In Col 2:5 Paul wrote, “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ”.  He was absent yet with them in spirit.  He couldn’t be with them in the flesh because he was in Rome when he wrote this.

Imagine, back then they didn’t have instant communication like we have today.  Letters had to be delivered. In this case, Tychicus and Onesimus wrote this epistle for Paul.  They were the ones who undoubtedly delivered it, Col 4:7-9.

And yet Paul said, “yet am I with you in spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ”.  This is an amazing testimony, because it indicates that Paul was so connected to the Colossians “in spirit” that it was as if he were there with them.  In this age of speedy communication, we seem to be less connected spiritually than Paul was.

Our relationship with each other in our church should certainly be this close, since we are here together in the flesh.  We should truly “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep”, Rom 12:15.  We are aware of each other’s rejoicing and weeping because we are together.

Furthermore, we should be “in spirit” with our missionaries like Paul was “in spirit” with the Colossians.  After all, we and our missionaries are members one of another in the body of Christ.  We are absent yet with them.

In 1 Cor 12:25-27, we are members of the body of Christ and should “care one for another”.  We should suffer when one of our members suffers and rejoice when one of our members is honored, just like we do in our physical bodies.

You know how it is with your personal prayer list.  There are some names that stir something deep in your spirit.  I have texted some friends on occasion and had them reply that the text was timely. It was as if I knew they needed that word of encouragement or that text at just that moment.  I’m sure that you have had the same experience.  This comes when you’re absent yet with them.

There are so many testimonies from missionaries of people praying for them at just such a time when there was some unusual need of which the people praying had no prior knowledge.  It was something the spirit did because of their care for the missionary.  The people praying were absent yet with them.

How do we accomplish this?  I believe the answer is in Heb 13:3.

When Paul wrote Hebrews, he said, “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body”.

Notice, “as bound with them” and “as being yourselves also in the body”.  You are with them in spirit when you take their place with them whether they are in bonds, in adversity, or in order, like the Colossians were.

When you are at the hospital, for example, or at someone’s home during a critical period, you feel, to some degree, what they feel and you experience what they are experiencing.  You are “with them”.  And they are comforted by your presence.

It appears from the verses we’re expounding tonight, that it is possible to be “with them” in spirit, even though you are absent from them in the flesh.  This is something that the Spirit of God can accomplish when you have them in your heart, Phil 1:7.  Get a missionary in your heart and be absent yet with them as they serve God.