Introduction

Good morning, beloved. I stand here today, not as one who has all the answers, but as one who, like you, seeks to understand the divine directions God has for us, to commit ourselves to devotion, and to understand the dynamics of divine waiting. We are all here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. We are all here because we have been called by God, and it is this calling that we seek to understand and follow more closely today.

Charles Spurgeon, the renowned British preacher, once said, "Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right." As we turn to the scriptures today, let's keep Spurgeon's wise words in mind. We are not simply looking for what is right or wrong, but we are seeking to discern the almost right from the right, the good from the best, the temporal from the eternal.

Let's turn our hearts and minds to the scriptures. In Mark 1:29-39, we read: "As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. 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. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: 'Everyone is looking for you!' Jesus replied, 'Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.' So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.'"

And in Isaiah 40:31, the prophet speaks to us saying, "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Lastly, in 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, the Apostle Paul writes, "For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.'"

Discerning Divine Directions

In the Gospel of Mark, we find Jesus at the beginning of His ministry. He has just left the synagogue where He was teaching with authority and casting out demons. Now, He's at Simon and Andrew's house, healing Simon's mother-in-law. Word spreads quickly about Jesus' power to heal, and by evening, the whole town is at the door, bringing their sick and demon-possessed. Jesus heals many of them, showing His compassion and power.

But then, in the early morning, while it's still dark, Jesus gets up and goes to a solitary place to pray. When His disciples find Him, they tell Him that everyone is looking for Him. But Jesus doesn't go back to the town. Instead, He says, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."

Here, we see Jesus discerning divine directions. He doesn't get swept up in the demands and expectations of the people. He knows His mission—to preach the good news of the kingdom of God—and He sticks to it. He discerns God's direction through prayer and follows it, even when it means leaving behind a town full of people who want Him to stay.

Jesus' actions show us several important aspects of discerning divine directions.

First, we see the importance of prayer. Jesus gets up early in the morning, while it's still dark, to pray. He seeks God's direction in a solitary place, away from the demands and distractions of the world. This shows us that discerning divine directions requires intentional, focused time with God. It requires seeking God's will in prayer, listening for His guidance, and being willing to follow it.

Second, we see the importance of knowing our mission. Jesus says, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." Jesus knows His mission—to preach the good news of the kingdom of God—and He sticks to it. He doesn't get distracted by the many good things He could do. He doesn't let the urgent crowd out the important. He stays focused on His mission. This shows us that discerning divine directions requires knowing our mission and staying focused on it.

Third, we see the importance of resisting the pressures of the world. When the disciples find Jesus, they tell Him that everyone is looking for Him. There's a whole town full of people who want Him to stay and continue healing. But Jesus doesn't let the pressures of the world dictate His actions. He doesn't let the expectations of others determine His direction. He discerns God's direction and follows it, even when it's not popular or understood. This shows us that discerning divine directions requires resisting the pressures of the world and following God's direction, even when it's difficult.

Finally, we see the importance of action. Jesus doesn't just discern God's direction; He follows it. He goes to the nearby villages to preach, as He discerned God had directed Him to do. He doesn't just pray and reflect; He acts. This shows us that discerning divine directions requires not just prayer and reflection, but action. It requires following God's direction, not just discerning it.

In the passage from Isaiah, we see a promise for those who hope in the Lord. They will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. This promise is for those who wait on the Lord, who seek His direction and follow it. It's a promise of strength and endurance for the journey, of divine empowerment for the mission.

In the passage from 1 Corinthians, we see the Apostle Paul's commitment to preach the gospel. He says, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" He is compelled to preach, driven by a divine calling. He is willing to become all things to all people so that by all possible means he might save some. He does all this for the sake of the gospel, that he may share in its blessings.

Transition. Discerning divine directions requires prayer, knowing our mission, resisting the pressures of the world, and action. It requires seeking God's will and following it, staying focused on our mission, resisting the pressures of the world, and acting on God's direction. It's a process that requires commitment, courage, and faith. But as we see in the life of Jesus and the words of Isaiah and Paul, it's a process that leads to divine empowerment, fulfillment of our mission, and sharing in the blessings of the gospel.

Dedication to Devotion

In this passage, we see Jesus healing the sick and casting out demons ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO