From the Ashes
Week 3 - Contemplation
Scripture: Mark 1:35
Introduction
Welcome to week 3 of our From the Ashes Sermon Series as we take a 6-week journey to the cross together. Each week we are looking at a different aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry during His time here on earth. Each week we are getting a glimpse into the abundant life possible in and through Christ.
In week one we discussed temptation and last week we tackled Christ-like humility together.
This week we take a look at one of Jesus’ most powerful habits; contemplative prayer or being still and quiet with God.
Most everyone I know wishes they had a more devoted, more powerful, and purposeful prayer life. One of the major issues we all share is the busy pace of life and constant stimulation we experience. All of this seriously impedes our ability to slow down.
To be honest, it just feels awkward to be still.
(Illustration Idea: Invite the congregation to stand up in their places and start a counter for 1:00. Have everyone close their eyes and attempt to sit down when they think 1:00 has passed. The goal here is to see if you can have enough focus in quiet to correctly judge time. Reveal when the 1:00 is up and see how everyone did.)
It was hard to be still, even for a minute wasn’t it? That minute of stillness felt like half an hour to some of you.
On some level, this exercise draws our attention to the challenge of stillness, contemplation, and prayer generally. And specifically that we are uncomfortable with being still and silent.
When I was working for AMR, which is one of the largest ambulance companies in the world I had fellow manager that had worked as a paramedic in Las Vegas. We were all sitting around talking one day and I asked what was the most common call that they went on?
He said for the locals, it’s just like anywhere else- the typical calls one would see on a daily basis.
But for the tourists, he said the most common call with them was “Las Vegas Syndrome”. “Las Vegas Syndrome” is not an actual disease, but a street term given to incidents that involve certain visitors who basically cannot handle Las Vegas. A person with “Las Vegas Syndrome” is someone with not enough sleep, not enough water intake, too much sun and, of course, too much alcohol. So many people want to do so many stimulating things that they will literally run themselves into a waking coma- walking around the city with a blank look on their faces, babbling about nonsense, and needing medicated assisted sleep for at least 12 hours to start to recover their brain chemistry.
Out of curiosity- how many people here feel that way just about living in 2022 right now? (Tic Toc worst culprit)
Our lives are so loud, busy, and frantic, that many of us have grown accustomed to the noise and we feel out of place when it all stops- just like the experiment we did a few moments ago about being quiet for 1 minute. I get it, I’m like most of you- I used to think that being busy was the ultimate sign of Godliness…but now I’ve learned differently.
But it will come as no surprise that the Bible has a different way for us. A more fulfilling way, and there are several principles we can put into immediate action that I can’t wait to share with you.
Prayer
Let’s get started.
Main Teaching
Before we get too deep today, I want to first draw attention to one of the terms I’m using. I’m using the word contemplation to describe a behavior we see modeled in the Bible.
I’m using it to describe a peaceful, silent, calm place of prayer in the life of a believer.
As Christians, we are supposed to be following the words and actions of Christ Jesus, and one of the things that really marked Jesus was His prayer life.
For example, Mark 1:35, where we see Jesus walk off into the desert early in the morning to be alone in prayer.
Mark 1:35 (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.)
Did Jesus sit in silence? Did He sing? Did He bring a laundry list of items with Him? Did He pray through His favorite Psalms? We don’t know, but when I think about contemplation, stillness, and connecting with God I think about this verse, and it moves me.
Honestly, who doesn’t want a powerful and purposeful prayer life?
Who doesn’t want all the fullness and adventure a life of discipleship offers? Listen to the way Richard Foster describes prayer;
“When we pray, genuinely pray, the real condition of our heart is revealed. This is as it should be. This is when God truly begins to work with us. The adventure is just beginning. ”
Prayer is an essential part of this adventure we call life.
Prayer is our most amazing avenue for connecting with the Lord.
Think about this for a moment; you are invited to speak -- on a regular basis -- with the divine creator of the universe. Let that sink in…
You can’t even talk to someone on the city council without an appointment, but we have direct, free, and unhindered access to the king of the universe, 24/7, 365. In fact, HE wants us to bother him with even the little things.
Some of you are thinking, “But I don’t know what to say, I don’t know how to start, it seems so weird, etc.…” In the words of Richard Foster again;
“I urge you: carry on an ongoing conversation with God about the daily stuff of life… For now, don’t worry about ‘proper’ praying, just talk to God. Share your hurts, share your sorrows, share your joys --freely and openly. God listens in compassion and love, just like we do when our children come to us. He delights in our presence. When we do this, we will discover something of inestimable value. We will discover that by praying we learn to pray. ”
We learn by doing, and you’ve got to start somewhere!
Here are a couple of principles that I think will help you develop a more fulfilling and devoted life of contemplation, prayer, and stillness.
#1 Lift your eyes up
Psalm 121:1-2 says;
“I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.”
The principle here is that there are times, each and every day, when we need to stop what we’re doing and look up.
We can get so laser focused on the thing in front of us, or the thing monopolizing our attention, and we forget about our relationship with the maker of heaven and earth.
We can forget about His compassionate care over every detail of our lives.
“Looking up” causes us to change our perspective and focus on something else. Or in this case someone else…
This is why I often will just get in the car and drive. Last time I did that, I ended up taking a back country road to Trempealeau. As soon as I turned on the road, I lost all phone service, and the trees on either side of the road blocked the satellite radio.
It was completely silent in my car, and I realized that’s just what I needed.
A few weeks ago, I had a horrendous weekend at work. Very busy, understaffed, and very hard patient’s made me so tired, burned out, and lost that I drove to Lake Wazee in Jackson County, and drove out to the basin and just sat on my hood looking up as the stars faded and the sun rose. It was an incredible experience just feeling the love of God wash over me and refresh me. I’m not sure I even prayed for anything, but when I left there and drove home, I slept soundly for the first time in weeks.
As you take time to stop what you’re doing and look to God, you’re reminded He cares for you, He is watching over you, and;
(Psalm 121:7-8) “The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
I don’t know about you, but I find this reality to be incredibly comforting.
Here are a couple simple ideas most anyone can do to practice looking up;
? If you’re feeling anxious or stressed, or if you need a little space to process a difficult situation, just simply take a walk. Get up, get out, and get moving. As you’re walking tell the Lord about the situation, pray over it, and invite Him into it. Even if it’s messy, even if it’s regarding a sin that you are involved in- bring God into it. News flash- He already knows you are doing it! He wants to come in and help free you from that bondage, so let HIM be God in your life!
But don’t wait just for a crisis to do this-
? Schedule a daily time to stop whatever you’re doing, put away distractions, and sit in silent prayer. Put it on your calendar or add an alarm to your phone just to make sure you follow through. Believe it or not, there are even apps for that if you like tech.
These are just my ideas, but where do you feel at peace? Are there spaces in your life where you regularly get yourself refocused? Are there people in your life who can help you stay accountable to this principle?
#2. Practice Stillness
Regular times of stillness and quiet are incredibly powerful for our overall health. This makes sense as most of us live very busy, very full lives.
Let’s look at a couple verses from the Psalms on this point;
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." - Psalm 46:10 NIV
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.” Psalm 62:1 ESV
What is it about stillness and silence that helps us get reacquainted with the Lord?
Why does our soul… our inmost being… feel at rest there in the quiet?
Why is silence sacred?
I could ask dozens of more questions like this, but instead let’s look at the story of Elijah and his encounter with the Lord in the book of 1 Kings.
-1 Kings 19:11-13
“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. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
The Lord wasn’t in the wind.
He wasn’t in the earthquake,
And he couldn’t be found in the fire.
The Lord was there, in the gentle whisper. (Pause)
Many of us lead such tumultuous and chaotic lives that it’s few and far between when we actually have the space to entertain the “gentle whisper” of the Lord. But this is exactly why it’s so important to make time for silence, prayer, and contemplation. We may think that all the millions of things we’re doing everyday are what’s most important and valuable, but stillness tells a different story.
I encourage you to write the following verse down, and hang where you will see it every day.
Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
God is there waiting, are you willing?
#3- Be Honest
Just like God had to draw Elijah into a cave to get him to slow down and really express his frustrations, Jesus had a similar time during his life.
Immediately before his arrest, Jesus leads his disciples to a quiet place, he asks them to wait and pray with him. He takes Peter, James, and John a little farther into the garden, and then walked even further without them and collapsed to the ground.
Did Jesus then pray a formal, well rehearsed prayer?
No, he let it all out.
This is harder for religious people to hear, but this is the truth-
Jesus is freaking out here- I know that term might make some of you uncomfortable, but when is the last time you felt anxiety so bad that you sweat blood? Hematidrosis
Keep in mind- he is omniscient- all knowing. He knows what is about to happen to him.
He also knows that the suffering he is about to enter into- this was his idea.
The bible is very clear that the cross was always part of the plan, so when the triune God decided to create everything, this was part of the plan they came up with regarding humanity.
But now Jesus is having to face the very real consequences of this decision made eons ago and begs God the Father to change His mind.
He was honest with God. “Father, are you sure there is no other way?”
We are Christians, which means we are to emulate, represent, believe in, and act like Jesus.
So let’s take his lead here-
Sometimes, we need to go to our Father and freak out a little. I’m not talking screaming and cussing at God- I would never say that, but we need to have an honest expression of emotion with him.
You can’t read the Psalms without seeing the raw emotion that the authors were experiencing- anger, jealousy, sorrow, grief, hatred, meekness, repentance are all in there.
We need to look up, be silent, but also be honest about our feelings.
You are a mess, but your God’s mess. Invite Him into your mess, and watch what He can do. Repeat
Conclusion/Application
As we finish up today, let’s take a moment to be brutally honest about something.
And please take a moment to honestly consider what I’m about to ask you;
Is all your striving and all your hustle, all your appointments, activities, and action… Are they making you a more peaceful person?
Is the grind life giving you the kind of grounded faith you long for?
Are you sitting in an ash heap of unmet expectations, broken resolutions, and message notifications that you never have time to answer?
As you think about those questions I want to read you one of the most powerful and important passages in the New Testament;
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
It takes intentional effort in our culture to carve out sacred time and space to connect with the Lord.
But wow, when you hear the words of Christ from Matthew 11:28-30 and you realize there is a space for your burdens, your exhaustion, and your chaos.
What an amazing feeling, what a savior.
So set a reminder on your phone.
Carve out a weekend in the mountains.
Turn off all the electronic devices every night at 8pm.
Do whatever you need to do this week to make space for contemplation.
It’s worth it, He’s there in the stillness - in the gentle whisper.
Let’s pray together.
invite the congregation to pray together in silence and stillness for a few minutes.
Altar call/
