MEMORY VERSE: “Meditate upon these things: give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” 1Timothy 4:15
BIBLE PASSAGE: 1Timothy 4:6-16
INTRODUCTION
Last week, we considered three of the ways by which one can obtain spiritual knowledge. Searching, seeking and studying. Apart from obtaining spiritual knowledge, we also learnt that studying the word of God leads to divine approval, holy living and learning from the mistakes of others. However, some mysteries of God cannot be known through mere searching, seeking or studying. In today’s lesson, we shall learn other ways of deepening our spiritual knowledge.
OUTLINES
1. MEDITATION
2. WAITING ON THE LORD
1. MEDITATION
Meditation is deeper than studying. Meditating on the word involves ‘eating’, ‘chewing’ and ‘regurgitating’ the word, so that it becomes part and parcel of our spirit and life. This is what God Himself recommended to Joshua in Jos.1:8. It is a sure way of being blessed by God Ps.1:1-3. Meditation takes time but then all good things take time and the sweetness which comes from meditating on the word of God compensates more for the time spent Ps. 104:34. One of the best times to meditate on the word is at night, Ps 63:6.
Meditate on the works of God Ps. 8: 3-4 and the lessons that
nature teaches us Matt.6:28-29. You begin to get a glimpse of the mystery of the new birth as you realise how mighty the King of kings is and how nothing shall be impossible unto Him. Meditate on the sufferings of Christ Heb. 12:3 and you may stop asking questions of the mystery of the Bride of Christ and just march on, being grateful that you are a part of it. Meditate on the end-of-life Deut. 32:7 and you will be grateful that when you enter you will be with Jesus Christ.
2. WAITING ON THE LORD
Not all truths can be discovered by searching, seeking, or meditating on scriptures alone, some mysteries are revealed in God’s timeEccl.3:11. However, what you cannot obtain by searching or seeking you can get by simply waiting on the Lord in isolation accompanied sometimes with fasting Isa. 40:28-31. Seeking and searching may be tiresome. Waiting is refreshing and renewing. Moreover, the Lord promises to teach those who wait on Him Ps. 25:5. Even if you do not deserve the information, He will give it to you out of His abundant mercy Ps. 123:2. Therefore, learn to wait on the Lord and as you wait on Him, do so with the expectation of learning something mysterious, something deep, and something beneficial. He will not disappoint an expectant waiter Ps. 62: 5-6.
CONCLUSION
A combination of waiting on the Lord and meditating on His Word while you wait will surely open many locked spiritual doors and usher you into the secret rooms of spiritual knowledge Isa. 8:17. The ways of the Lord are marvelous, yet simple.