Making Time for God Alone
– Part 2
Galatians 1:13-19
June 18, 2017 PM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction
A.
This is a great truth…
You are what you are when you are alone
1.
That means, what you are like, and how you think and live, when you are
alone, is who you really are
2.
What do you do when no one is watching you?
3.
What do you do when there is no one to impress
4.
When you can do what you truly want to do because no one is watching over
your shoulder – oh so you think!
5.
Doing right things, even though no one may ever find out that you did
them, is the measure of true integrity and character
B.
I want to teach you about doing something even though no one on earth may
ever know it…
C.
Make time for God alone!
D.
People were not meant to live alone, be constantly alone
1.
There are perpetual loners – people who could live out most of their lives
without anyone else around, and it not bother them in the slightest!
2.
But, we were designed to be a part of a family, a community, a church
3.
It sure is a blessing to NOT be alone when you are hurting (Eccl 4:9-11)
E.
So, Even if no one admits it, most people hate to be alone
1.
Alone time, is different than loneliness, which carries some health risks,
including increased risk of heart disease and depression. But carving
out some “God time,” is vital to enjoying the abundant life Christ gave
us all!
2.
This message is not an attempt to
just get you to be alone
3.
But rather an effort to get us to make time to be alone with God
F.
Listen as Jesus throughout Scripture calls us to make time alone just with
Him…
1.
Song 2:10,13
2.
Mat 4:19-22
3.
Prov 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early
shall find me.
4.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search
for me with all your heart.
II.
I Gave You Several Examples
A.
Jacob was left alone, he got alone on purpose (Gen
32:22-24) – and it was THEN that God wrestled with him and changed him
and changed his circumstances
B.
God asked Moses to come up and be with Him ALONE for 40 days on Mt
Sinai (Ex 24:12; 32:1). When he came down, his face glowed (Ex 34:29)!
C.
God brought Job to a place where he was alone
D.
Jesus on purpose spent time alone often
E.
Elijah did most of his ministry ALONE (1Kings 19:14; Cf Rom
11:3)
F.
I think most if not all of God’s great men and women of the Bible were
great because of the “alone time” they spent with God
G.
Again – not that they were loners, but knew the importance of being alone
with the Almighty God!
H.
Evidently, time alone, just with God, is a good thing
1.
Before big decisions
2.
Like before getting engaged and getting married
3.
When carrying heavy burdens
4.
When dealing with loss
5.
Just before ministry – God sometimes sets you aside, and lets you be
alone, just with Him
III.
Last Time – We Looked at the Alone-Time of Saul of Tarsus (Gal 1:13-19)
A.
After Saul was Born Again (Gal 1:16-18)
1.
He was driven away by his own people in Damascus
2.
And then asked to leave by the Christians in Jerusalem
3.
And he ended up alone, in the desert, for 3 whole years!
B.
Saul’s Initial Time Alone
1.
Saul was truly alone - Solitary – far away from everyone and everything we
call civilisation
2.
It was THERE that Jesus did the best work in Saul of Tarsus. What did the
Lord Jesus do?
a.
Started over with Saul
b.
Humbled him
c.
Taught him real, trusting faith in Jesus!
d.
Taught Saul how to just talk with Jesus like the other disciples had done
when Jesus walked on this earth
e.
Retaught Saul the entire Old Testament
f.
Taught Saul the entire New Testament
before it was ever written
g.
Made a team worker out of him
h.
The Bible calls this time spent, Secret Prayer (Matt 6:6)
IV.
The Message
A.
Alone time with God is good for every person
1.
As I already said before, I think most if not all of God’s great men and
women of the Bible were great because of the “alone time” they spent
with God. Not that they were loners, but knew the importance of being
alone with the Almighty God!
2.
It pleases God when you make time just for Him (John 4:23). We were made
to bring pleasure and joy to God (Rev 4:11; Psalm 100:2)
3.
It helps clear your mind (Isaiah 26:3)
a.
Our brains need to rest and recharge in order to function as well as we
want them to. Processing and reflecting on what you are feeling and
struggling with.
b.
Constantly being ‘on’ doesn’t give your brain a chance to rest and
replenish itself – it will burn you out! Every Psychologist knows this
now! You should know it too!
c.
Just being by yourself, open, and honest and real, with no distractions
other than just God, and no schedule, will revitalize your mind and body
at the same time.
d.
NOT like yoga meditation! But Biblical meditation!
4.
It gets you to pray
a.
Who else are you going to talk to when you are solitary, and alone?
b.
Even atheists will find themselves talking to God when they are alone!
Angrily, but they do it often!
5.
It allows God to talk back to you! (John 10:27)
6.
It will strengthen you (Psalm 27:14)
7.
It settles things (In 2Cor 11, Paul settles all the struggle with the
thorn, and never struggles with it again)
8.
It changes you!
a.
Everyone I mentioned earlier were better men and women after their hard
time alone with just God
b.
So will you and I be!
B.
Make Your Own Time Alone (2Cor 6:14-18; Eph 3:14)
1.
Separating yourself from ANYTHING that would come between you and God
(2Cor 6:14-18)
a.
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally
yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
b.
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
c.
2Co 6:16 And what agreement
hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living
God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people.
d.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out
from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the
unclean thing; and I will receive you,
e.
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father
unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2.
Paul made time to pray (Eph 3:14; 1Thes 5:17)
a.
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow
my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
b.
1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
c.
He lived and practiced this!
C.
What to do when you have time alone with God
1.
Do as few things as possible. That is the whole point (“Be still”, Ps
46:10)
a.
It is like making time for your husband, or your wife
b.
NOT your kids, because they will want to DO, DO, DO something
2.
Keep a journal of thoughts you are struggling with, and truths you are
learning
a.
Write out what you are praying
b.
Record the memories of God’s answers
c.
Write out the promises of God that come to mind, to claim and believe with
all your heart
3.
Read your Bible
a.
Seriously, with the Bible being THE most published Book ever, it is the
worst crime that it is also the least read book of all time!
b.
Just read through some chapters of the Bible, reading aloud even, pausing
and listening at times for God to speak to your heart (Psalm 46:10)
4.
Make sure your body is reflecting your heart
a.
Prostrate, bowed, broken, humbled
b.
There is NOTHING professional looking about a man or woman, boy or girl
praying
c.
Reflect your worship of your Father in heaven
5.
Stop and ponder who God is at that moment – meditate on what you know
about God
a.
That He is God and YOU are NOT
b.
That He is mighty, and all powerful, and amazing, and awesome in every way
c.
That he is good
d.
That He only does wondrous things
e.
That He loves you
6.
Argue and wrestle all you need
a.
Paul later argued and wrestled over and over with Jesus about a thorn that
he could not get out of his life
b.
He got frustrated with Jesus for NOT taking it away
c.
But it was during that time of wrestling, that Paul learned that Jesus’
grace would only be available to him as long as he was weak, and
struggled with that thorn in his flesh!!!
7.
Pray through a list – of people’s names, of needs
8.
After it has all been said and done, draw closer and closer to the God who
invites you to come close to Him
a.
Prov 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early
shall find me.
b.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search
for me with all your heart.
c.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David
to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found
David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil
all my will.
d.
The goal MUST become seeking after GOD and not what you can get from God –
not even just all that you NEED from God, but seek after God!
e.
The truth is, when you have the Lord, you have HIS abilities to supply all
your needs
9.
Stay awhile – abide
a.
Stop panicking
b.
Stop worrying about what to do, and when everything needs to get done
c.
Mary knew this, and it took a while for Martha to learn it!
d.
One of the major accomplishments in YOUR life will be when you learn to
STOP fretting and panicking, and just stay in the place of abiding
prayer with Jesus!
10.
Worship Him
a.
Use words to tell Him how much He means to you – think about it… what DOES
He mean to you!
b.
Love Him with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength
11.
Decide to do whatever you have read in your Bible –
at least one thing should be evident!
12.
Bless and pray for others – intercede, supplicate,
pray for the needs of everyone you know
a.
Keep a list of people you know you should pray for
b.
Example of Bro John Crabb
13.
Then, Leave the old you, whatever you were when you
started, leave it all right there.
a.
This is very important
b.
If you are still the same old, angry, frustrated, defeated, depressed,
criticising, gossiping, back-talking, disrespectful person you were when
you went into secret prayer, then you wasted your time. You did NOT
spend time with Jesus
V.
Conclusion
A.
You are what you are when you are alone
B.
You will enjoy real time alone with God – more than you think!
1.
When Peter, James and John got to spend time alone just with Jesus high up
on the Mount of Transfiguration, they didn’t want to leave!
C.
Make sure your time alone with God is not just a once off
1.
It is THE ONLY source of great success in the ministry – secret prayer
2.
It is the only way that Christ can speak to you
D.
I have given you several Examples of God getting people alone, just with
Him. List them…
E.
Saul of Tarsus, right after he was Born Again was alone, in the desert,
for 3 whole years!
F.
Why?
1.
Because it was THERE that Jesus did the best work in Saul of Tarsus
2.
And it will be there that God, every day, does the greatest work in YOU:
a.
Starts over with you – his mercies are NEW every morning…
b.
Humbles you – no one to impress – just you and God
c.
Teach you real, trusting faith in Jesus!
d.
It is then that you can learn how to just talk with Jesus just like people
did when Jesus walked on this earth
e.
Teach you the fathomless truths of the Old Testament
f.
Teach you how to live the entire New Testament
g.
Become a team worker – you are not made alone to stay alone!
h.
Develop the life-habit of Secret Prayer
3.
Alone time with God is good for every person
4.
So, Make Your Own Time Alone
5.
And make sure to use your time alone with God wisely!
6.
Make THIS week, and every week from now on, a week of
secret prayer