“Living The Word: The Need for Biblical Meditation”
August 2, 2009

What is Christian meditation?

1. Christian meditation is ________________ reflection on God’s Word  - 2 Tim. 2:7

2. Christian meditation is ________________ reflection on God’s Word - Psalms 1:2

3. Christian meditation is ________________ reflection on God’s Word - Joshua 1:6-9

4. Christian meditation and prayer were exemplified by ______________ - Luke 5:15-16

Facts for Everybody 
•	Fact: God will reveal himself to you if you really seek Him! 
o	Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
•	Fact: God will forgive you! 
o	1 John 1:8 – 9 (NLT) 8If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.  9But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
•	Fact: God will raise you from the dead! 
o	John 5:28 – 29 (NLT) 28Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son,  29and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
Facts for Followers of Christ
•	Fact: God will never fail you or abandon you! 
o	Hebrews 13:5B – 6 (NLT)
5b … God has said, “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.” 
6So we can say with confidence,
“The LORD is my helper, So I will have no fear.  What can mere people do to me?”
•	Fact: God has good plans for your future! 
o	Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
•	Fact: God will give you guidance! 
o	Proverbs 3:5 – 6 (NLT)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
•	Fact: God will give you wisdom if you ask for it! 
o	James 1:5 (NLT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 
•	Fact: God will help you do everything He wants you to do! 
o	Philippians 4:13 (NLT) For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
•	Fact: God will take care of your stuff, if you first take care of His stuff! 
o	Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 
•	Fact: God will provide for all of your need! 
o	Philippians 4:19 (NLT) And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
•	Fact: God will help you with your burdens! 
o	1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
•	Fact: God will help you when you are tempted! 
o	1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)  The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
•	Fact: God will fill you with the power of the Holy Spirit to be His witness!
o	Acts 1:8 (NLT)  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
•	Fact: God will take you to Heaven if you have been forgiven of your sins and are a follower of Jesus Christ! 
o	1 Thessalonians 4:16 – 17 (NLT) 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.  17Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

Are you a follower of Christ? 
•	Fact: God can forgive you right now! 
o	Romans 10:9 – 11 (NLT) 9If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 
•	For more info on how you can become a follower of Jesus Christ, be forgiven of your sins, and be assured that you will one day go to Heaven, visit our website at http://srworship.org/whoisjesus.html.

In Response to today’s message & with the Lord’s help, I will …
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Main outline gleaned from “The Handbook of Bible Application” Neil S. Wilson, Editor, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.