Alone With God
To be left alone with God is a foretaste of Heaven, where we experience spiritual growth and intimacy with Him.
Charles E. Cowman emphasizes the importance of being alone with God, drawing examples from various biblical figures like Jacob, Elijah, Elisha, Joshua, Gideon, Jephthah, Moses, Cornelius, Peter, John the Baptist, and John the Beloved, who experienced significant encounters with God when they were alone. He highlights that being alone with God leads to spiritual growth, power, and the ability to pass on blessings to others. Cowman encourages believers to prioritize solitude with God in prayer, as it is in those moments that great dreams are birthed and accomplished.
Text
"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day" (Gen. 32:24).
Left alone! What different sensations those words conjure up to each of us. To some they spell loneliness and desolation, to others rest and quiet. To be left alone without God, would be too awful for words, but to be left alone with Him is a foretaste of Heaven! If His followers spent more time alone with Him, we should have spiritual giants again.
The Master set us an example. Note how often He went to be alone with God; and He had a mighty purpose behind the command, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray."
The greatest miracles of Elijah and Elisha took place when they were alone with God. It was alone with God that Jacob became a prince; and just there that we, too, may become princes--"men (aye, and women too!) wondered at" (Zech. 3:8). Joshua was alone when the Lord came to him. (Josh. 1:1) Gideon and Jephthah were by themselves when commissioned to save Israel. (Judges 6:11 and 11:29) Moses was by himself at the wilderness bush. (Exodus 3:1-5) Cornelius was praying by himself when the angel came to him. (Acts 10:2) No one was with Peter on the house top, when he was instructed to go to the Gentiles. (Acts 10:9) John the Baptist was alone in the wilderness (Luke 1:90), and John the Beloved alone in Patmos, when nearest God. (Rev. 1:9)
Covet to get alone with God. If we neglect it, we not only rob ourselves, but others too, of blessing, since when we are blessed we are able to pass on blessing to others. It may mean less outside work; it must mean more depth and power, and the consequence, too, will be "they saw no man save Jesus only."
To be alone with God in prayer cannot be over-emphasized.
"If chosen men had never been alone,
In deepest silence open-doored to God,
No greatness ever had been dreamed or done."
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Being Alone with God
- Examples of Spiritual Giants Who Were Alone with God
- The Consequences of Neglecting Time Alone with God
- We rob ourselves and others of blessing
- We must prioritize time alone with God to experience depth and power
Key Quotes
“To be left alone with God is a foretaste of Heaven!” — Charles E. Cowman
“If His followers spent more time alone with Him, we should have spiritual giants again.” — Charles E. Cowman
“If chosen men had never been alone, In deepest silence open-doored to God, No greatness ever had been dreamed or done.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- Prioritize time alone with God to experience spiritual growth and intimacy with Him.
- Make time for prayer and solitude, even if it means less outside work.
- Recognize the importance of being alone with God to experience depth and power.