Bible Study: "Meditating on God's Word" Week # 2

Prayer:

Father God, we realize it is so important to come into Your presence to find peace for the mind. Bless us, Lord, to have the opportunity to come into Your presence and stay awhile as we meditate on Your Word. Help us to know the importance of this worship to You. Bless our time not to be interrupted. In Jesus' name we pray. AMEN.

Scripture:         Joshua 1:8, Matthew 22: 37

Lesson:    "Effective Meditation has four Requirements"

Effective meditation has four requirements.

1).      Priority. The devil will try to thwart our efforts to focus on God's Word because he knows we are absorbing it into our souls. If meditation is not a priority in our lives, we probably won't do it.

2).     Place. We need a private place to meet alone with God.

3).     Purpose. The purpose of meditation is to hear from the Lord. When we concentrate on His Word and seek His guidance, He sometimes uses very specific passages of Scriptures to answer our requests. Once we've understood what He's told us, our trust in Him increases and our worries lessen.

4).     Plan. We must set aside a time to meet with the Lord privately to read His Word, ask for direction, and listen for His voice. This opportunity to be alone with Him will soon become the most precious part of each day as we learn to know almighty God more intimately and hear Him speak to us personally through Scripture.

Devote Your Mind:

Matthew 22:37 says, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."

What does it means to love God with your mind? It means, first of all, to understand that the mind is important.

We evangelicals characteristically pit our heart against our head. And we opt for the heart as being more spiritual than the head.

But the Bible calls us to develop our thinking process to its fullest potential. We must learn to love the Lord our God with all our minds.

Our faith is not simply about feelings. When we study God's Word, we must put our heart into it. AMEN. And when we worship the Lord, we must put our mind into it.  It's not the heart vs. the mind. It's both!!

Your Assignment:   Questions:

1).        Why do the devil interrupt our meditation on God's Word?

2).       How should we meet with God?

3).       What is the purpose of meditation on God's Word?

4).       Can God speak to us through the Scriptures, Yes or No?

5).        Name four exercises of your choice of this study.

6).       Find a reference to Matthew 22:37.

7).        What does it means to love God with your mind?

8).       The Bible calls us to ____ our ___ ___ to its fullest ___.

9).       When we study God's Word we must put our ___into it.

10).     The mind and heart works together when we ____ God.

Setting aside a time:

Daily Exercises:      Personal Time with God

Song:

Prayer:

Write down and meditate on one of God's Characters:

Scripture Worship:

Scripture Memory:

Scripture Reading:

Daily Devotion Reading:

God's Promise Today:

Spiritual Goal in life:

Ultimate Goal in Life:

Daily Goal Today:

Speak it Now:

Healing Confession:

The Lord's Prayer:

The Lord's Supper:

Read Psalm 23:

Read Matthew 18:18

Pray Matthew 18:18 for someone:

My Personal Confession Today:

Prayer Focus:

Ending Song:

Pause:

Record what God spoke to you:

SHARING WEEK # 2

Let's talk about "How Should We Wait?" by Charles Stanley

I think this is a good way to meditate on God's Word!

KEY PASSAGE: Various Scriptures from the Psalms

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: Psalm 25:3 | Psalm 27:13-14 | Psalm 37:9 | Psalm 40:1-3 | Psalm 62:1 | Psalm 62:5 | Psalm 130:5 | Isaiah 40:28-31 | Matthew 7:7 | 1 John 5:14-15

SUMMARY

Whether you're about to make a purchase or facing an emergency, the last thing you want to do is wait.

In fact, today having what we want immediately is almost the norm. What we once waited a month to receive is now available the same day. Although this is very convenient, it has also led to a moral decline, including the actions of people who aren't willing to wait for sex until marriage. Furthermore, it has resulted in the selfish conclusion that we should always get what we want right away.

SERMON POINTS

God doesn't work by this world's standards. Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord." This command is given to us because God knows that it's not easy for us to wait, especially if we've already had to do so for an extended period of time.

God speaks often about waiting because it's important and essential for every area of our lives—in our relationships, finances, physical life, and spiritual life. That's why Scripture often admonishes us to wait for the Lord. It's one of the key lessons in the Bible that we'd do well to learn.

Yet so often we don't see the value of waiting and prefer to get what we desire immediately. But God knows that sometimes we're not ready to receive what we've requested, and some of the things we want are unwise or even physically, emotionally, or spiritually dangerous for us.

Waiting on God is a principle in His Word.

There are great advantages and protections for us in God's delays. Some things become richer and more meaningful when we wait for them. Another benefit is that we avoid the consequences of impatiently running ahead of God.

• Isaiah 40:28-31 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

To become the person God wants us to be and accomplish what He desires, we must learn to wait upon Him. Instead of making decisions based on our limited understanding, we need to wait until God shows us what He would have us do. However, if we ignore the Lord, there is a price to pay.

• Psalm 25:3 "None of those who wait for You will be ashamed." If we obey God, we will not be ashamed because He works in our lives as we follow Jesus and depend on Him rather than jumping ahead.

• Psalm 37:9 "For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land." God's blessings come to us when we seek His guidance and obey. And since He is good and loves us, He will not forget our need. However, we must not assume that if God hasn't stopped us, then it's fine to do as we desire. The wiser approach is to wait for Him to make His timing clear.

What are wrong ways to wait on God?

• Impatiently. Fussing at the Lord because He hasn't done anything.
• Nervously. Being anxious about the outcome.
• Complaining. Grumbling at the Lord for His lack of response.
• Questioning. Doubting that God's judgment is right.
• Frustrated. Being annoyed because God isn't working according to your desires.
• Irritated. Becoming aggravated by His seeming inactivity.
• Miserable. Feeling that God is withholding something from you.
  
  All these attitudes result from a failure to realize that God is good and generous, giving us much more than we deserve. Because He is also wise and loving, He withholds those things that are not beneficial for us, that we're not ready to handle, or that could become stumbling blocks in our walk with Him.
  
  How should we wait on the Lord?

• Patiently. "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord" (Ps. 40:1-3). We can wait patiently for God if we understand that He is wiser than we are and that blessings follow obedience.
• Quietly. "My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him" (Ps. 62:5). Instead of complaining, we should wait calmly for the Lord's provision.
• Trusting. Waiting isn't passive resignation but active trust in God, which allows us to rest in Him and wait patiently. Instead of fretting, we bring our requests to Him and trust that He will answer as a loving Father would—in the right way and time. We can trust Him to keep His Word and do what is best for us.
• Expectantly. "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Ps. 27:13). After salvation, the Holy Spirit came to take up residence within us and give us guidance for life. Therefore, we can confidently expect that He will direct our paths and show us both the way and the timing. For this reason, we should begin each day with the Lord in prayer and wait expectantly for Him to guide us through this sinful world.
• Courageously. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord" (Ps. 27:14). Waiting on God may require courage when we don't understand why He is delaying His response.
• Standing on God's Word. "I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope" (Ps. 130:5). Scripture is the foundation on which we stand as we watch for God to act according to His perfect timing and will. He has given us a promise: "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him" (1 John 5:14-15).
  
  RESPONSE

• Look at the lists of right and wrong ways to wait for God. Which one more closely resembles your response?
• How does your view of God influence your trust in Him and shape how you wait for Him?

My Assignment: Questions/Answers

1).       To you, what do meditating on God's Word means?

To me, it means to sit aside time to read, think on scripture given by the Holy Spirit

2).       Did you spend time with God today?

Yes I did! I try to do this every day, but sometimes I miss it, and my day is not as good as if when I do sit aside this time to spend with God and hear Him talk to me through His Holy Spirit.

3).       Read Joshua 1:8; Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 63:6, 119:148, and Isaiah 9:7

I have read the scriptures for this lesson. They blessed my soul

4).       Which scriptures touched your heart the most, Explain

Joshua 1:8-9 always ministered unto me, because God encourage us all to be strong in Him, not in ourselves; we need His strength to get through our daily life each and every day. These words touches your heart!

5).       Which one of God's characters you mediated on today?

God's faithfulness; "The faithfulness of God is true and has been proven many times. In the Holy Scriptures, we can see that God is faithful and His Word is true. Hebrews 6:18 says God cannot lie, nor can He break an unconditional promise that He says He will fulfill. Every covenant He made is kept. Every promise or foretelling has or will come true. Testimony after testimony of God's faithfulness is certainly found throughout the Bible and is still given in testimonies by people today."

6).       Name the three activities involved in meditation.

I love these three activities; Shut out the world, shut ourselves up to God, and focus our attention on a passage of scripture. Glory to God!

7).       What do dedicating your mind means?

Philippians 2:5 say, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," It means to have the mind of Christ, pray for God to give you this mind as you read and meditate on His Word. He will do this, I know! We are to be followers of Jesus in our mind too. Love and obey God.

8).      Set quietly and mediate on Philippians 2:13. God gave me this scripture years ago, and I have meditated on it ever since. If we get this scripture in our hearts, then we are more than a conqueror, which is Christ Jesus our Lord, AMEN. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." God is in control!!!

MY SIT ASIDE TIME WITH GOD

Sharing:

Setting aside a time:       8:05 AM-9:05 AM

I do try to sit aside time to spend with God each day, but sometimes I can't, and when I do this is what I do!

Daily Exercises:      Personal Time with God

Song:  I song this song "Blessed Assurance"

Prayer: My prayer was for God to honored for His faithfulness to His people daily.

Write down and meditate on one of God's Characters: God's faithfulness today

Scripture Worship: Psalm 76

Scripture Memory: I memorize scripture for a month, this month "Matthew 6:19-21"

Daily Devotion Reading: I am reading "Jesus Calling by Sarah Young"

God's Promise Today: I read John 14:27

Spiritual Goal in life: My spiritual goal is to keep my mouth on Jesus and not on others

Ultimate Goal in Life: I desire to worship God daily in my heart

Daily Goal Today: I desire to hear, obey, and follow You Holy Spirit

Speak it now!: I am blessed, healed, and highly favored by God!

Healing Confession: I am healed by Jesus' stripes!

The Lord's Prayer: I read Matthew 6:9-13 in a personal way

The Lord's Supper: I read I Corinthians 11:23-26

Read Psalm 23: I read and remind myself that Jesus is my Shepherd

Read Matthew 18:18: Jesus gave me this authority, and I use it in my prayer

Pray Matthew 18:18 for someone: I pray for whoever the Holy Spirit put on my heart

My Personal Confession Today: I love You Jesus!!

Prayer Focus: I pray "Numbers 6:24-26" for the city and people of Jerusalem

Ending Song: God's Life, Nature, and Ability

Pause: Doing this time I meditate on God's faithfulness as led by Holy Spirit

Record what God spoke to you: "I am with you through all trials you face today"

Updates on our Bible Study Context

Bible Study context:

Week # 1 "Meditation involves three Activities"

Week # 2 "Effective Meditation has four Requirements"

Week # 3 "Meditation includes three Steps"

Week # 4 "Meditation in Prayer"

Week # 5 "How to Meditate on God's Word"        

Week # 6 "Scriptures on Meditation"

Week # 7 "Conclusion"

 

From the study of Dr. Charles Stanley

"As we mediate on God's Word"

Trembling at God's Word

KEY PASSAGE: Isaiah 66:1-2 | SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: Psalms 23; 119:105, 111, 114, 130, 165 | Isaiah 40:8; 66:1-2 John 3:16; 14:27 | Romans 10:9 | 1 Peter 1:23 | 1 John 5:14-15

SUMMARY:

The reason the world has become so immoral and dangerous is because society has rejected God and His laws, commandments, and principles. Many people today think their ideas are better than His, and they don't want Him telling them how to live. However, God's instructions were given to us for our good, and any society will benefit from following them. But when a civilization chooses to ignore or reject the Lord's precepts, an increasingly corrupt culture results. Our responsibility as Christians is to make a positive contribution to our society by proclaiming, honoring, and living in accordance with God's Word.

SERMON POINTS :

Despite the corrupt condition of our world, God has never lost control.

He is still sovereign over His creation, declaring that heaven is His throne, and that earth is His footstool (Isa. 66:1-2). Even Solomon's temple, which was constructed for His glory, could not contain Him. He's not impressed by what we build and accomplish but by those who are humble and contrite of spirit and who tremble at His Word (v. 2). Throughout history, the Lord has preserved the purity of the Scripture, and today we have a wide variety of translations available to us. But do we really tremble at God's Word? This simply means to honor, respect, and hold the Scripture in awe knowing that these are the very words of almighty God. If we are humble and contrite, we'll recognize our need for His Word and be willing to yield to its authority in such a way that it affects and changes us. Scripture is our most precious possession, and we demonstrate how much we value and honor it every time we read and obey it.

The Attitude of the Person Who Trembles at God's Word:

 A Longing to Hear It:

When we value the Scriptures, we come to church with a desire to hear truths from the Lord. As we're taught, we follow along in the passage, listen carefully, and write down whatever the Lord lays on our hearts so we won't forget. But this is not just a Sunday commitment. If we truly tremble at God's Word, we'll read it every day, asking Him for direction and guidance.

A Desire to Believe it:.

Because the Lord is trustworthy and true, we can always believe what He says. By reminding Him of the promises we've read in His Word, we are able to pray with confidence, expecting Him to hear us and answer our requests when we ask anything according to His will (1 John 5:14-15).

An Intention to Obey It:

Trembling at God's Word involves more than just reading and desiring it—the Lord expects us to obey it. This is our daily spiritual nourishment, and without it we'll grow weak morally, spiritually, emotionally, and sometimes even physically. But when we read and obey His commands and principles, we'll be strengthened in our walk with Christ. The Lord has blessed us by offering His thoughts and words so we can know what He expects of us.

The Benefits of Reading God's Word:

When we humble ourselves before the Word, acknowledging that it is given to us by the living God, we will receive the following blessings:

God's Word leads us to salvation:

Although many of us came to Christ by hearing about Him from another person, the way of salvation is clearly revealed by simply reading the Bible (John 3:16; Rom. 10:9). We are all saved by believing the truth of Scripture whether we read it ourselves or are taught it by someone else (1 Pet. 1:23).

The Scripture guides our steps:

 Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." If we read and heed the Lord's instructions, He will show us where to go, what to say, and how to make decisions. His Word also reveals when we're heading in the wrong direction and warns us of the consequences of continuing down that path.

God's Word directs us to wisdom:

"The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Ps. 119:130). Scripture is our greatest protection. It's like a shield before us, guarding our way and warning of danger. But if we neglect reading and obeying the Word, we won't be able to distinguish right from wrong.

It lifts our burden:

Because the Lord is interested in every aspect of our lives, we can run to His Word in our pain, grief, loneliness, or sickness and receive strength and help in our time of trouble (Ps. 119:114).

The Word of God brings joy:

If we love the Word, we'll find great joy and comfort in reading it (Ps. 119:111). When facing tough situations and discouragement, our first response will be to open the Scripture. Even if we don't know where to read, the Lord will guide us to a passage that can restore our hope and joy. And if we don't have a Bible with us, He can bring to mind the verses that we've stored in our hearts. Once we experience how the Scripture can change sorrow into joy, our love for the Lord and His Word will increase and overflow in praise and gratitude.

The Scripture gives peace:

Perhaps the most desired possession in the world is peace, but it can only be found in the Lord. "Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble" (Ps. 119:165). Peace means to be bound to something, and when that something is the Word of God, we are bound to Him and experience the peace Jesus promised to His disciples (John 14:27). God honors and is committed to blessing those who respect and love His precious Word. It is the most valuable possession we own because it is His written message to us. From Genesis to Revelation it reveals the mind and heart of God. Everything else will pass away, "but the word of our God stands forever" (Isa. 40:8). The Lord is still on His throne and continues doing what He's promised in His Word. When we believe and obey it, our lives are transformed.

RESPONSE:

How important is God's Word to you? How do your actual practices support or contradict your perception of its priority in your life?

The Scripture is our spiritual nourishment, but sometimes we don't have much of an appetite because we've filled up with worldly "junk food." What kinds of "junk foods" rob you of your appetite for God's Word? What practices or habits do you need to put aside and which ones do you need to put in place in order to acquire a taste for the truly nourishing bread of the Word?

What are some of the benefits you have personally experienced by reading and obeying God's Word?

Bible Study: Meditating on God's Word

Week # 1

Prayer:

Lord God, we are so honored to be Your children. We give You praise and thanks. You are worthy to be praised. Bless our time with You today in a mighty way, bless Your presence to be with us as we meditate on Your Word, amen.

Scripture:         Joshua 1:8; Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 63:6; Psalm 119:148; Isaiah 9:7

         

Lesson:    "Meditation involves three Activities"

Listen:           "It takes more than just reading the Bible to grow spiritually. When you learn how to meditate on the Word of God, you can move into a believing faith that always receives!"

 As Christians many of us read our Bible and pray, but are we meditating on God's Word? And do we even know what this means?

When the Lord called Joshua to lead Israel after Moses' death, He told him, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it" (Joshua 1:8).

The Lord wanted to fill Joshua's heart with the Word so he would know precisely what to do and how to lead the people according to God's standards and commands. And that's exactly what He wants to do in our lives as well. If we'll meditate on Scripture, the Lord will unfold for us His truths and instructions.

 

Meditation involves three activities:

1).     Shut out the world. That means no television, phone calls, or other outside distractions.

2).    Shut ourselves up to God. Meditation is not a group activity but a private time alone with the Lord.

3).    Focus our attention on a passage of Scripture. This is not just a casual reading of God's Word before heading out the door, but a private conversation with the Lord. We begin by asking Him to reveal what He wants to say to us. Then we listen for His instructions and guidance while reading, thinking, and praying about the passage.

Dedicate Your Mind:

Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

To have the mind of Christ does not mean that we are infallible, that we can "play God." To have the mind of Christ means to look at life through the Savior's point of view, looking at life through His values and the desires in His mind. Glory to God! 

It means to think God's thoughts, and not think as the world thinks; and in order to do that we must mediate on God's Word, amen.

Each study lesson Includes:  Setting aside a time:

Daily Exercises:      Personal Time with God

Song:

Prayer:

Write down and meditate on one of God's Characters:

Scripture Worship:

Scripture Memory:

Scripture Reading:

Daily Devotion Reading:

God's Promise Today:

Spiritual Goal in life:

Ultimate Goal in Life:

Daily Goal Today:

Speak it Now:

Healing Confession:

The Lord's Prayer:

The Lord's Supper:

Read Psalm 23:

Read Matthew 18:18

Pray Matthew 18:18 for someone:

My Personal Confession Today:

Prayer Focus:

Ending Song:

Pause:

Record what God spoke to you:

Your Assignment:   Questions:

1).        To you, what do meditating on God's Word means?

2).       Did you spend time with God today?

3).       Read Joshua 1:8; Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 63:6, 119:148, and Isaiah 9:7

4).       Which scriptures touched your heart the most, Explain

5).        Which one of God's characters you mediated on today?

6).       Name the three activities involved in meditation.

7).        What do dedicating your mind means?

8).       Set quietly and mediate on Philippians 2:13.