Praying Alone In The Presence of Others: Luke 9:18
“18) And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”” Luke 9:18
For this section, I want to deal with the first two phrases in this verse; “while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him.”
Let’s be honest, this verse seems to have a contradiction. How could Jesus be praying alone and yet have His disciples with Him? The answer exposes a spiritual secret often seen in mature men and women of God.
Jesus could physically have the disciples with Him while at the same time in His spirit be alone with God. Let me say it another way; outward circumstance need not unplug inward communion with God! We can function in the physical realm and the spiritual realm at the same time.
I could argue that Jesus constantly maintained this dual connection between the physical realm and the spiritual realm simultaneously. He did not slip in and out of walking in the Spirit.
I suspect the continual flow of spiritual power in the life of Jesus was directly associated with His uninterrupted fellowship with His Father. He didn’t unplug from God so He could plug into people. He maintained them both!
According to 1 John 1:3-7, we are called into this same constant communion or fellowship with God. We are called to walk with God in the spirit and minister to people at the same time.
I have no other explanation for Luke 9:18. Jesus was able to be alone with God in prayer and have His disciples with Him at the same time.
This verse introduces us to a spiritual dynamic seldom considered. We can be 100% present in the physical realm and 100% present in the spiritual realm at the same time.
Nehemiah 2:4-5 captures this concept. Nehemiah was able to pray to the God of heaven and answer the king at the same time. He was plugged into both realms at the same time.
I encourage you to ponder this concept. It goes beyond multitasking. It is more like living with a panoramic view of biblical reality. It is being fully conscious of the physical realm and spiritual realm at the same time.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“18) And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”” Luke 9:18
For this section, I want to deal with the first two phrases in this verse; “while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him.”
Let’s be honest, this verse seems to have a contradiction. How could Jesus be praying alone and yet have His disciples with Him? The answer exposes a spiritual secret often seen in mature men and women of God.
Jesus could physically have the disciples with Him while at the same time in His spirit be alone with God. Let me say it another way; outward circumstance need not unplug inward communion with God! We can function in the physical realm and the spiritual realm at the same time.
I could argue that Jesus constantly maintained this dual connection between the physical realm and the spiritual realm simultaneously. He did not slip in and out of walking in the Spirit.
I suspect the continual flow of spiritual power in the life of Jesus was directly associated with His uninterrupted fellowship with His Father. He didn’t unplug from God so He could plug into people. He maintained them both!
According to 1 John 1:3-7, we are called into this same constant communion or fellowship with God. We are called to walk with God in the spirit and minister to people at the same time.
I have no other explanation for Luke 9:18. Jesus was able to be alone with God in prayer and have His disciples with Him at the same time.
This verse introduces us to a spiritual dynamic seldom considered. We can be 100% present in the physical realm and 100% present in the spiritual realm at the same time.
Nehemiah 2:4-5 captures this concept. Nehemiah was able to pray to the God of heaven and answer the king at the same time. He was plugged into both realms at the same time.
I encourage you to ponder this concept. It goes beyond multitasking. It is more like living with a panoramic view of biblical reality. It is being fully conscious of the physical realm and spiritual realm at the same time.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
