Bible Study - Build (4) - Meditate on GOD'S Word - Psalm 1:1-6, Philippians 4:8 - November 5, 2022

 

Bible Study – Build (4) – Meditate on GOD’S Word – November 5, 2022

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled, “How to Build Your Life on GOD’S Word.”

Our focus scripture is Psalm 1:1-6; Philippians 4:8

Saturating our Minds with GOD’S scripture keeps us focused on the things of GOD.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Hebrews 4:12:

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We have studied, so far, the importance of GOD’S Word, the need to hear GOD’S Word, the importance of studying GOD’S Word and this week the need for us to meditate upon GOD’S Word. One may think, “Gee, I know GOD’S Word is important but do I really need to study it and meditate upon it?” YES!

Go back and read again the two verses above, Psalm 119:105 and Hebrews 4:12. Pray as you read and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what GOD is revealing to you through these verses. Consider each word and how it applies to you and your life.

What can the power of GOD’S Word do in your life? It can divide truth from error and give us light in the darkness. Flonnie (my wife) and I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Vance Havner preach years ago. He had many pithy/wise sayings. One of my favs is “Practice in the dark what we learn in the light.” Copied below is some background on Dr Havner. Notice, what he loved to do:

“Most people may have never heard of Vance Havner (1901-1986), but this godly man was very special because he was so obsessed with the Word of God that he began outdoor preaching when he was only 14 years of age and he said he didn’t want to stop until he went into glory! His preaching didn’t bring condemnation but conviction and that’s just what he desired. Havner grew up in the rustic hills of North Carolina and as a youth he devoured everything he could read about God and was particularly drawn to the sermons and writings of Charles Spurgeon, the so-called “Prince of Preachers.” He attended Catawba College, Wake Forest University, and finally, Moody Bible Institute but most consider him as being self-taught since college was not enough for him. If he was not preaching, he had his nose in the Bible or in a book by a Christian author. As a child he and his family attended the old Corinth Baptist Church and frequently the visiting preachers would stay with his family. Given the many opportunities of having a preacher in his home, Havner would pepper the men with doctrinal questions, showing a constant hunger and thirst to know all that he could about God and the Bible. (End of info on Dr, Havner)

When we eat food, we must take the time to chew it well, then swallow it. This helps in digestion. The same is true as we read, study and meditate upon GOD’S Word. It is nutritious and feeds our Spiritual needs. Pastors and teachers, this is why you/we must share what GOD is revealing to us. No one has a corner on GOD’S Word. 

We read in Psalm 119:103:

How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Let’s continue to explore!

Let’s read Psalm 1:1-3:

1 How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!
2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams[a]
that bears its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

How many times have we heard, “He or she got involved with the wrong crowd.” The wrong source of information or peer groups can lead people astray. Especially, young people whose minds are still developing.

As people, we must seek to spend our time with those whose “delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.” Even when we do, we must know the truth of GOD’S Word and apply it when we sense that those with whom we associate are going astray of GOD’S Word. If we study and memorize GOD’S Word just for the sake of checking a box, we are likely to get bored with it quickly. We must chew on what we read to get the most from it to help us in everyday life.

We are told that we need to chew our food 25 times before we swallow it for good digestion. The same is true when we read GOD’S Word, we must read it and meditate on it by rolling it around in our minds. This gives opportunity for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us and dispel error.

My journey over the past few months has been interesting. I have found that my flesh attempts to be ruler in my life. It disguises its self as truth and authority. That is why we must take off our human clothes and put on our righteous clothes which have been washed by the blood of JESUS. The flesh wants to rule our lives and tries to be our authority.

Let’s consider 2 Corinthians 5:21: ²¹ He (GOD) made the one who did not know sin (JESUS) to be sin^[e] for us (those who place their faith and trust in JESUS), so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This means that each of us who have been redeemed by the blood of the LAMB, by placing our faith in JESUS, must plant ourselves in GOD’S Word to know it and apply it as we go through life. When we do, what benefit do we have? GOD’S promise, that we will be “like a tree planted beside flowing streams[a] that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

We read in John 7:38, “³⁸ The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” The Holy Spirit is deep within every Spirit-born person and HE provides eternal streams of refreshing, living water, which, in turn, produces Spiritual fruit.

The psalmist gives us a contrast between serving GOD and doing our own thing, as we read on ----

Let’s read Psalm 1:4-6:

4 The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.

The Psalmist gives us a contrast between the person who seeks to know GOD versus the wicked. The chaff is what is removed from grain that is being thrashed.

Grain has a husk that surrounds it. This husk is removed during the thrashing process. The workers would work the grain which loosens the husk and then toss the grain into the air on a windy day and the wind would blow the husk off the grain. In essence, a refining process. The grain would be milled and made into bread or other useful products.

The wicked are like the chaff which will be blown away. When harvest times comes it gives us a foreshadow of the end times and judgment. Which group do we want to be in, those who “his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night” or “chaff?”

Those who lived in the Old Testament days were looking for the coming of the promised Messiah, JESUS, whereas, we today, are looking for the second coming of JESUS.

What do we know today that was a hope for those in Old Testament times? JESUS said it best in John 5:24:

²⁴ “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.”

Faith in JESUS gives us eternal life through Spiritual birth into GOD’S Family; never to be Spiritually unborn. By contrast, consider the word “ruin” used in verse 6. Ruin is a common word for “death.” The psalmist used “ruin” to describe the wicked and their deeds perish without the providential care of GOD in their lives. In contrast, consider what JESUS said in John 10:10: A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Do you want to get all the gusto out of life upon earth? Then ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart now.

8 Finally[c] brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

When a person becomes Spiritually born into GOD’S Family, the Spirit-born person is GOD’S Son or Daughter. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Those who are Spirit-born have a new mindset.

In Philippians 4:2-7, the Apostle Paul gives a list of practical steps believers need to take in their church:

-         Stand united rather than petty arguments

-         Rejoice in the LORD rather than getting caught up in circumstances

-         Be known for graciousness

-         Encourage others not to worry but take their burdens to the LORD

-         The result would be peace from GOD

This leads us to verse 8, which helps us to reset our flesh mindset:

-         whatever is true – that which is really true and not what we fabricate to be true.

-         whatever is honorable – noble, serious, dignified, majestic - things that lift the mind above that which is low minded. This is not a haughty mindset.

-         whatever is just- divine standard found in GOD’S Word. We can meditate of lofty ideals but it is far better to meditate on GOD’S standard found in HIS Word. What is true.

-         whatever is pure – is related to Holy. Focus and meditate on the things that are Holy.

-         whatever is lovely – focus on the things that are “love-inspiring.”

-         whatever is commendable -something that is admirable or worthy of approval.

We need to keep in our minds that this earth in not our home but in the meantime, this is where we live and as Spirit-born people, as recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:20: ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

Ephesians 4:22-24: ²² to take off^[g] your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, ²³ to be renewed^[h] in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on^[i] the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity.

Have we, who know the truth through faith in JESUS, put on the likeness of GOD in righteousness and purity?

The renewal of our minds, by spiritual-birth, allows the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to begin the transforming process from having a human mindset to becoming more like CHRIST. Meditation upon GOD’S Word facilitates this transformation process. Our humanness becomes less and we become more like CHRIST. The final change happens instantly when we die. Blessings!!!