Introduction:
On Thursday, a week ago, our washing machine broke, so I called Southern Appliances and the lady told me to unplug the machine from the wall outlet for sixty seconds then re-plug-it back in. She went on to say that in those electronic machines sometimes a reboot is all it takes. Unfortunately, in our case, it didn't work.
And if I would happen to call AT&T with a modem problem, the first thing that the representative will tell me is to unplug the power source from the modem and wait sixty seconds. Then I would be told to plug the power source back into the modem and see if that fixes the problem.
And what I learned from these two real life stories, that if machines need some down time to reconnect properly, maybe you and I need some down time to recorrect properly with Jesus. Sometimes my life takes on so much static from everything that is going on that I lose that needed connection to Jesus Christ, and so I need to unplug all the busyness I have going on and re-plug into the right source which is Jesus Christ.
Let's face it: this day and time the world is full of busyness and it so easy to lose that personal connection with Jesus. So, if that has happened to you in the past or is happening to you right now, this sermon series is about getting that connection with Jesus back on track. Today's sermon is about pushing away from all the clutter in your life so that you can reconnect with Jesus like you once connected to Him.
If you have your Bibles turn with me to Matthew 11:28.
Scripture:
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Point #1
Jesus went to the Father many times during His earthly ministry to re-energize. It seems to me that I must connect with Jesus the same way Jesus connected to the Father.
In Matthew 11:28 we are told to come to Jesus. But I don't believe that many Christians know exactly how. That is why Jesus going to the Father is the perfect example. And one of those examples is found in Mark 1:35-37 (NKJV) 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. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."
So, in this passage of Mark, what do I learn of Jesus connecting to the Father. There are four things I observe.
Find a time; that is your time with Jesus and schedule it on a regular basis. It must be intentional, if must never be if I have the time.
Find a place; that is your place where you will not get distracted. Sitting in the den trying to have time with Jesus with the television on and kids talking on their cell phones is not the place to have that conversation with Jesus.
Make the effort; it takes effort to get up long before daylight; it takes effort to get away from everybody else to be alone with Jesus. It takes effort to be alone with Jesus when everyone is looking for you. You feel that obligation to them but realize you have a greater obligation to be with Jesus.
See it to completion; When Jesus got up early when he arrived at the solitary place, Jesus didn't daydream or dose off because it was so early. He did what he came to do and that is: pray. I cannot tell you personally that I didn't see it to completion because I found myself dosing off in the middle of my prayer. Have you ever done that?
If your intention is to reconnect with Jesus like you use to be able to connect to Him then time, place, effort, and completion must be present. Jesus pushed away from everything to give the Father exclusive time.
Point #2
As you go about life, there will be times you are exhausted, and you cannot handle another thing or deal with another person, that should be the warning sign to get away with Jesus.
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden...
Mark 11:35-37 tells us how to get away and we just went over that but in addition to those set appointment times with God, there are the times that I call "emergency times" when I must get to Jesus.
Jesus teaches us about that also in the Gospel of Mark and in fact it is the preceding verses. Let's look at Mark 11:32-34.
Mark 1:32-34 (NKJV) 32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Think about it. The people were probably in a frenzy to make sure that they got to see Jesus for themselves or for a loved one that needed a healing or to be set free. I am sure they would be yelling, "I'm next". Mark wants to make sure that we get the complete picture by telling us in verse thirty-two all who were sick, or demon possessed were brought to Him. And then in verse thirty-three, we are told the whole city was gathered at his door. Even if you were not sick or demon possessed, you came to watch.
Now, let me tell you about people, People are great, but too much people can physically drain you. If I was the one there everyone was coming to, I may have lasted minutes maybe an hour if I am lucky. Verse thirty-four, tells us that Jesus healed many but did not get to all of them which tells He reached His exhausting point as a man. Remember, Jesus was all God, and He was all man.
So, what does He do, he goes inside the house to bed, set the alarm for early the next morning and meets with God!
And our takeaway from this is that times that you are exhausted, cannot go any further, those are times we need emergency away time with Jesus.
And that is exactly what Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28 Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden.
Point #3
When you spend time with God during either those scheduled times or emergency times, you find rest because He puts you back on the right track.
Mark 1:36-38 (NKJV) 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."
When you are doing what God wants you to do, you are in place of rest. Fighting God, not doing what He desires of you will wear you out.
Jesus spent the prior evening from sunset to late at night healing the people and casting out demons. He went to pray and talk to the Father early the next morning. Simon finds Jesus and tells Jesus that there are many more people to heal and people who need demons casted out of. Jesus tells Peter I cannot get sidetracked because my main purpose in coming is to preach the Good News. Let us go to the next towns to preach.
Obviously, His conversation with the Father helped Jesus not get sidetracked. The disciples were pushing Jesus to heal, and the people were pushing Jesus to heal, it would have been so easy to get sidetracked and focus on the healing rather than the preaching.
And when you are doing what God wants you to do, you are in that sweet spot, and in that sweet spot, there is rest. When you come to Jesus distracted by the world, He re-focuses you on what you should be doing and that will give you rest.
Remember our Scripture we started the sermon with.
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Let us pray!
