Advancing the gospel
Portrait of Jesus according to the Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsJesus demonstrates the importance of prayer and preaching as He moves forward in advancing the gospel of the kingdom of God.
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Introduction
Introduction
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Purpose is to show, through the example of Christ, the importance of prayer and preaching in advancing the good news.
Jesus leaves to pray and the disciples search for Him (vv. 35-37)
Jesus leaves to pray and the disciples search for Him (vv. 35-37)
Verse 35: Jesus leaves the house early the next morning to a solitary place to pray. Why does he need to go to a solitary place to pray? Possibilities:
rest (just finished expelling demons and healing many people)
to get away from people
fellowship with God
to receive direction from God
“solitary/deserted/desolate place” - from the biblical standpoint we often associate these places as a place that lack provisions, a place of testing, a place of humbling, a place where one’s totally reliance is upon God.
Verse 36-37: Simon and the other disciples were not just looking for Jesus, they were hunting down (as the Greek word suggest) the whereabouts of Jesus. Why? Through his demonstration of authority in both teaching and casting out demons, along with healing many, Jesus became popular to the people in that town. Where the disciples were looking for him as a parent looks for a lost child, the people desired him to remain with them and continue what He was doing.
Jesus’ response
Jesus’ response
verse 38-39: Popularity did not matter to Jesus. What the people wanted did not matter to Jesus. What mattered to Jesus was the advancement of the gospel of the kingdom of God. That is why he came! Jesus ideal of advancing the gospel was to preach (herald/proclaim) the good news of God everywhere. Mark makes note, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons, which indicate a continuous action on the part of Christ.
What is our God glorifying response?
What is our God glorifying response?
Two principles we learn from Jesus in this passage are the importance of prayer and preaching in advancing the gospel message.
Prayer: I do not need to remind you of how important for you to establish a healthy prayer life. Here, I want to make note of the value in going to a solitary place to pray. Jesus said this in Matthew 6:5-8
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
The word or concept that probably standout more than anything else in that passage is “reward.” Naturally, we all want to be rewarded. But I ask you to stop and think about what Jesus said the rewards is. The reward is being seen. The hypocrite (one who does not practice what they say) prays in that manner out of pride and a desire to be heard and seen. They look to be lifted up by men. However, the one who prays in secret, prays to the Father who is unseen, but he both sees and listens. Therefore, the reward is God recognizing you.
Do not just look for provisions in prayer. Ask for direction as well. To often we go before the LORD asking for him to provide for us instead of asking for direction. Pray with balance by keeping both mission and provision in mind.
2. Preach: This is our mission. This is our calling. This is our purpose. Preaching is not only reserved for the “preachers.” Preaching does not require one to attend seminary, engage in advanced Bible classes, hold a position in a church, or be a scholar/theologian. Preaching is all about calling and we all are called. Romans 10: 12-17
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
We make such a big deal out of calling and purpose when the Scripture makes it known what our general calling and purpose is. We do the good works of God and preaching is one of them. Stop getting caught up in thinking you do not know enough. Everyone enters into the faith being taught the elementary truths. Proclaim the elementary truths you know. Same as your prayers, preach with balance. Warn and plead.
I want to add this final note about advancing the gospel. Advancing the gospel requires you to focus on God’s kingdom, not your own. Jesus ignored what the people wanted for the sake of the mission. We have to understand that when it comes to walk. Our loyalty does not belong to people. Our loyalty is to Christ. Paul said, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal 1:10). Who do you serve as you advance His message?