithful Christian, 00:04:22.579 --> 00:04:25.459 you need to be getting up at 4.30 a.m. to pray. 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:28.480 Jesus got up early before it was dark. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:30.560 You need to get up early before it's dark, too. 00:04:31.420 --> 00:04:32.340 Oh, you're not doing that? 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:34.140 You're failing as a Christian. 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:36.960 Some of the morning people might be thinking, 00:04:37.100 --> 00:04:40.520 yes, we knew that Jesus was an early bird. 00:04:41.060 --> 00:04:42.160 He's like us. 00:04:43.100 --> 00:04:44.480 We need to be like Jesus. 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:46.819 Now, if you say that, that's okay. 00:04:47.140 --> 00:04:49.000 You just need to be consistent, okay? 00:04:49.200 --> 00:04:52.280 So if we're going to follow Jesus in His model of getting up early in the morning, 00:04:52.340 --> 00:04:54.860 I just hope that you're also following Jesus in His model 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:58.280 of staying up late with tax collectors and sinners, okay? 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.560 We just need to be consistent. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:05.720 Maybe if you're a night owl, you're feeling some shame and embarrassment, right? 00:05:05.780 --> 00:05:07.540 Jesus is able to get up early in the morning. 00:05:07.640 --> 00:05:08.319 Why can't you? 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.439 So we could be really legalistic about it. 00:05:11.520 --> 00:05:14.300 Another direction I could take this is I could just shame you all. 00:05:14.340 --> 00:05:15.020 That'd be really fun. 00:05:15.019 --> 00:05:23.659 I could say, when was the last time that you went to a desolate place to pray? 00:05:24.859 --> 00:05:25.959 Oh, you can't remember? 00:05:26.859 --> 00:05:30.120 It's time to man up, get to work, okay? 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:33.419 Everyone could say, yes, we're going to try so much harder. 00:05:33.420 --> 00:05:40.560 Legalism and shame here miss the point that Mark is teaching us in this passage. 00:05:40.660 --> 00:05:42.040 And the point is simply this. 00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:44.939 Jesus made prayer a priority. 00:05:45.780 --> 00:05:49.980 Jesus made prayer a priority because, and as we follow Him, 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:52.180 we make prayer a priority as well. 00:05:52.520 --> 00:05:53.639 We're going to see two points this morning, 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:57.000 the priority in prayer and the peace of prayer. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:59.540 First of all, the priority of prayer. 00:05:59.660 --> 00:06:03.379 Here, Jesus is showing us the opposite of shame and legalism. 00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:05.519 Jesus knew He had to stop. 00:06:06.339 --> 00:06:08.480 Prayer is not a performance here for Jesus. 00:06:08.620 --> 00:06:10.540 In fact, He is stopping performing. 00:06:11.339 --> 00:06:13.180 He is crying out to God for help. 00:06:13.220 --> 00:06:14.980 It would have been easy, perhaps tempting, 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:18.459 for Jesus to just continue doing ministry, right? 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:21.379 It would have been easy for Him to just keep continuing healing 00:06:21.379 --> 00:06:24.600 and doing exactly what people wanted of Him. 00:06:24.660 --> 00:06:26.500 But as we see here, He disappoints them, right? 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:28.639 Jesus does not meet people's expectations. 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:31.100 He decides to take a break. 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:34.579 He here is doing the opposite of performing. 00:06:34.699 --> 00:06:36.939 He's crying out to God for help. 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:38.920 Jesus is our model, right? 00:06:38.939 --> 00:06:41.800 We talked last week about the fact that the Gospels show us models. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.180 Jesus needed prayer. 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:47.079 How much more do we need prayer? 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:49.740 Jesus made prayer a priority. 00:06:50.540 --> 00:06:53.939 How much more do we make prayer a priority? 00:06:53.939 --> 00:06:57.060 Of course, it's going to look different for different people, right? 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:00.899 Not everyone is going to be in the position of getting up early in the morning 00:07:00.899 --> 00:07:04.500 before it's light and going to a desolate place. 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:07.360 Jesus had the advantage of being single. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:10.800 And Jesus, surprisingly enough, did not have any kids at home. 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:14.399 And so, you know, different things look different for different people. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:18.139 There's a lot of great and beautiful and wonderful things that come with being single. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:22.300 There's a lot of great and beautiful and wonderful things that come with being married. 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:28.420 You may be familiar with the story of Susanna Wesley, who lived in the 17th and 18th centuries in England. 00:07:28.579 --> 00:07:31.319 And she was the mother of the preachers John and Charles Wesley. 00:07:31.900 --> 00:07:33.100 Susanna had many challenges. 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:37.520 She raised 10 children, several of whom were extremely challenging. 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:41.680 Her husband was a liability to her, not an asset. 00:07:42.280 --> 00:07:43.360 He was terrible with money. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:46.139 He would abandon the family from time to time. 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:51.560 He was a pastor, and his congregation hated him so much that they burned his house down a couple times. 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:57.280 So Susanna had a lot of challenges in front of her, and so she established this practice. 00:07:57.379 --> 00:08:00.600 Obviously, she couldn't get up early in the morning and go to a desolate place, 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:04.480 and so she told her children that if she put her apron over her head, 00:08:04.580 --> 00:08:07.720 that was the sign for them to leave her alone because she was praying. 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:12.199 And so from time to time, Susanna Wesley would take her apron, 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:14.639 she'd whip it over her head, create a little tent, 00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:17.879 and her children knew that unless there was a dire emergency, 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:21.040 they shouldn't do anything to bother her, right? 00:08:22.060 --> 00:08:26.899 And so in the midst of business, in the midst of life, she makes prayer a priority. 00:08:27.100 --> 00:08:29.219 So that's the first thing we see here. 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:32.419 We make prayer a priority as well. 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:36.039 Now this passage, as I mentioned, isn't here to shame us. 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:39.220 Instead, it simply shows us our need. 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:42.519 Part of how we read the Gospels is we look for models, 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:47.040 and conveniently enough, the disciples here are a negative model for us. 00:08:47.660 --> 00:08:52.560 The disciples show us what happens when we don't pray. 00:08:52.660 --> 00:08:54.980 They show us why we need prayer. 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:58.879 Look with me now at verses 36 and 37. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:00.879 It tells us we're with him, search for Jesus. 00:09:01.300 --> 00:09:05.040 We can assume this is probably Simon and Andrew and James and John. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:09.879 So these four brothers, two sets of brothers, are frantically looking for Jesus. 00:09:10.019 --> 00:09:13.299 And there's sort of this frantic energy that they have in this passage. 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:16.399 You can tell there's also a disappointment they have in Jesus. 00:09:16.579 --> 00:09:20.019 Verse 37, everyone is looking for you. 00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:22.139 And so they're ruled by something. 00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:25.019 Maybe they're ruled here by fear and anxiety. 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:27.719 What's going to happen if we can't find Jesus? 00:09:27.819 --> 00:09:29.259 There's all these needs around us. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:31.879 Maybe they're ruled by pride and ambition. 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:35.460 There's something exciting about the fact that they're the ones who are close to Jesus. 00:09:35.820 --> 00:09:37.519 Jesus is doing these amazing things. 00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:41.000 Probably there's even more people waiting at the door on Sunday morning, right? 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:46.019 They're there to get a taste of the healing and experience of Jesus' power. 00:09:46.419 --> 00:09:48.879 Wouldn't it be great if the disciples could be a part of that? 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:50.820 The high could continue. 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:55.799 Except that Jesus has disappeared. 00:09:57.580 --> 00:09:59.039 And so they're searching here. 00:09:59.139 --> 00:09:59.860 They're frustrated. 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:03.879 They're ruled by the needs and the circumstances of the moment. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:09.919 They are not, like Jesus, tethered and connected with God and his greater plan. 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:15.139 And so they're in the wind, being blown in whatever direction it goes. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:23.700 Brothers and sisters, do you want to be ruled by fear and anxiety and ego? 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:28.480 If you do, make sure you never pray. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:33.280 Do you want to be ruled by fear and anxiety? 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:35.540 Do you want to be ruled by the needs of the moment? 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:40.140 Make sure you never, ever pray. 00:10:41.180 --> 00:10:43.500 Jesus here has the peace of God. 00:10:44.280 --> 00:10:46.420 His disciples do not. 00:10:46.419 --> 00:10:49.839 Jesus here is filled with the peace of God. 00:10:50.339 --> 00:10:51.479 His disciples are not. 00:10:51.579 --> 00:10:55.039 Jesus doesn't change his pace based on anxiety. 00:10:56.699 --> 00:10:58.679 There's plenty of people who need Jesus. 00:10:58.860 --> 00:11:01.899 There's plenty of people who are clinging for him and grasping for him. 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:05.000 Jesus doesn't adjust his schedule based on that. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:07.019 He doesn't let that rule him. 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:13.639 Jesus' pace and his focus are not determined solely by the circumstances around him. 00:11:13.699 --> 00:11:14.019 Why? 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:18.079 Because Jesus knows his identity. 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:21.779 Remember, earlier in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.879 God comes, God the Father says, 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:28.159 This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:31.659 Jesus is securely attached to his Father. 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:35.480 There's a calm and a peace that Jesus has here. 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:39.139 Jesus has the ability to step away from things. 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:44.220 Jesus has the ability not to blow in the wind of whatever's going on at that moment. 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:46.159 Jesus knows who he is. 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:49.480 Jesus knows where he belongs. 00:11:51.340 --> 00:11:53.420 Jesus knows who he belongs to. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.940 He belongs to his Father in heaven. 00:11:57.399 --> 00:11:59.320 Jesus knows why he's on the earth. 00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:03.720 Jesus knows exactly what he's supposed to be doing. 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:07.680 Jesus knows exactly what he's not supposed to be doing. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:10.139 When there's a drought, 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:14.980 Jesus has this deep reservoir that he can draw on. 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:21.160 This reservoir that's deep, deep below present anxieties, present circumstances. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:27.060 Jesus has access to a different water table. 00:12:27.059 --> 00:12:31.619 Jesus actually has the peace of God. 00:12:33.219 --> 00:12:35.059 Jesus always responds. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.019 He never reacts. 00:12:38.339 --> 00:12:39.819 Jesus always responds. 00:12:40.479 --> 00:12:41.599 He never reacts. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.139 He never reacts. 00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:46.680 You might think of life sort of like a kite, right? 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:48.820 It's blown around by the wind. 00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:52.220 Whatever direction the wind goes in, that's the direction the kite goes in. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:56.040 If you just let a kite go off by itself, it's going to just float off, right? 00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:57.659 It's going to escape you if it's a windy day. 00:12:58.420 --> 00:12:59.200 Unless what? 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:02.800 Unless the kite is tethered to something. 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:05.060 Unless it's tied to something. 00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:07.759 Jesus is tied. 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:08.739 He's tethered. 00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:12.179 He's connected to his father in prayer. 00:13:13.619 --> 00:13:16.939 And so the winds that blow are not going to carry him away. 00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:19.500 Jesus is able to stand calm. 00:13:19.619 --> 00:13:21.179 He's able to stand firm. 00:13:21.339 --> 00:13:23.219 Not so for the disciples. 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:25.159 Jesus always responds. 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:27.039 He never reacts. 00:13:28.219 --> 00:13:31.839 We're told about this in Matthew chapter 6. 00:13:31.839 --> 00:13:34.939 Jesus is talking to his disciples and he asks them this question. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:39.399 Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:41.979 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:45.179 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. 00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:47.559 They neither toil nor spin. 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:52.339 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 00:13:53.319 --> 00:13:58.759 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:02.419 will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:05.000 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 00:14:05.099 --> 00:14:08.099 What shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:11.219 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, 00:14:11.459 --> 00:14:14.199 and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 00:14:14.699 --> 00:14:17.719 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, 00:14:18.219 --> 00:14:21.199 and all these things will be added to you. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:24.900 Jesus tethers his people. 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:27.100 Prayer connects us to him. 00:14:27.160 --> 00:14:31.240 There's a rhythm, there's a steadiness to the lilies of the field, right? 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.140 They work with the seasons. 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:37.680 Lilies aren't sitting out anxious about whether they're going to have the right colors. 00:14:39.280 --> 00:14:41.740 Brothers and sisters, the same is true for us. 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:46.899 God wants his children to come to him in prayer, being reminded of what's true, 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:50.039 taking trust and hope and confidence in him, 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:55.060 so that no matter what happens in this world, we are firm and steady. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:15:00.240 We have trust and dependence on our Father God. 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:03.240 The psalmist in Psalm 56 says, 00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:05.159 When I am afraid, I trust in you. 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:09.059 And the psalmist is saying that in prayer to God. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:09.939 Psalm 112, 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.519 For the righteous will never be moved. 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:14.240 He will be remembered forever. 00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:16.839 He is not afraid of bad news. 00:15:16.959 --> 00:15:20.339 His heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. 00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:26.899 Jesus is rooted and grounded in his identity through prayer to his Father. 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:32.360 We can be rooted and grounded as well in our identity through prayer to our Father God. 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:36.879 Prayer reminds us that we're not in control. 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:39.879 Prayer reorients us to reality. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:41.720 Prayer reminds us of who we are. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:46.500 Prayer gives us peace because, and as it reminds us of all of those things, 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:49.560 God is the one who is in charge and takes care of us. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:54.019 And so Philippians chapter 4 is true of us, right? 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:56.200 That the opposite of anxiety is prayer. 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:58.879 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.240 by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, 00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:03.740 let your requests be made known to God. 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:07.919 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:12.220 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:17.159 And so we have not just the priority of prayer, 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.220 but we understand our reason for prayer. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:22.379 We have the peace of prayer. 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:25.639 Jesus has peace here that his disciples do not. 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:31.899 We can have that peace as well as we follow after Jesus, 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:35.379 staying connected and tethered to our Father God. 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:42.740 Now, I told you that we were going to have three points, 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:46.279 priority or two points, priority of prayer, peace of prayer, 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:48.039 and I notice we have some time. 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.759 So we're going to do the direction of prayer as well. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:54.179 Okay, 3035 verses 38 and 39. 00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:55.980 What's Jesus' response to them? 00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:58.200 They come with this anxiety to him. 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:00.919 They know all these people want healing. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.620 What does Jesus tell them? 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:07.200 Let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there, 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.420 for that is why I came out. 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:11.640 And he went throughout all Galilee, 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:13.980 preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:17.299 Jesus has clarity about his mission. 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:20.779 Jesus knows why he's supposed to be there. 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:23.680 Jesus doesn't get caught up in sideways motion. 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:27.960 Jesus is moving forward with what his Father has given him to do. 00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:28.419 Why? 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:32.839 Jesus reorients himself in prayer. 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:37.319 It is not a coincidence that Jesus returns from ministry 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:40.759 to prayer and his Father and is then able to go out again 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:43.299 with clarity about what it is that he's supposed to be doing. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:46.419 His prayer is not an end in and of itself. 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:50.620 Jesus does not lock himself away in prayer for days and weeks. 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.840 He knows that it is supposed to be something 00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:55.980 that's supposed to fill him up to send him out, right? 00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:02.180 When I go to the gas station and I fill up my car, 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:07.360 I don't do it because I'm a legalist or I'm very disciplined. 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:11.000 I do it because I want to be able to keep going. 00:18:12.719 --> 00:18:15.279 I do it because once upon a time, many years ago, 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:17.099 back in I think it was 2012, 00:18:17.639 --> 00:18:21.139 I drove down to South Carolina to celebrate Easter with a friend 00:18:21.139 --> 00:18:23.859 and I stopped looking at my gas gauge 00:18:23.859 --> 00:18:27.099 and I ran out of gas and had to go off to the side of the road. 00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:29.959 And the state trooper had to come pick me up, 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.500 take me to a gas station. 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.099 They loaned me a tank. 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:36.019 I filled it up, had to take it back to my car to fill it up, 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.859 and then I had to drive back to the gas station 00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.799 to give them the tank back. 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:40.659 And the trooper was very kind, 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:43.339 except he gave me a talking to about giving the tank back 00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:45.000 because he said, I know these people at the gas station, 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:46.279 so if you don't give them the tank back, 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:46.959 I'm going to get in trouble. 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:49.879 So fear not, I gave them the tank back. 00:18:50.959 --> 00:18:52.059 Why did I fill up? 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:55.419 Because I had to keep going down to South Carolina, right? 00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:57.159 I didn't fill up my gas tank 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:59.539 and then park in the parking lot of the gas station, 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.419 turn on my radio and take a nap. 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:04.720 Prayer here serves a purpose. 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:07.920 It reorients us and sends us back out on God's mission. 00:19:08.080 --> 00:19:09.900 Jesus has tremendous clarity 00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:11.300 about what he's supposed to be doing. 00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:14.440 He returns to his Father to be reconnected 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.800 in his identity and his mission, 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:18.400 receiving the help and the empowerment that he needs. 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:20.880 Remember, he's coming with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.460 and so it's the entire Trinity 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:24.140 that's at work in Jesus' ministry. 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:28.039 As he prays, he's prepared and ready to go back out again. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:31.599 Brothers and sisters, the same is true for us. 00:19:32.639 --> 00:19:34.720 If we have any hope in this world 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:37.579 of accomplishing what God has given for us in his mission, 00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:41.079 we must return to him in prayer. 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:44.200 Jesus needed prayer for his mission. 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:46.960 How much more do we need it? 00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:52.480 And getting back to Jesus' peace, 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:56.059 we see Jesus had a greater purpose here 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:57.759 than simply healing people. 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.960 It's been noted by many 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.559 that Jesus could have stayed in Capernaum 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.900 for a long time, right? 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.819 He could have kept healing. 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.200 And yet Jesus goes out 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:10.900 because he knows he has a task to accomplish. 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:13.799 Tells us in verse 38 what that is. 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:15.240 That is why I came, 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.819 referring to going to the next towns, 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:20.099 that I may preach there also. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.819 And so Jesus prays. 00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:24.439 He makes it a priority, 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.759 not just to give him the peace of the Father, 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:28.460 but also give him the power of the Father 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.439 for his mission 00:20:29.439 --> 00:20:32.079 that he's come to the earth to fulfill. 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:35.679 And so we see him, verse 39, 00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:38.099 doing the same thing that he's been doing all along. 00:20:39.179 --> 00:20:40.200 He came to Capernaum. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:42.099 He's healing and casting out. 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.939 He goes out to the surrounding cities. 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:47.080 He heals and he casts out. 00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:49.340 Jesus is our model for us. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.140 He prays. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.559 We follow him in prayer. 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.700 We follow him in prayer, 00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:54.640 not out of legalism. 00:20:55.080 --> 00:20:56.120 And we follow him in prayer, 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:56.920 not out of shame. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:59.200 We follow him in prayer 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:01.039 because we know that is the way 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:02.759 that our Father God comes. 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.799 And as we live in this life, 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:06.740 he fills up our tank. 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:11.900 He comes and gives us everything that we need 00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:14.480 so that we can keep going. 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:18.340 In his book on prayer, 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:19.559 called Prayer, 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:23.000 Pastor Tim Keller tells the story 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:25.080 of he and his wife Kathy 00:21:25.080 --> 00:21:26.000 as they went through 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:28.840 an incredibly difficult time in their life. 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.740 Kathy was struggling with Crohn's disease 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:33.559 and Tim had thyroid cancer. 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:37.519 And they had reached a new level of conflict 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:38.860 and struggle in their lives, 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:40.680 feeling the opposition 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:42.340 and the challenge around them. 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:45.539 And so Kathy finally came to Tim 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:48.000 and posed a thought experiment to him. 00:21:48.179 --> 00:21:49.199 And this was a thought experiment 00:21:49.199 --> 00:21:51.939 to explain how important it was 00:21:51.939 --> 00:21:53.899 that they as a couple pray together, 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:56.079 not just from time to time, 00:21:56.159 --> 00:21:56.819 but every day. 00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:58.379 And so she said this to Tim. 00:21:58.380 --> 00:22:00.900 Imagine you were diagnosed 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:02.760 with such a lethal condition 00:22:02.760 --> 00:22:04.220 that the doctor told you 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.900 that you would die within hours 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:08.480 unless you took a particular medicine, 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:12.360 a pill every night before going to sleep. 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:15.300 Imagine that you were told 00:22:15.300 --> 00:22:16.580 that you could never miss it 00:22:16.580 --> 00:22:17.420 or you would die. 00:22:18.600 --> 00:22:19.560 Would you forget? 00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:22.700 Would you not get around to it some nights? 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:25.660 No, it would be so crucial 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.799 that you wouldn't forget. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.240 You would never miss. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:31.920 Well, if we don't pray together to God, 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.700 we're not going to make it 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.880 because of all we're facing. 00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:36.799 I'm certainly not. 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.960 We have to pray. 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:43.660 We can't let it just slip our minds. 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:46.799 If we don't pray together to God, 00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:48.720 we're not going to make it 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.080 because of all that we're facing. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:53.500 Kathy wasn't longing for more prayer 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.259 with her husband 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:56.259 because she wanted to pat herself on the back 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.799 for being a good and disciplined Christian. 00:22:58.399 --> 00:22:59.819 And she wasn't longing for prayer 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.539 with her husband 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:02.359 because she was feeling embarrassed 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.439 about their lack of prayer. 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.059 Kathy was longing for more prayer 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:08.359 because she knew it was the only way 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:10.259 their tank was going to be filled 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.139 for the journey 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:14.339 that she and Tim had together moving forward. 00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:15.399 Brothers and sisters, 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:17.740 the same is true for us. 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:20.319 Tim goes on to say 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.400 that that was the point 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.539 at which the other shoe 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.759 finally dropped for him. 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.319 And since that time, 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:27.380 he and Kathy never missed 00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:28.900 an evening of prayer together, 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:31.519 even if it was only for a few minutes 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.759 over the phone. 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.380 They knew 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:38.579 the importance of the peace of prayer 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:41.079 and they desperately needed 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:43.000 the direction of prayer. 00:23:45.879 --> 00:23:47.740 Now, if you're a close reader of Scripture, 00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:48.659 you might be thinking, 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.779 Matthew, that sounds great 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:51.500 that Jesus had all this peace, 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:53.419 but what about the time 00:23:53.419 --> 00:23:54.599 that he didn't have peace? 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.079 What about the time 00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:58.659 that Jesus was praying 00:23:58.659 --> 00:24:00.720 and while he was praying, 00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:02.379 he was sweating drops of blood, 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.879 as Luke tells us in his gospel? 00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:07.519 Well, yes, that's true. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.019 Why? 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:12.799 Jesus was sweating drops of blood 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.379 there and only there. 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:17.099 We see Jesus there and only there 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.039 because it is then 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:20.359 that he is facing separation 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:21.500 from his Father. 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.599 If his peace comes 00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.740 from being connected 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.519 and tethered to God, 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.119 imagine what it's like 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:30.519 knowing that connection 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:32.400 is going to be cut. 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:35.460 We see Jesus' pain and agony 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.880 in being separated 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:37.720 from his Father. 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:41.039 And Jesus runs to him 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.720 in prayer. 00:24:41.840 --> 00:24:43.779 If Jesus runs then, 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:46.579 how much more should we? 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.640 Brothers and sisters, 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:51.160 Jesus gave up his access 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:53.620 to the Father on the cross 00:24:53.620 --> 00:24:55.519 so that you and I 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:57.819 could have access to him now 00:24:57.819 --> 00:25:00.980 forever and whenever we need it. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:04.420 Jesus died and was separated 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.620 from his Father God 00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:08.700 so that you could be connected to him. 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:11.480 And so that is the reason 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.779 and the only reason 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:14.839 that we run to him in prayer. 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.759 That's why we make prayer a priority. 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:19.000 That's why it's the place 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:20.480 that we experience peace. 00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.779 And that's why it's the place 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.920 that gives us our direction 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:25.120 and our focus and our purpose. 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:27.120 Jesus sacrificed communion 00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:27.900 with his Father. 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:30.400 He gave up his secure connection 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:32.440 so that we could have it. 00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:34.620 And so, brothers and sisters, 00:25:34.840 --> 00:25:35.940 we pray to him 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:37.300 and we worship him 00:25:37.300 --> 00:25:38.960 so that we can have the peace 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.440 that Paul talks about 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.380 in Philippians 4, 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.780 the peace that passes 00:25:42.780 --> 00:25:44.700 all understanding. 00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.280 Please pray with me. 00:25:48.060 --> 00:25:49.120 Our Father in heaven, 00:25:49.280 --> 00:25:50.480 we thank you now 00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.380 that we can pray to you 00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:52.780 and we ask that we wouldn't 00:25:52.780 --> 00:25:54.040 take it for granted. 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.240 But instead, 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:56.720 you would stir up in our hearts 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:58.279 a longing and a desire 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.279 to be more and more 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.220 connected to you, 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.079 that you would use 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:03.319 our prayers in a powerful way 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:05.900 to give us your peace, 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.779 the peace that passes 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.539 all understanding, 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:08.900 and to give us your direction 00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.860 and your power 00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:10.980 for the mission 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.819 that you've called us to. 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.220 We thank you 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.420 that it's not our mission, 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.579 but it's something 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:17.259 that we simply follow Jesus in. 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.799 And so we pray these things 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.680 in his mighty name. 00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:20.380 Amen. 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.960 I invite you to stand 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.860 for our closing hymn.