Destination - Meditation on the Word
Spiritual Disciplines • Sermon • Submitted
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1. There are many spiritual disciplines which can be practiced, but the main two are:
Prayer
The Word
Every believer has a desire to spend meaningful time in the word. But how?
2. Verses on the Word:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm1
Why does it say delight? Why meditation?
Meditation (muttering, reading in an undertone) + delight/joy are parallel ideas. What doe they tell us when put together?
Reading with a desire to really know.
Reading with a desire to encounter and worship the Lord.
Reading with a desire to be changed (conviction, encouragement, etc.).
Reading prayerfully.
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
What does it mean by, “implanted”? How about receiving with meekness?
Note: this verse may be more about the corporate ministry of the word, but it still gives us principles for private reading and meditation.
We must approach/receive God’s word sitting ‘below’ it, desiring to be judged by it, not judging it.
It must enter deep into the core of our being, from which it becomes extremely powerful for salvation.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Cor. 2:12-1
What do we need in order to understand God’s Word?
The Holy Spirit!
This is the doctrine of illumination: we are not sanctified and enlightened and changed by a direct ‘word’ from God (mysticism), but rather by God’s Spirit illuminating his word as we read, meditate, etc.
So the Spirit’s work of convicting us to Godly sorrow, encouraging us with hope, assuring us that God is our father, etc. is something that he does through the Word.
This may happen as we read and meditate, or at random times through memorized Scriptures, or just by taking the general, biblical truths that we have learned and applying them to us personally.
A point of application: we must realize our weakness and know that we do not have the power by ourselves to read the word as we should. We need the Spirit’s help. Thus, we should pray for help before reading!
Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
Additional points of practical application:
In meditation, don’t read more scripture than you can spiritually digest (or, choose one small portion of your daily reading for deeper thought).
Humbly ask questions of the passage: What does it tell me about God? What does it teach about Jesus? (Worship) How does it correct or convict me? (Repentance) How does it encourage my faith in God? How does it make me wiser?
Note: next week will be part 2: reading for knowledge.