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By: Pastor DeWayne Wright
Youth Pastor - Agape Family Worship Center
Philippians 4:8(NKJV)
Meditate on These Things
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.
Luke 10:27(NKJV)
27 So he answered and said, " ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,'[a] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.'"[b]
Joshua 1:8(NKJV)
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Meditation is defined as:. continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation; to plan in your mind. The purpose of meditation in the life of the Believer is to perceive, or regard with attention the Word of God and then to take action and be doer's of the Word. The Word of God is literally life to the Believer, and the consumption of His Word is not to be regarded as just a story or a fleeting thought, but continual reflection and application of the Word to your everyday life.
The power in the Word is carried out by the Holy Spirit. God said, and it was the Holy Spirit who moved upon the face of the water. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon Jesus when He was baptized, anointing Him with power. When you spend time meditating on the word of God, you are storing up power. It is the Holy Spirit that brings back to your remembrance the Word of God. But if you don't consume the Word then there is no Word for the Holy Spirit to bring out of you.
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Psalm 1:1-2; 20-23 (NKJV)
Do Not Walk In Ungodly Counsel
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
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The Word of God illuminates our path.
Proverbs 4:18 (NKJV)
But the path of the just is like the shining sun,[a]
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
John 15:1-3 - The Word of God is the Vine and Believers are the branches. If we are connected to the Vine then we will bear fruit that glorifies God. The promise is that our leaves will not wither and we will prosper with much fruit.
John 15:1-3(NKJV)
The True Vine
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;[a] and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
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God hears the prayers of your heart, more than the words of your lips. Just as Hannah prayed in her heart, God heard her and answered.
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1 Samuel 1:13 (NKJV)
Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
1 Samuel 1:19 (NKJV)
[ Samuel Is Born and Dedicated ] Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.
Psalm 5:1(NKJV)
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my meditation.
Psalm 19:14(NKJV)
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
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The Light of God's word enters into us
Psalm 119 (NKJV)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
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Psalm 49:3(NKJV)
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
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A glutton ness man has a hidden agenda in his heart. If your mind is focused on ungodly thoughts the body will soon follow. The mind is the battleground where your flesh fights against the Spirit. Do not give into the flesh, for the battle is already won. Remember who sits on the throne of your heart and mediate on the things of God to bring your mind into subjection to the Spirit. Are you lusting in secret? God Sees.
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Proverbs 23:7(NKJV)
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
" Eat and drink!" he says to you,
But his heart is not with you.
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Psalm 63:6(NKJV)
6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
The journey of the Believer is the transformation of the mind.
Romans 12:1-2
Living Sacrifices to God
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
You are also operating on empty if you are not taking in the nutrients of the word. Build yourself up with power.
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Seed fallen to the ground
Mark 4:3-9 (NKJV)
3 "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air[a] came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."
9 And He said to them,[b] "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
The good/acceptable/perfect will of God.
Train yourself to meditate starting out with the small epistles
Take one scripture a day and commit it to memory. It can change your life. God wants you to use your imagination and take a journey in His word.
Paul wrote more epistles to particular churches, as well as personal letters to Timothy, Philemon, and Titus. Peter was the author of his own, John was the author of his own, James was the author of his own, Jude was the author of his own. Sometimes Paul's epistles are divided into subgroups. For instance, the "prison epistles" are the ones written by Paul while he was in prison, while the "pastoral epistles" are the letters to Timothy and Titus, since they contain advice about providing pastoral care to their churches.
Reprobate Mind
(a depraved, unprincipled, or wicked person) - viewpoint w/o God
Romans 1:18-32
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,[d] unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
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Keep your mind stayed on thee and He will keep you in perfect peace.
Meditate on God's words and speak of His deeds. Pray and think about the greatness of God. Then make your petitions/requests known to God and offer up your praises of thanksgiving for all that He has done.
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Psalm 119:9 (NKJV)
9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
James 1:23 (NKJV)
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
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Psalm 77:12-20
12 I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
14 You are the God who does wonders;
You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 The waters saw You, O God;
The waters saw You, they were afraid;
The depths also trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
The skies sent out a sound;
Your arrows also flashed about.
18 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The lightnings lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea,
Your path in the great waters,
And Your footsteps were not known.
20 You led Your people like a flock
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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Psalm 10:4:34 - Have sweet thoughts towards God.
1 Timothy 4:12-16 - Your progress will be evident to all. Save yourself and those who hear you. Don't "shipwreck" your faith!
Tools to meditate:
1. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you
2. Read, study, memorize the scriptures
3. Confess scriptures daily
4. Obey the scriptures
Then watch what happens. For out of your bellies will flow rivers of living waters. What is coming out of your mouth?
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Meditate
Think about a sweet potato pie and the ingredients that go into making one. The main ingredient would be the sweet potato, but it's not the pie until you add all the other ingredients.
The main ingredient that makes a Christian is the belief in Jesus as God's only begotten Son. The main ingredient that gives a Christian the Anointing is the Holy Spirit. The ingredient that makes a Christian more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus is the daily consumption of the Word of God. Give the Holy Spirit something of substance to work with. There is power in the Word.
Spiritual Training Tip: Every night take one particular scripture to bed with you and meditate on it until you fall asleep. As written in Psalm 119 - the light of God's word will enter into you.
If you have been waiting for a breakthrough and it seems as though your season has passed you by. Remember, if you have not taken action and steps to produce a harvest, meaning sowing, there will be nothing to reap.
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Scriptures on Meditation:
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Philippians 4:8; Philippians 4:6; 11
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Proverbs 4; Proverbs 23:7
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Luke 10:27
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John 15:1-3
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Joshua 1:8
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Joshua 1:8
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Romans 12:1-2
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Isaiah
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Mark 4
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Psalm 19:14; Psalm 49:3; Psalm 63:6
Psalm 119:105; 130; Psalm 77:12-20
Psalm 119:9; Psalm 1; Psalm 5:1; Psalm 10:4:3
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Romans 1
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James 1:23
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1 Timothy 4:12; 15-16
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