WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:15.460 Wonderful. Well, we need to leave, we need to end a little bit early, apparently, because of what all is happening, all the exciting things that are happening today, so maybe we should go ahead and get a start. 00:00:15.460 --> 00:00:32.240 Well, a few days ago, in the sauna of my gym, I was speaking of the change that following Christ, trusting him with forgiveness, makes in our lives. 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:47.800 The sauna was reasonably full and all seemed to be listening with interest when suddenly a verbal salvo shot across the bow of our conversation by one who had been sitting in the corner quietly listening. 00:00:49.260 --> 00:00:55.820 It isn't true. Christianity does not make a difference. 00:00:55.820 --> 00:01:02.880 I've watched Christians up close for years, and they're no different. 00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:06.680 Certainly no better than the rest of us. 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:09.780 It's all a lie. 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:14.319 Initially stunned, I was subsequently sobered. 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:15.780 Was he right? 00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:20.200 Well, no, the gospel does make a difference. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:22.200 It does change lives. 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:25.519 But was he largely right? 00:01:25.819 --> 00:01:38.199 How is it that his disturbing assertion is seemingly true for so many, and indeed of so many, who go by the name Christian? 00:01:39.199 --> 00:01:47.579 It does seem, under sober analysis, that we Christians are often a little short on change. 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:50.359 Why is this so? 00:01:50.359 --> 00:02:04.840 Well, I imagine the answer is complex, but I have no doubt that a large part of it is the common neglect of the fundamental means of change and growth for a Christian. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:06.340 The Word. 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:17.599 As Peter writes, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to your salvation. 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:19.420 1 Peter 2, 2. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:23.360 Why aren't we growing and changing? 00:02:24.460 --> 00:02:30.719 A likely reason is that we are not engaging fruitfully with God's Word. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:46.919 Well, rather than focusing on the negative, okay, all the ways we fail and go wrong here, instead, I want to set forth positively how we can indeed fruitfully engage the Word of God. 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:52.680 How do we engage God's Word so that it actually changes us? 00:02:52.680 --> 00:03:00.500 How can our engagement with the Word be to our spiritual profit and progress? 00:03:00.819 --> 00:03:13.120 So that is our topic for this morning, and I want to take as our guiding text a passage of Scripture that my father opened up to me when I was a young man. 00:03:13.480 --> 00:03:15.560 Actually, a very little boy. 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:27.860 And when he did, I knew that from his life, he wasn't giving me something that was kind of incidental, but the heart of his own life and walk with God. 00:03:28.780 --> 00:03:30.860 My father lived in the Word. 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:37.439 My earliest memories are of running through the woods together and memorizing Scripture. 00:03:37.980 --> 00:03:43.340 If I memorized, we had a little game going, if I memorized one verse, he would memorize the chapter. 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:48.340 And if I memorized a whole chapter, he would memorize that whole book of the Bible. 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:53.480 If I were really ornery, I could have really set him up there, but I wasn't. 00:03:56.140 --> 00:04:03.620 And his engagement with the Word was no episode, just very consistent, very consistent. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:09.159 In fact, the day he died, he was rooting the Word of God in his heart. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:11.300 He was found on his bike. 00:04:11.300 --> 00:04:13.960 He had a bicycle accident. 00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:18.280 And his verse pack, he was probably even reading it while he was riding. 00:04:19.020 --> 00:04:22.579 His little verse pack of Scripture that he was learning was there. 00:04:23.340 --> 00:04:27.840 Well, so the model came to me with the credit of a godly life, a life that bore much fruit. 00:04:28.080 --> 00:04:29.120 And I want to pass it on. 00:04:29.280 --> 00:04:33.460 So this is what he taught me, and he took it from the book of James, this little passage of Scripture. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:38.639 James chapter 1, verses 21 to 25. 00:04:40.779 --> 00:04:41.979 Let me read it. 00:04:46.859 --> 00:04:54.000 James chapter 1, verses 21 to 25. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:59.980 James writes, 00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:12.040 Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:17.100 But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 00:05:17.660 --> 00:05:23.680 For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:28.259 For he looks at himself and goes away, and at once forgets what he was like. 00:05:28.520 --> 00:05:37.640 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts. 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:41.560 He will be blessed in all he is doing. 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:51.659 Well, the context is the role of the Word in bringing spiritual life. 00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:57.919 Verse 18, we have been brought forth by the Word of truth. 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:05.019 And then he goes on to explain how the Word sustains the life that it has inaugurated. 00:06:05.019 --> 00:06:05.659 Okay? 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:11.640 And Dad identified four steps from this passage. 00:06:12.100 --> 00:06:14.680 And the first is preparation. 00:06:15.880 --> 00:06:16.439 Preparation. 00:06:16.700 --> 00:06:19.200 How do we receive the Word of God fruitfully? 00:06:19.580 --> 00:06:20.520 First step, preparation. 00:06:20.660 --> 00:06:22.460 I apologize, would you repeat the scripture? 00:06:22.940 --> 00:06:27.640 Yes, it's James chapter 1, verses 21, the next four or five verses. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:28.140 Yep. 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:31.020 So, preparation, first step. 00:06:31.019 --> 00:06:36.000 Verse 21, you notice there, putting aside all filthiness. 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:37.639 I love the old King James. 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:39.539 Superfluity of naughtiness. 00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:41.180 What a phrase. 00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:41.639 Wow. 00:06:42.099 --> 00:06:44.180 Watch out for that superfluity of naughtiness. 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:47.240 See, often we dive right in. 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:53.340 But it's fitting and needful to actually prepare our hearts as we come to the Word. 00:06:53.339 --> 00:07:05.039 As Thomas Watson, the Puritan writes, many come rashly to the reading of the Word, and no wonder if they come without preparation, that they go away without profit. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:11.080 They that look for the bridegroom had need trim up their lamps. 00:07:11.520 --> 00:07:12.420 Thomas Manton. 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:15.220 I love the Puritans, so I'm going to quote a lot of Puritans here. 00:07:15.460 --> 00:07:15.660 All right? 00:07:15.660 --> 00:07:21.400 In agricultural metaphor, weed before you seed. 00:07:22.460 --> 00:07:27.080 Jeremiah 4, 3, plow up the fallow ground, so not among thorns. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:28.240 Okay? 00:07:28.740 --> 00:07:31.400 How do we put aside all filthiness? 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:34.100 Well, we check to see if we're cherishing any sin. 00:07:34.840 --> 00:07:36.580 David's prayer is a good model there. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:40.480 Psalm 139, 23, search me, O God, and know my heart. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:45.660 Try me and see if there be any hurtful or wicked way in me. 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:53.360 And if the Holy Spirit reveals anything, then we confess our sin, and He will cleanse it. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:54.520 1 John 1, 9. 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:58.980 We repair to that fountain open for sin and impurity. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:00.080 Zechariah 13. 00:08:00.700 --> 00:08:05.740 As we used to tell our girls as they were growing up, you wash your hands before the meal. 00:08:06.140 --> 00:08:08.300 And it's the same way when we come to the Scriptures. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:14.840 The second part of preparation concerns our attitude or our disposition. 00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:18.240 Notice how it says there in the text, in humility. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:19.300 In humility. 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.280 We need to place ourselves under the Word. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:24.379 Recognize its authority. 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:27.680 It judges us, not we it. 00:08:28.080 --> 00:08:31.540 So we need to drop our defensive, guarded posture. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:36.860 Rather, read the Word with a willingness and a readiness to submit to it. 00:08:37.920 --> 00:08:39.580 Where does God disclose Himself? 00:08:39.580 --> 00:08:43.720 Well, in highest heaven, but also to the humblest heart. 00:08:44.740 --> 00:08:46.100 Isaiah 66, 2. 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:47.800 But to this one I will look. 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:51.360 To Him who is humble and contrite of spirit. 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:53.820 Who trembles at my word. 00:08:55.660 --> 00:08:57.040 Luke 1, 52. 00:08:57.580 --> 00:08:59.100 He giveth grace to the humble. 00:08:59.800 --> 00:09:03.379 He hath filled the hungry with good things. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:07.019 So we want to come to the word hungry and humble. 00:09:08.299 --> 00:09:10.220 The final phrase there. 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:11.620 Receive the word. 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:13.840 Able to save. 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:15.039 Able to save. 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:16.939 This indicates our dependence. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.779 We welcome the Word's work. 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:24.399 For the Bible's work in our hearts is a saving work. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:30.779 Recall that receiving the word is a condition of salvation. 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:32.779 Not for salvation. 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:33.919 Of salvation. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:41.279 If we are being saved, it will be characteristic of us that we are receiving His word. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:44.519 So there's the first step. 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:49.919 Then with our hearts prepared, we turn to step two. 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:53.459 Step two is meditation. 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:55.019 First, preparation. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:56.980 Second, meditation. 00:09:57.439 --> 00:09:59.839 And that's suggested by verse 25 there. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:02.120 Notice, looks intently. 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:03.600 Looks intently. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:04.600 Looks intently. 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:05.460 Slow and closer. 00:10:05.820 --> 00:10:06.120 Okay. 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:06.759 Oh, thanks. 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:07.440 Okay. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:10.680 I'll lean in. 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:13.000 Looks intently. 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:19.800 The Greek word suggests kind of bending over and peering into, just like the disciples did the sepulcher. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:20.540 Remember? 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:22.960 They're just leaning in and looking intently. 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:31.220 Or also, in 1 Peter 1, same term, where the angels desiring to search out God's saving action in Christ. 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:33.320 Angels long to look into it. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:34.740 That's the word here. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:38.940 So what is it that we intently look into? 00:10:39.300 --> 00:10:41.440 What is the object of our meditation? 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:46.300 Well, we certainly can meditate on nature or providence. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:51.620 The Bible tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God. 00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:55.420 And that God is the shaper of history and has purposes in history. 00:10:55.540 --> 00:10:56.980 So we can look at those things. 00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:57.960 That's true. 00:10:57.960 --> 00:11:02.779 A gracious heart, writes Thomas Manton, is like an alembic. 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:03.319 An alembic. 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:05.539 A distillation apparatus. 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:06.439 Something that distills. 00:11:06.699 --> 00:11:08.919 A gracious heart is like an alembic. 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:13.980 It can distill useful meditations out of all things it meeteth with. 00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:21.720 As it seeth all things in God, it seeth God in all things. 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:22.600 Wonderful. 00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:29.899 It's interesting that John Owen, in his spiritual mindedness, talks about seeing God in the providence, 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:31.080 the way history is shaped. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:32.899 Also, in nature. 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:40.419 So this was very common for an earlier generations of Christians to look at nature and see God in nature. 00:11:41.179 --> 00:11:47.220 But nature cannot be an adequate supply of new content to revelation. 00:11:48.100 --> 00:11:55.539 What it chiefly does is not inform us, but impress us with things that we already know. 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:58.399 It reminds us of truths that we find from scripture. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:06.539 And the chief object of our meditation is the scriptures, which is the object that James here indicates. 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:14.159 Notice the perfect law, parallel to the law of the Lord throughout the Old Testament, Psalm 1 or Psalm 19. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:19.759 Well, does this just refer to the laws in the Bible? 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.120 The law of the Lord? 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:23.159 The Ten Commandments? 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:28.299 No, James here is not speaking of a particular portion. 00:12:29.219 --> 00:12:34.620 Rather, all of God's word considered authoritatively. 00:12:35.079 --> 00:12:37.980 All of God's word considered authoritatively. 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:45.940 And the term is a helpful one, for it reminds us that we must accept its authority completely. 00:12:47.300 --> 00:12:55.060 You see, if you get rid of the bits that you don't like, you can't really wrestle with God. 00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:58.500 God can't challenge or correct you. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:02.000 And then it will cease to be a life-changing encounter. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:16.419 As we consider meditation, let me first enforce how vital it is for the disciple, but how commonly neglected. 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:18.559 As Richard Baxter writes, 00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:22.620 Why so much preaching is lost among us. 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:28.200 And professors, those who profess Christianity, can run from sermon to sermon, 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:35.720 and are never weary of hearing or reading, and yet have such languishing, starved souls, 00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:43.980 I know of no truer or greater cause than their ignorance and unconscionable neglect of meditation. 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:46.000 It's from his saint's rest. 00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:48.820 True in his day, but certainly true in ours also. 00:13:48.820 --> 00:13:59.140 Well, it's helpful to consider meditation in relation to, first, its dynamic, how it works. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.900 It's dynamic, how it works. 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:04.280 Then the discipline, how we work at it. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:05.640 How we work at it. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:08.440 So first, the dynamic of meditation. 00:14:08.660 --> 00:14:09.540 How does it work? 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:15.360 Well, Psalm 1 tells us that the one who meditates is like a tree. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:26.060 See, in a tree, water goes in one end at the bottom, and then you have fruit come out the other end. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:26.720 Okay? 00:14:26.800 --> 00:14:29.639 Unlike a pipe, where you just water in, water out. 00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:31.159 No, no, this is different. 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:35.600 A change takes place in the substance of the tree. 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:38.740 And that's what meditation does. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:44.440 See, meditation makes the word, in our Bibles, flesh. 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:47.360 Makes the word flesh in us. 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:53.519 It takes the principles of truth and it works them into our being, 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:58.279 cognitively, emotionally, affectively, actively. 00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:03.279 And the word becomes us through meditation. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:12.000 Meditation is the way to make the Bible the burning bush before which Moses stands. 00:15:12.319 --> 00:15:16.819 Out of which God speaks to you directly and arrestingly. 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:22.819 Meditation is the descent of the mind into the heart. 00:15:23.419 --> 00:15:29.699 As in the Mount of Transfiguration, where the truth begins to shine. 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:38.900 And it is as truth is transfigured before us, that's what actually transforms us. 00:15:39.060 --> 00:15:44.259 As truth is transfigured, begins to shine, that's what transforms us. 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:50.720 Truth kind of works into and explodes in our heart like an internal combustion engine 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:57.480 and imparts the soul speed and strength to get on its way actively in the godly life. 00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:01.960 Or you can think of it like photographic film. 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:03.800 I know this is kind of an archaic thing. 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.840 Now it's all digital. 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:08.680 But I remember these cameras. 00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:14.460 Remember the photographic film was chemically treated to make it sensitive to light? 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:23.340 And think of that as the Holy Spirit working on our heart to sensitize it to the word of God that comes in. 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:31.500 And meditation brings these truths like light to impress themselves upon a heart that the spirit has prepared. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.040 And then it creates these images. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.379 It shapes our heart. 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:38.560 These images that it creates are new affections. 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:40.440 The new affections we use. 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:47.940 And so that's how meditation actually changes these affectional currents in our heart. 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.600 That's how we're changed. 00:16:50.400 --> 00:16:53.440 To kind of redirect the flow of the things that we love. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:17:03.560 And simple Bible reading or even Bible study does not achieve this. 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:08.259 This inner work really does require meditation. 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:12.079 Here's what Thomas Watson writes. 00:17:12.379 --> 00:17:12.980 The old Puritan. 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:13.559 These are all. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.980 I'm quoting all Puritans. 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:19.960 Study is the finding out of a truth. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:25.599 Meditation is the spiritual improvement of a truth. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:27.279 In other words, it changing us. 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:30.460 The one searcheth for the vein of gold. 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:33.039 The other digs out the gold. 00:17:33.379 --> 00:17:33.879 Study. 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.140 Here's a great metaphor. 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:43.259 Study is like a winter sun that hath but little warmth and influence. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:52.920 Meditation melts the heart when it is frozen and makes it drop into tears of love. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:56.380 Or again with similar metaphor. 00:17:56.780 --> 00:17:57.900 This is Thomas Watson. 00:17:57.900 --> 00:18:10.960 There is as much difference between a knowledge of a truth and the meditation of a truth as there is between the light of a torch and the light of the sun. 00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:15.519 Set up a lamp or a torch in the garden and it hath no influence. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:19.960 Ah, but the sun hath a sweet influence. 00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:24.299 It makes the plants to grow and the herbs to flourish. 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:32.559 So knowledge is but like a torch lighted in the understanding which hath little or no influence. 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:35.379 It makes not a man the better. 00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:40.100 But meditation is like the shining of the sun. 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:43.160 It operates upon the affections. 00:18:43.580 --> 00:18:46.540 It warms the heart and makes it holy. 00:18:47.840 --> 00:18:51.960 Meditation fetcheth life into a truth. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:19:00.160 So if we would experience real change, we must give ourselves to meditation. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:04.200 As Thomas Brooks writes, 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:14.860 A man shall as soon live without his heart as he shall be able to get good by what he reads without meditation. 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.140 Okay? 00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:22.580 So how may we practice this vital discipline? 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.620 That's the dynamic. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:26.740 Now the discipline that we must practice. 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:28.720 How we work at it. 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.539 Okay? 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:36.960 And meditation is the essential discipline of all the spiritual disciplines. 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:39.460 And really a compound discipline. 00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:43.039 Involving both study and prayer. 00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:46.360 As Thomas Manton explains, 00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:49.960 Meditation is a middle sort of duty. 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:52.480 Between the word and prayer. 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.640 And hath respect to both. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:57.860 The word feedeth meditation. 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:00.740 And meditation feedeth prayer. 00:20:02.580 --> 00:20:07.140 And the prayer that arises from our meditation is answering prayer. 00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:08.420 Answering prayer. 00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:10.880 This is distinct from, say, calling prayer. 00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.400 You know what calling prayer is? 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:12.980 We initiate. 00:20:13.320 --> 00:20:15.320 That's Peter when he's starting to sink and he says, 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.980 Help me, Jesus, I'm drowning. 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.720 That's calling out prayer. 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:23.539 But in answering prayer, God chooses the subject. 00:20:24.360 --> 00:20:25.600 He sets the tone. 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:28.160 He commences the conversation. 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:31.240 And we respond to him. 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:36.480 And so meditation begins in Bible study. 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:40.660 But then out of that, God begins to address us. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.079 And then we answer in our prayer. 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.700 It proceeds to prayer. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.460 Begins in Bible study. 00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.600 Proceeds in prayer. 00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:50.740 In the wonderful phrase of Richard Baxter, 00:20:51.299 --> 00:21:00.039 Meditation is taking the truth and praying it down into your soul until it catches fire. 00:21:00.419 --> 00:21:01.959 Oh, isn't that wonderful? 00:21:02.399 --> 00:21:07.439 Praying the truth down into your soul until it catches fire. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:18.720 Helpful on the meditation process is Augustine, the African theologian, 354 to 430, I think. 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:26.940 He speaks of meditation as the ascent of the soul into God. 00:21:27.140 --> 00:21:31.259 And he breaks it down, helpfully, I find, into three steps. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.360 Three steps. 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:35.599 The first he calls retentio or retention. 00:21:36.179 --> 00:21:43.819 And this is the distillation of the truths of scripture and holding them centrally before our mind. 00:21:44.179 --> 00:21:46.259 So basically, Bible study. 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.159 Okay? 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:52.340 And here, observational skills are key. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.200 Okay? 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:57.140 We're trying to hold these truths of scripture centrally in front of our mind. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.540 And look at them. 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:04.320 So, a great prayer here is David's for observational skills. 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:06.000 Psalm 119, 18. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:13.140 Lord, open my eyes that I might behold wonderful things out of your law. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:13.799 Okay? 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.539 Out of your word. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:18.700 So, and this is tough. 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.160 This is tough. 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:26.920 And you'll grow in this by forcing yourself to do it and stay at it. 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:32.880 Louis Agassiz, the 19th century Harvard naturalist, he would have his students. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.759 He'd come in and have new graduate students. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:37.519 He'd bring them up and he'd set them in front of a fish tank. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:46.259 And he would say, I want you to stare at this fish and just give me your observations from this fish. 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:51.400 And he would have them do it for two days. 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:56.980 And these poor graduate students, no, no, keep looking, keep looking. 00:22:56.980 --> 00:23:04.279 And he would force them to just keep looking at this fish and write down their observations. 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:10.799 Once he was asked, what was your greatest contribution scientifically? 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:15.619 And this guy was the doyen of natural sciences in America, in early America. 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:19.940 He said, I have taught men and women to observe. 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.379 To observe. 00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:24.760 And lingering is required for this. 00:23:24.840 --> 00:23:27.500 It's not some sort of cursory encounter. 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:29.320 It has to be protracted. 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.080 Thomas Manton. 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:35.020 The Christian is like some heavy birds. 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:37.760 Like the buzzard and others. 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:43.540 That cannot get up upon the wing without a run of about a furlong or two. 00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:44.640 So you know the image. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:48.220 You know what, they're trying to get up in the air and they're running across the lake. 00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:52.940 We need a long runway to get off the ground on this. 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.340 It takes some time. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.200 Manton again. 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:59.240 Content not thyself with the surface of truth. 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:03.800 Like a swallow skimming the water's surface. 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:07.620 But rather get into the bowels of it like a fish. 00:24:08.840 --> 00:24:10.980 The Puritans are great models here. 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:14.360 They would see a text of scripture like a diamond. 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:17.680 And they'd kind of slowly turn it and look at its face. 00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:21.299 And then slowly rotate it and look at its other face of scripture. 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:28.420 And so they would catch all the different gleams of light that were coming out of it. 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:35.720 And they would often write entire books on a single verse of scripture. 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:37.339 Entire books. 00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:45.359 A common phrase that you'll see as they begin to write scripture is spoken with thrill and delight is, 00:24:45.699 --> 00:24:48.119 Ah, this verse is full of matter. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.379 Full of sap. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.779 They would often say. 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:56.299 One of my favorite Richard Baxter quotes, I think it's probably my favorite Richard Baxter quote, 00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:56.879 is, 00:24:57.699 --> 00:24:58.339 57thly. 00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.539 I'm sure. 00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:03.339 But no, he was making observations. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.659 Oh, and don't miss this. 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:07.920 Here's a 57th thing about this truth. 00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:09.080 About this scripture. 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.860 Oh, oh. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:17.980 So, to do this, you need to kind of break down what I call observational barriers. 00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:19.100 Kind of like the sound barrier. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:21.340 Where it's just really hard to break through. 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:27.460 But if you just keep at it, just keep your foot on the throttle, you'll break through and then things will open up more. 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:34.140 I used to, as I would teach, you know, be discipling guys. 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:34.920 I'd bring them in. 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:37.779 It was when I first got a start about 35 years ago at Yale. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:41.140 Bring in and say, okay, we're going to look at this now. 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.680 Here we are. 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.900 Let's take John 3.16. 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:44.140 You know John 3.16? 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:44.440 Okay. 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:48.059 I want you to make 100 observations from John 3.16. 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:51.080 And, you know, they'd be staring at it for a while. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:54.420 And like, literally, three or four minutes later, they're squirming. 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:54.680 No. 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:57.920 And I'd literally have to hold their head down to the text. 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.820 No, keep it. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.620 This will be worth it. 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:00.240 This will be worth it. 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.580 Keep it. 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.259 Trust me. 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.700 Trust me. 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.140 Trust me. 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.200 And they'd keep staring at it. 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:06.059 And then suddenly, oh, my goodness. 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:09.000 And they'd kind of burst through this little barrier. 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:12.960 And then they'd see about eight or nine more things would open up. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.640 And then they were sure that was it. 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.519 There is nothing. 00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:18.680 No, all of Christendom will not find one more thing in this verse. 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.460 No, no, no, no. 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.000 Keep at it. 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.440 Keep at it. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.860 Keep at it. 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:22.279 You're only 13 minutes in. 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.279 Ah! 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:26.640 But it changed their lives. 00:26:27.100 --> 00:26:28.340 This changed their lives. 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:32.900 I got a picture recently from some other disciples that are out at West right now. 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:34.360 And they're living in a house together. 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:36.680 And they've got this huge whiteboard. 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:38.539 And they've got a little verse in the middle. 00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:41.259 And they're scribbling and writing all over. 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:44.660 It's like a team event where they're all coming in. 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.460 They'll make an observation. 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:48.900 They just keep it up in their kitchen for, like, weeks and weeks and weeks. 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:51.799 They're just meditating on this one little verse of Scripture that they have. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.379 It's wonderful. 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.420 I'm so proud of those guys. 00:26:55.720 --> 00:27:00.140 Some practical aids for the process of your observation. 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.220 Paraphrase. 00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:04.039 You think you understand this? 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:04.740 Oh, yeah, I know this. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.279 Put it into your own words. 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:09.279 You'll discover, hmm, oh, wow, huh, not quite sure I do. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:11.480 Maybe outline it. 00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:15.039 Forces you to discern the connections. 00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:18.519 Isolate one word at a time. 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:21.660 What meaning does this one word add? 00:27:21.879 --> 00:27:23.579 What's missing if I take it away? 00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.279 What does this add? 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:26.500 One word at a time. 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:27.859 Working your way through the whole thing. 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.759 Bombard it with questions. 00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:31.180 Bombard the text with questions. 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.819 The journalistic questions. 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:35.720 Who, what, when, why, where, how, all of those. 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:38.400 And each question will prompt more observations. 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:48.880 Jonathan Edwards, he took a Bible, broke the spine, and would take a page and he would put blank pages in between every sort of page. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.600 Every page. 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:51.839 So he'd have room to make all these notes. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:28:00.019 So what I do is I'll take a big piece of paper and then write one little verse or a phrase of scripture in the middle of that page. 00:28:00.659 --> 00:28:04.759 And then just start making observations and just write them in all around. 00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:09.500 So you got massive margins for your observations and then a little verse in. 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:12.759 And then that's a good way to start your meditation. 00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:15.119 And then just fill up the page. 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:18.339 And use small handwriting and fill up the page with your observations. 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:22.179 So a page from Jonathan Edwards' discipline. 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:27.439 So clearly this is not the Bible, through the Bible in a year approach. 00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:29.599 But it's very, very rewarding. 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:39.199 When you slow down, you begin to see things that you would have missed in kind of the flyover or the drive-by. 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:41.579 And those are fine, too. 00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:43.279 But you need to do this also. 00:28:43.939 --> 00:28:45.480 And there will be wonderful things. 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:58.660 It's, see, I seemed, writes Jonathan Edwards as a young man, I seemed often to see so much light exhibited in every sentence of the Bible. 00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:04.940 And such refreshing food communicated that I could not get along in reading. 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:10.720 Often dwelling long on one sentence to see the wonders contained in it. 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:17.000 And yet almost every sentence seemed to be so full of wonder. 00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:24.299 Do you not hear that confession beckon you to give it a try? 00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:27.160 So there's the first step. 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:27.980 Retentio. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:31.400 Kind of observing and holding these truths in front of your mind. 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:36.160 Here's the second step of meditation. 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:39.480 Remember from Augustine's, Augustine's three steps. 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:41.640 Contemplatio or contemplation. 00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:42.460 Okay. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:49.340 And here we seek to gaze at God through the truths that we have distilled. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:50.700 Okay. 00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:56.320 We move then from the breaking down of the truth, observing all these things. 00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:59.940 That's the analysis, analysis, to break down. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:05.240 Now, this part moves to a gazing at it as a whole. 00:30:05.840 --> 00:30:08.519 This is more the intuition, not the analysis, the intuition. 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:11.279 So we've got the truths and then we kind of hold it up. 00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:15.340 The Puritans would kind of draw on gemnology to elucidate this. 00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:18.220 They'd say the first was like the cutting of the diamond. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:21.180 You know, just think of that, cutting all the fake. 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:24.120 And then you do that painstakingly. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:30.340 But now, this part is you hold up the diamond and you're admiring its beauty. 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:33.960 Just seeing it just shimmer and shine. 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.160 Okay. 00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:40.320 From maybe, if you're a musicologist, from studying the score of the music. 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.700 You're studying the score. 00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.400 Oh, what's it? 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.420 Circle of fifths. 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.100 Oh, how fascinating. 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:47.360 To listening to the music. 00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.660 To hearing it. 00:30:48.660 --> 00:30:51.480 Just being caught up in its loveliness. 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:52.279 Okay. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:56.340 So we take the truths from our study. 00:30:57.380 --> 00:31:00.740 And as Samuel Ward says, oh, I love this image. 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:03.660 We take those truths and we roll them. 00:31:03.860 --> 00:31:05.960 Roll them under thy tongue. 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:11.920 Chew on them till thou feel some sweetness in the palate of thy soul. 00:31:13.300 --> 00:31:16.500 So you take it just like a piece of good toffee. 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:19.819 You roll it under your tongue and get all the sweetness out of it. 00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:28.440 So here, we labor to make our portion, our little portion in meditation, like a window. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:33.559 That we look through and try to see God in it. 00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:40.259 So we want to yearn with all of our strength to see Christ and to behold his glory in that text. 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:45.579 So I ask questions like, how can I adore Christ in this truth? 00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:51.640 What in this truth that I've seen here stirs me up to praise? 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:56.640 What attribute of God sparkles here? 00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:04.320 This is where, in Martin Lloyd-Jones' wonderful phrase, the truth begins to shine. 00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:12.259 Where you begin to feel God's reality pressing upon you. 00:32:13.360 --> 00:32:16.700 His attributes begin to blaze. 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:21.980 Here, meditation becomes the bellows. 00:32:22.080 --> 00:32:23.299 You have one of those for your fireplace. 00:32:23.580 --> 00:32:25.539 The bellows of our affection. 00:32:26.100 --> 00:32:27.880 Puritans would often talk about this. 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:31.980 Like bellows on the coal that we have taken in. 00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:35.279 Just makes them begin to shine. 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:42.279 And this is critical that we do because our hearts are like green wood. 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:44.619 We got a bunch of unseasoned wood out. 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:47.480 It is so hard to get a fire going with that stuff. 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:49.399 That's the way our hearts are, people. 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.319 They are. 00:32:52.440 --> 00:33:00.579 Green wood is not kindled by a flash or a spark, but by constant blowing, says Thomas Manton. 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:03.279 Psalm 139.3. 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:05.799 While I meditated, the fire burned. 00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:12.899 The reason we come away so cold from reading the word, writes Thomas Watson, 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:18.480 is because we do not warm ourselves at the fire of meditation. 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:23.539 And this takes us to Augustine's third step. 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:25.779 Delectio. 00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:26.700 Delectio. 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:28.519 We might translate it delight. 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.039 Delight. 00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:35.279 And this is where your soul becomes a pallet. 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:39.240 And you taste of the glory that's disclosed. 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:42.039 And this can scarcely be called a step. 00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:46.099 You know, we're not in control of this at all. 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:52.119 This is often the accompanying experience. 00:33:53.719 --> 00:33:58.019 We build the altar, but the fire has to fall from heaven. 00:33:58.379 --> 00:34:00.159 And this is something that God can give to us. 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:02.919 And sometimes our hearts do not glow. 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.599 That's okay. 00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:06.159 Come back again tomorrow. 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.519 And gaze tomorrow. 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:09.519 Maybe your heart will glow tomorrow. 00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:14.280 And the disciplines just kind of keep you in. 00:34:16.259 --> 00:34:18.360 It requires lots of skills. 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:23.199 It's kind of like kayaking on some kind of rough water. 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:26.380 It takes lots of skill to stay on the river. 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:29.179 You've got to have skills to stay on the river. 00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:33.699 But it's not the discipline that's the delight. 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.500 It's the river. 00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.239 It's the river. 00:34:37.899 --> 00:34:38.839 That's the delight. 00:34:39.379 --> 00:34:48.019 And all the skills of staying upright on that thing are just so you can get into and enjoy the incredible thrill of the river. 00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.679 God's person. 00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:52.619 Sometimes. 00:34:53.259 --> 00:34:54.059 That's important. 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:57.179 Sometimes, writes John Owen. 00:34:57.179 --> 00:35:02.159 Sometimes, writes John Owen. 00:35:02.799 --> 00:35:08.899 These meditations fill us with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:20.259 There is granted to us a relish and a savor in which lies the sweetness and satisfaction of the spiritual life. 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:25.319 We taste then by experience that God is gracious. 00:35:25.320 --> 00:35:29.080 And that the love of Christ is better than wine. 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:32.840 Or as Richard Baxter put it, 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:36.240 Sometimes our meditation, and again, sometimes. 00:35:37.080 --> 00:35:44.640 Sometimes our meditations be as the chariot of Elijah that takes us up to heaven. 00:35:46.100 --> 00:35:46.740 Isn't that wonderful? 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:49.539 It's from his Saints Everlasting Rest. 00:35:49.539 --> 00:36:02.000 Well, before we move from meditation, I want to underscore one final time its vital importance in the life of the disciple. 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:06.840 As Thomas White writes in his Art of Divine Meditation. 00:36:06.840 --> 00:36:17.739 It is better to hear one sermon only and meditate on that than to hear two sermons and meditate on neither. 00:36:18.900 --> 00:36:21.260 Or as Baxter quaintly puts it, 00:36:21.260 --> 00:36:28.220 A man may eat too much, but he cannot digest too well. 00:36:29.220 --> 00:36:30.340 What a great... 00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:33.940 He can eat too much, but he can't digest too well. 00:36:36.120 --> 00:36:39.040 In fact, the whole point of eating, is it not? 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:41.860 Is to digest and to assimilate. 00:36:41.860 --> 00:36:48.780 Every sermon, writes James Usher, is but a preparation for meditation. 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:53.260 Every sermon is but a preparation for meditation. 00:36:54.340 --> 00:36:57.140 Faith is lean, writes Manton, 00:36:57.360 --> 00:37:02.300 And ready to starve unless it be fed with continual meditation. 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:08.640 In short, without meditation, writes Thomas Watson, 00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:10.159 All is lost. 00:37:10.839 --> 00:37:11.839 All is lost. 00:37:13.339 --> 00:37:18.279 So let me leave you with this charge from the pen of Thomas Watson. 00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:22.179 If you have formerly neglected it, he writes, 00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:24.219 Bewail your neglect. 00:37:24.819 --> 00:37:28.259 And now, begin to make conscience of it. 00:37:29.579 --> 00:37:34.099 Lock yourself up with God at least once a day in holy meditation. 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:36.539 Ascend this hill. 00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:39.500 And when you are gotten to the top of it, 00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:42.400 You shall see a fair prospect. 00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:45.519 Christ in heaven before you. 00:37:46.759 --> 00:37:49.739 Let me put you in mind of that saying of Bernard. 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:51.460 Saint Bernard. 00:37:53.099 --> 00:37:54.019 Who writes, 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:58.059 O saint, knowest thou not that thy husband Christ is bashful, 00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:00.779 And will not be familiar in company? 00:38:01.719 --> 00:38:05.239 Retire thyself by meditation into the closet or the field. 00:38:05.239 --> 00:38:09.259 And there you shall have Christ's embraces. 00:38:11.359 --> 00:38:15.500 So, we have preparation. 00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:16.919 First step. 00:38:17.439 --> 00:38:18.619 Again, remember the topic. 00:38:18.979 --> 00:38:21.899 How to engage the word with spiritual profit. 00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:23.319 First, preparation. 00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:25.719 Then, meditation. 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:28.239 And the third step is application. 00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:28.839 Application. 00:38:29.639 --> 00:38:30.119 Application. 00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:34.539 From verses 22 through 24 and 25, the second half. 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:36.859 Or, in James' word here in the text, 00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:41.579 Becoming or being a doer of the word and not merely a hearer. 00:38:41.719 --> 00:38:42.319 You saw that. 00:38:43.319 --> 00:38:45.119 Now, if we neglect this step, 00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:47.279 We will have lots of company. 00:38:47.679 --> 00:38:50.659 For we will swell a throng that no man can count. 00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:53.500 Those who open the word and close it without effect. 00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:56.699 Like the fellow who looks in a mirror, 00:38:57.239 --> 00:38:59.280 But walks away and forgets what he saw. 00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:01.599 Some gross deformity in his countenance. 00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:03.199 Or the spinach on his tooth. 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:03.639 Or whatever. 00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:05.780 And the result is, 00:39:05.960 --> 00:39:07.500 No benefit at all. 00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:09.900 Delusion. 00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:10.880 We're deluded. 00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:13.079 If we think this is making any difference. 00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.699 In James' word. 00:39:15.400 --> 00:39:16.880 And this is pervasive. 00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:18.500 But perilous. 00:39:19.880 --> 00:39:20.420 Perilous. 00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:24.980 You see, Bible study that stops short of a response 00:39:24.980 --> 00:39:28.280 Becomes a tool of the devil. 00:39:28.619 --> 00:39:28.780 Okay? 00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:30.619 You heard me say this in church. 00:39:31.159 --> 00:39:34.579 Bible study can become a tool of the devil. 00:39:35.539 --> 00:39:39.820 To make us more like the other denizens of hell. 00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:43.300 Who are full of truth, but ungodliness. 00:39:44.340 --> 00:39:44.599 Okay? 00:39:44.760 --> 00:39:46.400 We know that's what demons are like. 00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:48.740 They have all kinds of knowledge. 00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:49.559 Okay? 00:39:49.559 --> 00:39:50.579 Just not godliness. 00:39:51.799 --> 00:39:54.519 And as Thomas Watson writes, 00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.639 Reading without, 00:39:55.799 --> 00:39:57.900 Reading the scriptures without practice 00:39:57.900 --> 00:40:02.059 Will be but a torch to light men to hell. 00:40:03.880 --> 00:40:06.539 And this may seem an extreme contention, 00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:08.539 But minds that are seeped in scripture 00:40:08.539 --> 00:40:10.320 Keep asserting this. 00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:13.380 Jonathan Edwards has a sermon entitled 00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:16.559 True Grace Distinguished from the Experience of Devils. 00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.159 The Devils. 00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:20.900 Where he talks about Satan is educated 00:40:20.900 --> 00:40:22.599 In the best of divinity schools. 00:40:22.599 --> 00:40:24.000 The heaven of heavens. 00:40:24.460 --> 00:40:27.199 He's got full, he's got lots of knowledge. 00:40:28.019 --> 00:40:28.119 Okay? 00:40:28.179 --> 00:40:29.639 So that's not what's distinctive. 00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:31.920 It's actually turning that into godliness 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:34.840 That will make us different from the demons. 00:40:34.840 --> 00:40:39.680 Jesus underscores this necessity of application 00:40:39.680 --> 00:40:41.660 In Matthew 7, 24. 00:40:41.900 --> 00:40:42.860 Remember that. 00:40:43.360 --> 00:40:45.760 The wise men who built his house upon the rock. 00:40:46.200 --> 00:40:47.240 That metaphor. 00:40:47.239 --> 00:40:50.259 But you remember what the contrast was. 00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:51.199 Don't you? 00:40:52.139 --> 00:40:54.959 Was it that the fool didn't hear the words? 00:40:55.500 --> 00:40:55.919 No! 00:40:56.319 --> 00:40:56.819 Heard them! 00:40:57.299 --> 00:40:57.799 What was it? 00:40:58.439 --> 00:40:59.679 Didn't act upon them. 00:41:00.339 --> 00:41:01.359 That's the contrast. 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:04.339 Those who apply and those who don't. 00:41:05.019 --> 00:41:06.739 Not acquaintance with Christ's words. 00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:08.059 But their application. 00:41:08.059 --> 00:41:09.820 Matthew 7, 24 through 27. 00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:14.980 In other words, Mark 4. 00:41:15.860 --> 00:41:17.960 Use it or lose it. 00:41:19.079 --> 00:41:21.259 Whoever has more will be given. 00:41:21.340 --> 00:41:22.219 Whoever has not. 00:41:22.380 --> 00:41:24.179 Even what they have will be taken away. 00:41:24.380 --> 00:41:25.980 Use it or lose it. 00:41:26.440 --> 00:41:28.460 So this crucial step 00:41:28.460 --> 00:41:31.299 Naturally becomes the focus 00:41:31.299 --> 00:41:34.079 Of intense spiritual warfare. 00:41:35.539 --> 00:41:36.519 You remember Jesus said 00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:37.980 The devil comes 00:41:37.980 --> 00:41:40.679 And takes away the seed of the word. 00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:43.719 That is he would keep 00:41:43.719 --> 00:41:45.059 The would-be disciple 00:41:45.059 --> 00:41:46.179 The would-be disciple 00:41:46.179 --> 00:41:47.340 Because you don't know if you're a disciple 00:41:47.340 --> 00:41:48.400 Until you act upon the word. 00:41:48.960 --> 00:41:51.099 Satan would keep the would-be disciple 00:41:51.099 --> 00:41:52.679 From acting upon the word. 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:54.179 That's what he wants to do. 00:41:54.599 --> 00:41:55.780 So where's the devil right now? 00:41:56.300 --> 00:41:58.039 He's sitting right on our shoulders. 00:41:58.699 --> 00:41:59.780 Eager to help us 00:41:59.780 --> 00:42:01.119 To just have this go 00:42:01.119 --> 00:42:02.239 In one ear and out the other. 00:42:03.820 --> 00:42:04.800 You're familiar with 00:42:04.800 --> 00:42:06.259 C.S. Lewis' screw tape letters. 00:42:06.519 --> 00:42:07.880 The correspondence between 00:42:07.880 --> 00:42:10.259 Kind of junior and senior tempters. 00:42:10.360 --> 00:42:11.940 Wormwood and screw tape. 00:42:13.179 --> 00:42:14.099 Here's one bit. 00:42:14.440 --> 00:42:15.500 The great thing 00:42:15.500 --> 00:42:18.980 Wormwood is to prevent his 00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:21.980 That is Wormwood's new Christian client. 00:42:22.219 --> 00:42:22.559 He's just 00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:23.059 He's just 00:42:23.059 --> 00:42:25.159 Just come to Christ. 00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:27.019 The great thing is to prevent his 00:42:27.019 --> 00:42:28.559 Doing anything. 00:42:28.559 --> 00:42:31.559 As long as he does not 00:42:31.559 --> 00:42:32.719 Convert it into action 00:42:32.719 --> 00:42:34.759 It does not matter 00:42:34.759 --> 00:42:36.199 How much he thinks about 00:42:36.199 --> 00:42:37.239 His new repentance. 00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:39.039 Let the little brute 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:39.779 Wallow in it. 00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:40.259 Let him 00:42:40.259 --> 00:42:40.860 If he has any 00:42:40.860 --> 00:42:41.440 Bent that way 00:42:41.440 --> 00:42:42.539 Write a book about it. 00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:44.179 That's often an excellent way 00:42:44.179 --> 00:42:46.039 Of sterilizing the seeds 00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:47.139 Which the enemy 00:42:47.139 --> 00:42:47.920 By enemy 00:42:47.920 --> 00:42:48.460 He means 00:42:48.460 --> 00:42:49.400 God 00:42:49.400 --> 00:42:51.079 Plants in a human 00:42:51.079 --> 00:42:51.860 Soul 00:42:51.860 --> 00:42:53.220 Let him do anything 00:42:53.219 --> 00:42:54.779 Anything but act. 00:42:57.259 --> 00:42:59.179 So we must remember 00:42:59.179 --> 00:43:00.559 That our aim is ultimately 00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:03.379 Not to master the scriptures 00:43:03.379 --> 00:43:05.239 But for them 00:43:05.239 --> 00:43:07.019 To master us. 00:43:07.159 --> 00:43:08.419 That's what we want. 00:43:09.379 --> 00:43:11.339 We get into the word 00:43:11.339 --> 00:43:13.759 So it can get into us. 00:43:13.839 --> 00:43:15.099 That's the whole point of it. 00:43:15.099 --> 00:43:17.639 And to this end 00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:18.599 We must keep 00:43:18.599 --> 00:43:19.500 Telling ourselves 00:43:19.500 --> 00:43:21.199 That God 00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:21.920 In it 00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:22.599 Is addressing 00:43:22.599 --> 00:43:23.400 Me. 00:43:24.119 --> 00:43:25.139 He's addressing me. 00:43:25.599 --> 00:43:26.139 Kierkegaard 00:43:26.139 --> 00:43:27.000 In a sermon 00:43:27.000 --> 00:43:28.460 On this very verse 00:43:28.460 --> 00:43:29.059 Wonderful. 00:43:29.619 --> 00:43:30.839 The sermon is entitled 00:43:30.839 --> 00:43:32.940 What is required 00:43:32.940 --> 00:43:34.679 In order to look at oneself 00:43:34.679 --> 00:43:36.079 With true blessing 00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:37.500 In the mirror of the word. 00:43:37.739 --> 00:43:38.339 So he's drawing 00:43:38.339 --> 00:43:39.480 Right from this passage. 00:43:40.299 --> 00:43:40.960 And he writes 00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:42.559 The first requirement 00:43:42.559 --> 00:43:44.019 Is that you must 00:43:44.019 --> 00:43:44.960 Not look 00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:46.119 At the mirror 00:43:46.119 --> 00:43:48.880 But you must 00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:49.980 Look to see 00:43:49.980 --> 00:43:50.880 Yourself 00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:51.539 In the mirror. 00:43:52.500 --> 00:43:53.619 See the difference there? 00:43:53.740 --> 00:43:54.720 Isn't that profound? 00:43:55.980 --> 00:43:56.840 Don't look at the mirror. 00:43:56.920 --> 00:43:57.820 The Bible like a mirror. 00:43:57.920 --> 00:43:58.400 Well what are you supposed 00:43:58.400 --> 00:43:58.780 To do with a mirror? 00:43:58.880 --> 00:43:59.699 Just look at the mirror? 00:43:59.840 --> 00:44:00.039 No. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:00.579 Just look at the Bible? 00:44:00.679 --> 00:44:00.920 No. 00:44:01.199 --> 00:44:02.519 You want to see yourself 00:44:02.519 --> 00:44:03.960 In the mirror. 00:44:06.199 --> 00:44:06.920 And remember 00:44:06.920 --> 00:44:08.119 I continue with Kierkegaard 00:44:08.119 --> 00:44:08.840 And remember 00:44:08.840 --> 00:44:09.800 To say to yourself 00:44:09.800 --> 00:44:10.599 Incessantly 00:44:10.599 --> 00:44:11.860 It is I 00:44:11.860 --> 00:44:12.960 To whom it is speaking. 00:44:13.679 --> 00:44:14.360 It is 00:44:14.360 --> 00:44:15.019 About 00:44:15.019 --> 00:44:16.300 It is I 00:44:16.300 --> 00:44:18.059 About whom it is speaking. 00:44:20.599 --> 00:44:21.420 Let me 00:44:21.420 --> 00:44:23.019 Briefly touch on a few 00:44:23.019 --> 00:44:23.360 Practicals 00:44:24.440 --> 00:44:25.559 Here of application. 00:44:25.559 --> 00:44:31.159 If you're having difficulty 00:44:31.159 --> 00:44:32.360 Coming up with an application 00:44:32.360 --> 00:44:33.840 Consider the categories 00:44:33.840 --> 00:44:35.519 Of 2 Timothy 3.16 00:44:35.519 --> 00:44:36.139 You remember 00:44:36.139 --> 00:44:37.000 All scripture is given 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:38.900 And is profitable for 00:44:38.900 --> 00:44:40.139 Doctrine, reproof, 00:44:40.219 --> 00:44:41.099 Correction, instruction, 00:44:41.219 --> 00:44:41.679 And righteousness. 00:44:42.440 --> 00:44:42.960 Okay so 00:44:42.960 --> 00:44:43.639 Doctrine 00:44:43.639 --> 00:44:44.659 Is there anything 00:44:44.659 --> 00:44:45.500 That I need to believe? 00:44:45.619 --> 00:44:46.199 That's to act. 00:44:46.259 --> 00:44:46.759 To believe something 00:44:46.759 --> 00:44:47.460 Is to act. 00:44:48.900 --> 00:44:49.420 Reproof 00:44:49.420 --> 00:44:50.619 Is there any error 00:44:50.619 --> 00:44:51.559 In my life 00:44:51.559 --> 00:44:53.860 That this refutes? 00:44:53.860 --> 00:44:55.200 Correction 00:44:55.200 --> 00:44:55.980 How do I 00:44:55.980 --> 00:44:57.240 Reform my life? 00:44:57.740 --> 00:44:58.780 Training in righteousness 00:44:58.780 --> 00:44:59.680 Discipline 00:44:59.680 --> 00:45:00.360 In other words 00:45:00.360 --> 00:45:02.720 Doctrine 00:45:02.720 --> 00:45:04.140 Tells me what the path is 00:45:04.140 --> 00:45:04.900 It shows me 00:45:04.900 --> 00:45:06.860 If I've gotten off the path 00:45:06.860 --> 00:45:07.559 It tells me 00:45:07.559 --> 00:45:08.820 How to get back on the path 00:45:08.820 --> 00:45:09.300 And it tells me 00:45:09.300 --> 00:45:10.400 How to stay on the path 00:45:10.400 --> 00:45:11.280 Really comprehensive 00:45:11.280 --> 00:45:13.000 So those are some categories 00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:14.500 To think through 00:45:14.500 --> 00:45:18.760 Also in your effort 00:45:18.760 --> 00:45:20.160 To formulate your applications 00:45:20.160 --> 00:45:21.960 Here are six 00:45:21.960 --> 00:45:23.620 Well 00:45:23.620 --> 00:45:25.560 One of the things I do 00:45:25.560 --> 00:45:26.160 Is I try 00:45:26.160 --> 00:45:27.100 I also consider 00:45:27.100 --> 00:45:27.720 The different hats 00:45:27.720 --> 00:45:28.260 That I wear 00:45:28.260 --> 00:45:29.820 In application 00:45:29.820 --> 00:45:30.780 Okay 00:45:30.780 --> 00:45:33.320 I'm a disciple 00:45:33.320 --> 00:45:34.980 What difference 00:45:34.980 --> 00:45:35.620 Does this truth make 00:45:35.620 --> 00:45:36.280 As a disciple? 00:45:36.940 --> 00:45:37.940 I'm also a husband 00:45:37.940 --> 00:45:38.720 I'm a father 00:45:38.719 --> 00:45:39.739 I'm a son 00:45:39.739 --> 00:45:41.119 I'm a friend 00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:42.480 I might be an employee 00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:44.279 So these are the different hats 00:45:44.279 --> 00:45:46.980 And then I ask questions 00:45:46.980 --> 00:45:47.939 If 00:45:47.939 --> 00:45:51.819 If this is what God is like 00:45:51.819 --> 00:45:53.899 What difference does it make 00:45:53.899 --> 00:45:55.259 For how I live today 00:45:55.259 --> 00:45:56.139 As a 00:45:56.139 --> 00:45:57.119 Father 00:45:57.119 --> 00:45:59.219 As a friend 00:45:59.219 --> 00:45:59.939 As a 00:45:59.939 --> 00:46:01.179 And on and on like that 00:46:01.179 --> 00:46:02.839 What 00:46:02.839 --> 00:46:04.019 What emotions 00:46:04.019 --> 00:46:04.579 Attitudes 00:46:04.579 --> 00:46:05.299 Behaviors 00:46:05.299 --> 00:46:07.539 Flare up in me 00:46:07.539 --> 00:46:08.739 As a father 00:46:08.739 --> 00:46:09.579 As a 00:46:09.579 --> 00:46:10.460 All the way through 00:46:10.460 --> 00:46:11.940 When I'm forgetful 00:46:11.940 --> 00:46:12.679 Of this truth 00:46:12.679 --> 00:46:14.719 These sorts of things 00:46:14.719 --> 00:46:16.059 So here quick 00:46:16.059 --> 00:46:17.420 Six tips 00:46:17.420 --> 00:46:18.519 To make it take 00:46:18.519 --> 00:46:20.400 One 00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:21.639 When I try to formulate 00:46:21.639 --> 00:46:22.440 An application 00:46:22.440 --> 00:46:23.079 One 00:46:23.079 --> 00:46:24.320 Be specific 00:46:24.320 --> 00:46:25.480 Be specific 00:46:25.480 --> 00:46:26.079 Okay 00:46:26.079 --> 00:46:27.279 So it's not a good application 00:46:27.279 --> 00:46:27.679 To say 00:46:27.679 --> 00:46:29.000 My application is to 00:46:29.000 --> 00:46:30.480 Become a better person 00:46:30.480 --> 00:46:31.900 That's altogether 00:46:31.900 --> 00:46:32.880 Too vague 00:46:32.880 --> 00:46:33.279 Okay 00:46:33.279 --> 00:46:34.800 I need to become 00:46:34.800 --> 00:46:35.699 More like Jesus 00:46:35.699 --> 00:46:36.340 Great 00:46:36.340 --> 00:46:37.400 How would that be? 00:46:38.400 --> 00:46:38.559 Okay 00:46:38.559 --> 00:46:38.679 See 00:46:38.679 --> 00:46:40.340 You need to be specific 00:46:40.340 --> 00:46:41.779 Second 00:46:41.779 --> 00:46:42.900 Be concrete 00:46:42.900 --> 00:46:43.800 Okay 00:46:43.800 --> 00:46:44.519 How 00:46:44.519 --> 00:46:45.440 When 00:46:45.440 --> 00:46:46.719 What will it take? 00:46:47.219 --> 00:46:48.079 It's kind of like those meetings 00:46:48.079 --> 00:46:48.719 That we have 00:46:48.719 --> 00:46:49.199 You know 00:46:49.199 --> 00:46:49.980 In the quad 00:46:49.980 --> 00:46:50.759 At Yale 00:46:50.759 --> 00:46:51.739 You run into a friend 00:46:51.739 --> 00:46:52.159 Oh 00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:52.400 Oh 00:46:52.400 --> 00:46:52.980 Good to see you 00:46:52.980 --> 00:46:53.099 Yeah 00:46:53.099 --> 00:46:53.619 Let's do lunch 00:46:53.619 --> 00:46:53.759 Yeah 00:46:53.759 --> 00:46:54.279 Let's do lunch 00:46:54.279 --> 00:46:55.019 And you part 00:46:55.019 --> 00:46:56.340 If it doesn't go in the schedule 00:46:56.340 --> 00:46:57.219 It's not happening 00:46:57.219 --> 00:46:58.779 It's got to be 00:46:58.779 --> 00:47:00.219 Got to be concrete about it 00:47:00.219 --> 00:47:01.059 Be 00:47:01.059 --> 00:47:01.619 Third 00:47:01.619 --> 00:47:02.820 Be realistic 00:47:02.820 --> 00:47:04.300 Don't be over ambitious 00:47:04.300 --> 00:47:06.600 I've got to outline 00:47:06.600 --> 00:47:07.340 The whole Bible 00:47:07.340 --> 00:47:08.680 In these six different colors 00:47:08.680 --> 00:47:09.460 Yeah 00:47:09.460 --> 00:47:10.380 No 00:47:10.380 --> 00:47:11.760 Start small 00:47:11.760 --> 00:47:13.180 And succeed 00:47:13.180 --> 00:47:14.620 And build on your successes 00:47:14.620 --> 00:47:16.360 Despise not the day 00:47:16.360 --> 00:47:17.160 Of little beginnings 00:47:17.160 --> 00:47:18.120 Okay 00:47:18.119 --> 00:47:19.639 So be specific 00:47:19.639 --> 00:47:20.259 Be concrete 00:47:20.259 --> 00:47:20.900 Be realistic 00:47:20.900 --> 00:47:21.819 Be accountable 00:47:21.819 --> 00:47:24.920 Solicit some support 00:47:24.920 --> 00:47:26.199 To buttress your resolve 00:47:26.199 --> 00:47:27.079 Hey 00:47:27.079 --> 00:47:27.940 Will you ask me 00:47:27.940 --> 00:47:29.199 How I'm doing about this? 00:47:29.199 --> 00:47:31.739 I want to do a better job 00:47:31.739 --> 00:47:34.279 Remembering to tell my wife 00:47:34.279 --> 00:47:35.139 That I really love her 00:47:35.139 --> 00:47:36.059 And not just that I do 00:47:36.059 --> 00:47:37.179 But how it is 00:47:37.179 --> 00:47:39.299 I want to explain it to her 00:47:39.299 --> 00:47:40.199 How I love her 00:47:40.199 --> 00:47:42.279 Will you ask me 00:47:42.279 --> 00:47:42.919 Every time you see me 00:47:42.919 --> 00:47:44.039 How's it going with that? 00:47:44.299 --> 00:47:45.819 Because I tend to be forgetful of that 00:47:45.819 --> 00:47:48.639 So be accountable 00:47:48.639 --> 00:47:49.579 And finally 00:47:49.579 --> 00:47:51.599 Or penultimately 00:47:51.599 --> 00:47:52.819 Begin 00:47:52.819 --> 00:47:53.619 Begin 00:47:53.619 --> 00:47:55.379 Now this is important 00:47:55.380 --> 00:47:59.960 So many promises 00:47:59.960 --> 00:48:00.780 That we make 00:48:00.780 --> 00:48:02.380 Are just writing on sand 00:48:02.380 --> 00:48:03.340 When they're not 00:48:03.340 --> 00:48:04.519 Acted on promptly 00:48:04.519 --> 00:48:05.720 Have you noticed that? 00:48:06.480 --> 00:48:07.820 George MacDonald observes 00:48:07.820 --> 00:48:09.220 Good notions 00:48:09.220 --> 00:48:11.400 Must take advantage 00:48:11.400 --> 00:48:13.280 Of their first ripeness 00:48:13.280 --> 00:48:14.740 Their first ripeness 00:48:14.740 --> 00:48:16.480 And this is where 00:48:16.480 --> 00:48:17.720 Our determined applications 00:48:17.720 --> 00:48:19.320 Are so often scuttled 00:48:19.320 --> 00:48:23.860 He will not lose his loaf 00:48:23.860 --> 00:48:25.700 Who has taken care 00:48:25.700 --> 00:48:26.920 At once to eat it 00:48:26.920 --> 00:48:28.400 Writes Spurgeon 00:48:28.400 --> 00:48:30.920 Neither can he be deprived 00:48:30.920 --> 00:48:32.180 Of the benefit of the doctrine 00:48:32.180 --> 00:48:34.579 Who has already acted upon it 00:48:34.579 --> 00:48:38.200 Most readers and hearers 00:48:38.200 --> 00:48:39.599 Become moved 00:48:39.599 --> 00:48:41.180 So far as to purpose 00:48:41.180 --> 00:48:42.320 To amend 00:48:42.320 --> 00:48:44.440 But alas 00:48:44.440 --> 00:48:45.920 And I'm continuing with Spurgeon 00:48:45.920 --> 00:48:49.460 All of these are wonderful metaphors 00:48:49.460 --> 00:48:50.360 But alas 00:48:50.360 --> 00:48:51.440 The proposal 00:48:51.440 --> 00:48:52.659 Is a blossom 00:48:52.659 --> 00:48:54.119 Which has not been knit 00:48:54.119 --> 00:48:55.679 And therefore 00:48:55.679 --> 00:48:57.340 No fruit comes of it 00:48:57.340 --> 00:48:58.659 They wait 00:48:58.659 --> 00:49:00.340 They waver 00:49:00.340 --> 00:49:02.619 And then they forget 00:49:02.619 --> 00:49:03.579 Till 00:49:03.579 --> 00:49:04.200 Oh 00:49:04.200 --> 00:49:04.980 And here 00:49:04.980 --> 00:49:06.679 Let this metaphor 00:49:06.679 --> 00:49:07.980 Stay with you 00:49:07.980 --> 00:49:08.440 Till 00:49:08.440 --> 00:49:10.159 Like the ponds 00:49:10.159 --> 00:49:12.500 In the nights of frost 00:49:12.500 --> 00:49:15.200 When the sun shines by day 00:49:15.200 --> 00:49:17.159 They are only thawed 00:49:17.159 --> 00:49:17.880 In time 00:49:17.880 --> 00:49:19.900 To be frozen again 00:49:19.900 --> 00:49:24.800 That fatal tomorrow 00:49:24.800 --> 00:49:26.559 Is red 00:49:26.559 --> 00:49:27.680 Is blood red 00:49:27.680 --> 00:49:28.480 With the murder 00:49:28.480 --> 00:49:29.860 Of fair resolutions 00:49:29.860 --> 00:49:34.079 Kierkegaard writes 00:49:34.079 --> 00:49:35.139 The next hour 00:49:35.139 --> 00:49:36.700 After the one we call 00:49:36.700 --> 00:49:37.820 The quiet hour 00:49:37.820 --> 00:49:40.099 Is the critical hour 00:49:40.099 --> 00:49:41.380 The critical hour 00:49:41.380 --> 00:49:44.240 Accordingly urges 00:49:44.240 --> 00:49:45.940 The best thing to do therefore 00:49:45.940 --> 00:49:47.880 Is promptly to say to yourself 00:49:47.880 --> 00:49:49.780 I will promptly begin 00:49:49.780 --> 00:49:51.099 To prevent myself 00:49:51.099 --> 00:49:51.740 From forgetting 00:49:51.740 --> 00:49:52.519 Promptly 00:49:52.519 --> 00:49:53.840 At this very moment 00:49:53.840 --> 00:49:55.220 I promise myself 00:49:55.220 --> 00:49:55.660 And God 00:49:55.660 --> 00:49:57.360 Even if it is just 00:49:57.360 --> 00:49:58.400 For the next hour 00:49:58.400 --> 00:50:00.420 Or for this very day 00:50:00.420 --> 00:50:01.480 This long 00:50:01.480 --> 00:50:02.599 It shall be certain 00:50:02.599 --> 00:50:03.780 I do not forget 00:50:03.780 --> 00:50:08.660 Finally be sensitive 00:50:08.660 --> 00:50:09.280 To the spirit 00:50:09.280 --> 00:50:12.400 It sounded mechanical here 00:50:12.400 --> 00:50:13.599 But it's basically relational 00:50:13.599 --> 00:50:14.260 It's the spirit 00:50:14.260 --> 00:50:15.160 Speaking to our soul 00:50:15.160 --> 00:50:16.200 George MacDonald writes 00:50:16.199 --> 00:50:17.219 You can begin at once 00:50:17.219 --> 00:50:17.919 To be a disciple 00:50:17.919 --> 00:50:18.739 Of the living one 00:50:18.739 --> 00:50:19.980 By obeying him 00:50:19.980 --> 00:50:20.659 In the first thing 00:50:20.659 --> 00:50:21.460 You can think of 00:50:21.460 --> 00:50:22.699 In which you are not 00:50:22.699 --> 00:50:23.339 Obeying him 00:50:23.339 --> 00:50:25.099 We must learn to obey him 00:50:25.099 --> 00:50:25.599 In everything 00:50:25.599 --> 00:50:27.119 And so must begin somewhere 00:50:27.119 --> 00:50:28.419 Let it begin at once 00:50:28.419 --> 00:50:30.279 In the very next thing 00:50:30.279 --> 00:50:31.339 That lies at the door 00:50:31.339 --> 00:50:32.099 Of your conscience 00:50:32.099 --> 00:50:32.719 Okay 00:50:32.719 --> 00:50:33.679 So there is 00:50:33.679 --> 00:50:37.219 The application 00:50:37.219 --> 00:50:38.059 Finally 00:50:38.059 --> 00:50:39.139 In two seconds 00:50:39.139 --> 00:50:40.500 Because we need to rush up 00:50:40.500 --> 00:50:41.619 Because I think 00:50:41.619 --> 00:50:42.839 We need to end early 00:50:42.839 --> 00:50:44.359 I apologize for this 00:50:44.360 --> 00:50:45.480 Continuation 00:50:45.480 --> 00:50:47.220 Continuation 00:50:47.220 --> 00:50:47.860 Verse 25 00:50:47.860 --> 00:50:49.400 And continues in it 00:50:49.400 --> 00:50:50.780 So this indicates 00:50:50.780 --> 00:50:51.900 That persevering 00:50:51.900 --> 00:50:53.160 The perseverance 00:50:53.160 --> 00:50:54.220 In engaging in scripture 00:50:54.220 --> 00:50:55.160 And perseverance 00:50:55.160 --> 00:50:56.300 In the truths 00:50:56.300 --> 00:50:58.800 That our engagement prompts 00:50:58.800 --> 00:51:00.240 Our meditations 00:51:00.240 --> 00:51:00.960 And applications 00:51:00.960 --> 00:51:02.000 Ought not to be 00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:02.780 A mere instance 00:51:02.780 --> 00:51:03.680 Or spasm 00:51:03.680 --> 00:51:04.300 Or episode 00:51:04.300 --> 00:51:05.099 But rather 00:51:05.099 --> 00:51:06.380 A biding lifestyle 00:51:06.380 --> 00:51:08.300 We need to keep at it 00:51:08.300 --> 00:51:10.039 William Bates 00:51:10.039 --> 00:51:10.960 If the bird 00:51:10.960 --> 00:51:12.119 Leaves her nest 00:51:12.119 --> 00:51:13.340 For a long space 00:51:13.340 --> 00:51:15.019 The eggs chill 00:51:15.019 --> 00:51:15.980 And are not fit 00:51:15.980 --> 00:51:16.579 For production 00:51:16.579 --> 00:51:17.579 But where there is 00:51:17.579 --> 00:51:19.039 A constant incubation 00:51:19.039 --> 00:51:20.179 They bring forth 00:51:20.179 --> 00:51:21.800 So when we leave 00:51:21.800 --> 00:51:22.579 Religious duties 00:51:22.579 --> 00:51:23.559 For a long space 00:51:23.559 --> 00:51:24.440 Our affections 00:51:24.440 --> 00:51:25.880 Chill and grow cold 00:51:25.880 --> 00:51:27.159 And are not fit 00:51:27.159 --> 00:51:28.000 To produce holiness 00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:28.679 Or comfort 00:51:28.679 --> 00:51:29.539 To our souls 00:51:29.539 --> 00:51:30.880 And notice 00:51:30.880 --> 00:51:31.599 Verse 25 00:51:31.599 --> 00:51:32.559 Not having 00:51:32.559 --> 00:51:33.420 Become 00:51:33.420 --> 00:51:34.719 But having 00:51:34.719 --> 00:51:35.679 Become 00:51:35.679 --> 00:51:38.399 It is your continuation 00:51:38.399 --> 00:51:39.379 Our continuation 00:51:39.379 --> 00:51:40.339 Or our failure 00:51:40.339 --> 00:51:40.899 To continue 00:51:40.899 --> 00:51:42.099 That is determining 00:51:42.099 --> 00:51:43.440 What we are becoming 00:51:43.440 --> 00:51:44.559 Or what we are not 00:51:44.559 --> 00:51:45.440 Becoming 00:51:45.440 --> 00:51:46.940 Your pattern 00:51:46.940 --> 00:51:47.659 Our pattern 00:51:47.659 --> 00:51:48.619 For good or ill 00:51:48.619 --> 00:51:50.559 Will become our character 00:51:50.559 --> 00:51:51.719 And finally 00:51:51.719 --> 00:51:52.319 Our destiny 00:51:52.319 --> 00:51:53.819 So remember 00:51:53.819 --> 00:51:55.019 The parable of the soils 00:51:55.019 --> 00:51:56.079 That chilling utterance 00:51:56.079 --> 00:51:58.159 They were only temporary 00:51:58.159 --> 00:51:59.819 They were only temporary 00:51:59.819 --> 00:52:02.119 The only adequate response 00:52:02.119 --> 00:52:02.980 To the word 00:52:02.980 --> 00:52:04.480 Is to continue in it 00:52:04.480 --> 00:52:05.760 Alright 00:52:05.760 --> 00:52:06.740 So friends 00:52:06.740 --> 00:52:08.280 Will we not 00:52:08.280 --> 00:52:09.139 Commit ourselves 00:52:09.139 --> 00:52:10.880 With new zeal 00:52:10.880 --> 00:52:11.840 To engaging 00:52:11.840 --> 00:52:12.579 God's word 00:52:12.579 --> 00:52:13.199 Fruitfully 00:52:13.199 --> 00:52:15.059 If we fail 00:52:15.059 --> 00:52:16.800 We can scarcely 00:52:16.800 --> 00:52:17.719 Hope to grow 00:52:17.719 --> 00:52:18.360 And change 00:52:18.360 --> 00:52:19.800 And we will 00:52:19.800 --> 00:52:20.940 Sadly supply 00:52:20.940 --> 00:52:22.240 More evidence 00:52:22.240 --> 00:52:23.019 To the common 00:52:23.019 --> 00:52:24.179 Tragic conclusion 00:52:24.179 --> 00:52:25.159 That I heard 00:52:25.159 --> 00:52:25.639 In the sauna 00:52:25.639 --> 00:52:26.920 It isn't true 00:52:26.920 --> 00:52:28.240 Christianity 00:52:28.240 --> 00:52:28.980 Doesn't make 00:52:28.980 --> 00:52:29.559 Any difference 00:52:29.559 --> 00:52:30.639 I've watched 00:52:30.639 --> 00:52:31.960 Christians up close 00:52:31.960 --> 00:52:32.579 For years 00:52:32.579 --> 00:52:33.740 They are no different 00:52:33.739 --> 00:52:34.599 From the rest of us 00:52:34.599 --> 00:52:35.779 It's all 00:52:35.779 --> 00:52:36.759 A lie 00:52:36.759 --> 00:52:38.559 No 00:52:38.559 --> 00:52:39.979 Rather may it be 00:52:39.979 --> 00:52:40.679 Said of us 00:52:40.679 --> 00:52:41.500 As was said 00:52:41.500 --> 00:52:42.319 Of Peter and John 00:52:42.319 --> 00:52:42.979 In Acts 4 00:52:42.979 --> 00:52:45.419 They recognize them 00:52:45.419 --> 00:52:46.379 As those 00:52:46.379 --> 00:52:47.059 Who had been 00:52:47.059 --> 00:52:47.879 With Jesus 00:52:47.879 --> 00:52:49.539 That's what we want 00:52:49.539 --> 00:52:50.719 For the honor 00:52:50.719 --> 00:52:51.119 Of him 00:52:51.119 --> 00:52:51.799 Whose name 00:52:51.799 --> 00:52:53.559 That we bear 00:52:53.559 --> 00:52:55.519 Thank you 00:52:55.519 --> 00:52:56.679 I'm so sorry 00:52:56.679 --> 00:52:57.659 That we 00:52:57.659 --> 00:52:58.619 They've asked us 00:52:58.619 --> 00:52:59.779 To head up 00:52:59.779 --> 00:53:00.419 A little early 00:53:00.420 --> 00:53:01.740 Given the 00:53:01.740 --> 00:53:02.440 Things that we 00:53:02.440 --> 00:53:02.940 Need to set up 00:53:02.940 --> 00:53:03.559 For a little bit 00:53:03.559 --> 00:53:05.380 So thank you 00:53:05.380 --> 00:53:05.780 Friends 00:53:05.780 --> 00:53:06.760 Blessings on you 00:53:06.760 --> 00:53:07.680 And see you 00:53:07.680 --> 00:53:07.980 Hopefully 00:53:07.980 --> 00:53:09.599 Next week 00:53:09.599 --> 00:53:25.460 You 00:53:25.460 --> 00:53:26.059 You 00:53:26.059 --> 00:53:26.339 You 00:53:26.340 --> 00:53:56.320 Thank you.