HopeLives365

Mark Finley: We want to look at three very definite specific ways to enhance your Christian life. Biblical methods in which your spiritual life can be renewed.

Guest (Female): This is HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. Today's message, three ways to experience a personal revival, part one. Enjoy and remember you can always catch up with past messages and stay up to date with HopeLives365 and Pastor Mark by going to hopelives365.com. And now, Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: So my goal in class is that when you leave class today, there'll be something that you can grasp onto that'll make a difference in your spiritual life. Somebody said you don't have to find too many million-dollar bills blowing down the street to be a millionaire. So I am hoping that there'll be something that you can take out of this that you're going to say, that is going to make a difference for me. So that's one object of the class.

Looking at what genuine spirituality is all about. We're going to look at how to have an effective prayer life. Why is it that oftentimes our prayer life is not as effective? Why is it at times that our mind wanders so much in prayer and how can we have a more effective prayer life? We're going to raise the question, how can our Bible study be more meaningful? And then how can I open the Bible with a sense of excitement and anticipation for what God is going to do? And then how can I have a more satisfying witness? We're going to look at that.

In the context of that, we're going to look at this whole idea of contemplative spirituality. I'm going to start there, actually, and jump back and forth from there into methods of how to have a meaningful spiritual life. I was lecturing on the deeper spiritual life on the West Coast of the United States. And after the meeting, we had a question and answer period. And one man raised his hand and actually he stood up in the back and he said to me, "Pastor Finley, what do you think of contemplative spirituality, spiritual formation, and meditation?"

Now I could tell from the way he asked the question what he thought. You know, there are times that people ask you questions and you immediately know that their mind is already made up when they ask you the question. They're not asking because they want to have an answer for themselves, they are asking because they want to find out what you think. Well, that question itself, and sometimes the Lord uses questions, that question itself sent me on a personal journey of study into the whole idea of the deeper spiritual life.

And how do you have this deeper spiritual life? And are there dangers as you enter into the deeper spiritual life in the whole concept of contemplative prayer? We're going to define that, and centering prayer, and spiritual formation. So it's one thing to reject the counterfeit, it's another thing to accept the truth. You know, for every genuine there is a counterfeit and for every counterfeit there is a genuine.

And so the Lord is leading His church today into that deeper spiritual life. The devil wants to counterfeit that deeper spiritual life for honest, sincere, genuine people to get us off track. Now let's begin by defining what is Christian meditation. And then raise the question, how can we in our busy lives enter into true biblical meditation, biblical prayer, and etc.? What is Christian meditation?

We need to take a look too as what is contemplative and centering prayer and how does that differ from Christian meditation? And we need to take a look at is the concept of spiritual formation biblical? Because if you're talking about the deeper spiritual life, you're talking really about being formed in the image of God. You're talking about God through His Holy Spirit enabling you to grow, grow closer to Christ every day, reflect the image of Jesus.

And so is the concept of spiritual formation biblical? We'll look at that a little later. Christian meditation: throughout Scripture, meditation is always active and never passive. It always has an object. What do we mean by that? In Eastern mysticism, people attempt to empty their mind to get to this core within their being because they have this fundamental philosophy that deep within the human being there's an immortal part of them that they can get in touch with.

For many, that immortal part of them is the spark of God and so they're trying to get in touch with the God within. In Christian meditation, we are not looking within ourselves, but we're looking out of ourselves. We're looking out of ourselves in an active way to God's word, God's works, and God's ways. If you're taking notes, I'd like you to put that down: God's word, God's works, and God's ways.

Christian meditation focuses on God's word, the objective reality of God's word. It looks at God's works, the majesty of God in nature. Christian meditation looks at God's ways, how He's led me in the past and how He's leading me in my life today. Let me share with you something that happened recently in my own life in Christian meditation and how Christian meditation can be a tremendous blessing to your own personal spiritual life.

About two years ago at the General Conference, I was taking a look at the results of a survey about devotional life in North America among Seventh-day Adventists. And I discovered in that survey that about 50%, 51% of Seventh-day Adventists in North America according to the survey had no devotional life at all. They weren't reading the Bible, they weren't studying, they weren't praying, nothing significantly meaningful at all. And that really concerned me.

So I began raising the question, what can we do as a church? Is there anything we can do to encourage our church back toward the Bible, back toward reading scripture? It was then that we came up with something called Revived by His Word. And Revived by His Word was based on the premise that if people read the Bible prayerfully and thoughtfully, their lives are going to be changed.

And I began to dream and share with other General Conference leaders this thought: what if we could get a million Seventh-day Adventists reading the Bible together? What if that happened? What if we get two million Adventists reading the Bible together? And what if we start with Genesis chapter 1 and we only ask them to read one chapter a day? I think there are 1176 chapters in the Bible. See, we're not asking to read three chapters a day.

What if we read one chapter a day together? And in the process of reading that chapter, encourage people to read that chapter, meditate upon it. And we started with the division presidents in April at what we call Spring Council in the Adventist Church about a year ago. It was actually this last spring. And we read Genesis 1 together. Every one of the division presidents read different verses in Genesis 1 and we're reading from now to the General Conference Session in San Antonio in 2015.

And what God is doing is really remarkable. There is a web page called Revived by His Word. Do any of you know about that web page? Let's see a hand if you know about it. Okay. You're reading, you're participating. Wonderful. Do you know that we have about 10,000 plus responses to that now? And when you're reading, we're in Leviticus or about Leviticus 30 somewhat.

And when you're in Leviticus, for example, you know that 10,000 other people are reading Leviticus. And you know that half a million other people are right in that chapter, whatever the numbers are, I don't have the exact numbers. And then you can go on the web page and you can see their comments on the chapter and their insights. But anyway, we had just come into Leviticus and I have read Leviticus, again and again and again.

And so I had my Bible open one morning and I was saying, "Now, Lord, You teach me from Your Word." So Christian meditation is always focused on the Word of God. Christian meditation always is focused on God's Word, God's works, and God's ways. So I'm meditating in Leviticus. You come to Leviticus, you're reading about all these offerings in Leviticus and you're saying, "Man, I can't wait to get through this so I can get to something more interesting."

But I thought, you know, Jesus said, "Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they that do testify of Me." So every passage in the scripture is to testify of Jesus. So as I'm reading, I read about the offerings. So you start in Leviticus 1. I looked at verse 4. It talks about the ram. And you look at Leviticus 1 downward and it talks about the bull, actually, verse 5.

He'll kill a bull and I began to think, man, a bull is really expensive. What about poor people who didn't have any bulls? Then I go down and I read verse 10. Now he's talking about sheep and goats. I say, well, that's a little cheaper. Then I go down and read verse 14. He talks about birds. That's a lot cheaper. And pigeons, that's a lot cheaper. I continue to read. It talks about flour.

And all of a sudden, it hits me: the bull, I'm meditating on this, praying, the bull, the sheep, the goats, the pigeon, the flour. Whatever your social status, whatever your income, the blood of Christ provides salvation for you. People could come, if they didn't have a bull, they could come with a turtledove because the burnt offering was put on the altar every single morning till every night.

And so I began to think, the different offerings and their different cost represent the reality of the fact that the blood of Christ provides salvation for us all. Then I began to look at the different classes of people that brought their offerings. There were offerings for the ruler, there were offerings for the priest, there were offerings for the common people, there were offerings for the poor. So the blood of Christ provides salvation for all humanity and there's an offering for every human being. Nobody is excluded in God's plan.

Guest (Female): We'll be right back with Pastor Mark Finley. We thank you for listening and hope you're enjoying today's message. Our mission is to attractively present the Christ-centered biblical truths of scripture in a practical, relevant way to people around the world so that they may experience the abundant life that Christ offers and effectively share with confidence His life-changing truths with others. You can support this ministry and help us reach even more by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now, back to Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: Positive Christian meditation is always actively meditating on the Word of God. The goal of Christian meditation is to fill the mind with the word and works of God. Meditating upon His greatness and matchless love, we're changed into His image. You don't want to miss Second Corinthians chapter 3 verse 18 if you have it. See, how is character transformed? How can we have a vibrant Christian experience? How are we transformed into the image of Christ?

What is the very essence of sin? Sin mars the image of Christ in humanity. Sin mars the image of Christ in humanity. Sin distorts the image of Christ in humanity. What is the goal of the gospel? The goal of the gospel is to lead men and women to the forgiveness, grace, mercy, and power of God so the image that was lost by sin will be restored. That's the goal of the gospel. The goal of the gospel is to restore within you and me that reflection of God's image.

And so in Second Corinthians chapter 3 verse 18, it says this. And let's go back and read verse 17: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The Spirit of the Lord sets us free from bondage, sets us free from greed and lust and anger and bitterness. Verse 18, how does this happen? "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

As we behold the image of Christ in scripture, the Holy Spirit reveals to us a revelation of His character and we are changed. How does that happen? How is my mind changed when I read scripture? What process does the Holy Spirit use to do that? God has created us with minds. We're created in the image of God. We have been given the ability to reason, to think.

How does God change us? It is a law of the mind that the mind gradually adapts itself upon those subjects that it's allowed to dwell. As you quietly open the Bible, not to prepare Bible study to prove somebody else wrong, and if you're a preacher, not to prepare a sermon, but as you quietly open the Bible to let God speak to you and as you're reading scripture prayerfully, Christian meditation quietly goes through the Bible, not in a speed-reading program to see how much you can accomplish, but to listen to the voice of God.

And say, "God, impress upon my mind the things of eternity." So when I read about Christ touching the eyes of the blind and they're opened, I bow my head in prayer and say, "Lord, I have just read a story in the Bible about You healing a blind man and I know that in my life there are many blind spots. I know that there are things about my personality that I don't see. I know that there are things that are unclear to me. Open mine eyes and heal me spiritually."

When I read about the man who has been by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years and Christ comes and He touches him. You know what Bethesda means? It's interesting. In the Bible, Beth always means "sign of" or "house of." So you've got Bethlehem. Beth is "sign of", lehem is "bread." So Jesus the Bread of Life was born in the house of the baker. You got it?

Bethsaida. Beth is "sign of" or "house of." Saida is "fish." So Jesus called the disciples to be fishers of men at the house of fish or the fisherman's village. Bethesda. Esda means "mercy." Beth means "house of" or "sign of" mercy. So Jesus came to the most despicable place where the sick and the outcasts and the ridiculed were. He came to a place that there was no hope and He walked into the midst of that place and He found the man that was suffering worst in that place and He touched him with His grace and that man sensed that he was in the presence of mercy that day. The House of Mercy.

When I think about that man by the pool of Bethesda, I say to myself, "God, You touched him and You healed the paralysis in his body. Please heal the paralysis in my soul." Now, I hope you see something coming through today. When you combine effectual prayer and meaningful Bible study as one major event in your devotional life, it is life-transforming. Prayer and Bible study are meant to happen together. Often on your knees when you open the Bible and the Word of God, you read a few passages and pray and then allow God to talk to you through His Word.

So how are we changed? As I see what Christ is doing in the New Testament, by beholding Him, we become changed. We see His love and His grace and the Holy Spirit takes the things of eternity and stamps them upon our minds. In Christian meditation, Jesus is the object of our thoughts. He's the supreme focus of our attention. Looking unto Jesus, Hebrews 12:1 and 2, the author and finisher of our faith. Isaiah 45:22 says, "Look unto me and be saved." So this is a million miles from Eastern philosophy.

Jesus is the object of our thoughts. The Bible is the basis of our faith. We stop and pause and meditate on Him and His goodness. Now we recognize that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked and that in us there is no good thing. See, this is the difference between Christianity and Eastern mysticism. In Eastern mysticism, the idea is that there is some good within me and that there's this God within me that I need to get in touch with.

In biblical Christianity, I recognize that my nature is fallen. And because I have a fallen nature, I find no solace in looking to that nature. As George Vandeman used to say to me and used to say to audiences, "When I look at myself, I see no possibility to be saved, but when I look at Jesus, I see no possibility to be lost." And so our focus is not upon ourselves. One of the big dangers of Eastern mysticism, when you get people looking within themselves, the devil can bring up all kind of thoughts of disappointment, discouragement, guilt, shame, condemnation and people can end up in a greater depression.

Or the other thing the devil can do is he can give you a counterfeit Christian experience without lifestyle change. And you get this counterfeit Christian experience without lifestyle change and you may feel like you have somewhat peace and somewhat warmth inside, but it is really a counterfeit experience. Our hope is in Him, in Christ. Our mind is fixed upon Him. This is Christian meditation. Our attention is focused upon Him. And in meditating upon Him, we're transformed into His likeness.

If you have your Bible, please take it and turn to Colossians chapter 3. Colossians chapter 3 and one of the things that it is possible to miss in scripture very often are those verbs of scripture that indicate choice on the part of the believer. Colossians 3 is a very good example. Let me give you two other examples when you're turning to Colossians 3. You don't need to turn to these, we're turning to Colossians 3, but I'll give you two other examples of the principle.

Remember what the Bible says: "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus," Philippians 2:5. Let this mind. In other words, allow this mind, choose this mind to be in you. Remember when Romans 12:1 says, "Present your body a living sacrifice." In other words, you present, you choose to do that. So God has given to us the power of choice. As we choose to fix our mind on things of eternity, meditate upon the scriptures, allow God to change the current of our thinking, we are transformed into His image.

Here we go, Colossians. You're looking at Colossians chapter 3, verse 1, 2, and 3. "If then you were raised with Christ," in other words, if you're born again, if you have a new experience in Jesus, if you're raised with Christ, "seek those things that are above." Notice "seek" is a very active word. You choose the things that are above. Seek those things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. What kind of language is that? Where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. What kind of language is that?

You've got it. It's sanctuary language, isn't it? So are we meditating trying to discover the God within us or are we focused on Jesus' high priestly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary? Eastern mysticism is looking at the wrong temple. It looks at the temple of the soul, it looks within the human heart where there is only deceit, where there is only a fallen human nature. Christian meditation causes us to look to the sanctuary.

May I suggest to you that the message of the sanctuary that Christ has entrusted to Seventh-day Adventists is a precious message fully understood that leads us to meaningful Christian growth and the transformation of our characters. Because what do we meditate upon? Our weakness? No, His strength. What do we meditate upon? The darkness of our own hearts? No, the light of His glory. We're focusing on Jesus, our high priest. We recognize that He is there in the sanctuary above, that His forgiveness, grace, and mercy is ours.

Colossians chapter 3, verse 2. What's the first word in verse 2? Does anybody have it? Set. Set what? Your mind. What does it mean, set? Fixed. What's another word for fixed? Focused. What's another one? Meditate. Okay. Fix your mind, focus your mind, concentrate your mind on things within your soul. What? Things where? Within your soul? Seek the light within... on things what? Above. And not on things on earth. Why? "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

What is Christian meditation? It is slowing down enough so that the things of time no longer dominate the thinking process and allowing the things of eternity to transform your life and character.

Guest (Female): You've been listening to HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. We hope you've enjoyed today's message and remind you that you can find more in our many ministry resources at hopelives365.com. And you can support this ministry by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now, a final thought from Pastor Mark.

Mark Finley: Spirituality is not gained or achieved separate from the world. Jesus said, "I pray not that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil in the world." So genuine biblical spirituality is between the mountain and the multitude. It's between a life of prayer and Bible study and activity. The scribes and Pharisees prayed and studied the Bible, but they crucified Jesus because they were self-centered egotists.

So all authentic Christianity, which is life-transformational, leads us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Look, Jesus declared that His followers were to be what? In the world, but not, say it with me, of the world. They were to be the salt of the earth, they were to be the light of the world. Followers of Christ should shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. So the whole concept of looking to the desert fathers for spirituality is flawed from the beginning.

It's flawed because true spirituality can never be separated from active service. So that whole concept that that's where I look for genuine spirituality is fatally flawed. True genuine spirituality involves both a relationship with God and loving service to God's children.