"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Your prayer life is in an indicator of your growth in God's grace, and the depth of your relationship with God is proportional to your wisdom. I especially like Vergunst's application of Jesus' prayer life to the Lord's daily occupation (both then during his earthly ministry and now during his Heavenly ministry, since the Lord is incessantly making intercession for us at the right hand of the Father where he now serves, in addition to being King and Lord of all, as our eternal high priest in the throne room and holy place of Heaven). Vergunst notes that ministry and service are the hardest work, saying that "there is no labor more tiring than working with people" (see timepoint 8:00 and following).

How true. This sermon also sheds light on one of the most puzzling parables in the gospels: the parable of the unjust steward. Follow along in the Bible here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+1&version=KJV.

Rev. Arnoud Vergunst teaches at the Reformed Congregations of New Zealand church in Carterton, NZ. The original audio file for this sermon, along with links to many other teachings by the Rev. Vergunst, is hosted here: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12609146335.