MEDITATION
Meditation:
Today when you say meditation it has a whole new meaning than God’s original intent. People of the world, many of them inspired by Satan and other demonic forces, have gone off into dark pursuits. Small wonder since, Satan, has the ability to control the minds of people who reject Christ as God. The unsaved person has no choice but to obey the sin nature which all are born with.. Satan suggests thoughts that they think are their own. Even if those who know the only true God are not careful, Satan, can also influence them. Yes, even those who are God’s people, according His Word are to adhere to the severe warning to, “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” 1 peter 5:8 (NLT) The scriptures refer to Satan as, “The mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” Ephesians 2:2 (NLT). For example, Satan even attacked the thought life of David, whom God Himself, said was, “a man after his own heart.”1 Samuel 13:14 (NIV) After one of David’s great military victories, Satan suggested to his mind that he should number his troops. The scriptures say that, “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 1 Chronicles 21 (NIV) This is related to pride and the trust in man and self rather than in God who created us. Keep in mind that the original sin was pride. This is what caused Satan to get booted out of heaven. He wanted to actually take God’s place. Satan, who is, “The prince of demons,” Luke 11:15, wants people to take their eyes off of God. Instead of depending upon God, he wants people to put their trust in their own human abilities. This gives him the advantage because Satan is a spirit and it is impossible to even attempt to fight him with mere human ability. He realizes that, if he can accomplish this, his purpose of deceiving people is so much easier. Here is another example of how even those who know the only true God should always be on watch for the devil. Not realizing, in his own mind, that Satan had influenced his thinking, Peter was being used to stop the very mission of God. Jesus’ death on the cross. Which is the only way by which people can be saved from spending eternity in hell. Meaning well, Peter did not want to see Jesus suffer. But, even when well meaning people, saint and sinner alike, are not lined up with the Word of God, Satan has an opportunity to work. The Holy Bible says, “From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that he had to go to Jerusalem, and he told them what would happen to him there. He would suffer at the hands of the leaders and the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and he would be raised on the third day. But Peter took him aside and corrected him. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God’s.” Matthew 16:19-22(NLT) Although Peter was speaking Jesus realized that he was being influenced by the unseen enemy. So rather than addressing peter by name Jesus spoke directly to Satan. When Jesus or a child of God, using the Name of Jesus, speaks, Satan, and his imps, have to obey. This is because Jesus is, “The name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-12)
Satan comes in with philosophies, which to the biblically illiterate, sound so good. But the Bible warns us, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8 (NIV) The many teachings which are so prevalent in America today, and in fact the world, are such a sure sign of how close we really are to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1 (NIV) Further still, God’s Word declares, “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 (NLT) Remember that, in spite of people trying to revise history, America really was founded on Christian principles. Almost all of the writers of the Constitution were men who believed in Jesus Christ. They were not deists as some would have you believe. Thus, operating as we had in the past, such teachings as yoga, new age, witchcraft, just to name a few, would never have become so widespread throughout our society. Note: This is for another discussion, but small wonder that murder, rape, incest, homosexuality, pornography, drunkeness (which today is called alcoholism), drug addiction (which is rooted in sorcery), violence in our schools, and a host of other ungodly acts are so widespread throughout society. Why such an increase? Because when we remove Christ from the equation this gives Satan the opportunity to fulfill his chief purpose, which is to, “steal and kill and destroy; John 10:10 (NIV) This increase of Satanic activities shows just how accurate the Bible is. Remember, Satan rebelled against God. Satan hates God and those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and are a part of the true church (Notice that I said true church and not a particular denomination). So he has, “declared war against the rest of her children–all who keep God’s commandments and confess that they belong to Jesus.” Revelation 12:17 (NLT)
The next time you find yourself in some sort of meditation group and the speaker tells you to clear your mind of all thoughts, and to begin chanting to vishnu, brahma, shiva, or some other source please be aware that you are entering into demonic worship. This allows Satan an opportunity to begin his work in your life. Demons, Satan being the chief demon, are disembodied spirits who are looking for humans to inhabit so they can follow through with their evil plans to destroy mankind (unless they have human participation they cannot bring the destruction which is at the core of their beings). Joining such meditation groups allows satan to establish a beachhead in your life( humans have to give satan an invitation in order for him and his demons to begin operating extensively in one‘s life). Once these demonic beings have set up shop in one’s life you begin to hear a variety of strange things. EXAMPLES: (1) One might say that they felt a presence in his or her bedroom or house. (2) One might say that a deceased great grandparent appeared by his or her bedside. Please know that this is not a person’ s actual grandparent (the dead do not reappear from the grave) but this is in fact a familiar spirit (a demon) who knows your family line thus is able to imitate a deceased family member. (NOTE: If we have Christ in our hearts and the Word of God fills our hearts and minds our focus will be on the things of God. As a result during times of meditation God’s purposes and plans will fill our hearts and minds. Because of being washed in the blood of Jesus and being immersed in the Word of God satan cannot gain access into your mind. But if you have rejected the truths of God’s Word and are living a Godless life when you allow a period of time where you focus on nothingness satan then has an opportunity to interrupt your thought life.
The millions of people who join these groups have no idea of the evil spirits that are actually behind the scenes. These spiritual exercises are supposed to offer some sort of peace of mind or serenity but if you look beneath the surface you see that they really do not produce the end result of what they promise. True peace can only be found in the Creator of peace, Himself. His name is Jesus. For He is Jehovah Shalom, The lord our Peace.
Jesus says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 As a Christian, when it comes to any of these teachings which have taken America by storm, we should cast, “down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)
God told Joshua,
“Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. I command you–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 (NLT)
In Psalm chapter one God says
Psalm 1 (KJV)
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
John 16:33 (KJV)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Judges 6:23
And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
God shows us something very special in His creation. God spoke everything we see into creation. Even mankind, His most fantastic creation.
Even Jesus when facing our arch enemy the Devil used the Word of God to defeat Him.
Meditation…
While Jesus walked the earth He regularly spent time praying to His Father, reading the Word of God, and meditating on God’s promises. This prepared Him for every aspect of life. And of course you realize that He had a much larger task to complete than anyone. His purpose was to save the whole world from eternal damnation. Jesus did succeed in this M-O-N-U-M-E-N-T-A-L–T-A-S-K, however, God leaves the choice of accepting this free gift of salvation up to each person. Satan tried to circumvent the plan of God by attacking Jesus before the ultimate showdown at the Cross. In fact he went after Jesus before He even began His earthly ministry. The following shows how Jesus, having spent time in prayer and fasting, and having meditated on the Word of God, was able to defeat the devil.
Matthew 4:3-11 (NLT) (Note: Please see the HALL OF FAITH PAGE for Luke’s account of these same events.)
3Then the Devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread.” 4But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,`People need more than bread for their life;they must feed on every word of God.” 5Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,`He orders his angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.” 7Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, `Do not test the Lord your God.” 8Next the Devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. 9″I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will only kneel down and worship me.” 10″Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,`You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.” 11Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
Note: Satan trips people up when we go after our own selfish desires God warns us to, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1 John 2:15-17 (KJV)
My friend, you can be prevail over every problem in this life if you are equipped with the Word of God in your heart. It is not just a word memorization thing however. This is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
We have to get to a point where as the psalmist says, “A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the home of the wicked. For the Lord God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right. O lord Almighty, happy are those who trust in you.” Psalm 84:10-12 (New Living Translation)
Meditate on these scriptures:
When beginning a period of prayer and meditation you can pray a prayer similar to the following which based on the Word of God. We must make sure that our prayers are based on His Word and not simply selfish desires.
Example:
Father, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your Word; bless me to understand the teaching of your precepts, then I will meditate on Your wonders. Your Word, oh Lord, is eternal; it stands firm it stands firm in the heavens. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Your Word have I hid my heart that might not sin against You. Thank You, and praise You Father, in the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 119:18 (NIV)
18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
Psalm 119:27 (NIV)
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
then I will meditate on your wonders.
Psalm 119:89 (NIV)
Your word, O LORD, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Psalm 37:4 (KJV)
Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
1 Peter 4:7 (NIV)
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray”
Luke 1:37 (NIV)
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Psalm 34:4 (KJV)
“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 37:34 (KJV)
34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land:
Luke 6:38 (NKJV)
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.”
NOTE: As you begin to familiarize yourself with scripture you start to personalize it. So as a Christian who tithes and gives offerings you can say, “I have given and it is given unto me, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men give unto my bosom.”
Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
NOTE: So you can say, “I Will do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
NOTE: You begin to say, “My God has met all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Jesus loves you.