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Beattitudes for Altitude

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Beattitudes for Altitude Empty Beattitudes for Altitude

Post  Fenny West Wed 21 May 2008, 9:54 am




What is my disposition or attitude towards God’s word?. Is it so common to me that it has lost it’s appeal? Is it music to my ears or your ears? We often hear: ‘You attitude determines your altitude’. It is so true and even more so in regard to the Word of God. The computer technocrats are familiar with GIGO- garbage in garbage out. What we put in our mind is what we get out of it. What we sow is what we reap?

Let’s examine the attitude of the psalmist in this passage and see what we can learn from his attitude to God’s word.

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.


10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.


11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.


12 Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.


13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.


14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.


15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.


16 I delight in your decrees;

I will not neglect your word.

( Psalm119:11-16)
Clearly following attitudes are evident

1The desire for purity

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.


God’s word sanctifies, cleanses, purifies and preserves. This was why Jesus prayed: ‘Sanctify them through your words; your word is truth. (John17:17)



2. Teachable spirit

He does not assume that he knows it all. He wants to know more and so he prays:

Praise be to you, O LORD;
teach me your decrees



3. Humility

The prayer is also a mark of humility. He is acknowledging that without the help of the Lord he is doomed. Unless we are humble we cannot receive anything fro the Lord.

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time (1Pet5:5-6)


Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (Jam.4:10)

The word of God is for our teaching, training for reigning correction, admonition in righteousness and we need to acknowledge our need for teaching always, regardless how long we may have known the Lord or how many times we may have gone through the bible. As His mercies are new every morning, so is His word. It never goes stale. If we are teachable and humble ourselves, God will have a word for us in season.



4. Prayerfulness

We need to pray without easing, more so when we read, study or meditate on the word of God. He prayed for God to keep him, realizing he could not keep himself; it is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Living God.

We must come to God’s word prayerfully, otherwise we could be as blind as a bat but with no inborn navigational skill to feel our way round. Unless God sheds his light reading or meditating will be a wasted religious exercise. We must acknowledge the Author of the Word to hear His voice as we study His Word.

This why I like the psalmist when he prays as he writes:

10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands


Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law-119:18



5. Worshipfulness- We find the psalmist praising God as he writes. This is a very important attitude we should have. Praise and worship pave the way for His presence. And with His presence with us we receive of His fullness, his unsearchable riches; we experience the depth and height, length and breadth of his love towards us; He reveals to us what eye has not seen ear not heard and what has not entered in to the heart of man. And He does this by His Holy Spirit.

So let’s cultivate this attitude of praise and worship as we read, study and meditate on the word.

12 Praise be to you, O LORD;

teach me your decrees

10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands (Ps119 10,12)




6. Wholeheartedness

We see him seeking the Lord wholeheartedly. And when we do the same, we will not be disappointed.

10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands. (Ps119:10)


11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Joshua and Caleb did and they entered the Promised Land.



7 Delightfulness in God’s word

‘ ‘ 16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word’


Meditation He was reflective v

As we delight in God’s word we are open to receive from Him, barriers are broken, His treasures become open to us as we feast on his banquet.



8 Passionate, Proactive

This resulted in reciting God’s word aloud

Something happens when in delight you recite God’s word aloud to yourself. It is therapeutic, as it herald God’s mind like trumpet to you. It can sound like music to your ears and keep you on the straight and narrow as you hear that same voice of his word repeated to you like a long playing tape when you are erring.

‘ 13 ‘With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth. NIV


13 I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us. New Living




9. Studious

When you not only read the word but study it God opens your eyes to see new truths like a kaleidoscope emanating an endless variety of symmetrical patterns as the instrument is rotated or a rainbow with many interesting, fascinating colours. God can use one scripture in communicating different things to different people and all the messages received will still be scriptural and sound.

When you study you show yourself approved and you will not be put to shame when you witness to others. You will have what to say when people ask you of the reason for your hope in Christ. As you open your mouth the Holy Spirit will fill. God will show your some fascinating facets of His word that would blow your mind and like the psalmist you will be able to say: ‘To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless (Ps119:96)

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. Ezra 7:10

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.(2Tim.2:15)

10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Acts 17:10-11

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation (1Pet 2:2)

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer (Act2:42)

Rejoiced at God’s word like some one who had won the lottery

‘I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches’ NIV



10 Memorization

An extension of study is memorizing God’s word. That is how you hide God’s word in your heart and the Holy Spirit will quicken it to you when you need it. We need to make conscious effort to memorize the Word of God.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.




11 Reflectivity

When you reflect, you ponder or meditate; examining the word in relation to your life. You ask questions, such as: what is this passage saying to me? How do I measure up to this scripture? Is there a promise to claim? Is there a sin to confess? How else can this be applied to my life? What can I do better next time?

And when you ask such question, you can be sure that, the Holy Spirit will be there to help you answer them. He is the counselor, the Standby and Helper and Teacher.

15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways. ‘


15 I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways. New Living


Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.


Ps1:1-3 New Living



12. Diligence

He was very diligent reminding himself of the word. He did not want to forget it

He asked rhetorical questions which reinforced his understanding and kept him focused. How can a young man keep pure his ways? He gave the answer himself to remind him of the only way to keep himself pure- ‘by taking heed your word’

We can prevent ourselves from forgetting the word by underlining the passages of scripture that the Holy Spirit quickens to us and periodically reviewing them. We can also take notes in the church and review these later to remind us what the Lord said to us. There is a difference between what the Lord said in the Word (Logos) and what He said to us with a particular scripture ( Rhema). We need both the Logos and the Rhema. of God’s Word.

Mindful, Watchful

He did not neglect God’s word.

I have often neglected God’s word to my shame but the wise person fills their heart with God’s word so that they don’t slip; they see God’s Word as the source of sustenance, bringing great joy, their heart’s delight, the anchor to their soul (Jer 15:16). They love the word of God more than their necessary food.

‘Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.’(Job23:12)

.

I pray that you and I will be prayerful, reflective, humble, passionate, diligent, desirous to hear from the Lord, change our ways, be empowered, renewed, prepared for service as we come into in presence to study to show ourselves approved.







Fenny West
Fenny West
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