Heaven Taken by Storm by Thomas Watson - Part 4 and 5

Part 4 – Prayer and Meditation

III. Prayer – “Prayer without fervency and violence is no prayer; it is speaking not praying.”

a. There must be a stirring of the heart:
i. To prayer
ii. In prayer - 1. wrestling, 2. pouring out the soul, 3. effectual, fervent prayer

b. Prayers that are far from offering violence:
i. Dead, heartless prayers
ii. Distracted prayers

For violent prayer, these things must be considered:
a. One that considers the majesty of God
b. Prayer without violence is no prayer
c. Zeal in prayer conforms to God’s nature
d. The need we have and what we ask for
e. God has a mind to grant our prayers
f. Mercy only comes with prayer
g. Mercy is only offered with violent prayer
h. The large returns
c. Pray with a sense of our want
d. Beg for the violent wind of God’s Spirit

IV. Meditation – “Hearing begets knowledge, but meditation begets devotion.” “Many say they cannot meditate, because they lack memory; but is it not rather because they lack affection?”

a. Meditation is:
i. Retiring from the world
ii. Serious thinking upon God

b. Reasons we should provoke ourselves to meditate:
i. Meditation is contrary to flesh and blood
ii. Satan tries to hinder us

c. What should we meditate on?
i. The corruption of your nature
ii. The death and passion of Christ: 1. this produces repentance, 2. this fires our hearts with love
iii. Evidences for our participation in heaven: 1. Were you convinced of sin? 2. Have you taken Christ on his terms? 3. Do you have the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God?
iv. Uncertainty of earthly comforts: 1. This keeps us from being deceived by the world, 2. This moderates our affections for them, 3. This causes us to pursue certainty: grace
v. God’s severity against sin
vi. Eternal life: 1. It is a spiritual life, 2. It is a glorious life, 3. It will cause us to long for spiritual life, 4. It will comfort us in the shortness of natural life

d. What can meditation do?
i. It makes the Word preached of profit
ii. It quickens the affections
iii. It causes transformation
iv. It produces reformation


Part 5 – Self-Examination

V. Self-examination

a. Why is this difficult?
i. It is an inner work – it is reflective
ii. Self-love makes it so

b. Why do we shrink from it?
i. Consciousness of guilt
ii. Foolish presumptuous hope of salvation – “Some are not sure of their salvation, but secure.”
iii. Resting in the good opinions of others
iv. Disbelief in Scripture

c. To self-examine with violence we must put weight to certain things:
i. The state of our soul
ii. If we reflect God’s image
iii. Our hearts hidden pollution
iv. If we truly have grace