Years ago while I attending classes for pastors in California , we pastors were given the book "Celebration of Discipline" copyright (c) 1978, by Richard J. Foster. This
well known book, has been ,over the years, very helpful to many
Christians both Laity and Clergy alike.With that acknowledgement I would like to offer in my own words, as best that I may, what I have gleaned from Mr.Foster work"Celebration of Discipline". Mr. Foster's book speaks to believers about how Christians can avail ourselves of the "Spiritual Disciplines" and grow in the Christian life thru a relationship with Jesus Christ by way of the "Spiritual Discipline"
Spiritual Opportunities
What the "Spiritual Discipline" are, are Spiritual Opportunities for each and all of us to have Communion with our God in times of deep personal intimacy which brings us to see that he is with us and wants us and loves us.
When the Music Stops
Many Christians find worship engaging. They are energized by the worship experience. They are moved by the power of the hymns and songs of praise they can be come in a state of near bliss, and lost in the music and to the world around them. They a moved to shout and to express their worship. Worship is vital and can be powerful and aid in our spiritual transformation. What the Primitive -Apostolic Church called "Deification" , that is, becoming like Christ, or "putting on Christ".
For some Christians the whole experience of the worship is what it is all about, they will even forgo solid Biblical teaching and will choose to attend a local assembly based on the quality of music or because of a worship leader or a particular praise band. Worship is important and vital to each of us but, what happens when the music stops?
The Word
We are admonished to know the word of God. We have an unprecedented access to the very word of our God, the great creator who brought all things into being. Many of our spiritual predecessors had limited access to the Bible, and even today in some places the pastors have only one copy of the a Gospel or one or two of the Epistles, yet they faithfully teach the best they are able in their given circumstances.
For some Christians the Bible is a revered but availed of source of help in the living of the Christians life. As study the Bible with the focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ we begin see Jesus all the clearer and all the more prominent as the whole purpose of God in Jesus.
The Bible is not a "self help book" nor is it simply a "moral or ethical guide", or a "road map" to prophetic events but rather it speaks to us about Jesus above all else, who he is and all that Jesus is for each and all if they will but freely receive it.
The purpose of study is , as with all the "Spiritual Disciplines" is the transformation of the believer into spiritual maturity , that is "Deification" becoming Christ like or as St. Paul wrote "conformed to the image of his Son" .
The Study of the Holy word of God is far more than just the study of information, or for the purpose of amassing knowledge , it is rather, a study of the very person and life of Jesus Christ, not just "principles " or tenets of doctrine but about Jesus' holy person.
Studying the Bible is the means given by which we consider the praise worthy merits and things of Christ.
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philp:4:8-9
The Spiritual Discipline of Study
For some Christians the Bible is a revered but availed of source of help in the living of the Christians life. As study the Bible with the focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ we begin see Jesus all the clearer and all the more prominent as the whole purpose of God in Jesus.
The Bible is not a "self help book" nor is it simply a "moral or ethical guide", or a "road map" to prophetic events but rather it speaks to us about Jesus above all else, who he is and all that Jesus is for each and all if they will but freely receive it.
The purpose of study is , as with all the "Spiritual Disciplines" is the transformation of the believer into spiritual maturity , that is "Deification" becoming Christ like or as St. Paul wrote "conformed to the image of his Son" .
The Study of the Holy word of God is far more than just the study of information, or for the purpose of amassing knowledge , it is rather, a study of the very person and life of Jesus Christ, not just "principles " or tenets of doctrine but about Jesus' holy person.
Studying the Bible is the means given by which we consider the praise worthy merits and things of Christ.
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philp:4:8-9
Freedom
Studying the Bible equips our minds and gives us capacity to have a spiritual frame of mind. Many Christians have found themselves still unable to surmount fear,worry,perplexities of life, because study has not been employed in their daily lives.
Our Lord Jesus said in the Gospel of St. John:8:32
"you will know the truth and the truth will set you free:"
with out knowing the truth, of which Jesus is the ultimate truth. That is he is fully God and in the incarnation is full human and has accomplished salvation for each and all resorting humanity to the "pre-fall" relationship which God has always intended for us.
We are free to study.
What is Study?
It is thru careful attention to the realty of Jesus which enables the our minds to move in a given direction. Our minds will take on the order of that which is studied, that is, what ever we focus on. Our thoughts will form an order that moves according to that which is studied, and we draw conclusions based on what "information" we have gathered; from which, we develop thought patterns that are formed into mental habits that conformed to what we have studied.
What we study will help to determine what mental habits we will develop.
Study and Meditation
As we study the word of God we need to take time to carefully consider what God is speaking thru the Bible. We need to meditate on the Word of God. Meditation and study go together, we need to meditate on what we read in Scripture. Meditations give us time to process what we have read and how it speaks into our lives. We should not be in a hurry, but take time to think and reflect upon the Word of God.
How then do we Study?
Repetition- This give opportunity for our minds to move in a specific discretion that helps produce the mental habits of thought and influences our behavior.
Concentration-If we affix our attention on a given subject or our mental observation with out distraction on what we read this will enhance our ability to learn.
Comprehension-This means that we grasp the meaning of what we are studying granting us discernment and insight.
Reflection- This will define for us the significance of what we studying this helps us to see from the vantage point of eternity , or as some call it divine view point.
A Focus on Jesus- The Scripture are meant to be interpreted thru who Jesus is, not law,
prophecy, covenants, or a given people group, but Jesus. Jesus is the
paridine and rubic for understanding the Bible. Jesus is the living guiding
principle to correct Biblical understanding, not law or covenants or people groups.
Set time aside and faithful study the word each day. Ask God to guide you and deepen your understanding. Read the Word carefully, remember that quality is better than quantity, recall that St. Paul said that he would rather speak five words and convey much truth than a whole multitude in an unknown language, the principle here is, better to read two verses of the Scripture and understand what we have read than to have read two chapters and missed the whole point.
If we find that our attention is drawn to a particular set of Scriptures and something is standing out out to us , than it is likely that God is speaking to us about what is contained in those verses.
It is good and profitable to read thru the whole Bible to have a sense of the story flow of the history of Salvation.
Uses a variety of commentaries and Bible translations, read books that expound upon the culture of the day in which the Scripture what written. We read the Bible from the vantage points of where we are at in history and read over axioms and references that had great significance to the original audiences that heard the Word proclaimed.
Example , it is thought by some that the interpretive grid for understanding the Bible is a "jig-saw puzzle" approach. meaning that you have to "put it together" in order to understand it "properly"
Some will quote from the Prophet Isaiah when he wrote: "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" Isa:28:10 to support this approach.
That sounds good , until you understand that this verse is a quotation of a cultural axiom which was in use in Israel at the time , which refers to someone rambling nonsensically like a drunk.
Understand that the Bible is written in the Language of Accommodation, that is , God is speaking to us in a way that we can almost understand . There is no language spoken upon the Earth nor even the language of the Angelic host which is able to truly covey the glory of God and his eternal greatness. So our God uses the resident languages of humanity to speak to us thru his word but above all thru the incarnation of the eternal Son of God the Seconded Person of the Holy Trinity.
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but
in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed
heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The
Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his
being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided
purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in
heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs." Heb:1:1-4
Understand this principle the Bible does not always mean what it says, but rather, it says what it means. we need to understand , What did it mean to those who heard it ? That is, the whole of the Old Testament is the Incarnation anticipated and the New Testament is the Incarnation accomplished .
We need to bear in mind that there is difference between studying the Bible and devotional reading of the Bible.
Studying is the focus on what the word means with a focus on interpretation.
Devotional reading is the focus on application, that is what does it mean to us in our lives.
When we study, often we can by pass the intent or meaning that the Holy Spirit caused the Scripture to be written.
Humility in Study
When we approach the Holy Word of God we should do so with humility, to hear what God has revealed to us thru his Son Jesus. We as well need to understand who our true guide and instructor of the Scripture is, which is the Holy Spirit who lead us and give us understanding of the Bible. The Bible is not grasped thru human abilities or human intellect but thru the working of the Holy Spirit in our minds he is our divine teacher and mentor always speaking to us regarding the Holy Son of God Jesus.
When we read the Bible with our hearts and minds guided by the Holy spirit we will hear the very voice of God, the Kol Yahweh, which calls out to all humanity to accept and believe in Jesus Christ, when we hear the voice of God and accept what our Lord so graciously offers us in his Holy Son our lives will be transformed into his very image.
The Word is animated and active causing change in our lives separating the carnal and the spiritual, it is like the pruning knife that cuts away the dead branches in our lives leaving only the living and fruit bearing.
"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch from our lives
that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." Jhn:15:2
"For
the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged
sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and
marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing
in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and
laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Heb:4:12-13
Our Lord will cut away everything that is produced from the flesh leaving only what, and who we are in Jesus.
Our Response
When we hear the very voice of God speaking out to each and all thru the Bible and come to see that it is our Lord who speaks to us, and we are stopped in the mid stride of our lives and turning to see the gloried Jesus, than we are like St. John of Patmos struck by the shear glory of the resurrected Lord , we, like St.John will bow and worship in humble acknowledgement that Jesus is Lord of all. Jesus, the one who is fully God yet thru the incarnation is fully human the very Son of God who defeated even death and the grave. We see that thru the Holy Scripture we are encountering the living Son of God.
I,
John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and
patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos
because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write
on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus,
Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,
dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In
his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a
sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its
brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." Rev:1:9-17
Studying the Bible brings us to see that our Lord is present with us and stands ready to speak to us about the salvation so freely offered to each and all if they will but freely receive it.
Sanctified Thru Truth
Having our hearts and minds filled with the Word of God protects us spiritual, we are "sanctified" thru the truth of God, of which our Lord Jesus is the living embodiment of that word, Jesus is living truth.
Jesus declares our sanctification thru the Truth of the word of God, the word Jesus uses for sanctify is the word Haggizio , which describes what Roman soldiers body armor did for them, it protected them from the attacks of their enemies.
God word will protect us from our enemies as well, but, like the Roman body armor we, like they , need to put it on ,that is, take up the word daily and "strap" it on, that is make it part of us.
Study is a "Spiritual opportunity" , not a "religious duty" . Studying the Bible is time well worth spent bring us ever more aware of the abiding presence of God in each and all of our lives.
Benediction: May we each and all be transformed into the very image of the glorious Son of God thru the ever active Holy word residing in our hearts and minds, today, tomorrow and forevermore Amen.
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastora Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.
Washington, Pennsylvania. www.gcfountainoflife.org
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