sunday sermon
SERMON FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2012
TITLE - O Jesus Where Are You?
READ Mark 1:29-39 NIV
SERMON –
How are you doing today? Have you come into this place refreshed? REFRESHED ready to give God your unconditional love and attention in praise? Can I hear a Woop Woop?
Or are you exhausted? DOG TIRED hoping that you will get out of here on time so that:
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You can catch that Michigan/Michigan State game (before taking your Sunday afternoon nap)?
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OR are you hoping to get home in time to take a nap (in preparation for the Superbowl)?
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Perhaps you are simply anxious to get back to whatever you did not find time to do last night? CAN I HEAR A BIG SIGH?
What brings you here this day? Were you led? Did you follow? Do you need healing or do you feel guilty if you don’t come to Worship on Sunday mornings? I love reading about James, John, Simon and Andrew. We see in verses John 1:14-20 that Jesus went seeking these men. He found them where they were...out fishing or preparing their nets. Jesus went to them because He loved them. Where did He find you? What were you doing at the time? Has He found you this day?
Would you be amazed to know that Jesus sought you and found you and that is why you are here this day? He loved you enough to pray you here. I feel blessed just thinking about it. He loved me enough to pray me here too.
Would you find it odd that the first Sabbath after Jesus called them, they attended Worship with Him? (vs 21) Well, that’s exactly what happened. They recognized Jesus and went to listen to him teach and grew in their faith.
Was it a coincidence that, just as soon as they left the synagogue and went to Simon and Andrew’s home that they found Simon’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever? (vs30) Was it a coincidence that Jesus was there to bring healing to this woman? I don’t think so. I believe it was a God-incident.
There is so much meat in this portion of The Word. Doesn’t it make you hungry to snack on these verses this day?
Are you following me so far? Jesus seeks and finds James, John, Simon & Andrew; they follow Jesus to the synagogue to hear Him teach; they leave just in time to heal Simon’s mother-in-law where she jumps up and begins to wait on all the men. LIFE IS GOOD! LIFE IS GOD!
It is in verse 35 where we see Jesus laying out a pattern for us. He seeks; He finds; He worships and teaches in the synagogue, He heals and then he spends some time alone to pray (vs 35) and then He goes out to preach as God designed for us to do also.
Keith Wagner, who wrote “Help Me, I'm Falling!” says, “We live in a hi-tech, fast pace, workaholic world where no one rests. We are constantly on the road, running errands, going places. We stuff ourselves with "fast food," overbook our lives with a myriad of things to do, and at the end of the day we are totally exhausted. We live (and die) by the clock. We are controlled by the need to produce. Time is money, time is how we keep in control of our lives. We resist quiet time by keeping the radios, televisions and computers on. The very thought of being alone, praying, scares us to death. We want professionals to do that for us. We haven’t learned that relaxation and meditation breaks will empower us to do even greater things. Thus, we continue to be busy. Consequently we are on a path to self-destruction, unable to help others, let alone help ourselves.”
Keith continues to write, “I know that I need to build in personal prayer time, time to relax, time to ˜get away.” This story has reminded me to make time for myself a high priority. But, I have also learned something more important. The story tells us that Jesus took time away to pray and be refreshed. That is explicit. What we fail to see is that Jesus set aside this time to yield to the power of God. I believe we need to learn to yield to the power of God too. That means being free from all other distractions so that God can empower us and refresh us. Then and only then can we help others as the power of God flows through us.”
OH JESUS, WHERE ARE YOU? Have you ever cried out to Him that way? Do you ask yourself, “What does God want me to do?” “What is my purpose in life?”
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I believe the best way to find out the plans that God has for you at this time in your life is to be obedient in setting aside time just for Him.
Time to Worship
Time to learn and time to teach
Time to hear God’s Word
and time to preach His Word
Time with God.
OH JESUS, WHERE ARE YOU? You are here...in this place...for these people and for me. OH JESUS...we come to praise you and to thank you and to follow wherever you lead. OH JESUS...love us, lead us...heal us and forgive us. O JESUS, thank you for this time we’ve gathered as family. O JESUS thank you as we remember and celebrate the elements of Holy Communion in remembrance of you. Amen.
FEBRUARY 2012 
