Alone

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,

Introduction

Recap last week, the tabernacle, the incense is once a year. Single priest was able to enter and meet with God.

Happy Valentines day, or the secret proxy war. sending flower to yourself.

Pro-tip: Just tell them, what you want.

Not everyone is alone by choice.

Being Alone is not punishment

Genesis 2:18 “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.””

The only thing he heard was God voice and it was good. He created from something He declared good. This the first time that God declared as not good. Alone and relating only unto himself.

Garden time, time to get good.

God has you in place, were you can only hear good things from Him.

When you have solitude, God is able bring things out of you.

Psalm 139:23–24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Except when it is 80,000 people are in solitary confinement .

One recent study found similar effects in Antarctic expeditioners: a shrinking hippocampus, hypothesized to be a result of the isolated and monotonous environment [50] (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7546459/

Solitude is not loneliness

Luke 9:18 “Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?””

You can be in a crowd and still be alone.

Solitude allows us to process grief

Matthew 14:1–12 “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.…”

Be business, is the enemy of Solitude .

Solitude prepares you for miracles

Matthew 14:24 “but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.”

Jesus come sea-walking in front of Peter

Solitude is commanded

Matthew 6:6–7 “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.”

Storeroom or pantry