Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20050925.htm

JESUS CHRIST'S DISCIPLING OF SIMON PETER: A STUDY IN MAKING DISCIPLES
Part II: Getting Peter To Forsake Himself
A. Exampling The Forsaking Of The Lures Of The World To Do God's Will
(Mark 1:35-39)
  1. Introduction
    1. New believers can become infatuated with their new faith in Christ; in that condition, they can assume all their trials are over, and so become prey for the lures of the world's lusts as they can easily equate spiritual fulfillment with the gratification of the lusts of the flesh, the eyes and the pride of life, cf. 1 John 2:15-16!
    2. To begin to equip Peter to overcome the lure of the world's lusts upon him, Jesus exampled His own victory over the world in His ministry before the disciples and Peter as follows:
  2. Exampling The Forsaking Of The Lures Of The World To Do God's Will, Mark 1:35-39.
    1. The account of the event involved is summarized as follows:
      1. Following a busy day of exorcising a demon from a man in the synagogue, of the healing of Peter's mother-in-law right after the synagogue events and then of healing people throughout the city who had various diseases or were demon possessed, and that until after the sun had set, Jesus retired to sleep! To Peter and the other disciples who were new to their faith in Christ, the events of that day and the great response of the people to Jesus held promise for an even greater ministry there the next day!
      2. However, what Jesus did next surprised Peter:
        1. Christ got up early the next morning while it was still dark, left the city where He had enjoyed a good response from His previous day's ministries to pray alone to His heavenly Father, Mark 1:35.
        2. Peter and the disciples approached Jesus to tell him that all men sought Him. In effect, they were saying, "Lord, don't You know the throngs want you? Why are you praying by Yourself here?"
        3. Jesus responded that His Father's will was to leave that town and go to other towns to minister.
    2. By way of application, we note Jesus exampled the forsaking of the lures of the world to do God's will:
      1. Jesus exampled that meeting His spiritual needs was of greater value than meeting His human needs, a victory over the lusts of the flesh and of the eyes mentioned in 1 John 2:15-16:
        1. Jesus was physically and mentally tired from the previous day's ministries, Mark 1:21-34.
        2. However, instead of sleeping late into the next morning, He rose before daylight and before others could interrupt Him to go out of the town to fellowship with the Father in prayer, Mark 1:29, 32-35.
      2. Jesus revealed that fellowship with God is of greater value than looking good before other people, a victory over the pride of life mentioned in 1 John 2:15-16:
        1. Jesus revealed fellowship with God is of greater value than looking good before other believers: (a) Jesus left Peter's house where He had ministered to his mother-in-law and where He had let her minister a meal unto Him the day before (Mark 1:29-31, 35) all to pray to the Father. (b) In doing so, He revealed He valued His fellowship with the Father over meeting with His disciples and their families even though that may have made Him seem aloof or heartless to them!
        2. Jesus revealed fellowship with God is of greater value than popularity with other men: (a) Upon finding Jesus, Peter and the other disciples told Him the throngs that been impressed with His ministry the previous day looked for Him, Mark 1:36-37. (b) They felt Jesus should not be off alone, but take advantage of the crowds' disposition to stay with them and build up a popular work!
        3. (c) Jesus replied He had been sent by God to other cities! This was no time to focus on building up a popular local ministry in Capernaum, but to heed the Father's will and disciple in other towns!
Lesson: Jesus exampled to Peter that doing the will of God was more important than meeting his human needs (the lusts of the flesh and the eyes), that it was more important than fellowship with other believers even if it made Him seem aloof and that it was more important than looking good to other people (the pride of life), cf. 1 John 2:15-16. His example indicated Peter like Him needed to overcome the WORLD'S lures of the flesh, the eyes and personal pride to do the will of the Father, 1 John 2:17.

Application: To disciple others well, in our own lives, we like Jesus must live a denial of loving the world system and thus meeting its lusts even in ministry so as to do the will of the Father!