1 00:00:01,900 --> 00:00:06,100 Just prior to the words that the Apostle Paul wrote here in verse 2 00:00:06,100 --> 00:00:09,800 number 8 of Philippians chapter 4, you remember that? 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,800 He said, beginning in verse 6, he says be careful for nothing. 4 00:00:14,100 --> 00:00:18,100 But in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving, 5 00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:21,300 let your requests be made known unto God. 6 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,000 And then he says, and the peace of God, which passeth all 7 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,600 understanding shall keep your hearts and Minds through Christ 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,000 Jesus. Jesus, first of all, the word 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,000 careful here as rendered in the King James version is also 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:41,400 rendered and better rendered actually as anxiety or anxious. 11 00:00:41,700 --> 00:00:45,000 And what the Apostle Paul was saying is he was giving an 12 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,000 absolute. He says, be careful or be 13 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,800 anxious for nothing. Now more on that in just a 14 00:00:52,808 --> 00:00:55,200 moment about how difficult it is. 15 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,400 And I know that it is everyone that's here under the sound of 16 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:02,100 my voice truly. Surely at one point in time, at 17 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:06,100 least in your life have had challenges that were before you 18 00:01:06,100 --> 00:01:10,300 that caused you to be very anxious and caused you to feel 19 00:01:10,300 --> 00:01:13,600 anxiety. Maybe you've been one that has 20 00:01:13,607 --> 00:01:15,500 worried about things in your life. 21 00:01:15,500 --> 00:01:20,600 These are things that happen to us as we live from day to day in 22 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,200 the life that we have. That is around us and yet the 23 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:30,000 Apostle, Paul's clearly states, be careful or be anxious for or 24 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,900 nothing. You know, anxiety by definition. 25 00:01:32,900 --> 00:01:37,300 Mr. Thayer says is to be pulled in different directions. 26 00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:41,800 It's when our hopes or in our fears are pulling us in an 27 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:46,400 opposite direction, hopes in our and our faith is pulling us in 28 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,500 an opposite direction as our fear. 29 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:54,100 That's exactly what happens when you have anxiety in your life. 30 00:01:54,100 --> 00:01:58,700 By definition Thayer says, it is a literal pulling apart. 31 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:00,700 That's exactly. Happening. 32 00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:04,400 We live the Christian Life and we have hopes and we have faith 33 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,300 in the great God Of Heaven, that he is going to be there. 34 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,900 That he's going to assist us that we don't have to live this 35 00:02:10,900 --> 00:02:15,400 life, all by ourselves. We know that we believe that we 36 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,900 have faith in the things that are not seen. 37 00:02:17,900 --> 00:02:22,100 Absolutely, we have hopes that Jesus Christ is going to come 38 00:02:22,100 --> 00:02:26,400 back again, and we're going to meet him in the air and ever be 39 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,400 with the Lord. Those things are absolutes in 40 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,900 our life. Also. 41 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,700 But what happens to us what happens is from time to time our 42 00:02:36,700 --> 00:02:41,700 fears poll against our faith. And when your fears are 43 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:45,400 struggling against your faith, you are literally pulling 44 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:49,800 yourself apart inside and that is anxiety. 45 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,200 A synonym for this word is the one that is commonly referred to 46 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,700 as worry. And worry, means by definition 47 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:00,700 to strangle all. It's certainly, no wonder why 48 00:03:00,700 --> 00:03:04,500 the apostle All said not to be anxious because it will 49 00:03:04,500 --> 00:03:09,700 literally pull you apart inside. It will literally strangle you 50 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:15,200 causing both physical and emotional side effects as well. 51 00:03:15,700 --> 00:03:18,800 You know, when we have worry and strife and worry and things like 52 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,400 that in our life, it causes headaches. 53 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,500 I know something about that, it causes neck pain that to it 54 00:03:25,500 --> 00:03:29,100 causes ulcers. I've had one and even back pains 55 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:33,400 as well, worried they tell me. It affects our thinking, it 56 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,600 affects our digestion and it even affects our coordination. 57 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,600 You know, I'm also told this to that when we are faced with 58 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:46,300 anxiety or there something before us that causes us to be 59 00:03:46,300 --> 00:03:48,700 anxious. You know what, that adrenaline 60 00:03:48,700 --> 00:03:52,500 feeling that you get, sometimes that boost of adrenaline, that's 61 00:03:52,500 --> 00:03:56,600 when the cortisol levels in your system are elevated and 62 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,800 therefore it did they call it the fight-or-flight thing you 63 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:02,100 have to make a decision. Vision. 64 00:04:02,100 --> 00:04:04,500 Am I going to stand here and be harmed? 65 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:08,700 Or am I going to run when the cortisol levels are elevated in 66 00:04:08,700 --> 00:04:12,800 your system in your body? It is normal and natural. 67 00:04:14,100 --> 00:04:17,200 But did you know that if the cortisol levels in your body 68 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:23,300 remain elevated and do not go down, it causes harmful side 69 00:04:23,300 --> 00:04:28,900 effects and get this to it. Even makes you get fat, it even 70 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:33,500 makes you gain weight. When that happens in our life, 71 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:36,500 the Apostle Paul said don't be like that. 72 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,200 He said don't be anxious and don't be anxious about anything 73 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,700 and then he gives us a formula. Whereby. 74 00:04:44,900 --> 00:04:48,300 We can succeed. Notice where he says this first, 75 00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:52,500 he says be careful for nothing. That's an absolute but then he 76 00:04:52,500 --> 00:04:56,700 says, pray about everything. Isn't it true though? 77 00:04:56,700 --> 00:05:02,500 That oftentimes we pray when we're desperate, excuse me, we 78 00:05:02,500 --> 00:05:06,900 pray when we're desperate we wait until we are absolutely 79 00:05:06,900 --> 00:05:10,900 faced with desperation. We are so sad and we are so 80 00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:14,400 desperate now as an afterthought, Tried and 81 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:18,700 exhausted every other thing that I can possibly think of to do 82 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:22,200 so. Now I'm going to pray that is 83 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:27,400 not a pattern for success and it's not the antidote for 84 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,900 anxiety. Paul says, pray first. 85 00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:36,700 He says, pray about everything and that also is an absolute. 86 00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:40,700 But the question is, what kind of prayer are the kinds of 87 00:05:40,700 --> 00:05:43,700 prayers that are going to help us to be successful? 88 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:48,300 successful number 1, the Apostle Paul says he uses the word 89 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:55,400 prayer, Now, often times we use this word in a general sense and 90 00:05:55,400 --> 00:06:00,600 rightfully so of any time that we speak to God, you know, just 91 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,200 a moment ago, our brother directed our minds in prayer, 92 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,900 that is a general term for any time that we speak to God. 93 00:06:09,700 --> 00:06:13,300 But did you know that this word means more than just speaking to 94 00:06:13,300 --> 00:06:15,000 god? Notice the pattern that the 95 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:19,900 Apostle Paul is laying out for us and the formula for Success 96 00:06:20,100 --> 00:06:23,600 against anxiety. He says pray about everything 97 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:25,500 and this is how you're going to do it. 98 00:06:25,500 --> 00:06:30,000 When you come to God In Prayer, this word means praise and 99 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,500 adoration. So it's a time that we bow the 100 00:06:33,500 --> 00:06:35,400 knee before the great God of heaven. 101 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:40,400 And we tell him how great he is. We praise him because he is 102 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,200 worthy of such. We give him all the credit, all 103 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,400 the glory, and all the honor for being the great architect of 104 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:52,000 this universe that we live in. We bow before his presence and 105 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:58,500 we exalt him in every single way because he's worthy, and because 106 00:06:58,500 --> 00:07:02,500 he's deserving of such But you know, there's something else 107 00:07:02,500 --> 00:07:07,400 that is good by praising God, that we learn in our prayers 108 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,100 when we come to God and pray like this first. 109 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,300 See what we do sometimes is when we're desperate, we may have a 110 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:17,000 loved one that sick. We may be losing a job, we may 111 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,800 be in financial problems or whatever it is. 112 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,600 So we go to God and the very first thing we do is please God 113 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,900 help me through this or please God, remove this and so on and 114 00:07:27,900 --> 00:07:30,900 so forth. Paul says this and I don't think 115 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,200 They're listed in this order just out of coincidence. 116 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,500 He says, when you pray, you come together and you pray to God and 117 00:07:38,500 --> 00:07:43,800 you do so in, praise and adoration to him and for him. 118 00:07:43,900 --> 00:07:47,100 And when you do you give him what he deserves. 119 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:51,400 But number two, what else? Have you ever prayed to God? 120 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,100 Because your problem was so big. You couldn't even fathom how 121 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:57,600 you're going to get through it. I've done that. 122 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:04,200 Everyone that's here has done that when your problem seems 123 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:09,200 greater than you can bear. So you desperately pray to God 124 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:14,300 for relief in that regard. But if you prayed like this and 125 00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:18,400 you exalt God, there's something else that it does to it changes. 126 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,700 Your mental outlook on things, doesn't it? 127 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:25,700 Because now what you have thought was so great, in 128 00:08:25,700 --> 00:08:30,100 comparison to how great God is it pales in comparison? 129 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:34,600 Now, it's time to let your requests be made known and the 130 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,799 Apostle Paul says we supplication. 131 00:08:40,900 --> 00:08:44,400 Supplication is the time that you pour out your requests. 132 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,200 You let your requests be made known unto God. 133 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,500 Now, why do we do that? It is true that this great God 134 00:08:50,500 --> 00:08:53,000 Of Heaven, that we've been speaking of that, we've been 135 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,400 praising and all of that. It is true that he knows me. 136 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,800 So, well, that even the very hairs on my head are numbered. 137 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:03,600 He knows my needs before I ask him. 138 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:07,500 There is nothing in this whole world that I could say to God 139 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:12,100 that he does not know. And the purpose of this is such 140 00:09:12,100 --> 00:09:16,000 as the Bible teaches, we come together and let our requests be 141 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,700 made known unto God. Because the Bible says, you have 142 00:09:19,700 --> 00:09:24,600 not, because you ask not, therefore the blessings of God, 143 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:29,100 the help of God, the assistance, from God, and all of that is 144 00:09:29,100 --> 00:09:32,300 waiting us. If we will pour our hearts out 145 00:09:32,300 --> 00:09:36,900 to him and ask in faith believing, according to his 146 00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:42,800 will, But thirdly Paul says, pray with Thanksgiving. 147 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:52,300 Thanksgiving. That's a time that we thank him 148 00:09:52,300 --> 00:09:55,500 and appreciate him for all that he has done before. 149 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,900 Have you ever been like me at least once in your life and you 150 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,300 you bow before God and you poured your heart out you just 151 00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:07,600 ask God for so many things and then God answered that prayer in 152 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:11,100 a favorable fashion. But then, you forgot to thank 153 00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:14,000 him. I just wonder how many things 154 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:18,400 happen in our life where we ask God from day to day for certain 155 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:23,500 things, He blesses us and we forget and then we never thanked 156 00:10:23,500 --> 00:10:26,000 him. You know, I don't know about you 157 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,900 but the greatest thing that I can ever receive from my 158 00:10:28,900 --> 00:10:34,900 children his heartfelt. Thank you, that's great. 159 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,000 It's the look of appreciation on their face when you do something 160 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,800 for another, and that's exactly what God is waiting for. 161 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:49,300 And longing for it is our appreciation for all that he has 162 00:10:49,300 --> 00:10:52,200 done. This is a formula for Success 163 00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:56,600 against the anxieties and the stresses and the worries that we 164 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:01,400 might have in our life, this is a pattern whereby we may be 165 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,300 successful for Paul said, be careful for nothing, but in 166 00:11:05,300 --> 00:11:07,500 everything. Thing we need to pray. 167 00:11:07,900 --> 00:11:10,700 But when Paul was through with this and after he said that the 168 00:11:10,700 --> 00:11:14,100 very next verse, he gives us more of a formula. 169 00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:18,200 He gives us more of what to do. He says, then when you do that 170 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:24,100 now it's time to think. Or the same word think here is 171 00:11:24,100 --> 00:11:28,300 meditate, he's telling us now what to do, it is not just 172 00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:31,300 enough to pray. Now you have to do something, 173 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:35,500 you have to get up and you have to have a certain frame of mind. 174 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:39,100 You have to have a certain thing in your life that is priorities 175 00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:41,600 and I better be first. These are things that he's 176 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:47,000 telling us in God's word that we must meditate upon and then he 177 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:51,500 gives a list of the things whereby you and I are supposed 178 00:11:51,500 --> 00:11:56,800 to Think or meditate, he says whatsoever are, things are true, 179 00:11:57,100 --> 00:12:00,000 things that are noble, things that are just things that are 180 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:04,300 pure, things that are lovely whatsoever, things are of good 181 00:12:04,300 --> 00:12:07,800 report if there be any virtue and if there be anything 182 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:13,600 praiseworthy, meditate or think on these things, you know, the 183 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,900 practice of meditation by Christians is not something that 184 00:12:16,900 --> 00:12:20,300 you might hear very frequently. I don't know that I have, I've 185 00:12:20,300 --> 00:12:22,600 never preached on this. Subject, ever. 186 00:12:22,700 --> 00:12:25,100 Oh, I've talked about these things that are found in this 187 00:12:25,100 --> 00:12:30,000 verse but I have never actually preached a sermon on the idea of 188 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,500 meditation. I don't know when the last time 189 00:12:32,500 --> 00:12:35,300 that you heard a sermon on that, but I can't, personally 190 00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:40,600 remember, hearing the sermon on the idea of medic of meditation. 191 00:12:40,900 --> 00:12:44,200 It may be though that the Christian is simply not aware 192 00:12:44,300 --> 00:12:46,700 that they are commanded to meditate. 193 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:51,100 It may be that some believe that meditation belongs solely to 194 00:12:51,100 --> 00:12:54,100 Eastern. Legends like Hinduism or 195 00:12:54,300 --> 00:12:58,600 Buddhism and yet the Apostle Paul clearly teaches us to 196 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:04,500 meditate on these things and therefore meditation is 197 00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:09,800 certainly a Biblical subject. Oh, there's many examples in 198 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,400 God's word when there were those that meditated. 199 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,100 You remember that Isaac meditated in the field at 200 00:13:16,100 --> 00:13:21,400 Eventide, in Genesis 24 and verse 63, Joshua was too. 201 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,200 Charged by God to meditate day and night. 202 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,200 Joshua chapter 1 and verse number 8. 203 00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:31,700 The blessed man in Psalms 1 is the one who meditates. 204 00:13:31,900 --> 00:13:34,800 Now I know that we read this passage of scripture talking 205 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,200 about the progression of sin and rightfully so. 206 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:42,600 But notice there's more to it than just the description of the 207 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:46,200 progression of sin. Notice in Psalms chapter 1, 208 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:51,500 beginning there, in verse 1, the psalmist, David said, blessed, 209 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:56,900 Is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. 210 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:01,700 Secondly, he said, blessed is the man that does not stand in 211 00:14:01,700 --> 00:14:06,800 the way of Sinners and thirdly. He says, blessed is the man that 212 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:10,100 does not sit in the seat of the scornful. 213 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:13,200 That is true. There are three things that one 214 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,200 that is going to be one. That's going to be blessed of. 215 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,400 God is the one that's not going to stand. 216 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,700 He's not going to sit, he's not. Going to dwell with those that 217 00:14:23,700 --> 00:14:27,000 are in sin. But how do you do that after 218 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:27,900 all? Isn't it? 219 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,700 Isn't it? True that in our life? 220 00:14:29,700 --> 00:14:33,500 We have more distractions, all around us maybe than ever 221 00:14:33,500 --> 00:14:37,900 before. How can I do that? 222 00:14:39,500 --> 00:14:45,000 The psalmist, David says this, but his Delight is in the law of 223 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:53,600 the Lord, and in his law, doth, he meditate day and night, day 224 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,900 and night. You know, David became wiser 225 00:14:56,900 --> 00:14:59,100 than his teachers. The Bible says through 226 00:14:59,100 --> 00:15:04,300 meditation in Psalms 119 and 99, listen to this very amazing 227 00:15:04,300 --> 00:15:08,800 passage of scripture where where the psalmist David records. 228 00:15:08,900 --> 00:15:13,800 These words he says, I have more understanding, then all of my 229 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:18,500 teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation. 230 00:15:20,500 --> 00:15:22,900 I guess the art of being a teacher would be. 231 00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:25,300 I know it's the art of being a parent. 232 00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:29,200 Least it is for me. I want to wear my children in 233 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:33,500 such a way that they live their life and become better than I 234 00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:35,400 am. That's what I want. 235 00:15:36,700 --> 00:15:40,600 I want to proudly feel like my children have accomplished for 236 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:45,200 more than I've accomplished. I hope and pray that my children 237 00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:47,900 know more about the Bible than I ever knew. 238 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,700 I hope that they become better people than I've ever been. 239 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,600 I hope and pray that that's the case. 240 00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:59,500 But you know when you have a student that's following a 241 00:15:59,500 --> 00:16:04,400 teacher, it isn't often and it isn't common that the student 242 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:08,600 will surpass the teacher. Unless the student diligently 243 00:16:08,700 --> 00:16:12,800 does certain things, the teacher can teach it, he can preach it, 244 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,600 he can go over it, he can remind them, he can repeat it and on, 245 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:20,800 and on, and on. But the student has the 246 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:25,300 responsibility of doing something to surpass the 247 00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:29,000 instructor. And David said, this, I have 248 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,700 more understanding than all my teachers. 249 00:16:31,700 --> 00:16:35,900 Why for thy testimonies are my meditation. 250 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:40,400 The student must in fact, take these things meditate upon them 251 00:16:40,900 --> 00:16:44,100 and and improve their self as a result. 252 00:16:44,300 --> 00:16:46,100 But, you know, there are questions that might come to 253 00:16:46,100 --> 00:16:47,500 mind. And these questions are 254 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:50,300 certainly worthy of an answer. Sir three questions. 255 00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:54,000 Now, number one, what does meditation mean to the 256 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:55,900 Christian? Number two? 257 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:00,100 Why should we be concerned about making time to meditate and 258 00:17:00,100 --> 00:17:02,700 number three? How do we do it? 259 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,400 For a little while. Now I'm going to attempt to 260 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,500 answer these questions for us. First of all, let me just say 261 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:13,099 this when we discuss biblical meditation, let me just talk 262 00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:17,800 about what it is, not You know, if I were to go out in the world 263 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:22,700 today today tomorrow, whatever it was and I were to walk up to 264 00:17:22,700 --> 00:17:26,800 people at random, say I chose 10 people and I want to go up to 265 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,700 them at random and I were to say, give me the very first 266 00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:35,600 thing that comes to your mind when I say the word meditation. 267 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,700 Listen, I'm not trying to make fun, but isn't it true that the 268 00:17:39,700 --> 00:17:44,600 majority of people, the majority of people in the world would say 269 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:47,900 that the very first interpretation or the very first 270 00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:52,400 thing that they have in their mind by way of their thoughts. 271 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,500 And by the way that they perceive it would be someone 272 00:17:55,500 --> 00:17:58,800 sitting Indian style with their hands like this. 273 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,600 Making those circles with her hands. 274 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,500 I don't know what that is the circles and sitting there with 275 00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:06,300 their eyes closed and humming a little tune. 276 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:10,300 And as they sit there in meditation, contemplating 277 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,100 whatever it is that they're contemplating. 278 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,000 That's not the meditation of the Bible. 279 00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:21,200 That's not the meditation that's found in God's word. 280 00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:24,000 It's not the kind that's practiced by many Eastern 281 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:28,900 religions, like, Hinduism and Buddhism or Transcendental 282 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:33,800 Meditation where the object is to experience truth experience. 283 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:37,700 Peace and being that is inexpressible. 284 00:18:38,100 --> 00:18:41,500 It is not the kind that is practiced by quote-unquote 285 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:46,000 Christian Mystics like Quakers and Others found among Roman 286 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,900 Catholics and Protestants. These meditate in order to 287 00:18:49,900 --> 00:18:54,600 experience God or to receive some Revelation from God. 288 00:18:54,700 --> 00:18:58,400 Another words, they meditate thinking that if they can take 289 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,300 their mind and they can clear their mind in fact, that's 290 00:19:01,300 --> 00:19:05,200 exactly one of the definitions of some of their meditation and 291 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,600 Eastern religions. You take your mind and you empty 292 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:13,400 it, and then you sit there and you meditate, and you and you 293 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,700 focus. And you're ever so still and 294 00:19:15,700 --> 00:19:20,400 quiet waiting to receive some Revelation that's going to come 295 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,400 to you. That's going to make it very 296 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:27,900 clear and you're going to receive it for the very first 297 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:32,400 time. But is that what the meditation 298 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:38,900 of the Bible is all about? Eastern and Christian Mystics 299 00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:44,900 quote-unquote meditates for the purpose of subjective meditation 300 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:49,700 empty the mind in order to find some received truth that they've 301 00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:53,300 never known before, but the meditation of the Bible by 302 00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:57,400 definition get this. Now it's to dwell or contemplate 303 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:01,400 on some truth or reality already revealed. 304 00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:05,100 It is a objective form of meditation. 305 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:09,000 Another words, every The thing that is ever been revealed to 306 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:13,400 man has already been revealed. Every single thing that is going 307 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:17,200 to be revealed to man has already been revealed. 308 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,300 There is nothing spiritually that you will ever learn. 309 00:20:20,300 --> 00:20:23,700 That is not already found in God's word. 310 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,800 Now, that very well may be that you didn't understand something 311 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,600 in God's word and because of prayerful study You Now 312 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:34,500 understand it, whereas, ten years ago, maybe you did not, 313 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:38,900 but that was not a ERM of Revelation to you through 314 00:20:38,900 --> 00:20:42,300 meditation. It's something already revealed 315 00:20:42,300 --> 00:20:46,000 here it is. And you meditate upon what has 316 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,400 already been revealed, and that is the meditation. 317 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,000 Of the Bible. To be more specific. 318 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:59,100 The man after God's Own Heart is one who meditates on such things 319 00:20:59,100 --> 00:21:02,400 like the Lord himself, I want you to notice. 320 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:06,300 Now, some of these things that if our minds are focused on 321 00:21:06,300 --> 00:21:12,200 various things, it is going to help us to not do other things. 322 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:14,800 Have you ever found yourself? You're trying to live the 323 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:17,500 Christian Life. You really want to deep down in 324 00:21:17,500 --> 00:21:21,500 your heart, you really aspire to do the things that are right in 325 00:21:21,500 --> 00:21:24,900 living the Christian life. But all of Sudden as you go out 326 00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:28,600 into the world, you are faced with Temptations as they come 327 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,100 your way and it just seems like an all. 328 00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:33,600 Are you ever so sorry when you do? 329 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:37,800 But it just seems like these are things cast before us in our 330 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:39,100 life. And what do we do? 331 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,100 We stub our toe here, we fall down there. 332 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:48,400 We trip over here because our minds are not actively seeking 333 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,700 what it should you know you know this as well as I do. 334 00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:53,500 You've heard me preach this for years and years. 335 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:58,500 And years and years. And, you know, this, but you 336 00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:01,800 can't do two opposite things at the same time. 337 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:05,800 It is impossible. It is impossible for me to 338 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,600 meditate on Jesus Christ himself. 339 00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:13,600 The Lord Jesus Christ that gave his life on calvary's Cross for 340 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,600 me and shed his blood there for the sins of the world. 341 00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:21,700 It is not possible right at that moment for me to meditate on 342 00:22:21,700 --> 00:22:25,700 Christ and at the very same time, be thinking about sinful 343 00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:30,100 things, and sinful Pleasures. I have to stop doing one in 344 00:22:30,100 --> 00:22:35,600 order to do the other What's Paul saying he's telling us, 345 00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:42,800 meditate or occupy your minds. Occupy your mind. 346 00:22:43,900 --> 00:22:48,200 My grandfather used to say Frank brancato, the one that I was 347 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:52,700 named after used to say, as you know, Idle Hands are tools of 348 00:22:52,700 --> 00:22:56,000 the devil and then he would say this but an idle mind is his 349 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,600 Workshop. We can never empty the mind and 350 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,900 clear the mind. Oh, no, we need to occupy the 351 00:23:02,900 --> 00:23:05,600 mind. The question is, what are we 352 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,000 occupying? The mind on? 353 00:23:08,300 --> 00:23:11,300 Well, we need to occupy the mind on the Lord himself. 354 00:23:11,300 --> 00:23:13,500 Here's three verses of scripture that are found. 355 00:23:13,700 --> 00:23:18,600 In the Book of Psalms Psalm 63, and burst number six, says, when 356 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:25,000 I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night 357 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,400 watches, there's nothing greater to do in your life, then 358 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,200 meditate on. Jesus Christ. 359 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:34,000 The one that was the greatest man that ever lived. 360 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,900 There was no greater and there. Never ever will be anyone that's 361 00:23:37,900 --> 00:23:41,900 greater than Jesus Christ. Not only was he the Lamb of God, 362 00:23:41,900 --> 00:23:44,900 Not only was he the sacrifice The whole world. 363 00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:48,200 But we're talking about someone that lived in this world for 364 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:52,600 about 33 years or so. And in doing so get this because 365 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:54,500 we stumble all the time, don't we? 366 00:23:54,700 --> 00:23:59,900 He lived here for 33 plus years or so and never committed one 367 00:23:59,900 --> 00:24:02,900 sin. And yet, the Bible says, he was 368 00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:08,300 in all points tempted. Like, as we are yet without sin, 369 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:12,500 if we would focus on his example, and think about Jesus, 370 00:24:12,700 --> 00:24:15,800 how can we ever Ever Fall From Grace. 371 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:20,900 How can we ever ever fall? But you know, David speaks of 372 00:24:20,900 --> 00:24:24,600 some more things about Jesus. He gets more specific about him 373 00:24:24,900 --> 00:24:30,900 in Psalm 77 and verse 12. He says, meditate on the works. 374 00:24:30,900 --> 00:24:35,400 The good works of Jesus and David said, I will meditate 375 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:43,700 also, all of all thy Work get this, And talk of thy doings. 376 00:24:45,300 --> 00:24:49,600 This is someone. That finds in God's revealed 377 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:56,600 word about Jesus. About his Works, meditates upon 378 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:02,200 them all day long, whatever it takes here, and there meditating 379 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:06,500 on that and meditating on all the wonderful works of Christ. 380 00:25:06,500 --> 00:25:11,700 And then David says, and then I will speak of those works. 381 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,200 What a great pattern. Now I'm talking about better 382 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,900 things, aren't I? I'm talking about Jesus in my 383 00:25:17,900 --> 00:25:21,500 life, I'm not likely to tell a dirty story. 384 00:25:21,700 --> 00:25:24,100 I'm not likely to tell something that I shouldn't. 385 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:29,100 I'm not likely to be a overcome with the temptation of gossip 386 00:25:29,100 --> 00:25:32,400 and start speaking to others about other people that I should 387 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,800 keep my mouth shut about. I am very unlikely folks, to do 388 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:38,800 those kind of things if I'm thinking about Jesus, and I'm 389 00:25:38,808 --> 00:25:43,300 thinking about all of his good works and I'm telling others 390 00:25:43,300 --> 00:25:46,400 about it. Third thing. 391 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:53,200 The obvious thing. Focus and meditate on his 392 00:25:53,200 --> 00:26:01,200 revealed word, in Psalm 119. In verses 15 and 16, David said, 393 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:06,500 I will meditate in thy precepts and have respect unto thy ways. 394 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:10,200 I will Delight myself in by statutes. 395 00:26:10,500 --> 00:26:16,500 I will not forget Thy Word. You know, to Simply put it in 396 00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:22,300 the words of the Apostle, Paul we are to meditate on things. 397 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:32,100 We are the meditate on things, what thinks he's already given 398 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:35,900 them to us, true Noble, just pure, lovely, and of good report 399 00:26:35,900 --> 00:26:40,100 and so on things that are virtue and are praiseworthy. 400 00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:43,300 And the purpose of our meditation is to nourish our 401 00:26:43,300 --> 00:26:45,900 self with the understanding of God. 402 00:26:45,900 --> 00:26:49,600 And his revealed will not to seek for some previously 403 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,500 unrevealed. Truth it is to give man 404 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:55,800 spiritual Joy. Joy and strength through such 405 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:57,900 nourishment. Now, notice here, this very 406 00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:02,100 amazing passage as found in Isaiah chapter 40, beginning in 407 00:27:02,100 --> 00:27:08,500 verse 28, listen to this. Hast thou not known hast thou, 408 00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:13,500 not heard that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of 409 00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:17,800 the ends of the Earth fainteth. Not, neither, is weary. 410 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,000 There's no searching of his understanding. 411 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:25,800 He giveth power to the faint and of them that have no might he 412 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:30,300 increaseth strength. Even the youths, shall faint? 413 00:27:30,300 --> 00:27:35,000 Not and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall. 414 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:40,900 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they 415 00:27:40,900 --> 00:27:46,200 shall Mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not 416 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:50,300 be weary and they shall walk, and not faint. 417 00:27:50,700 --> 00:27:55,200 Oh, the nourishment that we get from meditating upon the proper 418 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:59,600 things meditating on God's word. But number two, this morning 419 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:02,600 though, why should we do it? Well, we just talked about a 420 00:28:02,608 --> 00:28:06,500 source of strength, Psalms 1 vs. One and two we talked about 421 00:28:06,500 --> 00:28:08,600 blessed is the man that doesn't do these things, why? 422 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,100 When he's not doing these things, it's because he's doing 423 00:28:11,300 --> 00:28:15,200 these things, he's meditating on proper things, we get the 424 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,400 nourishment and help that we need, and encouragement that we 425 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:22,100 need in the passage that we just read from the book of Isaiah. 426 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,700 It's an important part. Also, number two, though of our 427 00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:29,200 transformation, you know, goal of the Christian is to become 428 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:33,800 more like Jesus Christ in all the days that we live in Romans 429 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:38,000 chapter 8, and verse 20, 9, the Apostle Paul would say that God 430 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:43,300 has called those who will conform to the image of his son. 431 00:28:43,500 --> 00:28:46,200 You know what that means. That means that I am living in 432 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:50,200 this world, but I cannot continue the way that I live. 433 00:28:50,300 --> 00:28:53,400 I cannot continue in the way that I am. 434 00:28:53,500 --> 00:28:57,000 I'm in the world. When I am converted to Christ, I 435 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,600 changed my heart. I changed my life, and I changed 436 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,900 my relationship. I changed my values and my 437 00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:06,600 priorities. You know, that's exactly what 438 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:09,900 the Apostle Paul was. Speaking of in, Romans chapter 439 00:29:09,900 --> 00:29:14,500 12 and verses 1 and 2. When the Apostle Paul said that 440 00:29:14,500 --> 00:29:18,200 a person that's going to be acceptable, in the eyes of God 441 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:25,100 is one, who is transformed. That means I have to change into 442 00:29:25,100 --> 00:29:30,700 something else. Because God will not accept me 443 00:29:31,300 --> 00:29:33,400 in the worldly state that I'm in. 444 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:42,400 Until I transform myself and change and that is repentance, 445 00:29:43,100 --> 00:29:47,200 meditation is valuable because it is a helpful tool in the 446 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:52,200 transformation process. Romans chapter 12, verses 1 and 447 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,500 2. Paul said, I beseech, you 448 00:29:54,500 --> 00:29:57,500 therefore Brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present 449 00:29:57,500 --> 00:30:01,900 your bodies, a Living Sacrifice, holy acceptable, unto God, which 450 00:30:01,900 --> 00:30:06,200 is your reasonable service. And Not conformed to this world 451 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:10,500 but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye 452 00:30:10,500 --> 00:30:13,500 may prove. What is that good and acceptable 453 00:30:13,700 --> 00:30:18,100 and perfect will of God. You can't be transformed folks 454 00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:22,000 without continually being renewed in the mind. 455 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:26,200 And the only way that you can renew your mind is to meditate 456 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:31,200 upon these things in this book. That's the only way you renew 457 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,500 your mind. And folks, I'm not just talking 458 00:30:34,500 --> 00:30:37,800 about coming down here on Sunday morning and hearing God's word 459 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:40,000 and Renewing Your Mind or Sunday night. 460 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:41,800 Also our Wednesday night or whatever it is. 461 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:45,700 That's not enough. Renewing, we're spending far too 462 00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:49,700 many times far too many hours in the world and when we think 463 00:30:49,700 --> 00:30:52,700 about that, if the only nourishment were getting and the 464 00:30:52,700 --> 00:30:56,600 only reminders that were getting and the only time we renew our 465 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:00,000 mind is in the public assembly of the Lord's church. 466 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:03,900 When we hear sermon from the pulpit that is Not enough. 467 00:31:03,900 --> 00:31:07,700 Renewing, to make you transformed and to make you all 468 00:31:07,700 --> 00:31:09,800 that you need to be for the Lord. 469 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,900 If I'm transformed. I'm changed. 470 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:21,800 You ever have hear somebody? Say, oh, did you see Johnny man? 471 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:25,400 He's changed. I never thought he had it in 472 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:28,200 him. He's changed. 473 00:31:29,500 --> 00:31:33,300 You ever see someone that lived their life for sake of a better 474 00:31:33,300 --> 00:31:35,500 term as the devil's disciple himself? 475 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,000 And then all of a sudden they come down the aisle with tears 476 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:44,200 in their eyes repenting of all that they'd done. 477 00:31:45,300 --> 00:31:48,000 And humbly submitting to Jesus Christ. 478 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:51,200 Confessing him as the Son of God and being baptized for the 479 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:54,700 remission of his sins. And from that point forward, his 480 00:31:54,700 --> 00:31:57,300 life is different. He acts different because that 481 00:31:57,300 --> 00:32:02,000 man is changed. The only way we can stay 482 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,900 changed, though. Folks and not change back is to 483 00:32:04,900 --> 00:32:10,500 meditate on things above and not on things on the earth. 484 00:32:10,500 --> 00:32:14,500 You know, it's very sad as many Christians fall because they 485 00:32:14,500 --> 00:32:18,100 meditate on The wrong things, they mind the things of the 486 00:32:18,100 --> 00:32:21,500 flesh, which lead to spiritual death in enmity with God. 487 00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:25,300 And yet the world even understands the world. 488 00:32:25,300 --> 00:32:30,000 Even understands that a person cannot be spiritual and dwell on 489 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:32,300 carnal things. I want you to listen to this 490 00:32:32,300 --> 00:32:35,200 study that was done by Stanford University. 491 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,900 I thought this was rather interesting because these are 492 00:32:37,900 --> 00:32:40,700 types of things that we speak of all the time. 493 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:44,500 When we preach God's word. I'm so thankful that some of our 494 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:50,700 very Educated people educated doctors as it were in aspects 495 00:32:50,700 --> 00:32:53,400 such as this. I'm so thankful that they're 496 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:57,100 catching up to the Bible. A recent study was done by 497 00:32:57,100 --> 00:33:02,000 Stanford University about this. Listen recent studies conducted 498 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:07,000 by Stanford University and the Stanford University team reveal. 499 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:12,000 That what we watch, has an effect on our imaginations. 500 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:17,200 It has an effect on our learning patterns It has an effect on our 501 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:20,900 behaviors. Listen, this is just viewing 502 00:33:20,900 --> 00:33:23,900 things. It's saying that if I go and I 503 00:33:23,900 --> 00:33:28,200 am viewing something, whatever that is good or bad, that is 504 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,500 going to influence. What I am the decisions that I 505 00:33:31,500 --> 00:33:37,000 make and the values that I established in my life scary, 506 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:41,600 isn't it? Even casual contemplation, watch 507 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:45,600 it goes further. First, this is how it happens. 508 00:33:45,700 --> 00:33:49,300 We're exposed to new behaviors and new characters. 509 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:55,000 Secondly, we learn to acquire these new behaviors and thirdly, 510 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:59,200 the last and most crucial step is that then we adopt these 511 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,600 behaviors. And we adopt them just like they 512 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:06,500 are our very own. One of the most critical aspects 513 00:34:06,500 --> 00:34:09,900 of human development that we need to understand is the 514 00:34:09,900 --> 00:34:13,400 influence of repeated viewing and repeated verbal. 515 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:17,800 Rising in shaping our future. This is what happens, the 516 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:21,500 information goes in ever so harmlessly or so. 517 00:34:21,500 --> 00:34:26,600 It seems almost unnoticed it goes in on a daily repeated 518 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:29,600 basis. We don't react to it until later 519 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:34,600 when we are able to realize the basis for our reactions. 520 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:39,100 Did you get that? You know what, the study proved, 521 00:34:39,100 --> 00:34:42,199 they're saying that what you view, what you listen to what 522 00:34:42,199 --> 00:34:47,300 you are constantly exposed to on a regular basis. 523 00:34:48,199 --> 00:34:52,600 When you're not even aware over time, you're going to start 524 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:56,500 adopting these behaviors. You're going to start adopting 525 00:34:56,600 --> 00:35:01,500 these things these values and then before you can say, don't 526 00:35:01,500 --> 00:35:04,600 do it as it were, you're going to be faced with something and 527 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:07,600 all of a sudden The new Behavior and the way you're going to 528 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:10,700 respond is just like you've been exposed. 529 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:20,100 Their conclusion was this. In other words, our value system 530 00:35:20,100 --> 00:35:25,500 is being formed without any conscious Awareness on our part. 531 00:35:26,700 --> 00:35:31,000 And our conscious awareness of what's happening and get this. 532 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:33,400 I love this. They summed it up by saying you 533 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:37,200 see you are what you watch and you are what you think. 534 00:35:38,100 --> 00:35:43,200 Oh, the Bible so long ago, said just that Bible says, as a man 535 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:48,300 thinketh in his heart. So is he what you think about, 536 00:35:48,300 --> 00:35:51,700 what you meditate upon what you watch on television? 537 00:35:51,900 --> 00:35:55,800 All the things that you surround yourself, all of these things 538 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,600 are in flux. Lewin seeing your behavior and 539 00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:01,600 it will manifest itself in some point in time. 540 00:36:01,700 --> 00:36:07,400 If you don't get a hold of it, The Super Bowl is coming up, you 541 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:08,900 know what's very famous about that? 542 00:36:10,500 --> 00:36:13,400 Commercials that guy saw yesterday. 543 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:18,000 I saw an advertisement for we need advertisements and 544 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:21,100 commercials for the Super Bowl. And so what they're doing is 545 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:24,200 they're trying to come up with various forms of things that 546 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,700 they can put on the television set when the majority of people 547 00:36:27,700 --> 00:36:30,100 are going to be watching that game on television. 548 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:32,900 You know why? You know why they spend a 549 00:36:32,908 --> 00:36:36,300 million dollars or better a minute in advertising their 550 00:36:36,300 --> 00:36:38,800 product? Because they know that for 60 551 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:42,000 seconds, if they can keep flashing something before your 552 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:46,800 eyes that eventually it will cause you to buy their product. 553 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:51,300 And their Studies have indicated that more times than not. 554 00:36:51,300 --> 00:36:54,300 That's exactly what happens. Here's the point of this 555 00:36:54,300 --> 00:37:00,100 Stanford study, the last thing. It said, if a 60-second viewing 556 00:37:00,300 --> 00:37:04,400 of a Repeated over and over commercial ever flashing. 557 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:08,200 Before your eyes can influence you in such a way that you go 558 00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:12,200 out and buy their product. Then isn't it true that a 559 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:17,000 60-minute soap? Opera or smut calm repeatedly 560 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:20,700 before us? Isn't it just possible that it's 561 00:37:20,700 --> 00:37:27,100 selling us on a lifestyle? Folks, it surely is if 60 562 00:37:27,100 --> 00:37:31,800 seconds of repeated viewing can do it than 60 Minutes ever. 563 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:36,000 Before us on things, we have no business watching it. 564 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:40,500 Affects our lifestyle to and over time, we become 565 00:37:40,500 --> 00:37:43,100 desensitized, and all of a sudden things, don't Sheamus 566 00:37:43,100 --> 00:37:45,600 anymore. Somebody says a word on 567 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:48,400 television, it doesn't Shameless like it, did five ten years ago 568 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:50,000 because it was never on television. 569 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:55,000 Now, it is It's all around us. The entire point in the entire 570 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:59,400 lesson of this part is this. We have to be very careful about 571 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:04,400 even the Casual contemplation on anything in our life. 572 00:38:04,700 --> 00:38:08,600 And that's why Paul said after you do this here's a pattern you 573 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:11,200 got your mind on things. Your you know, what you're 574 00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:14,000 focused on that and all that. Now you got to think think on 575 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:19,300 what think on these things. Because Paul knew, if you don't 576 00:38:19,300 --> 00:38:22,800 do that and you don't proactively do that, then the 577 00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:26,400 other things are going to be before you and you're going to 578 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:30,500 fall. We need to reach the heights of 579 00:38:30,500 --> 00:38:32,800 spiritual meditation in our lives. 580 00:38:33,900 --> 00:38:39,900 By focusing on God's word. It helps us to be transformed. 581 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:44,100 It fills our minds with positive and spiritual thoughts. 582 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:49,400 It continually renews the mind, you know, I know sister, that's 583 00:38:49,400 --> 00:38:54,000 here, and I know that every day, every day, she opens up her 584 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:58,300 Bible and she renews her mind. I know that for a fact every 585 00:38:58,300 --> 00:39:01,100 day, she knows quite a lot about the Bible. 586 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:03,600 I appreciate that very much about her. 587 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:08,900 She meditates on God's word. She told me that she actually 588 00:39:08,900 --> 00:39:11,500 has one Bible out and then another Bible out. 589 00:39:11,500 --> 00:39:13,900 And she reads a passage of scripture and studying it and 590 00:39:13,900 --> 00:39:15,800 then she leaves that they're so she doesn't lose her train of 591 00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:18,500 thought but she's so focused. She now goes to this Bible. 592 00:39:18,500 --> 00:39:22,500 If she wants to reference other passages, this is a person that 593 00:39:22,500 --> 00:39:27,300 is trying to meditate on things above that, renews your mind. 594 00:39:29,300 --> 00:39:31,000 Have you ever read your Bible for an hour? 595 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:34,000 And then as soon as you close the book, you felt the 596 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,200 Temptation that's ever so strong. 597 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:42,000 I doubt it. Think on these things, you know, 598 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:44,000 it doesn't have to be restricted to the Bible. 599 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:47,900 Paul says whatsoever things. There are things that are good 600 00:39:47,900 --> 00:39:50,900 and wholesome in life. They surely are and if they are 601 00:39:50,900 --> 00:39:54,400 a value and virtue and if there praiseworthy you think on those 602 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:58,000 things, if they fit the criteria that Paul has given us, you 603 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:02,600 focus on those things. But let's be very discriminatory 604 00:40:02,700 --> 00:40:07,200 in the Casual contemplation that exists with us today. 605 00:40:08,100 --> 00:40:12,500 Make the Bible, a primary focus for this meditation. 606 00:40:13,500 --> 00:40:16,400 Read the word of God with a prayer in your heart. 607 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:20,700 As you read the word of God occasionally, read it aloud, 608 00:40:21,300 --> 00:40:25,500 reading it slowly and audibly helps to focus one's mind on the 609 00:40:25,500 --> 00:40:30,200 words and in conclusion, study like this. 610 00:40:31,700 --> 00:40:35,000 Ask yourself when you're contemplating and studying and 611 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:38,700 meditating upon God's word. Ask yourself number one, is 612 00:40:38,700 --> 00:40:43,500 there truth that I should know from this verse number to ask 613 00:40:43,500 --> 00:40:45,800 yourself? How does this passage of 614 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:47,600 scripture? How does it? 615 00:40:47,600 --> 00:40:50,400 How does it affect any previously? 616 00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:54,300 Held convictions? Number three, ask yourself. 617 00:40:54,300 --> 00:40:57,900 If is there something that I should stop doing in light of 618 00:40:57,900 --> 00:41:00,800 this verse? Number four, is there a practice 619 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,100 that I should? A change in my life. 620 00:41:03,100 --> 00:41:06,900 Number 5, is there a habit that I need to begin? 621 00:41:09,300 --> 00:41:14,300 Folks that's somebody that doesn't have a preconceived idea 622 00:41:15,700 --> 00:41:20,700 of what they're going to believe that fits whatever they feel at 623 00:41:20,700 --> 00:41:24,200 the moment. That is somebody that is willing 624 00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:26,700 with an open mind. A truly open mind, open for 625 00:41:26,700 --> 00:41:28,400 what? What's already been revealed? 626 00:41:29,700 --> 00:41:31,800 And you study it with a prayer in your heart. 627 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:36,300 You meditate upon it, you applied in your life. 628 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:42,700 And Paul said, if you do that, you're going to be successful in 629 00:41:42,700 --> 00:41:46,800 living the Christian Life. Tonight, if you come back. 630 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:50,500 Lord willing. I'm going to talk about the very 631 00:41:50,500 --> 00:41:54,600 next verse briefly but Paul said something very interesting. 632 00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:58,400 Now think about this. Think about Paul's life. 633 00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:03,700 Think about he was in bonds, he was under house arrest and you 634 00:42:03,700 --> 00:42:06,300 know what he was doing? He had the anxiety, I would 635 00:42:06,300 --> 00:42:09,700 imagine before him as a man, that knew that when this 636 00:42:09,700 --> 00:42:13,600 impending trial was coming, he's probably going to lose his life. 637 00:42:16,100 --> 00:42:20,700 He said a pattern in verse 9, all the things that you've heard 638 00:42:20,700 --> 00:42:22,600 from me. All the things that you've 639 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:25,400 learned from me. All the things that you've seen 640 00:42:25,400 --> 00:42:30,500 in me, do those things. And finally, he sums it up by 641 00:42:30,500 --> 00:42:34,600 saying this that no matter what state that I'm in and notice 642 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:37,200 what his state was in, regardless of the state that I 643 00:42:37,200 --> 00:42:40,500 meant, I have learned there with to be content. 644 00:42:40,500 --> 00:42:44,400 And finally, I can do all things through Christ. 645 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:48,900 Who strengthens me? In summary. 646 00:42:48,900 --> 00:42:52,800 Let's hold the word of God safe and secure to our heart until 647 00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:54,800 it's affected every phase of our life. 648 00:42:55,500 --> 00:42:57,500 That is true biblical meditation. 649 00:42:57,900 --> 00:43:00,300 And may we be able to pray prayers like the psalmist. 650 00:43:00,300 --> 00:43:03,600 David did in Psalm 19. And verse 14, when he said this 651 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:07,800 let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be 652 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:13,300 acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer and 653 00:43:13,300 --> 00:43:17,800 as the Apostle Paul says go and do these things. 654 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:21,700 Likewise. We thank you for listening to 655 00:43:21,700 --> 00:43:26,500 our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 656 00:43:26,500 --> 00:43:30,000 Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 657 00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:33,300 information, or you would like to receive a free Bible 658 00:43:33,300 --> 00:43:38,800 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her 659 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:41,200 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 660 00:43:41,900 --> 00:43:47,100 Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 661 00:43:47,100 --> 00:43:51,600 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 662 00:43:52,100 --> 00:43:54,300 We would love for you to be our honored guest.