Lesson 14: MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF GOD-PART 2

MEMORY VERSE-“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for l am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
LESSON TEXT-Psalm 1:1-3

INTRODUCTION

The Bible was given to us by God to be read and meditated on. In these days of instant noodles, microwaves and fast food, holy exercise of reflecting or pondering over God’s Word is no longer common among Christians. Meditation is the key to Christian maturity and fruitfulness. Heb 5: 12-14. A good Christian must chew the word of God in Meditation just as an animal chews its cud to get its sweetness and nutritive virtue. Today most Christians’ devotions are done in hurry or rushed. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”Psa.119:103.

LESSON OUTLINE

1. REASONS TO MEDITATE ON THE SCRIPTURES
2. THE ART OF MEDITATION
3. APPLICATION OF MEDITATION

LESSON CONTENT

A. REASONS TO MEDITATE ON THE SCRIPTURES
Babes drink milk but mature Christians chew meat and crack bone-mediation is the act of chewing spiritual meat and bones so that we could get all the sweetness and nourishment from Spiritual food. 1 Pet. 2: 2; Psa. 119: 103; Heb 5: 12-14. Spiritual Meat of the Word of God Jn. 4: 31-33; Jn. 6: 27
·Eating without chewing properly would lead to indigestion.
·Continuous indigestion would lead to constipation
·Chronic constipation would lead to intestinal obstruction disease (Severe pain, Vomiting and diarrhea, infection confusion, loss of consciousness, etc.
ii. His thoughts are different from our thoughts. Isa. 55: 8-9.You need to renew your mind so that you could be heavenly minded.Meditating on God’s word renews or reprograms our minds, exchanges our ideas for God’s, so we can begin to experience God’s ways. Isa. 55: 8; Rom. 12: 1.
iii. The way to grow your faith is by meditating on the word of Goc because faith comes by hearing, Rom. 10:17
iv. Knowledge and understanding of Gods words come by the Spirit in the place of meditation. Letter kills, spirit gives life.
Psa.19: 7. It is a means of better knowing and understanding the Word which gives insight to life itself. Psa. 49: 3; 119:27
v. It produces spiritual stability and fruitfulness or success according to biblical standards. Josh. 1: 7; Psa. 1: 2-3. In the time of trial and persecution, meditating on God’s word gives peace and shines light. Ps 119:78
vi. Meditation is the key to inspiration The Bible is God breathed and each word and sentence has a purpose and function. Psa.119:99
vii. Meditation makes us teachers of the word and not babes. Psa.119:97 Heb 5: 12-13

B. THE ART OF MEDITATION
i. Biblical meditation is the art of reflection, of pondering and going over the Word of God in one’s mind.
ii. Select a quiet, still and solitude place for meditating on God’s Word.
·There are three times during the day we can actively turn our minds over to God’s Word in Christian Meditation.At bed time just before one falls asleep at night. Make God’s Word be the last thing that occupies your mind,Psa.4:4;Psa.63:6;Lk.21:37
·At waking time, one can start the day meditating on a portion of God’s word, Gen. 19: 27, Psa.77:6 Psa.119:148,Lk 21:38
·Thirdly at specific time set aside for Bible study and thinking on the Word each day, Gen. 24:63; Psa.27:4;
iii. Select a verse or two and reflect on it over and over in your mind,Josh.1:7
iv. Three things to do: a-Reading the bible b-Reflecting on what you read,c-Respond to it. This is by making personal application of our observations and understanding of the text.

C. APPLICATION OF MEDITATION
Through meditation we internalize God’s Word so that it could become personal or real in our daily work as Christians by answering the following questions.
i. How does this truth apply to my life in four spheres: in my personal life, in mny family, at work, in my church, and in my neighborhood?Matt.7:1-5
ii. In view of this truth, what specific changes should I make in my life? Heb. 4:12.
iii. How do I want to carry out these changes? We need to be specific here. James 1:22
iv. There are three major things that militate against good meditation time a. Noise b. Hurry c. Crowd.

CONCLUSION

One important thing the Bible tells us to do is to think about God’s Word. Our thoughts determine our behavior ad so what we think about is very important. Phil. 4: 8 “Meditation refocuses us from ourselves and from the world so that we reflect on God’s Word, His nature, His abilities, and His works. The goal is simply to permit the Holy Spirit to activate the life-giving Word of God” Bruce Demarest

QUESTIONS

1. Mention 5 reasons a good Christian should meditate on God’s Word?
2. What are the practical things to do in other to have a good meditation time?
3. List the 3 things that militate against good meditation time?
4. How can one internalize to personalize the Word of God?

ASSIGNMENT

Students should prepare to explain their experiences on the Word of God they meditated on within the last one week