Meditation

1. Meditation 6-4-06

2. Meditation? • Christians have abandoned the practice of meditation. It is tragic that the very word meditation, once regarded as a core discipline of Christianity that serves a crucial role in the work of prayer is now associated with unbiblical "New Age“ spirituality.

3. Consider • What is Meditation? • Are You growing through Meditation? • How do you fuel and govern it? • What does scripture say about it? • Are there examples of Meditation? • Are there applications in my life?

4. Not really Meditation, more like Mindlessness.

5. Meditation Defined • The word meditate or muse means to think about, consider, or reflect upon. “While I was musing the fire burned” David said (Ps. 39:3). It also can mean to murmur, to mutter, to make sound with the mouth. It is what happens when you are talking to yourself. • Psalm 77:6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired.

6. Buddhism, Hinduism, and New Age focus on the idea of emptying the mind, however real meditation is about filling the mind.

7. Meditation Fosters Growth • People are always thinking. Meditation is concentrating, focusing, and controlling thoughts. • Spiritual growth is part of normal Christian life. Believers are exhorted to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ“ (2 Pet. 3:18). • Col 3:1 “set your hearts on things above.” How can this be accomplished? Meditation. • One hindrance to growth among Christians today is our failure to cultivate spiritual knowledge. We fail to give enough time to prayer and Bible-reading, and we have abandoned the practice of meditation.

8. The Thinker

9. Meditation in the Bible • Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening Gen 24:63 • Despite Joshua‘s demanding task of supervising the conquest of Canaan, the Lord commanded Joshua to meditate on the book of the law day and night so that he might do all that was written in it (Josh. 1:8). Too busy is no excuse! • The term meditation occurs more often in the Psalms than in all other books of the Bible put together. Psalm 1 calls the man blessed who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. In Psalm 63:6, David speaks of remembering the Lord on his bed and meditating on Him in the night watches. Psalm 119:148 says: “My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.”

10. Schedule Your Meditation • Joshua, as a busy commander, was ordered by God to meditate on His law day and night, shouldn‘t we do the same? • Morning is an excellent time, because your meditations then will set the tone for the remainder of the day. Job went out in the morning thinking: • “Perhaps my children • have sinned” Job 1:5

11. Schedule Your Meditation 2 • Evenings may be more fruitful. Isaac went out in the evening to meditate Gen. 24:63 • Psalm 4:4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. • The days worries and pressures are behind you, and you are preparing to rest in the sweet comfort and security of God.

12. Meditation and Imagination • Meditation involves the imagination. Consider the Lord’s Supper: What sights were there? What were the noises, the scents? What fabric patterns? • Fuel for Meditation arises from experiences, scriptural study, interaction with others, sermons. • Meditation on a deep subject involves discoursing with yourself. Countering arguments in your mind. • Note: When the mind is free it roams and plays. Scripture has to be the standard to rein our thoughts in.

13. “Zoning out” “Mind is elsewhere” “Not with it” “Spacing out” “Day Dreaming”

14. Study vs. Meditation • Study is finding a bit of truth, meditation is self improvement based on a truth; one searches for the vein of gold, the other digs out and processes the gold. • When we fail to meditate, we slight God and His Word and reveal that we are not godly. • You can read and study all day, but without meditation the words will fade, the memory goes, the heart hardens, and all is lost. • Meditation is lacking in Christianity. It is like taking a nice chunk of meat and swallowing it without chewing. No wonder the world keeps feeding their followers milk!

16. Meditation in Worship • Meditation is acting upon and applying what was learned. • Meditation is a tool for mind control. Worry? Stress? Self-control begins with disciplining the mind. • Meditation is a self examination. Especially during prayer, lord's supper, teaching. • Think of the tie to prayer. In your mind you are focusing on communication and communion with God. Sometimes this is not out loud.

17. The Link to Prayer • 1 Cor 14:15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. • 1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. • Eph 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints • Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19. Found in scriptures • Dan 9:20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill - while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray…” • Rebekah comes out while Abraham's servant was praying. • God interrupts Elijah, Elisha, Hezekiah, Nehemiah, Job, Jonah, Ezra, Solomon, David during prayer. • Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard.

20. More From Scriptures • Peter praying on the roof fell into a kind of trance • Hunger can interfere, but fasting plays a part also • Why would sexual thoughts hinder prayer? • Epaphras “wrestling in prayer for you” • Paul often used the phrase “remember you in my prayers” • Peters release, Paul and Silas - Prayer and Praise • Acts 10:30 Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me”

21. Did Jesus Meditate? • Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. • Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. • Garden at Night:Jesus went about a stones throw away to pray.

22. Location is Important • Solitary place, Lonely place, Stones throw. • Abraham went off to worship on the mountain. • Isaac went out into the field Half

23. The World’s Problem • Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. • Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. • Phillipians 3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

24. The World’s Problem 2 • Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. • Jude 1:10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals-- these are the very things that destroy them.

25. Sometimes you can tell what they are thinking.

26. Practical Application • Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things. • Heb 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. • Rom 11:22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness • Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... 3 Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.

27. Practical Application 2 • 2 Peter 3:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. • 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive everythought to make it obedient to Christ. • Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

28. Practical Application 3 • 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. • Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. • Eph 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

29. Enlightened • 2 Corinthians 1:14 as you have understood us in part, you will come tounderstand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. • 1 John 5: 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true-- even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

30. Enlightened 2 • Colossians 2:2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. • I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

31. Enlightened 3 • 1 Corinthians 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. • We have the mind of Christ.

33. Conclusion • Meditation is not what the world thinks • Meditation fosters spiritual growth • Should be fueled with study and governed by scripture • Should be scheduled, morning and evening at a location • Is well supported in scriptural commands and examples • Is key to the control of our minds and selves • Meditation is a direct part of prayer • Meditation is crucial to digesting spiritual thoughts • Understanding or enlightenment is the end state

34. Meditate on • Psalm Readings, not Palm Readings!

35. Psalm 119 • 7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. • 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. • 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. • 23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decree • 24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

36. Psalm 119 • 27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. • 30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. • 34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. • 48 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. • 59 I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.

37. Psalm 119 • 73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. • 78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts. • 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. • 97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. • 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.

38. Psalm 119 • 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. • 109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. • 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple • 148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. • 152 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever. • 164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.