The Discipline of The Discipline of MeditationMeditation

By Shepherd PhillipBy Shepherd Phillip

Do not let this Book of the law depart Do not let this Book of the law depart

from your mouth; from your mouth; meditatemeditate on it on it day and night, so that you may be day and night, so that you may be

careful to do everything written in it. careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and Then you will be prosperous and

successful. Joshua 1:8successful. Joshua 1:8

Meditation – No, not this. Meditation – No, not this.

Christian MeditationChristian Meditation

• Christian Meditation is Christian Meditation is simplysimply the ability the ability

to to hearhear God’s voice and God’s voice and obeyobey his his word. word.

• The Creator of all things desires our The Creator of all things desires our fellowship! fellowship!

• Examples - Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Noah, Examples - Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Noah, Abraham and Moses.Abraham and Moses.

UnfortunatelyUnfortunately

Israelites to Moses “Speak to us Israelites to Moses “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will not have God speak to us or we will die.” Exodus 20:19 die.” Exodus 20:19

Jesus teaching on Jesus teaching on MeditationMeditation

• ““Listen to me everyone and Listen to me everyone and understand this.” Mark 7:14understand this.” Mark 7:14

• ““Therefore, consider carefully how you Therefore, consider carefully how you listen” Luke 8:18listen” Luke 8:18

• ““My sheep listen to my voice” Jn 10:27My sheep listen to my voice” Jn 10:27• Told us that the comforter would Told us that the comforter would

come, the spirit of truth, who would come, the spirit of truth, who would guide us into all truth (John 16:13).guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

Purpose of Meditation and Purpose of Meditation and some common some common misconceptionsmisconceptions

Spiritual DisciplinesSpiritual DisciplinesPresented byPresented by

By Shepherd AquilaBy Shepherd Aquila

Psalm 1:2Psalm 1:2

•But his delight is in the But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on law of the LORD, and on his law he his law he meditatesmeditates day and night. day and night.

Joshua1:8Joshua1:8

• Do not let this Do not let this Book of the LawBook of the Law

depart from your mouth; depart from your mouth; meditatemeditate on it day and night, so that you may be on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be Then you will be prosperousprosperous and and

successfulsuccessful. .

Purpose of meditationPurpose of meditation• Growing into a familiar friendship with Growing into a familiar friendship with

Jesus – It’s all about relationship…Jesus – It’s all about relationship…

1.1. Abraham was God’s friend (Gen18:17)Abraham was God’s friend (Gen18:17)2.2. Moses spoke face to face with God Moses spoke face to face with God

(Ex34:29-35)(Ex34:29-35)3.3. David was called a man after God’s David was called a man after God’s

own heart (1 Sam13:14; Act13:22)own heart (1 Sam13:14; Act13:22)4.4. Jesus called his disciples friends Jesus called his disciples friends

(Jn15:15; 21:5)(Jn15:15; 21:5)

Put into deep watersPut into deep waters

Meditation is sinking into the Meditation is sinking into the light light and and lifelife of of JesusJesus and becoming comfortable in that and becoming comfortable in that posture – posture – Thomas A KempisThomas A Kempis

Environment makingEnvironment making

• Meditation creates an Meditation creates an emotionalemotional and and spiritualspiritual space that allows Christ construct space that allows Christ construct

an an inner sanctuaryinner sanctuary in the heart - in the heart -

““I stand at the door and knock…” (Rev 3:20)I stand at the door and knock…” (Rev 3:20)

Contact…Contact…

Inner TransformationInner Transformation

• Inward fellowship of this kind transforms the Inward fellowship of this kind transforms the inner personinner person

1.1. 2 Co 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the 2 Co 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.the Spirit.

1.1. -Act 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John -Act 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.had been with Jesus.

Understandable Understandable misconceptionsmisconceptions

• Christian meditation as opposed to Christian meditation as opposed to meditation in Eastern religionsmeditation in Eastern religions

• Maybe it is too difficult – leave it for Maybe it is too difficult – leave it for the professionalsthe professionals

• It is too impractical – not in touch It is too impractical – not in touch with the 21with the 21stst century century

• A religious form of psychological A religious form of psychological manipulationmanipulation

It comes through practiceIt comes through practice • Inner reality is available to those who Inner reality is available to those who

search…that has been search…that has been my own my own personal experiencepersonal experience

• We need to take an experiential We need to take an experiential attitude toward spiritual realitiesattitude toward spiritual realities

1.1. hypothesize hypothesize 2.2. ExperimentExperiment3.3. Keep tryingKeep trying• Listen carefully to the word of God…Listen carefully to the word of God…

Desiring the Living Voice of Desiring the Living Voice of GodGodBy Shepherd PaulBy Shepherd Paul

• ““Only to sit and Only to sit and thinkthink of God, oh of God, oh what what joyjoy it is!” – it is!” – Frederick W. FaberFrederick W. Faber

Desiring the Living Voice of Desiring the Living Voice of GodGod• ““Human beings seem to have a perpetual tendency to Human beings seem to have a perpetual tendency to

have have somebody elsesomebody else talk to God for them.” talk to God for them.”

• ““AllAll who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord are the who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord are the universal universal priesthoodpriesthood of God and as such can enter the of God and as such can enter the Holy of Holies and Holy of Holies and converseconverse with the living God.” with the living God.”

• The The contemplationcontemplation of the saints is fired by the of the saints is fired by the lovelove of the of the one contemplated: that is, God.” – one contemplated: that is, God.” – Albert the GreatAlbert the Great

Desiring the Living Voice of Desiring the Living Voice of GodGod• ObservationObservation:: The author encourages us to overcome The author encourages us to overcome

our tendency to remain distant from God and instead our tendency to remain distant from God and instead draw neardraw near to him with a to him with a love relationshiplove relationship- and - and listen for listen for his voicehis voice..

  

• QuestionQuestion:: Is this meditation or prayer or both? Is this meditation or prayer or both?

Sanctifying the ImaginationSanctifying the Imagination

• ““God created us with an God created us with an imaginationimagination,, and as Lord of his and as Lord of his creation he can and does redeem it and use it for the creation he can and does redeem it and use it for the work of the kingdom of God.”work of the kingdom of God.”

• Allow a passage of Scripture to take root in you through Allow a passage of Scripture to take root in you through imaginationimagination:: Seek to live the experience as if through Seek to live the experience as if through the senses. the senses.

Sanctifying the ImaginationSanctifying the Imagination

• ObservationsObservations: :

Our imagination can help us Our imagination can help us connect to the Scripturesconnect to the Scriptures- - and and connect with Godconnect with God -so that we can experience God’s -so that we can experience God’s truth more personally.truth more personally.

Preparing to Meditate and Forms of Meditation By Shepherd David

Preparing Preparing TimeTime to Meditate to Meditate

1.1. “ “Pray without ceasing: 1 Thes 5:17: Pray without ceasing: 1 Thes 5:17: Any time can be, at least one set Any time can be, at least one set time.time.

Preparing a Preparing a PLACEPLACE to to MeditateMeditateIdeal is quiet with nothing to disturb.Ideal is quiet with nothing to disturb.

Preparing a Preparing a PosturePosture to to MeditateMeditate3. Comfortable, healthy and mentally 3. Comfortable, healthy and mentally

alertalert

Four suggestive: Forms of Four suggestive: Forms of Meditation: Meditation:

Meditate on a text in the Meditate on a text in the BibleBible• Example: ”Do not let your hearts be Example: ”Do not let your hearts be

troubled. Trust in God; trust also in troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” Jn 14:1me.” Jn 14:1

• Take root in the text by mediating Take root in the text by mediating daily on the same text for about a daily on the same text for about a week.week.

• Autobiographic a bible text: “One Autobiographic a bible text: “One thing I know. I was blind but now I thing I know. I was blind but now I see.” Jn 9:25 Personalize the text.see.” Jn 9:25 Personalize the text.

Re-Collection or centering Re-Collection or centering down mediation down mediation

• Begin by placing your Begin by placing your palms downpalms down as a symbolic indication of our desire as a symbolic indication of our desire to turn over any concern we have to to turn over any concern we have to God.God.

• After several moments turn palms up After several moments turn palms up as a symbol of receiving from the as a symbol of receiving from the Lord.Lord.

Meditating on God’s Meditating on God’s CreationCreation

• ““““For since the creation of the world For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature- have been power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

Meditate on events of our time.Meditate on events of our time.

• News Paper in one hand and a bible News Paper in one hand and a bible in another.in another.

• Meditate on Jesus in the mist of Meditate on Jesus in the mist of storms we have no control over.storms we have no control over.

Apostle Paul given prophetic Apostle Paul given prophetic encouragement.encouragement.

• ““Last night an angel of the God Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Acts 27:24who sail with you.” Acts 27:24

Martin Luther King Jr prison Martin Luther King Jr prison meditationsmeditations

• Never before have I written so long a Never before have I written so long a letter. I'm afraid it is much too long to letter. I'm afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he sits alone in a narrow one do when he sits alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long think long thoughts and pray long prayers.prayers.