Historical Posts
Private Devotion
Old - G E L N D J J R 1S 2S 1K 2K 1C 2C E N E J P P E S I J L E D H J A O J M N H Z H Z MNew - M M L J A R 1C 2C G E P C 1Th 2Th 1T 2T T P H J 1P 2P 1J 2J 3J J R - Topical - All - Archive
Introduction
1. Great men of God were noted for engaging in private devotion
a. Isaac meditated in the field at evening – Genesis 24:63
b. David prayed three times daily, meditated on his bed at night – Psalm 55:17; 63:6
c. Daniel’s custom was to pray three times daily – Daniel 6:10
2. Private devotion is encouraged by the Son of God…
a. Jesus sought solitary places at early morn and late night – Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12
b. He counseled His disciples to pray in secret – Matthew 6:6
Body
I. WHY HAVE PRIVATE DEVOTION?
A. TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD
1. God is found by those who seek Him
a. As David advised his son Solomon – 1 Chronicles 28:9
b. As Azariah told the king Asa – 2 Chronicles 15:2
2. God draws near to those who draw near to Him – James 4:8
3. Do you want a closer walk with God?
B. TO RECEIVE SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
1. We need spiritual nourishment in our lives – Matthew 4:4
a. Man cannot thrive on physical food alone
b. We need spiritual food that nourishes the soul
2. Spiritual growth comes from the Word of God – 1 Peter 1:23; 2:2
a. We are born again through the incorruptible seed
b. We continue to grow by the Word of God
3. God’s Word provides spiritual strength – Ephesians 6:10-17; cf. Psa119:7-11
a. We need God’s help to fight our spiritual battles
b. The Word of God provides such help!
4. Do you want a stronger, spiritual life?
C. TO FIND PEACE AND STABILITY
1. We live in a world filled with anxiety; prayer provides theantidote – Philippians 4:6-7
2. We live in a world filled with pitfalls; God’s Word keeps us from falling – Psalm 119:105,165
3. Do you want inner peace and outer stability?
II. HOW TO HAVE PERSONAL DEVOTION
A. FIND A TIME AND PLACE
1. The time may vary for different individuals
a. For “night owls”, the best time may be late at night, after the children are in bed
b. For “morning larks”, early morning before the children wake up might be better
c. The key is to find a quiet time, free from worldly distractions
2. The place may also vary for different people
a. Some may prefer a place outside, following the example of Jesus – Mark 1:35
b. Some may prefer a place inside, following the teaching of Jesus – Matthew 6:6
c. The key is to find a solitary place, free from worldly distractions
3. To develop a habit, the time and place should be the same each day
B. ENGAGE IN PRAYER, MEDITATION, AND PRAISE
1. Approach God in prayer
a. Thank Him for your blessings – cf. Colossians 4:2
b. Confess your sins – cf. 1 John 1:9
c. Make supplication for your needs – cf. Philippians 4:6
d. Intercede on behalf of others – cf. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
2. Spend time in meditation – contemplate on such things as:
a. The Lord Himself (His character) – Psalm 63:6
b. His wonderful Works (both creative and redemptive) – cf. Psalm 77:12
c. His revealed Word – Psalm 119:15,23,48,97-99,148
d. Things that are wholesome and praiseworthy – cf. Philippians 4:8
3. Praise God in song – perhaps aided by recorded hymns
a. A natural response to joy in the heart – cf. James 5:13
b. Making melody in your heart – cf. Ephesians 5:19
4. Talk with God through prayer, praise; listen to Him by contemplating His Word
Conclusion
1. Living in world filled with sin, there is much that would
a. Fill our lives with stress and anxiety
b. Pull us away from God and things that are good
2. Making room for private devotion in our lives, will help greatly to:
a. Walk closer with our Father in heaven
b. Receive strength of heart and peace of mind in doing His will
3. If David, a man after God’s own heart, and Jesus, the Son of God Himself, found it needful to spend time alone with God, how much more do we…!
“I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.” – Psalm 119:147-148
Discipline of Meditation – Philippians 04:08
Old - G E L N D J J R 1S 2S 1K 2K 1C 2C E N E J P P E S I J L E D H J A O J M N H Z H Z MNew - M M L J A R 1C 2C G E P C 1Th 2Th 1T 2T T P H J 1P 2P 1J 2J 3J J R - Topical - All - Archive
Introduction – Prayer – Meditation – Fasting – Singing – Fellowship – Giving
Text: Philippians 4:8
Introduction
1. In this series we have defined spiritual disciplines as
a. Spiritual exercises that bring one closer to God, to become more godly in character and behavior
b. Spiritual activities such as prayer, meditation, singing, giving, etc.
2. Our previous study examined the discipline of prayer
a. Noting especially the value of secret, simple, and steadfast prayer
b. In which we praise God, make supplication for our needs, and intercede for others
3. Closely tied to prayer is the disciple of meditation
a. A spiritual exercise practiced by men of God – Genesis 24:63; Psalm 1:1-2
b. A spiritual duty given to those who are Christians – Philippians 4:8; 1 Timothy 4:15
4. But some questions may come to mind
a. What exactly is meditation?
b. Why should we take time to meditate?
c. How should we meditate?
Body
I. MEDITATION IN THE BIBLE
A. WHAT IS NOT MEDITATION IN THE BIBLE
1. That practiced by many Eastern religions
a. Like Hinduism, Buddhism, or Transcendental Meditation
b. Where the object is to experience truth, peace, or being, usually inexpressible
2. That practiced by Christian mystics
a. Such as Quakers, and others often found among Catholics and Protestants
b. Who meditate to experience God, or to receive some revelation from God
3. Both Eastern and Christian mystical meditation usually seek to empty the mind so as to find or receive truth within (i.e., a subjective form of meditation)
B. WHAT IS MEDITATION IN THE BIBLE
1. To contemplate on truth or reality already revealed (i.e., an objective form of meditation)
2. For example, the man “after God’s own heart” is one who meditates on:
a. The Lord Himself – Psalm 63:6
b. His wonderful Works – Psalm 77:12
c. His revealed Word – Psalm 119:15,23,48,97-99,148
3. In the words of Paul, we are to meditate on “things” – Philippians 4:8
a. Things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report
b. Things that are of any virtue, and are praiseworthy
[There is a very real difference between Biblical meditation and that commonly practiced by many religions: Christian meditation dwells on that already revealed in creation or inspired revelation, whereas other forms of meditation seek some new truth or experience to be revealed. Understanding the difference, why is Biblical meditation important…?]
II. WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD MEDITATE
A. A SOURCE OF JOY AND STRENGTH
1. As seen from such passages like Psalm 1:1-3; Isaiah 40:28-31
2. This alone should motivate us to meditate more often
B. AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR TRANSFORMATION
1. The goal of the Christian is to become more like Christ – cf. Romans 8:29
2. This requires a “transformation” – Romans 12:1-2
3. But notice that this is possible only by “renewing the mind” – Romans 12:2
4. This “renewing” is possible only when we “set our minds” on proper things
a. On things above
b. Not on things on the earth – Colossians 3:1-2
5. Only then, when our minds are “set on things above”, will we be successful in completing the “transformation” which includes “putting off the old man” and “putting on the new man” – cf. Colossians 3:1-2 with Colossians 3:5-14
C. MANY FALL BECAUSE THEY MEDITATE ON THE WRONG THINGS
1. They “mind the things of the flesh”, which leads to “death” and “enmity with God” – cf. Romans 8:5-8
2. You cannot be a spiritual person if you “dwell” on carnal things
a. “Recent studies conducted by a Stanford University research team have revealed that ‘what we watch’ does have an effect on our imaginations, our learning patterns, and our behaviors.” – Denis Waitley, Seeds Of Greatness, p. 47-48
b. ” First we are exposed to new behaviors and characters. Next, we learn ` or acquire these new behaviors. The last and most crucial step is that we adopt these behaviors as our own.” – ibid.
c. “One of the most critical aspects of human development that we need to understand is the influence of ‘repeated viewing’ and ‘repeated verbalizing’ in shaping our future.” – ibid.
d. The information goes in, ‘harmlessly, almost unnoticed,’ on a daily basis, but we don’t react to it until later, when we aren’t able to realize the basis for our reactions.” – ibid.
e. “In other words, our value system is being formed without any conscious awareness on our part of what is happening!” – ibid.
f. “You are what you watch and think.” – ibid., p. 45
g. “If a sixty second commercial, by repeated viewing, can sell us a product, then isn’t it possible for a sixty minute soap opera or ‘smut- com’, by repeated viewing, to sell us a lifestyle?” – ibid., p. 47
3. Fill your mind with positive and spiritual thoughts if you really want to:
a. “renew the mind”
b. “be transformed”
[If Christians are to succeed, they must set their minds (meditate) on the things of the Spirit, on things above, where Christ is! Only then will they with God’s help put off the old man and put on the new man. Finally, a few thoughts on…]
III. HOW TO MEDITATE
A. FIND A QUIET TIME AND PLACE
1. For Isaac, it was in the field at evening – Genesis 24:63
2. For David, it was in bed during the night watches – Psalm 4:4; 63:6; 119:148
3. A time and place free from distraction
B. CONTEMPLATE SOMETHING OF VALUE
1. David focused his meditation on three things:
a. The Lord Himself – Psalm 63:6
b. His wonderful Works – Psalm 77:12
c. His revealed Word – Psalm 119:15, 23, 48, 97-99, 148
2. Paul mentioned things that possess virtue and are praiseworthy – Philippians 4:8
a. Whatever is noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report
b. Which could include devotional writings by uninspired authors
c. A subject or object worthy of mindful contemplation
C. LET THE BIBLE BE YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS
1. Read it contemplatively every day – Psalm 1:2; 119:15
2. Read it with a prayer in your heart – cf. Psalm 119:18
3. As you read, occasionally read it aloud to yourself
a. The Hebrew word in Psalm 1:2 for meditate means “to mutter”
b. Reading slowly and audibly helps to focus one’s mind on the words
4. As you read, you might ask yourself the following questions:
a. Is there some truth I should know from this verse?
b. How does this passage affect a previously held conviction?
c. Is there something I should stop doing in light of this verse?
d. Is there a practice I should change?
e. Is there a habit I ought to begin?
5. You might end with a prayer such as David’s – cf. Psalm 119:10
— “Hold the Word of God in your heart until it has affected every phase of your life…this is meditation.”
Conclusion
1. We find David praying in Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, “O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”