THE LOST ART
Have you heard of a group of men commonly known as the “Puritans” These were Ministers of the Gospel in the 16 & 17 centuries who were considered non-conformists because they felt strongly that the Reformation was not developing as strongly as it should in the established church in Britain. Many were imprisoned because of the stand they took on important issues.
One such Puritan was a man called Thomas Watson (1620-1686) he was a popular preacher and author of numerous books, a statement he made has really been resonating in my heart.
“The reason we come away so cold from reading the Word is because we do not warm ourselves at the fire of mediation”.
Reading the Word of God is very important, but God wants to speak to us through the Scriptures on a DAILY BASIS, this is where we need to learn to meditate. As the title of the blog states, this is a lost art.(the non Christian religions promote a form of meditation which is both unscriptural and dangerous) The word is used at least 15 times in the Bible so we need to consider what it means.
In the Greek and Hebrew the picture is to chew the cud like a cow, to mutter, to muse, to ponder. to study.
So it is not a cursory reading of the text but a chewing over even of every word, looking at the verse in different translations and praying “Holy Spirit turn the light on, give me illumination of this verse”.
It is interesting that there are 2 words used in the Greek text for WORD.
Logos which is used the most, Jesus is called the Logos in John 1, but is used predominantly relating to the written word of God.
Rhema, is used less often, but is used in some very interesting situations.
Some of my Theologian friends will disagree with the emphasis I want to bring because theses 2 words are used interchangeably in the New Testament, I personally think there is some significance and it is pertinent to the whole truth regarding meditation.
We believe the whole of the Bible is the Word of God, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it”. So if you ever feel God has spoken to you through a particular verse, it must ALWAYS line up with the rest of the Bible.
I have 2 Bible Reading plans and encourage you if you do not have a personal regular plan to read the Bible I will send them to you to assist you in reading the Bible in an organised way..
But to quote Thomas Watson we must warm ourselves with meditation and let the Word personally come alive and minister to our hearts.
Here are some verses where the word Rhema is used, that convinces me that Rhema is the result of meditation.
Matt. 4:4 Man shall live by every Rhema that proceeds out of the mouth of God. When God’s Word comes alive in us we really start to live.
Luke 5:5 At your Rhema I will let down the nets. Peter was a professional fisherman, he knew where to fish, but responded to Christ’s Rhema, and what a result.
Rom. 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Rhema, do you want faith ? meditate on the Logos and it will become a personal Rhema word to you. Remember without faith it is impossible to please God.
Eph. 6:17 Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Rhema. When the Word of God becomes a Rhema, we can use it as a sword against the enemy. Remember the Sons of Sceva who tried to take authority over a demon, and the devil laughed at them, authority comes to us when the word becomes a Rhema.
If you are not comfortable with the above teaching the Psalmist in Psalm 119 (which is all about the Word of God), prays at least twice Quicken your word to me., verses 25, & 154.
In previous generations before there were scans a woman would have to wait until around the 20th week of her pregnancy where she experienced what was called “the quickening” where she felt the baby move for the first time in her womb. What a great illustration when we “feel” the Word of God personally quickened to us. It not only warms us as Thomas Watson says, but can truly be life changing.
The Apostle Peter described the Word of God as a seed in 1 Peter 1.23, this is the Greek word sperma (or spora) when we receive that quickened word, spiritual conception takes place that can birth something in us that will take us to a new level of victory and purity, a new level of ministry and fruitfulness for the Kingdom of God.
I have mentioned these various illustrations to help you appreciate the total importance of not only reading the Word of God, but also MEDITATING on it and let it change your life.
Let me conclude with the awesome promise in Joshua 1:8
This Book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you 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.
Do you want spiritual prosperity and success in your walk and relationship with the Lord? Then MEDITATE, MEDITATE, MEDITATE, MEDITATE, MEDITATE.
Please give me your comments and response at your convenience
