Luke 4:42-44At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
 
Jesus had just spent the previous day speaking at the synagogue, healing Peter’s mother-in-law, and then spent much of the night ministering to crowds of sick and demon possessed people.  As the sun came up the Son went out – “out to a solitary place.”  This is a pattern of Jesus’ behavior we can recognize in Scripture.  Prior to major events and following significant investments in souls, we may find Jesus slipping away for some alone time with the Father.  Of course people were important to Him, but not more important than keeping intimate contact and fellowship with the Father.  He came from the Father.  His mission was from the Father.  His very life and being were completely wrapped up in the Father and, when His mission was complete, He would return to the Father.  He came to make the Father known and to bring souls into a saving relationship with Him.  Therefore, it was imperative that He remained in close communion with the Father during His entire sojourn. 
            But, the crowds wanted to keep Jesus for themselves.  They interrupted His intimate time with God and tried to keep Him from leaving them.  Hey, who wouldn’t join in their effort.  This is the kind of person you want to keep around.  No worries about health care or demonic influence anymore, let’s just make sure Jesus stays in our town!  However, the crowds were not intimate with the Father!  They did not yet know the Father!  They were not intimate with the Father’s heart and, they did not yet really know the Son!  Jesus said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”  It’s very easy for us humans to get sidetracked from our mission and purpose when popular opinions and agendas seek to possess us.  Not so with Jesus!  He made certain that He stayed near to the heart of God by finding those quiet times and places for prayer.  This kept His mission the priority, His vision clear, and His Spirit aflame as He set His sights on souls in the next towns to which His itinerary directed Him.
            He might well have said to those in Capernaum, “I know you want to keep me here to heal all your sicknesses and cast out all your demons, and feed you, and make your life free of all problems.  But that’s not why I came to earth.  My mission is to preach the Kingdom of God!  This is not just one good thing among many.  It is THE ONE THING HE MUST DO!  Healing people is wonderful!  Feeding people is wonderful!  Casting out demons and freeing people from their bondage is wonderful!  BUT, however wonderful these things are, Christ would have been neglecting the one thing He was sent to do if He neglected to preach the Kingdom of God.  We too can do a lot of wonderful things that show love and care to others, but if we fail to make known the Kingdom of God we will have failed to fulfill the purpose to which we’ve been called!
 
Thursday:                                                                                                          
  • Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
  • Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.         
Friday:                                         
  • Thank God for the wonderful things He has provided and accomplished in your life.
  • Pray for the Good News families of the week: Laura Mohr, Aaron Montanaro, Jim & Dina Priester (A.J., Allison, Sammy).
Saturday:       
  • Make sure that you don’t limit Christ’s purpose in your life by just keeping Him for yourself.
Sunday:                                                                  
  • Give thanks that Christ has made known to us the Kingdom of God. 
 Monday:                                                                                              
  • Pray that others will hear the message of the Kingdom and be saved.
  • Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
 Tuesday:       
  • Pray that God’s Kingdom will come and that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
Wednesday:   
  • Pray for the message of the Kingdom to be spread around the globe – don’t keep it to yourself!
 

Prayer Challenge:“So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”-Matthew 6:31-33.

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