Luke 5:15-16 NLT - 15 But despite Jesus' instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Mark 6:30-32 NASB - 30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31 And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) 32 They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

1. Separation has a MODEL.

• From the beginning - He separated light from dark, day from night, water from sky (Genesis 1:3-6).
• He is separate, holy.
• He separates people for His purposes.
• People throughout Scripture separated themselves to be with God.

2. Separation has a SEASON.

• There are times and seasons when God calls us to separate more.
• Many of the festivals and feasts of Israel called for separation.
• Moses and Jesus were called to 40 days of separation.

3. Separation has a PURPOSE.

• We separate FROM something to go TO something.
• We do not do it to feel religious or superior, or to be strange.
• We separate for:
  • CLARITY
  • CLOSENESS
  • COURAGE
  • CONQUEST

4. Separation has a STRATEGY.

• Matthew 17:16-17 NASB - 16 "I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him." 17 And Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me."
• The problem is unbelief and perversion.
• Matthew 17:19-21 NASB - 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not drive it out?" 20 And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 21 [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."]
• The solution is prayer and fasting.
• The purpose of prayer is to get closer to God.
• The purpose of fasting is to get further from the world.