Silence and Solitude

Silence and SolitudeUnhurry • February 6, 2022Teacher: Dave Brown--Luke 5:12-16 NIVWhile Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.1. Essential Works2. Managing Expectations3. Silence and Solitude1. Essential WorksLuke 10:38-42 NIVAs Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!""Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed–or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."Francis Chan"Our greatest fear in life should no be of failure, but of succeeding at things that don't really matter."Luke 5:12-13 NIVWhile Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.Jim Collins"Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great."So the first thing that we must do to break the cycle of busyness and depression is recognize that our value does not come from what we do, but who we are in Jesus...And that is beloved Son or beloved Daughter of the Most High God. 2. Managing ExpectationsJesus had two types of expectations to manage:1. The expectations he put on himself2. The expectations others put on himLuke 4: 18-19 NIVThe Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."Luke 5:16 NIV"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."2 Corinthians 5:20 NIVWe are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.3. Silence and SolitudeJohn Mark Comer"The wilderness isn't the place of weakness; It's the place of strength."