Early in the Morning
Scripture Reading: Mark 1:35
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and
departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Normally, the reading is much longer than it is today, but after much thought I felt
like this was more than enough. In this one sentence I believe is much of what the
'church' needs to get prepared in these 'end times'. Most people would read this
sentence and just go right to the next missing its great importance. Assuming it's
just a forethought leading into the next action. So, let's disect this simple statement.
Firstly, it's in the morning and, according to the next two verses, everyone is looking
for Him. Many times the mornings are a very hectic time. I can definitely attest to
that. From the minute the alarm goes off it's like rush, rush, rush. And it's not just
me. It's the same for Jeff and Kristen and Cameron I'm sure. Our lives have
become so hectic that little kids are actually becoming stressed out. Getting
sicknesses that used to be just for older people. It seems that those around Jesus
were attempting (not purposefully) to start His day off hecticly.
The next statement says that He had risen a long time before daylight. Jesus, as we
should, knew that the world was going to throw stress at Him so He got up early to
prepare Himself. We've spoken many times about being Christian soldiers. Not
fighting with or against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities. Just
as any good flesh and blood soldier is going to workout, train, basically prepare
himself. If we are supposed to be soldiers we need to begin taking it seriously. This
is not just some happy-go-lucky game. This is war and we have to get prepared!
Next, it states that He went to a solitary place. He went off by Himself to be alone.
Being alone is not necessarily a bad thing. Psalm 46:10 tell us to 'Be still and know
that I am God'. It is very important that we take that 'be still' time. Society tries to
make us think that we need to always be on the go. If we not in a constant state of
entertainment we get board as if it's our life's work to be entertained. We are
focusing on the wrong things. Most people focus on first pleasing themselves, then
gaining the approval of men. That's why I think He tells us to be still. Even the
world has the saying 'stop and smell the roses'. Somehow as long as we're running
around doing, doing, doing; we don't really see what's important. Taking the time to
be alone, to be solitary; gives us the opportunity to put things into perspective. To
remember what's really important before we go off into the world and start making
decisions.
And there He prayed. He prayed. The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Son of
God, the Creator of the universe took the time to wake up early in the morning
before it was daylight. He made a way to go into a solitary place where He found a
way to be alone with Himself and He prayed. Jesus calls Himself the way, the truth,
and the life. He clearly came to show us the way to back to the Father. To return
man to his garden state; when he walked with God. I believe this is seemingly
inconsequestial sentence is our blueprint to not just getting ourselves ready for all
the things the enemy will throw at us in a day but also to strengthen our personal
relationship with God.
Throughtout the Bible heroes of faith show us a pattern. In Genesis 22:3 Abraham
rose early in the morning to take Isaac out to worship. Jacob rose early in the
morning when he set up the altar he called Bethel to worship God in Genesis 28:18.
God told Moses that in the morning the Israelites would see the glory of the LORD
in Exodus 16:7. God supplied them with bread to the full in the next verse in the
morning. In Exodus 24:14 Moses rose early in the morning to build an altar to the
LORD. And those are just a few of the early morning references.
Just as we make time to read a good book, or to play a video or computer game, or
watch a movie, or watch our favorite televison show. Just as we find time to do all
these things, we have got to make the time that's necessary to spend time with God.
The enemy is going to come against you to make it seem like you don't have
enough time, but he is a deceiver. You may need to go to bed earlier. You may
think you'll miss your favorite show on tv but thank God for VCRs. Just tape it!
What's more important, the show or your relationship with your Heavenly Father?
Use the pattern that Jesus shows us. Wake up early, before daylight, put yourself in
a solitary place, turn off the tv and the radio and just be still. Remember what's
really important and what is only temporary. And pray. Pray the way He modelled
for us in Matthew 6. Do this and before you know it you'll be a Christian soldier
ready for battle.
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date: January 8, 2006