Sermon Notes | 9.1.24

Mark 1:29–39

[29] And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [30] Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. [31] And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

[32] That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. [33] And the whole city was gathered together at the door. [34] And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

[35] And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. [36] And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, [37] and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” [38] And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” [39] And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (ESV)

Practicing Silence & Solitude

“All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own room.” – Blaise Pascal

The PACE

Mark 1:29-34

9x – Immediately

The PRESSURE

Mark 1:36-39

Everyone is looking for you

The PRACTICE

Mark 1:35

[35] And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 

EREMOS

desert / wilderness / solitary place / quiet place

[12] The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. [13] And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. – Mark 1:12-13

For years this story made no sense to me because I thought of the wilderness as the place of weakness. I read it this way: Isn’t that so like the devil? To come at us at the end of a long day or a long week? When we’re hangry and at our worst? But then I realized I had it backward. The wilderness isn’t the place of weakness; it’s the place of strength. “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” because it was there, and only there, that Jesus was at the height of his spiritual powers. It was only after a month and a half of prayer and fasting in the quiet place that he had the capacity to take on the devil himself and walk away unscathed. – John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

[15] But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. [16] But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. – Luke 5:15-16

[31] And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. [32] And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. – Mark 6:31-32

SILENCE

external and internal

The moment  you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job of each morning consists in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

SOLITUDE

engagement not escape

In solitude God begins to free us from our bondage to human expectations, for there we experience God as our ultimate reality — the One in whom we live and move and have our being. In solitude our thoughts and our mind, our will and our desires are reoriented Godward so we become less and less attracted by external forces and can be more deeply responsive to God’s desire and prayer in us. – Ruth Haley Barton

A great way to start is by picking one practice from the list below…

• One time this week spend time in silence–this could be a silent car ride, a walk without technology, scheduled time alone in silence and stillness.
• Take an undistracted lunch break–no technology, books, or company.
• Set an alarm on your phone for 2-3 times throughout the day.  When the alarm goes off, stop and spend 10 minutes in silence, bringing your thoughts, to-do lists, and worries before Jesus.
• Take a technology free walk alone where exercise is not the priority.
• Silence and solitude before sleep–Have a technology free hour before bed.
• Spend 15 minutes in the presence of something beautiful–a sunset, a favorite spot in nature, a poem.
• Try praying a prayer of transition–before you transition to a new part of your day, take 5 minutes to sit in stillness, reflect, and pray for the transition.
• Silence before screens–spend 10-15 minutes of silence and solitude when you wake up in the morning before checking your phone.
• Prayer of recollection–while in silence and solitude, write down every thought that comes to mind and ask the Lord to show you any themes.
• Take either half or a full day to get out of your normal routine and retreat.  Spend the time in silence and solitude.

We Rest

“Be still, and know that I am God…” – Psalm 46:10

We Receive 

The Lord your God is in your midst…he will quiet you by his love. – Zephaniah 3:17

We are Renewed 

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

We Remember  

And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” – Mark 1:11

Being the Beloved expresses the core truth of our existence. I am putting this so directly and so simply because, though the experience of being the Beloved has never been completely absent from my life, I never claimed it as my core truth. I kept running around it in large or small circles, always looking for someone or something able to convince me of my Belovedness. It was as if I kept refusing to hear the voice that speaks from the very depth of my being and says: “You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests.” That voice has always been there, but it seems that I was much more eager to listen to other, louder voices saying: “Prove that you are worth something; do something relevant, spectacular, or powerful, and then you will earn the love you so desire.” Meanwhile, the soft, gentle voice that speaks in the silence and solitude of my heart remained unheard or, at least, unconvincing. – Henri Nouwen

A Prayer for Salvation

“Heavenly Father, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but through your Son Jesus I can be more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you that he lived the life I should have lived and paid the debt and punishment I owed. Receive me now for his sake. I turn from my sins and receive him as Savior. Amen.”