To Follow Jesus, We Must Make Down Time Introduction: Series

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.