The Discipline of Silence and Solitude

Opening

1 Timothy 4:7 ESV

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

Review

Prayer

We pray with an awareness that we do so from earth’s perspective ans with acknowledgement of God’s perspective

We pray with the awareness that Jesus is also interceding for us on our behalf

We pray with the awareness of temptation

Scripture intake and meditation- “The reason we come away so cold from reading scripture is because we do not warm ourselves at the fire of meditation.”- Puritan Pastor Thomas Watson

Time- is precious

It’s preparation for eternity

It’s short

It’s uncertain

It’s passing

5 Characteristics of Spiritual Disciplines

1. Personal and Corporate

2. Doing and Being

3. Modeled in the Bible and Promoted in Scripture

4. Derived from the Gospel

5. Means, Not End

The Element of Time applies

The average American spend 7 hours 4 minutes a day in screen time

Of that 3 hours 30 minutes are connected to our phones

The average person can’t go one hour without checking their phone

In this technology age the ability to practice silence and solitude becomes increasingly difficult because we are connected to an endless stream of information and distraction

Donald Whitney questions how many prayers have been lost or opportunities for self awareness and introspection because of technology

It’s not just that practicing these disciplines has become more difficult its that our society has a very real aversion to silence and solitude

Aversion to Silence and Solitude

Studies have shown that even as little as two minutes of silence and solitude a day can help lower anxiety, depression, blood pressure etc

- With little practice being alone, many people find themselves anxious and unsure of what to do in the absence of external stimuli and noise. There’s an immediate urge to grab the cell phone or turn on a radio or TV – anything but silence.

- Research from the University of Virginia reviewed almost a dozen studies finding that people would rather do mundane tasks than spend less than 15 minutes in a room alone. Doing anything seemed preferable to sitting with their own thoughts and feelings.

-Researchers also found that about two-thirds of the men and a about 25% of the women studied were so fearful of even 15 minutes alone that they opted to give themselves electric shocks instead.

Missionary Jim Elliot is quoted as saying “The devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry, crowds… Satan is quite aware of the power of silence.”

What are Silence and Solitude

Silence

The Discipline of silence is the voluntary and temporary abstention from speaking so that certain spiritual goals might be sought.

Sometimes silence is observed in order to read, write, pray, and so on. Though there is no outward speaking, there are internal dialogues with self and with God. This can be called “outward silence.”

Other times silence is maintained not only outwardly but also inwardly so that God’s voice might be heard more clearly.

Solitude

Solitude is the Spiritual Discipline of voluntarily and temporarily withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes.

The period of solitude may last only a few minutes or for days. As with silence, solitude may be sought in order to participate without interruption in other Spiritual Disciplines, or just to be alone with God.

The Value of Silence and Solitude

In his book “The Still Hour” Austin Phelps wrote, 'It has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often long alone with God.'"

Dallas Willard calls silence and solitude- “The most radical of the disciplines for life in the spirit.”

1. Following Jesus Example

Jesus did what he saw his father doing and said what his father said- how did he do that- silence and solitude

John 5:19 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

John 12:49–50 ESV

For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

For Strength

Matthew 4:1 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Luke 4:1 ESV

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness

Luke 4:14 ESV

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.

Jesus when into the wilderness full of the Spirit and returned in the power of the spirit

Moses was transformed in the wilderness

Paul also- Galatians 1:17

For Physical and Spiritual Restoration

Matthew 14:23 ESV

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

After the feeding of the 5,000

Mark 6:31 ESV

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

Luke 4:42 ESV

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them,

This may be one of the more challenging elements of practicing silence and solitude

- Donald Whitney

“Put yourself in Jesus’ sandals for a moment. People are clamoring for your help and have many real needs. You are able to meet all those needs. Can you ever feel justified in pulling away to be alone? Jesus did. We love to feel wanted. We love the sense of importance/power/indispensability (pick one) that comes from doing something no one else can do. But Jesus did not succumb to those temptations. He knew the importance of disciplining Himself to be alone.”

There was work that could have been done, needs that needed met and Jesus could have met them, but he withdrew

For the Purpose of Prayer

Mark 1:35 ESV

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Luke 5:16 ESV

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

In times of Grief or Distress

When he got word of John the Baptist death

Matthew 14:13 ESV

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

Before his crucifixion

Luke 22:39–44 ESV

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Before making a Decision or to Discern the Will of God

This could piggy back off of the Garden being a time of practicing solitude to pray, in times of distress and to seek the will of God

Also would be prior to choosing his disciples

Luke 6:12–13 ESV

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

Conclusion 1

The practice of these disciplines because they were modelled by Jesus and we follow his example-

Silence and Solitude practice for

Strengthening

Restoration

Prayer

Grief and Distress

Decision making

2. To Hear the Voice of Heaven Better

God speaks to Elijah in a cave on Mt. Horeb

1 Kings 19:11–13 ESV

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

The Devil shouts because he is far off and to frighten us, God whispers because he is close

Habakkuk 2:1 (ESV)

I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

Paul after his conversion did not immediately go to Jerusalem- the religious epicenter instead he went into desert country

Galatians 1:15–17 ESV

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

3. To Seek the Salvation of the Lord

Lamentations 3:25–28 (ESV)

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;

I commend solitude to any of you who are seeking salvation, first, that you may study well your case as in the sight of God. Few men truly know themselves as they really are. Most people have seen themselves in a looking-glass, but there is another looking-glass, which gives true reflections, into which few men look. To study one’s self in the light of God’s Word, and carefully to go over one’s condition, examining both the inward and the outward sins, and using all the tests which are given us in the Scriptures, would be a very healthy exercise; but how very few care to go through it! - C.H. Spurgeon

We should be encouraging the seeker to spend time in the practice of solitude

4. To Control the Tongue

Ecclesiastes 3:7 (ESV)

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

James 1:19 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

James 3:2 ESV

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Control of the tongue equates to Christlike control of the body

In a fast we might realize that much of the food we eat is unnecessary

Likewise with our words, in silence we realize that much of what we say is unnecessary

Silence sharpens our listening and observation skills so that when we do speak our words are more meaningful

Conclusion 2

These disciplines are valuable to practice because:

1. We are following Jesus

2. They help us hear the voice of God

3. To seek the salvation of the Lord

4. To control the tongue

All for the purpose of godliness

Also, silence and solitude help with the other disciplines like prayer and meditation

Suggestions

Minute Retreats- turn the routine into the Holy

Waiting in line at the grocery store, in the car at a red light, during meal time prayer

Not just a catch your breath moment these are looking to Christ moments

Getting away-

unplug

have a schedule or agenda, read a book, your bible etc

don’t wait to practice this until you have gotten away to a somewhere

Identifying a Special place-

Retire from the world each day to some private spot, even if it be only the bedroom (for a while I retreated to the furnace room for want of a better place). Stay in the secret place till the surrounding noises begin to fade out of your heart and a sense of God’s presence envelops you… Listen for the inward Voice till you learn to recognize it. Stop trying to compete with others. Give yourself to God and then be what and who you are without regard to what others think… Learn to pray inwardly every moment. After a while you can do this even while you work… Read less, but more of what is important to your inner life. Never let your mind remain scattered for very long. Call home your roving thoughts. Gaze on Christ with the eyes of your soul. Practice spiritual concentration. All the above is contingent upon a right relation to God through Christ and daily meditation on the Scriptures. Lacking these, nothing will help us; granted these, the discipline recommended will go far to neutralize the evil effects of externalism to make us acquainted with God and our own souls. -A.W. Tozer

Conclusion

Some are greatly affected when in company; but have nothing that bears any manner of proportion to it in secret, in close meditation, prayer and conversing with God when alone, and separated from the world. A true Christian doubtless delights in religious fellowship and Christian conversation, and finds much to affect his heart in it; but he also delights at times to retire from all mankind, to converse with God in solitude. And this also has peculiar advantages for fixing his heart, and engaging his affections.

-Jonathan Edwards