Meditation

 

I have found this to be an excellent guide to study the Word. The key to meditation is to ask questions. Many believers are not accustomed to this practice and have a habit of regurgitating information they have heard from someone else but giving the information no further thought. They have never learned to think. Asking questions causes us to think.

We begin with Matthew 5:1.

1. Write the passage:

Matt 5:1 And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.

2. Ask Questions:

And-what does this word connect?

Seeing-what did He see?

Multitudes-where did they come from? Was it a crowd? What motivated them to come?

Why did seeing the multitudes prompt Him to go up on the mountain?

(Not that we will answer each of these questions but it tunes our Reticular Activation System).

What mountain did He go up on? Why did He go up?

After He sat down, His disciples came to him. Did the multitudes come or just the disciples? If only the disciples came, why didn’t the multitudes?

Compare your answer to this question with Matt. 7:28-8:1.

Did your answer change?

As you visualize this scene, what other questions come to mind? Write them down.

 

3. Do a word study:

What do each of the words in this verse mean?

Ask more questions (this activates your RAS).

And=but, it compares two things. It is a transition to something new. It is a particle, not a conjunction. What is the word transitioning?

Seeing=to know, perceive with the eyes, be aware of, consider, understand, saw their needs. When you look at someone, what do you see?

Multitude=large group.

Went up=because of the needs that He saw, He went to address them. It implies a motion on His part.

Mountain=lifts itself up above the plains. (Using the Reticular Activation System, think about this when you see a mountain when traveling or on vacation. Picture Him walking up).

 

4. Look up cross references:

Mark 9- and they brought the boy to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit through him into a convulsion.

Matt. 9-He saw Matthew the tax collector.

Mark-He saw a fig tree.

Matt. 4-He healed the multitudes (individuals).

Matt. 15-fed the multitudes (individually).

 

5. Paraphrase:

When Jesus considered the throng of people that came out to Him seeking to get their needs met, He went up on the mountain.

 

6. Personalize:

When I see a group of people, I realize that I can treat them as a group or I could take time to understand the needs of individuals in the group. Like Jesus, I need to take time to get alone with needy people to teach them.

When we memorize a text, we get it into our mind.

When we do a word study, we get it into our will.

When we personalize it, we get it into our emotions.

 

7. Picture it:

Drawing a picture or visualizing the entire scene as it unfolds will help to capture and feel it. Visualize Jesus with the multitudes and Him looking at just me. Even though He is ministering to many, He has time for me.

Visualize Him walking up to the base of a mountain. Visualize the multitudes. How many do you see? What are they doing, wearing and talking about? Do you see any children? Now visualize the disciples and watch as Jesus sits. How is He sitting? What are the disciples doing? Can you hear the questions they are formulating as they watch the scene unfold? There was a time that Jesus was in the temple, bent over to write on the ground. Do you think He did something like that here? Why or why not? Do you think His behaviors and mannerisms made the most of the situation?

What time of day was it? What were people feeling at that particular time? Were they hungry or sleepy, exhausted or moody? When you listen to people talking, what do you do? What do you think about? Are you tired, hungry etc.? How does that affect your ability to hear?

These are a small number of questions that can and should be asked whenever we encounter God’s Word. They help us to personalize God’s Word and draw it into our emotions after it is a part of our mind and will.

 

8. Application:

What do I see when I perceive a group of people? Do I see their needs or do I categorize them according to the way I see people?

If I were traveling with Jesus, how long would it take Him to see their health problems in a crowd? Why is it that I don’t ever see peoples needs or suffering? “Lord, I need to see as You see”.

The first word, ‘and’, brought this Scripture together with the previous where Jesus healed many and THEN they came out and He taught them. How often do I get involved in peoples’ physical needs? Do I use this as a springboard to teach them?

Now, try it on your own.

"Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt. 5:31-34

                                                                                                                                                               borrowed

Reticular Activation System (RAS)

Reticular Activation System (RAS)

It’s a common phenomenon. You look for a new car, something not like anyone else’s, something unusual.  You pick out what seems to be a unique, unusual choice of a special red car and all of a sudden, there it is– your red car, the one you thought was only yours.  It’s on every street corner. It is at every stoplight.  You see three of these red cars driving down the freeway.  You never saw these cars before.  What happened?  How did all of these people get your unique red car at the same time?

Well the fact of the matter is that your brain is seeing the red cars that were always there.  Since you picked out this car for yourself, that car has become special for you and now you are noticing what was really there all along.

It’s called the “Reticular Activation System” or RAS.  It is the part of your brain that automatically filters out what is not important to you and brings your attention to things that are important to you. 

In this context, we will now hear a sermon or read a book containing some piece of information we had studied in the Scripture and it will reinforce and personalize what we had studied. borrowed

Waiting on the Lord

An often misunderstood verse in Scripture is Isaiah 40:31 where one is instructed to wait on the Lord.

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.

In this text, one tends to believe that waiting is sitting back, being patient or not doing anything, however, the word "wait" in Hebrew, is to intertwine.

The implication is to intertwine our thoughts with His thoughts. When we do so, we gain a new strength; we mount up, with wings like eagles. We run and don't get tired. We walk and not become weary.

Most of our efforts are, at best, wearisome. Our efforts lack strength. We tire. As we intertwine our thoughts with His thoughts, through meditation on the Word, we will gain a new strength.

Pride

believing that we accomplished what in reality God and others have done in and for us.

Want to Change the World?

If each person helped two people in this world, we would all be affected for the better.  Please read this blog:  http://amandagoble.blogspot.com/2007/12/emotional-day.html  and comment me if you want at the comment link to the left of this page.  I rarely support Christian programs because I see too much "fleecing the flock" however, I am well acquainted with this ministry and know that 100% is used to aid the people in Kenya.

I am rarely moved by stories but this struck me very deeply.  She doesn't make an appeal for money or help but just reports the facts.

 

Anger

Someone finding a personal right that I have not yet yielded to God.

Angry Pastors

I am perplexed at how many so-called pastors are angry men. I have seen this many times and it was again brought to my attention by two friends who attend different churches.

Whenever confronted with a question (usually that they can't answer), idea (that conflicts with their agenda) or confrontation (concerning an error in their behavior), they most often respond in anger. It can be anger that explodes (destroying others) or implodes (destroying themselves). This response happens to be the norm rather than the exception.

Generally, anger is a response that one has when he feels he is losing control or authority. This plays out in parenting too.

It amazes me that many church goers have seen this, but have varied responses and it is usually the whipped dog response, curling the tail between the legs and bowing the head in submission.

Our response should be to follow the Word when it says: Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, Lest you learn his ways, And find a snare for yourself. Pr. 22: 24-25.

Why is it we ignore this verse? Do we like the feeling we get from angry people? Do we believe we need to stay the course despite a "pastor's" flaws? It dismays me that we have certain "Christian beliefs" of evangelism, witnessing, church planting, outreach, etc. but we ignore these short verses, which are also inspired?

One may say, "but he only blows up once in a great while". This, however, is evidence of a character flaw, not an occasional error in judgment. Would you buy a piece of property near a volcano that "only blows once in awhile"? Probably not, it would endanger you and your family. Solomon said the same thing, don't associate with a man given to anger or a hot tempered man, why, because you would learn his way AND find a snare for yourself. The same concern you have about placing your family at risk by moving near a volcano needs to be given when you are in a church with a pastor given to anger. This is why Scripture gives strict qualifications for the elder. (See Qualifications of the elder)

One friend did not agree with the direction of his church, the way they handled a new believer and some of the ideology. He discussed this with the leaders and was met with resistance and name calling; "you must be having marital problems or you are being divisive". Both statements put the friend both ill at ease and defensive. Whenever someone answers a question you pose with a critique of your character, they are trying to throw you off balance in order to avoid the question.

Why do “pastors” feel the need to manipulate and control under the guise of love? Why does one allow it?

Contentment

Realizing that God has already provided everything we need for our present happiness.