Good evening, I hope everyone is having a great week so far. We are excited that we will be opening our church doors Sunday morning. Services will begin at 10:45am. We will not have Sunday School this Sunday. We will also plan to host Sunday evening service at 5pm. We want to remind everyone to be respectful of others space. We encourage families to sit with each other and ensure that you are practicing social distance with everyone. Thanks for your help with this.
I apologize, but I wasn’t able to upload my sermon video today. I will post my sermon notes instead:
There are two ways we learn from the Bible. The first is how you would react in life, through instructions. For example, we’re told, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” Ephesians 4:32. This verse teaches us that 1) anger isn’t automatically sin, 2) it’s something we have to be careful about, 3) we’re not supposed to stay angry at people. The Bible is filled with teachings like this to help us in our Christian lives.
A second way we learn from the Bible is by examples, both good and bad. The Bible is full of stories that tell us about how people succeeded and failed in various circumstances. As we read them we learn lessons that help us through life. I want to talk today about a lesson on solitude.
We have all experienced more solitude in the past eight weeks than maybe we wanted to, but if we are honest with ourselves we can honestly see the benefits of it. Many of us desired to have more solitude but didn’t know how to achieve it. We have learned that solitude is beneficial.
The best way to learn about the value of solitude is from Jesus’ life. We’re fortunate that the Bible records a number of times when Jesus separated himself from people. In looking through these we can see there were 6 different reasons why Jesus spent time alone.
6 Reasons Jesus Chose to Make Solitude a Priority
- To Prepare for a Major Task
“Then Jesus returned from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry.”
- To prepare for a major taskLuke 4:1-2 After Jesus was baptized He spent 40 days praying in the wilderness. After this He was tempted by Satan and then began His public ministry.
- To Recharge After Hard Work
“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place,”
- To recharge after hard workMark 6:30-32. Jesus sent the 12 disciples out to do ministry. When they returned He encouraged them to separate from the people who were following them to rest.
III. To Work Through Grief
“So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. Then his disciples came, removed the corpse, buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.” When Jesus heard about it, He withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. “
- To work through griefMatthew 14:1-13. After Jesus learned that his cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded, He went away by Himself. Yes, even the Son of God grieves.
- Before Making an Important Decision
“ During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them—He also named them apostles”
- Before making an important decisionLuke 6:12-13. Early in His ministry Jesus spent the whole night alone in prayer. The next day He chose his 12 disciples.
- In Times of Distress
“He went out and made His way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. When He reached the place, He told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me—nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.”
“Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
- In a time of distressLuke 22:39-44. Hours before Jesus was arrested He went to the Mt. of Olives and went a short distance away from His disciples to pray. He was in great emotional agony knowing what he was about to face.
- To Focus on Prayer
“Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.”
- To focus on prayerLuke 5:16. Many times in Jesus’ ministry He spent time alone in prayer.
Close
As we continue to regather, and our country begins to reopen, I challenge you to make the effort to find time to slow down. We saw that it was very important to Jesus to withdraw when it was needed. Pray that God will show you the right balance in your life. May God bless you!