1. The Discipline of Meditation By Shepherd Phillip Do not let this Book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8

2. Meditation – No, not this.

3. Christian Meditation Christian Meditation is simply the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word. Christian Meditation is simply the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word. The Creator of all things desires our fellowship! The Creator of all things desires our fellowship! Examples - Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Noah, Abraham and Moses. Examples - Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Noah, Abraham and Moses.

4. Unfortunately Israelites to Moses “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Exodus 20:19

5. Jesus teaching on Meditation “Listen to me everyone and understand this.” Mark 7:14 “Listen to me everyone and understand this.” Mark 7:14 “Therefore, consider carefully how you listen” Luke 8:18 “Therefore, consider carefully how you listen” Luke 8:18 “My sheep listen to my voice” Jn 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice” Jn 10:27 Told us that the comforter would come, the spirit of truth, who would guide us into all truth (John 16:13). Told us that the comforter would come, the spirit of truth, who would guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

6. Purpose of Meditation and some common misconceptions Spiritual Disciplines Presented by By Shepherd Aquila

7. Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

8. Joshua1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

9. Purpose of meditation Growing into a familiar friendship with Jesus – It’s all about relationship… Growing into a familiar friendship with Jesus – It’s all about relationship… 1. Abraham was God’s friend (Gen18:17) 2. Moses spoke face to face with God (Ex34:29-35) 3. David was called a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam13:14; Act13:22) 4. Jesus called his disciples friends (Jn15:15; 21:5)

10. Put into deep waters Meditation is sinking into the light and life of Jesus and becoming comfortable in that posture – Thomas A Kempis

11. Environment making Meditation creates an emotional and spiritual space that allows Christ construct an inner sanctuary in the heart - Meditation creates an emotional and spiritual space that allows Christ construct an inner sanctuary in the heart - “I stand at the door and knock…” (Rev 3:20) Contact… Contact…

12. Inner Transformation Inward fellowship of this kind transforms the inner person Inward fellowship of this kind transforms the inner person 1. 2 Co 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 1. -Act 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

13. Understandable misconceptions Christian meditation as opposed to meditation in Eastern religions Maybe it is too difficult – leave it for the professionals It is too impractical – not in touch with the 21st century A religious form of psychological manipulation

14. It comes through practice Inner reality is available to those who search…that has been my own personal experience Inner reality is available to those who search…that has been my own personal experience We need to take an experiential attitude toward spiritual realities We need to take an experiential attitude toward spiritual realities 1. hypothesize 2. Experiment 3. Keep trying Listen carefully to the word of God… Listen carefully to the word of God…

15. Desiring the Living Voice of God By Shepherd Paul “Only to sit and think of God, oh what joy it is!” – Frederick W. Faber “Only to sit and think of God, oh what joy it is!” – Frederick W. Faber

16. Desiring the Living Voice of God “Human beings seem to have a perpetual tendency to have somebody else talk to God for them.” “Human beings seem to have a perpetual tendency to have somebody else talk to God for them.” “All who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord are the universal priesthood of God and as such can enter the Holy of Holies and converse with the living God.” “All who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord are the universal priesthood of God and as such can enter the Holy of Holies and converse with the living God.” The contemplation of the saints is fired by the love of the one contemplated: that is, God.” – Albert the Great The contemplation of the saints is fired by the love of the one contemplated: that is, God.” – Albert the Great

17. Desiring the Living Voice of God Observation: The author encourages us to overcome our tendency to remain distant from God and instead draw near to him with a love relationship- and listen for his voice. Observation: The author encourages us to overcome our tendency to remain distant from God and instead draw near to him with a love relationship- and listen for his voice. Question: Is this meditation or prayer or both? Question: Is this meditation or prayer or both?

18. Sanctifying the Imagination “God created us with an imagination, and as Lord of his creation he can and does redeem it and use it for the work of the kingdom of God.” “God created us with an imagination, and as Lord of his creation he can and does redeem it and use it for the work of the kingdom of God.” Allow a passage of Scripture to take root in you through imagination: Seek to live the experience as if through the senses. Allow a passage of Scripture to take root in you through imagination: Seek to live the experience as if through the senses.

19. Sanctifying the Imagination Observations: Observations: Our imagination can help us connect to the Scriptures- and connect with God -so that we can experience God’s truth more personally.

20. Preparing to Meditate and Forms of Meditation By Shepherd David

21. Preparing Time to Meditate 1. “Pray without ceasing: 1 Thes 5:17: Any time can be, at least one set time.

22. Preparing a PLACE to Meditate Ideal is quiet with nothing to disturb.

23. Preparing a Posture to Meditate 3. Comfortable, healthy and mentally alert

24. Four suggestive: Forms of Meditation:

25. Meditate on a text in the Bible Example: ”Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” Jn 14:1 Example: ”Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” Jn 14:1 Take root in the text by mediating daily on the same text for about a week. Take root in the text by mediating daily on the same text for about a week. Autobiographic a bible text: “One thing I know. I was blind but now I see.” Jn 9:25 Personalize the text. Autobiographic a bible text: “One thing I know. I was blind but now I see.” Jn 9:25 Personalize the text.

26. Re-Collection or centering down mediation Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of our desire to turn over any concern we have to God. Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of our desire to turn over any concern we have to God. After several moments turn palms up as a symbol of receiving from the Lord. After several moments turn palms up as a symbol of receiving from the Lord.

27. Meditating on God’s Creation Meditating on God’s Creation ““For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 ““For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

28. Meditate on events of our time. News Paper in one hand and a bible in another. News Paper in one hand and a bible in another. Meditate on Jesus in the mist of storms we have no control over. Meditate on Jesus in the mist of storms we have no control over.

29. Apostle Paul given prophetic encouragement. “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Acts 27:24 “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Acts 27:24

30. Martin Luther King Jr prison meditations Never before have I written so long a letter. I'm afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he sits alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers. Never before have I written so long a letter. I'm afraid it is much too long to take your precious time. I can assure you that it would have been much shorter if I had been writing from a comfortable desk, but what else can one do when he sits alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers.