SuperVerses!* Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you.

Transcription

1 SuperVerses!* Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you. There are super foods that possess extraordinary nutritional punch: avocados, broccoli, blueberries, spinach, tomatoes, oats and Romaine lettuce, etc. A diet rich in these foods will encourage greater physical health than if they are not included. Just as there are super foods that pack extraordinary nutritional punch, so there are super verses that pack extraordinary spiritual punch. A spiritual diet rich in these verses will encourage greater spiritual health than if they are not included. The purpose of memorizing and meditating on these SuperVerses is not to try to become a SuperChristian overnight by trying real hard to do everything in them. Rather, the intent is that you deeply memorize and meditate on the SuperVerses several times a day. Through that process, the Holy Spirit gradually changes us from the inside out. Just as a child grows physically over time taking in physical nutrition, so we must grow spiritually over time as we take in spiritual nutrition. It typically takes at least a month of consistent meditation on deeply memorized verses before we begin to experience the impact. Be faithful to the process, and God will build peace and power into your life as you let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you. Begin by memorizing, one at a time as you are able, all the Basic Passages. Then move, as you are able, to include Advanced Passages. Also, add your own Advanced Passages that are valuable to you. BASIC PASSAGES Greatest Commandments: It makes sense to begin with what Jesus said were the greatest commandments in all the Bible, to lay as a cornerstone in our Christian life. Memorize and meditate on this passage first. Meditate: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets. Matthew 22:37-40 What it means to love God: Loving God is not a warm fuzzy feeling. Rather, loving God involves an act of our will in which we do what pleases God. Scripture tells us that obedience is the demonstration of our love to God. Meditate: If you love Me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15 1

2 Meditate: Without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 What it means to love our neighbor: Scripture makes it clear what it means to love others as well, and again, it has little to do with warm emotions. Rather, it has to do with our willingness to act for the benefit of others and the glory of God. Meditate: Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take in account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice with unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Why it is sometimes difficult to love God: The single greatest difficulty in loving God, for many people, is the presence of pain, suffering, and trials in their lives that God does not remove. Meditate: Man is born to trouble, as surely as sparks fly upward (Job 5:7). But He knows the way that I take, and when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10). Therefore, even if He were to slay me, yet would I trust Him (Job 13:15). Meditate: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 Meditate: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 Meditate: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 Meditate: Therefore, we do not lose heart, for though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Why it is sometimes difficult to love our neighbor: The single greatest difficulty in 2

3 loving others, for many people, is because others hurt us, treat us badly, sin against us. Meditate: And be kind to one another, tender- hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 Meditate: And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians 3:12-14 Meditate: For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 1 Peter 2:20 ADVANCED PASSAGES To cultivate a spiritual warfare perspective: Because we need to battle God s way. Meditate: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 Meditate: Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 Meditate:...the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 1 John 5:19 Meditate: Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to demolish strongholds. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ADVANCED PASSAGES To cultivate an eternal perspective: Because seeing things from God s point of view is essential. Meditate: If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be 3

4 revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-3 Meditate: I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 To cultivate mental purity: Because the enemy is always seeking to erode holiness, especially through media. Meditate: I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a woman. Job 31:1 Meditate: I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. Psalm 101:3 Meditate: He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20 Meditate: Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 To be faithful in evangelism: Even those without the gift of evangelism need to work hard at being an evangelist. Meditate: Do the work of an evangelist. 2 Timothy 4:5 When it is difficult to suffer: When it gets wearying to not have the suffering end Meditate: Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:8 Meditate: Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3 Meditate: My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19. When things don t make sense: When you can t figure out any other reason for the mess you re in, it may be a test, to know what is in your heart. Meditate: You shall remember all the way which the Lord Your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not to do good for you in the end. (Deuteronomy 8:2, 16). 4

5 When you are weary Meditate: Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 Meditate: Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not be weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 When you need to simply trust God: A fundamental trust in God underlies everything else. Meditate: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 Meditate: The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 Meditate: Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 *From the 1 st MARK Prayer System Copyright 2013 Max Anders 5