In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God's thoughts after him: to deisre the things he desires, to love the things he loves, to will the things he wills. Progressively, we are taught to see things from his point of viee-Celebration of the Disciplines-Richard Foster
Listening to God is the necessary prelude to intercession...We must hear, know, and obey the will of God before we pray it into the lives of others. Celebration of the Disciplines-Richard Foster
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers,
But his delight is on the Law of the Lord,
And on his law he meditates day and night-Psalm 1
Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God's voice and obey his word-Celebration of Discipline-Richard Foster
Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind...Christian meditation leads us to the inner wholeness necessary to give ourselves to God freely, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster
Otium Sanctum means "holy Leisure." Foster aruges that it is a sense of balance in the life, and ability to be at peach through the activities of the day, an ability to rest and take time to enjoy beauty, and ability to pace ourselves (27). Our churches lack a deep experiental knowledge of God. We do not know how to commune with the living God. We do not know how to walk in day to day life with God. Instead, we have an external righteousness that lacks substance, depth. I picked up Foster's book to help me cultivate my intimacy with God. Distractions, Business, and Ministry crowd out me sitting at the Lord's feet, opening my heart to him, and learning from Him.
Why do Christians lack growth and fall into lukewarmness? (1) We harden our hearts because we have become "dull" of hearing the Word. As the apostle James says, We should be "doers" or the Word and not only "hearers" lest we deceive ourselves. Here are some important princples I learned from reflecting on this time:
1. Stop
Find places where you are not distracted from emails, phonecalls, people, and work. Be consciously telling yourself that this time you have is to have One on One time with the Lord.
2. Be Comfortable
Find a place where you can meditate freely. For me, this is the beach, my backyard, and my room in the evening.
3. Open Your Heart
Tell the Lord what is really going on in your heart: Anger, Betrayal, Anxiousness, Hurt, Pain, Joy.
4. Listen to God
Ponder on the Scriptures. Ask God to show wonderful things in His Law.
Application:
Morning Times-I get so distracted in the morning. The first thing that pops into my head is that I need to go running or get ready for work. I also want to check my email, facebook, or bank account before I start reading my Bible.
Afternoon-I rarely spend times with God in the afternoon. I get caught up with studying or meeeting with people or preparing lessons.
Evening-I believe this is my most important time of the day. I normally reflect in the Scriptures in Genesis. Playing Worship Music relaxes me. In other words, here are times where I am able to contemplate and open up my heart to God.
Lord, grow me in becoming more intimate with you. Open my heart to recieve your word. I confess to you that I have hardened my heart and have stop listening to you because I have become "dull" of hearing because I have been so "busy" serving you. Help me stop, think, reflect, and listen once again.
Thank you for grace, In Jesus Name, Amen.
Think: The life of the Mind and the Love of God: October 1-3, Minnieapolis, MN
2011 The Shepherd's Conference: March 9-13 Los Angeles, CA
2011 The Gospel Coalition: April 12-14 Chicago, IL
2011 Philippines Summer Mission Trip.
God, please provide the funds!!!
God gives coherence to all things. The Trinune God is the only reasonable explantion: One God manifested in three persons. God is one in essence, three in persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus said: "I and the Father are One" John 10:30
a. The Body of Christ.
One Spirit, many members. One Spirit, many gifts.
b. Univeristy.
One unifying Discipline (Theology), many diverse disciplines (Biology, Philosophy, Cosmology, Physics).
c. Essay.
One unfiying thesis, many main points that support the thesis.
d.Marriage
One flesh, yet two distinct persons: Male and Female
e. Sermons
One main unifying propostion, diverse main points.
f. Family
One family, different members: Father, Son, Children.
g. Art
One portrait, yet diverse color schemes and strokes of paint.
h. My Christian Relationship.
I am not God. Jesus did everything in obedience to the Father. Jesus accomplishes my salvation. When I obey Christ, I abide in Him, and therefore am one with Christ as Christ is one with the Father. There is the mystery of plurality and unity.
Romans 12:4-8
For as one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts taht differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contibutes, in generositiy; the one who lead, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
There is no such thing as a "Super-Christian." The only super Christian who had all the gifts was Jesus, who was God.
For me, I was called into one body with specific gifting. I cannot do everything. It will cause burn out. Here are some important questions I need to think about before considering my calling:
1. Is there a desire for me to preach the pure word of God?
2. Does the community of God affirm this gift?
3. Is this something I cannot live without doing?
Everything is still unclear to me right now. I am young and inexperienced. I am not mature and do not have enough life experiences to minister to my full capacities.
What do I love to do??
a. Teaching
I love teaching. I love teaching Sunday School classes in Apologetics, Bible, Theology, and Philosophy. I love interaction with students to get them thinking deeply of why they believe what they believe.
b. Studying
I find joy in reading. I love books. To love God, you must have to know Him. You have to know his likes and dislikes, his passion and his hatred for sin. You must think right thoughts about God for you to honor him. I can spend all day reading my Bible, books in Theology, Philosophy, and whatever interests are at the moment.
c. Preaching??
Not so sure. It takes a lot of work to be a deep preacher. You have to be immersed in prayer, be captivated by God's Word, transformed by it, and share it with others. I don't know, preaching is a high calling as you stand as a herald of God to correct, rebuke, reproof, and encouraged with the Word of God.
d. Defending (Jude 1:3, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Ideas have consequences. You are what you believe. A godless generation is rising because they do not know how to discern good from evil. They do not know how to critique false beliefs and gain true wisdom and understanding. I want every thought of my to be taken captive to the Word of God and obedience of Christ.
e. Shepherding??
I have failed many times in this area. I lack empathy and compassion at times. I sin by not listening to people. I fail to be sensitive. I need God's grace in this area of my life.
What now?
Right now, God is working even though everything is unclear to me. I know God has great things in store for me in the future. I just need to be faithful and have an enduring Spirit. God has me at the pefect place at the perfect timing. I am a student who gets to study philosophy and theology at seminary. I am also a teacher who gets to teach friday bible studies, sunday school, small groups, prayer meetings, and local outreaches.
Father,
Help me use the gifts you have given me for the edification of your church for the glory of your name. When praise comes to me, let it always be directed to the cross of calvary. To God be the glory both now and forevermore. Amen.
1. Why was this exegetical idea necessary for its original recipients?
2. What is God revealing about Himself in this text? (Godward)
3. What is God saying to ME in this text? (Application/ Inward)
4.What does God want to accomplish through this text?
5.What could negate the progress I have just made through this text?
taken from Deep Preaching
