Matt 14:23, 1 King 19:11-12

Key Point:  Jesus even in his busy-ness and mission oriented life always found time for solitude

Galatians 5:22-23

• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

A fruit grower will tell you that the way we get good fruit is by tilling the soil and fertilizing around the base of the tree.

“No one gets good tasty apples by planning on shining the apples.”

The way we get to the fruit of the spirit is practicing the disciplines that Jesus practiced.

Jesus came into this world for 2 purposes;

First, He came as Savior

1 Timothy 1:15

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Jesus, first and foremost is our Savior. By his actions and his sacrifice, he bridged the gap between Perfect God and Sinful Man.

Second, He came to be a Guide on how to live.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Abundance….overflowing…. more than they ever dreamed up.

For 3 public years, Jesus showed the disciples how to live the Jesus Life.

Practicing what Jesus Practiced

• Jesus Intimacy with the Father and the Spirit. Doing what He did to maintain that intimacy

Practice the disciplines that Jesus (and Paul) practiced.

Two Disciplines that give us space

• Solitude
• Sabbath

Three Disciplines that build the relationship into that space

• Prayer
• Opening Scripture
• Doing the Work of the Father

This week’s focus: Solitude

Jesus spoke or practiced times of solitude

Numerous times Jesus speaks about creating margin in our lives

Matthew 6:6

“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Luke 5:16

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Luke 6:12

It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Luke 4:42

When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them.

Matthew 14:23

After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.

Matthew 26:39

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Mark 1:35

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Mark 6:45-46

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

The Apostle Paul also practiced Solitude

In Galatians 1:17,

Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

Finding times of Solitude helps us Create Margin in this World

First Reason: Finding Solitude allows us to get away from the overstimulation of a busy world.

Mark 6:30-32

• And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

Fact: Young Children can be overstimulated.

I think Adults can reach a saturation point as well.

Jesus would take his disciples away from the busy-ness of ministry

We need the same thing.

Second Reason: Finding Solitude often allows us to hear God’s Whisper.

Great story in the Old Testament about one of God’s great prophets… Elijah.

Just came off a big win…. Went up against the Prophets of Baal and came back a winner.

Afterward ended up depressed and disappointed.

God took him into the desert (solitude.)

• Ministered to him physically
• Food and Rest…
• Then spoke to Elijah in a whisper.

1 Kings 19:11-12

• The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
• Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Practicing times of solitude in a busy world.

Example: Susanna Wesley- Mother of John and Charles Wesley.  Mother of ten would find solitude by putting an Apron over her head and praying.

A drive (No radio, no manufactured noise.)

A place in your backyard (Charles Stanley regularly used a converted chicken coop.)

The Forest and The Beach, Other places.

Jesus practiced solitude and it would benefit us if we did too!

Assignment for this week:  Find a place of solitude in your busy world.