Rev. Wayne A. Lawson, M.Min
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church
Ardmore, OK
RevWLawson@aol.com
Preached Sunday, February 20, 2005
(Inspired by a commentary by Rev. Robert E. Houston, Sr.)
Scripture: St. Mark 1:35-38 - 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Title: Time Out
I want to leave a few nuggets for our young people today as we celebrate our Annual Youth Day this morning and culminate with a special program at the 3:00 p.m. hour. I encourage you to stay with me this morning for I will not be very long. If you Zone Out or take a Mental Vacation for a minute or two you might miss the key points. You do need to understand there is a Word from Heaven. I have a simple message that if you digest it - you can carry it all the days of your life. I want to share with you a simple message that is entitled “Time Out.” Not only will this message be beneficial to our young people, but I would venture to say that many of our saintly Adults would benefit and perfect their walk with the Lord as well.
This message is also beneficial, as we have moved forward into this Lent season. Lent is a season where we are challenged to take a Time Out. It is the period of forty days before Easter that symbolize the 40 days that Jesus took some quality time to reflect on who God intended Him to be and to face and deal with the dark side of life, that we all are forced to face. You recall how Jesus set out on that long journey through the wilderness being led by the Spirit of God. He faced the dark sides of life, and parts of life where some people may feel that God has no business entering. It is there that we will find Jesus. It was during this period that Jesus dealt and faced directly the Temptations of Humanity. In the wilderness, Jesus reflected upon the human predicament and how the human life should integrate with the life of God. Immediately after this Time out – this 40-day rest in the wilderness He would face tremendous temptation by the devil. In this hurry up society in which we live, most of us feel that we don’t have the luxury to take a 40-day time out with God and reflect upon our lives – Who We Are - Where We Have Been - Where We Are Going. To be honest it can be very intimating for us to ask God – Who Am I? - What Is The Calling Upon My Life? - Where Do You Want Me To Go?
We need to learn how to value the importance of a Time Out in our lives. Last month I spent some time watching the Australian Open. I was watching some of my favorite players such as Andy Roddick, Andre Aggassi, The Williams Sisters. I was disappointed when Venus Williams lost in the latter rounds, I really wanted to see her return to form and win a championship. It was good to see Venus little sister Serena make it to the championship round. The sisters have experienced many injuries the past few years because of that they relinquished their #1 and #2 rankings, although they are still ranked very high in the world. Serena who was ranked #7 in the world was matched in the championship game with Lindsey Davenport who was ranked #1. I sat in front of the “big screen” and prepared myself to watch what I hoped would be a great match between two quality players. Of course I was expecting that Serena would win and return to form. As the match began, it quickly became apparent that Serena was suffering with another injury and was not moving with her normal agility. Serena quickly dropped the first set – she lost it 2-6. She had to turn the second set around or the match would be over.
Serena Williams looked down and out in the first set where she had been Twice Broken. It was at this point when she looked defeated that she did something very interesting. Here at this point, where even the commentators were beginning to count her out. Here at this point, when Lindsey Davenport seemed to have all the momentum swinging her - Lindsey was ready to get this over with. Serena looking somewhat defeated looked at the Judge and she called a Time Out. She would return to the court and not attempt to dig out of the hole, she conceded the first set and lost it 2-6 – but after this time out she would go on to win 10 of the last 11 games and win the second set 6-3 and the final set 6-0 defeating the #1 seed Lindsey Davenport and Serena would once again become the Austrian Open Champion. Let me cut through the alley here so I can get back to the street - You need to understand that Serena did not call a Time Out, just to take a break. But something significant happened during that call. Serena’s trainer ministered to her during the break. The trainer rubbed Serena’s back and helped her do some stretching exercises to loosen the tension. From there the trainer took Serena into the locker room and continued to minister to her back that was causing her Discomfort. Serena would run back out to the court, handled her business and ultimately became the Champion – after losing the first miserably. Well what are you trying to say preacher? I stopped by to let you know this morning that we need to learn the value of calling for a time out when things don’t look too good in our situation. It is only when we have sense enough to call time out:
· That the Holy Spirit is able to calm us down and minister unto us
· That the Holy Spirit is able to hold our peace and minister unto our needs
· That we put our feet back on the ground and allow the Holy Spirit to minister unto us
· Able to close our eyes at night and allow the Holy Spirit to minister unto us
Jesus taught this very important lesson by His example that we find in our text for examination. Jesus had experienced a busy and full day of ministry and healing. It is interesting in the passage to read that Jesus withdrew from the crowds just when he was most in demand. There were thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of people waiting for Jesus to -- Heal them - to Teach them - to Bless them. The Opportunity was Great and the Need was Great. And the text tells us that Jesus was nowhere to be found! Jesus understood that the need was Endless, yet to accomplish his purpose to fulfill what the Father sent Him to do, He must be spiritually strong. That would require regular times of Prayer - Meditation -- Rest -- Recuperation. The text reads “AND IN THE MORNING, RISING UP A GREAT WHILE BEFORE DAY…” Jesus rose about Three or Four in the Morning. His purpose was to spend time in Prayer in preparation for the Preaching Tour that was to take Him into all Galilee. By spending time in prayer and preparation we allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us. To do for us what we are unable to do for ourselves. When we steal away from the pressures of this life and spend time in prayer we are resting from our own efforts to make ourselves acceptable to God. We are ceasing from our vain attempts at self-righteousness. In prayer we are coming to God with open hands, suggesting that we fully understand that we need something from Him.
This is the part of prayer that many of God’s people miss out on. When we steal away for prayer all too often we do all the talking. We fail to understand that Prayer is two way communication. It is in the precious moments of prayer that we must learn to allow the Holy Spirit to minister unto us. We don’t take the time like Serena Williams in the midst of our busy and hectic schedules to stop and call for a Time Out. We are so caught up in Work and Schooling that we feel we are just too busy. We put in too many hours at our places of employment that our family and spiritual life begins to suffer.
· Spend time keeping up our homes
· Spend time maintaining our vehicles
· Spend time serving on Boards and Committees
· Most don’t get enough sleep
· Consider it to be Modern Day Life
Travel with me Five (5) chapters down the road. Mark in his writing has a way of reminding us that things have not changed very much. ST. MARK 6:30-30 “AND THE APOSTLES GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER UNTO JESUS, AND TOLD HIM ALL THINGS, BOTH WHAT THEY HAD DONE, AND WHAT THEY HAD TAUGHT. AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, COME YE YOURSELVES APART INTO A DESERT PLACE, AND REST A WHILE: FOR THERE WERE MANY COMING AND GOING, AND THEY HAD NO LEISURE SO MUCH AS TO EAT.” The disciples were in essence reporting into Jesus – telling Him all that they had accomplished. Their workload was heavy and the disciples seemed to enjoy the task at hand, they felt they were accomplishing something for the advancement of the Gospel. Yet one can catch a glimpse of weariness in their voices. Jesus response is quite interesting. He could have said - “Great Job Guys” - “Keep Up The Good Work” - “Kudos” He could have acknowledged what they were able to accomplish in such a short period of time. He could have acknowledged the stress that was placed upon his followers. But, instead Jesus looks at them and he says - “COME WITH ME LET’S GO TO A DESERTED PLACE AND REST AWHILE.” Jesus stands and he calls for a Time Out for He and His Disciples.
If we begin to lose that sense of balance in our lives, then the Holy Spirit is not able to minister unto us effectively. Jesus understood and identified with the stress that the disciples were beginning to feel - so much too do and so little time. He uses this opportunity to not only teach the disciples but also leave a lesson for us. When we begin to feel overwhelmed with the cares of this life - call a time out and retreat to that DESERTED PLACE and while we rest, the Holy Spirit can minister. Remember Serena Williams first laid down on the court and her trainer ministered to her. Then she got up and Stole Away to that Deserted Place – They went into the Locker Room – No Cameras – No Reporters -- The World Could No Longer Watch – Just She and the Trainer. When we feel Stressed Out In Life:
· Bible Study is Good
· Prayer Service is Refreshing
· WMU is Rewarding
· Brotherhood is Relaxing
· Sunday School is Rejuvenating
· Morning Worship is Energizing
· Must learn how to steal away to our own Secret Pray Room and Shut the Door
· Pastor is not Watching
· Deacons are not Listening
· Church members are not Impressed
· Go to that Deserted Place – where the Holy Spirit can Minister to You and You Alone
There is also a balance between what we need to be responsible for and what we need to Rely on God for. Finding this balance is an act of Faith and trust. If we believe that all of life is a competition and there is a limited amount of whatever it is we are Seeking, then Stopping to Rest means getting behind and losing our Share. But, if we believe that it is God who holds together all possibilities and desires to take care of our deepest Needs – that trust will allow us simply to be in God’s presence and to rely on the Grace and Love and Energy that we will experience there. I encourage you this morning to call a Time Out in your situation. Sometime this week:
· Go for a walk by yourself
· Take a drive by yourself
· Sit in the room with the door closed
· Turn off the TV and Stereo
· Turn Video games off
· Put the Newspaper down
· Find your own wilderness and allow God to enter in
Even Jesus recognized the importance of stealing away with God. If you think that you have Pressure in your life, just think about what Jesus must have been faced with. He was faced with Masses of People every day – People that Had needs - People that were Hurting - People from Everywhere - Lepers – Outcast – Lame – Blind. Jesus was able to find the necessary Balance in His life – He learned stealing away that God could minister to His needs as well. Sometimes we can become so caught up in Meeting the Needs of everyone else that we burn out for the Lord.
· Spouse has needs
· Children have needs
· Grand children have needs
· Needs on the Job
· Sick and Shut in around us have needs
· Church has Needs
Who takes care of our needs? Who helps us Recharge our Batteries? We must be like Jesus and take time from our busy schedules to Talk with God away from Everyone and Everything. Prayer is our Power Source. As God’s own children we are in a unique position. We have the privilege of knowing that God is ready to take care of us.
· He is there when we need Help
· He is there when we need Comfort
· He is there when we need Strength
· He is there when we have troubles in this Life
· He is there when we seem to be out of Balance
-- All you have to do today is call for a Time Out
-- Time Out so we can unload the burdens of this life
-- Time Out so we can understand what is happening in our life
-- Time Out so we can draw close to God and hear His voice
-- Young people when you get Stressed out just call for a Time Out
-- When you are about to Cuss your neighbor out just call for a Time Out
-- Picked on at School and ready to Duke it Out - just call for a Time Out
-- Reminded of Daniel in the Lions Den – lions bearing down upon him called for a Time Out
-- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace – called for a Time Out
-- Paul and Silas in prison called for a Time Out and began to sing and pray
-- Jesus on that dreadful Friday prior to being crucified went to the Garden of Gethsemane and called a Time Out - “FATHER LET THIS CUP PASS, NEVERTHELESS, NOT MY WILL…” – God dispatched an Angel
-- When you feel – Stressed Out - Put Out - Shut Out - Laid Out - Strung Out - call for a Time Out
-- During your Time Out the Holy Spirit will stop by and see about you
(Close)
