A Solitary Place
Velocity Series, Part 8
Speaker: Paul K. Kim

Mark 1:21-39 (NIV)
²¹They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²²The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. ²³Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ²⁴"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" ²⁵"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" ²⁶The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. ²⁷The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." ²⁸News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. ²⁹As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. ³¹So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. ³²That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴and 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. ³⁵Very 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. ³⁶Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" ³⁸Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." ³⁹So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Common Hindrances to Making Space for God

• Time/busy-ness
• The “if only…then” syndrome
• False Expectations
• Lack of desire/thirst

Solitude: The Secret of Jesus’ Spiritual Life

• Jesus had a full, packed, busy day (vs. 21-34).
• Three things that Jesus did to make space for God (v. 35).
  1. intentional discipline: “Very early the morning…Jesus got up…”
  2. deliberate withdrawal: “…left the house…”
  3. desire for secret communion: “…went off to a solitary place where he prayed.”
• Three things that Jesus drew from God through solitude (vs. 36-39).
  1. clear direction (vs. directionless life): “Let us go somewhere else…”
  2. firm conviction (vs. pleasing people): “…that is why I have come…”
  3. supernatural power (vs. self-reliance): “…preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”

The Right Approach to Solitude
Solitude is…

• not merely being alone but being alone with God.
• not a “pit-stop” but a “furnace.”
• not inner emptiness but inner fulfillment.

To Begin Your Solitude:

1. Arrange your life around your space for God.
2. Take baby steps.
3. Be rhythmic.
4. Be actively passive in solitude.
5. Get your motivation not from guilt but from love.
   

2003 Message Archives