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Sermon: Ruminate – Part 1
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Part 2
by
Chris Cumming
Let us begin today’s sermon by looking at the sermon’s title,
“Ruminate.” What does “ruminate” mean? What does this word have to do
with my Salvation Process and becoming like Christ?
The word, “ruminate” means, “to turn a matter over and over in the
mind.” It means, “to reflect on over and over again.” Other words for
“ruminate” are:
--Contemplate
--Meditate
--Ponder
--Mull
--Reflect.
The purpose of today’s sermon is to encourage all of us to contemplate,
meditate, ponder, reflect upon and ruminate the Word of God.
How do we do this? Are there biblical instructions on how to ruminate?
Let us begin in Proverbs 4. I will read the entire chapter, as this is
the ruminate instruction chapter.
Proverbs 4:1-27
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend
to know understanding.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my
mother.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words:
keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the
words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall
keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy
getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour,
when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory
shall she deliver to thee.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life
shall be many.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right
paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou
runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is
thy life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil
men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep
is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more
and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they
stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine
heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their
flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of
life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from
thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight
before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from
evil.
Let us now immerse ourselves in these instructions.
Verse 1:
---Hear instruction
---Attend to know understanding
Notice the commentary on this second item:
Attending to know understanding - what
would serve to enlighten, enlarge, improve, and inform their
understandings; what would lead them into the knowledge and
understanding of things divine and spiritual, and which would be worth
knowing; and of having their understandings stored and enriched with.
~John Gill
Verse 2:
---Forsake not the law or doctrine. -
The John Gill states that we are not talking about the law given at
Sinai but ultimately the doctrine of Christ. Clearly this is the
meaning for us now. "Forsaking" means we should not neglect,
relinquish, drop, or depart from; but should keep it, and abide by it.
The word, "abide" means, "to continue to be sure or firm...to endure.
Notice Matthew 24:13.
Matthew 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Verse 4:
---Let thine heart retain my words: keep my
commandments, and live. - Open thy heart to receive my
instructions - receive them with affection; when heard, retain and
practice them; and thou shalt live - the great purpose of thy being
brought into the world shall be accomplished in thee.
~Adam Clarke
The word "retain" means to keep in mind or remember.
Verse 5:
---Get wisdom, get understanding
---forget it not
---neither decline from the words of my mouth
Get wisdom, get understanding - True
religion is essential to thy happiness; never forget its teachings, nor
go aside from the path it prescribes.
~Adam Clarke
Proverbs 3:13
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth
understanding.
Forget it not - when gotten, keep it in
remembrance; be continually meditating on Wisdom, or Christ, his glories
and excellencies; the fulness of grace and truth in him; the blessings
of goodness which come by him; the great use and profit of having and
enjoying him; ~John Gill
Neither decline from the words of my mouth.
- in other words, do not forget what I told you. This is especially
true as you and I go through persecutions and all the end time tragedies
before us. Notice some scriptures.
2 Chronicles 34:1-2
1 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in
Jerusalem one and thirty years.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked
in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand,
nor to the left.
Job 23:11 ...Job
speaking about God
My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
Psalm 44:18
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy
way;
Psalm 119:51
The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from
thy law.
Psalm 119:157
Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy
testimonies.
When the persecutions and the end time elements come ...Ruminate.
Verse 6 ...speaking of the wisdom and
understanding of verse 5
---Forsake her not; love her
Forsake her not - Wisdom personified is
here represented as a guardian and companion, who, if not forsaken, will
continue faithful; if loved, will continue a protector.
~Adam Clarke
Notice the promise of this verse. Wisdom and understanding will
preserve and keep you.
Verse 7
---Wisdom is the principal thing.
---Therefore get wisdom:
---and with all thy getting get understanding.
Therefore get wisdom - not an interest in
Christ, but a knowledge of it; and make use of all means to obtain a
greater knowledge of him, and of interest in him, which is what the
apostle calls "winning" Christ; by which he means, not getting an
interest in him, that he had already, but gaining a greater degree of
knowledge of him, as the context shows, Philippians 3:8; or, "buy
wisdom" (s); that is, without money and without price; so Christ advises
to buy gold and white raiment of him, his grace and righteousness,
Revelation 3:18. ~John Gill
Quoted verses:
Philippians 3:8
...getting a greater degree of knowledge of
Christ
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Revelation 3:18
...buying gold and white raiment of Christ
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be
rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame
of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,
that thou mayest see.
Note: The phrase here speaking
to the shame of thy nakedness is not speaking about physical nakedness
but nakedness arising from a want of righteousness, which is only
covered by the righteousness of Christ.
And with all thy getting get understanding
- another name for Christ; see Proverbs 8:14; Or, "along with all thy
getting" , or "above all"; let not Christ be wanting; he is the one
thing needful, the good and better part and portion, which, if missing,
all other substance signifies little: or part with all for this pearl of
great price, Wisdom, and prefer it to all worldly substance
~John Gill
Quoted verse:
Proverbs 8:14
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
You and I have be constantly been talking about knowledge, understanding
and wisdom. We see this as a process. We immerse ourselves in the Word
of God and get knowledge. From knowledge and the power of God, we get
understanding. From understanding, we are able to take action and
invoke that knowledge and understanding. We call this wisdom. Wisdom
is action. Christ is knowledge. He is understanding. He is wisdom.
Verse 8
--Exalt her [Wisdom].
"Exalt" means, "to raise to a high position." We are to put wisdom in
the highest position in our heart, soul and mind.
Christ is wisdom. Christ is exalted in His person. He is to be exalted
by us. Notice how this works. Christ is exalted because all positive,
spiritual elements are ascribed to Him. He is all Godly principles.
When we make these principles a part of our character, when we trust
Him, when we embrace the Word of God, when we keep His commandments and
all biblical direction we exalt Him still more. The more we ruminate,
the more we are exalted up into His position, which is to say, we become
like Him. Notice the promise of this verse.
promise of verse 8:
-wisdom shall promote you and bring you honor.
Verse 10
---Hear
---Receive my sayings
Hear - to harken to, to embrace and not
reject. ~John Gill
The promise of verse 10:
-the years of your life will be many.
Verse 12
---When thou goest
promises of verse 12:
-your steps shall not be straitened [attended
with difficulties and obstructions, or subject to dangers].
-when you run, you will not stumble.
Note: "Running" here is speaking to
those who make haste to keep the commandments of God, that run with
alacrity [?-lak'ri-te] and cheerfulness in their Christian race, and in
the way of their duty, shall not stumble, through the deceitfulness of
sin, the snares of the world, and the temptations of Satan, so as to
fall and perish.
Verse 13
---Take fast hold of instruction.
---let her not go.
---keep her.
Take fast hold of instruction - seize it
strongly, and keep the hold; and do this as for life. Learn all thou
canst, retain what thou hast learnt, and keep the reason continually in
view - it is for thy life. ~Adam Clarke
Let her not go - the instruction of
wisdom, or the Gospel of Christ; do not drop it, nor depart from it, nor
waver about it; nor be languid in a profession of it, nor indifferent to
it ~John Gill
Keep her - which may be understood either
of the Gospel, Wisdom's instruction, which should be kept as a rich
treasure, and not parted with at any rate; since it is the means of
quickening dead sinners; of showing sensible ones the way of life by
Christ; of producing faith in them, by which they live upon him; and of
maintaining and supporting the spiritual life in them, and of reviving
and comforting them under the most drooping and afflictive
circumstances. ~John Gill
promise of verse 13:
-instruction is your life.
Verse 14:
---Enter not into the path of the wicked.
---go not in the way of evil men
Enter not into the path of the wicked -
Never associate with those whose life is irregular and sinful; never
accompany them in any of their acts of transgression.
~Adam Clarke
Go not in the way of evil men - if
tempted and prevailed upon to take a step and make a trial, do not
proceed; withdraw at once, do not go on. Do not envy the ways of wicked
men; their seeming pleasure will end in bitterness: the Arabic version
is, "do not imitate" them; do not follow their example, and do as they
do. ~John Gill
Verse 15:
---Avoid it [the path of the wicked]
---pass not by it.
---turn from it.
---pass away [from it].
Avoid it - As dangerous and pernicious,
as abominable and detestable; or, "flee from it." Make it void; cause
it to cease. ~John Gill
Pass not by it - do not come near it;
keep at a distance from it, that you may not be drawn into it; abstain
from all appearance of evil, and everything that may lead to it;
~John Gill
Turn from it
- If, through unwatchfulness or unfaithfulness, thou at any time get
near or into the way of sin, turn from it with the utmost speed, and
humble thyself before thy Maker. ~Adam
Clarke
Pass away
[from it] - Speed from it, run
for thy life, and get to the utmost distance; eternally diverging so as
never to come near it whilst thou hast a being.
~Adam Clarke
Verse 18:
---But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more
and more unto the perfect day.
This is a stated process of what happens when you ruminate. Indeed,
this entire chapter of Proverbs 4 up to this verse 18 has been various
admonitions to get knowledge, understanding and wisdom and to constantly
ponder and meditate on them...to ruminate. The outcome is that you are
changed into the image of the Word of God and Jesus Christ who IS the
Word. This verse proves that Salvation is a process over time. Each
element of the Salvation Process is cultivated and grows into maturity
right up to the moment Christ returns. For example, you are spending
your spiritual life invoking the power of the Holy Spirit in the form of
Godly principles including love, joy, peace, honesty, service and
excellence. You get better at it every passing day, month and year.
This is the meaning in this verse 18 and your path shining more and more
unto the perfect day or the return of Christ and your resurrection into
spiritual perfection.
Now notice how the following verses focus on ruminating.
Verse 20:
---Attend to my words
---Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Attend to my words - Which go before and
which follow after, his doctrines, instructions, cautions, and
exhortations. ~John Gill
Incline thine ear unto my sayings -
stoop and bow the ear; listen attentively to what is said, as being of
the greatest moment and importance. ~John
Gill
Verse 21:
---Let them [the Words of God],
not depart from thine eyes.
---Keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Let them not depart from thine eyes -
Commit them to writing, frequently read them over; let them be always in
sight, as a rule and directory to steer the course of life by.
~John Gill
Keep them in the midst of thine heart -
lay them up there, and ponder them; often meditate upon them, and do not
forget them; show the most affectionate regard unto them, and look upon
them as a most inestimable [ĭn-ĕs'tə-mə-bəl] treasure, for which no
place is so fit a repository as the heart.
~John Gill
Verse 22: ...promises
---life
---health
For they are life unto those that find them
- by diligent searching for them; and being found, they are the means of
spiritual life, and of maintaining it, and of showing the way, and
bringing unto eternal life. ~John Gill
Notice this associated verse:
John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
And health to all their flesh - the whole
man, soul and body, as they are the means of preserving the body from
many diseases, which intemperance, lust, and luxury, lead unto, and are
curbed by these; so of healing the various diseases of the soul; and,
however, of directing to a panacea for them, to the blood of Christ,
which is the true balm of Gilead, and he the physician of souls.
Moreover, the doctrines of the Gospel are the wholesome words of our
Lord Jesus; they are sound, salutary, and healthful, and serve to keep
the soul in good plight, and the body too.
~John Gill
Verse 23:
---Keep thy heart with all diligence
Keep thy heart with all
diligence - “Above all keeping,” guard
thy heart. He who knows any thing of himself, knows how apt his
affections are to go astray. ~Adam Clarke
promise of verse 23:
-out of your diligence are the issues of life.
This use of the heart in this verse is a living metaphor. The human
heart serves the entire body. The more health you give to the heart,
the better your entire life will be in all physical areas. This is
exactly true of the spiritual heart. In this heart are all the words of
God; all the knowledge and understanding. The more diligence you give
to having a healthy spiritual heart, the better all aspects and elements
of your Salvation Process shall be.
Verse 25:
---Let thine eyes look right on.
---Let thine eyelids look straight before thee
Let thine eyes look right on. - Direct
all thine actions to a right end, and keep thy mind fixed upon that way
which leads to it, and neither look or turn aside to the right - hand or
the left. ~John Wesley Explanatory Notes
Let thine eyelids look straight before thee
- to the precepts of the word, to observe them; to the promises of it
for encouragement; to the examples of the saints gone before, as motives
to excite diligence, and to exercise patience, faith, and hope; to the
mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ for eternal life, and to the blessed hope laid up in
heaven. ~John Gill
Verse 26:
---Ponder [ruminate] the path
of thy feet.
---let all thy ways be established.
Ponder the path of they feet - Consider
well what path it is, whether right or wrong; or weigh it in the
balances of thought. ~John Gill
Let all thy ways be established. - so as
to walk on steadily, constantly, uniformly, and not be easily moved out
of the ways of religion and truth. Or, "let all thy ways be prepared",
or "directed", or "disposed"; according to the rule of the divine word.
~John Gill
Verse 27:
---Turn not to the right hand nor to the left.
---Remove thy foot from evil.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left.
- Avoid all crooked ways. Be an upright, downright, and straight-forward
man. Avoid tricks, wiles, and deceptions of this kind.
~Adam Clarke
Remove thy foot from evil. - from walking
in evil ways and along with evil men, and from doing evil things;
abstain from all appearance of evil, keep at a distance from it.
~John Gill
Try to contemplate all that we have covered in these 27 verses of
Proverbs 4. It is simply overwhelming. This is why we must meditate,
ponder, mull, reflect and ruminate each and every meaning expressed
here. Interestingly, all that we have covered today is just the
introduction to this concept of ruminating the Word of God. Let us end
the sermon today with some scriptures that sum up our discussion today.
John 8:12
...we must follow Christ to be like Him
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world:
he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life.
2 Corinthians 3:18
...immersing ourselves in the Word of God
changes us into His image
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by
the Spirit of the Lord.
Philippians 2:15
...we shine as lights in the world
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,
in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as
lights in the world;
2 Peter 3:18
...we grow in Salvation Process and from our
immersion in the Word.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Let us now recap what we have learned in this Part 1 of the sermon,
Ruminate from Proverbs 4:
--Hear instruction.
--Get knowledge and understanding of things divine and spiritual.
--Do not neglect doctrine.
--receive the Words of God with affection. Retain and practice them.
--Get wisdom. Never go off the path into vain jangling-1 Timothy 1:6.
--Be continually meditating on Wisdom [Christ]. This is especially true
as you go through end time events.
--Never decline from God's way.
--Wisdom is your guardian and companion and will continue as your
protector.
--Continually get knowledge of Christ.
--Be willing to give up all things for Christ.
--The definition of spiritual nakedness is "want of righteousness" which
is only possible in Christ
--In the process of Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom, wisdom is
action or the invoking of the knowledge and understanding.
--Christ is knowledge. Christ is the understanding. Christ is the
wisdom.
--Put wisdom in the highest position of your heart, soul and mind.
--Christ is exalted and we exalt Him even more each time we invoke the
Spirit of God.
--The more we ruminate the more we become like Christ.
--Make haste to keep the commandments and words of God. You will not
stumble.
--Seize Godly instruction STRONGLY.
--Keep spiritual reason in clear view.
--Avoid the ways, beliefs, doctrines and even the company of people
contrary to truth and the Salvation Process.
--Constantly contemplate Proverbs 4:18 and shine more and more unto the
return of Christ.
--Commit the words and instructions of God to writing, reading and to
sight.
--Increase your time in meditation.
--The words of God are the means of spiritual life and bringing you to
eternal life.
--Guard your heart with all diligence.
--Direct all actions to a right end.
--Learn and follow the examples of the saints gone before you; Christ
being the prime example.
--Ponder the path of your feet. Be not easily moved to right or left.
--Do not take even one step toward a known evil.
--Ruminate the Word of God.
So go now and ruminate!!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In the sermon I made reference throughout to a number of
things. The links to them follow:
1] The Bible study: The End Time …Preparing for the Shock
Text
MP3
2] The Salvation Process
Definition
3] Godly Calling: Minister’s Notebook: “It’s all About Godly Calling”
here
4] Full Immersion or being fully immersed in the Word of God: 2 Part
Sermon: Full Immersion
Part 1:
here
Part 2
here
5] At minute 26: Appearance of Evil: Minister’s Notebook
here
6] At minute 32: Minister’s Notebook: “Have You Ever Tasted God?”
here
7] At minute 35: The hymn, “There is a Balm in Gilead”
Video 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GtTPhCjbqo The Concordia Choir, Rene
Clausen
Video 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okl2XbTM7xM by Paul Robeson
Video 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cpQptcPydk by the Canby High School
Concert Choir
Video 4 with lyrics on screen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfFVJZDvVGk
Video 3, I believe, is closest to the way we used to do it.
8] At minute 42: “The Era of Slick Arguments” Minister’s Notebook
here
9] At minute 42: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing: Sermon: The Dirty
Fleece
here
10] At minute 45: Sermon: “Glory to Glory” regarding 2 Corinthians
3:18
Part 1:
here
Part 2: here
11] At minute 49: Vain Jangling: 1 Timothy 1:6 Survey of the Letters
of Paul series:
here
MP3
12] At minute 51: Sermon: Secret Weapon …a sermon about meditation
here
13] I speak to a Spiritual Diary or otherwise writing out the Word of
God: here
Go to Part II of this sermon: here
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