When is Scripture to be applied to your life?

[mikedsjr]

I get there is a time for application with Scripture. But it seems to me Scripture has been reduced in recent years to life applications. 5 steps to a better marriage, though the pastor across the street has 8 steps and very few overlap each other, so there must be about 10 so long as you don't run to another church on the same lesson. My pastor once used Sarah's laughter as an example we all need to have laughter in our lives. I've heard many times from many people Jeremiah 29:11 to teach people to learn their plans God's set for them.

My question realm is when is application needed for us from Scripture. I really have no idea when application should be read from most of Scripture because the majority is just narratives of real events.

 

[Avid]

...My question realm is when is application needed for us from Scripture. I really have no idea when application should be read from most of Scripture...

This may be difficult because I am going only on these short lines you wrote. We can learn something from ALL Scripture, and this may come to us at different times, and in different ways.

Application of a particular scripture to a circumstance in your life is only partly from the preaching of it. If you are to get a spiritual benefit, God's Holy Spirit will apply the correct meaning to your heart. We should not expect a BILLBOARD to display this application, so we won't miss it, but we need to listen in our heart, and be submitted to God for this.

In a prison ministry conducted by a Southern Baptist Church I attended many years ago, we had presented a service, and proclaimed an Invitation to come to Christ for help. One young inmate asked me to pray for him, so I asked what I should pray about. He seemed to give up a little of his resistance toward God, took a breath, and said, "...That I stop STEALING..."

God had applied the message from scripture to the guy's heart, and the actual, initial thing that MUST be done was revealed to him.

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[Jeffwhosoever]

I read from the bible in sort of a continuous loop, but more from the New Testament. When I'm really stressed out, and seeking guidance, I focus on Proverbs and the words from Jesus himself. Sometimes when I'm reading, the words fly off the page at me as screaming in relevance to an event in my life, which I attribute to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

 

[mikedsjr]

This may be difficult because I am going only on these short lines you wrote. We can learn something from ALL Scripture, and this may come to us at different times, and in different ways.

Application of a particular scripture to a circumstance in your life is only partly from the preaching of it. If you are to get a spiritual benefit, God's Holy Spirit will apply the correct meaning to your heart. We should not expect a BILLBOARD to display this application, so we won't miss it, but we need to listen in our heart, and be submitted to God for this.

In a prison ministry conducted by a Southern Baptist Church I attended many years ago, we had presented a service, and proclaimed an Invitation to come to Christ for help. One young inmate asked me to pray for him, so I asked what I should pray about. He seemed to give up a little of his resistance toward God, took a breath, and said, "...That I stop STEALING..."

God had applied the message from scripture to the guy's heart, and the actual, initial thing that MUST be done was revealed to him.

.

I don't normally have access to a computer outside work. I use my phone as my computer, so I tend to type very little. I'm also a confessed poor communicator at times.

I have to admit, I'm a bit torn by the example. In the moment with the prisoner, I certainly would have prayed for him and his thief. But in my heart, I'm quite sure I would have thought, "He didn't grasp the message of the gospel". I'm basing this on he isn't a Christian, given all you said. However, I do agree as a Christian God, through Scripture, does convict us sin and this is definitely a sin against God found in the old and new testament.

 

[Avid]

... I do agree as a Christian God, through Scripture, does convict us sin ...

As I thought on your question, I am more convinced you are asking about the PREACHING and not as much as how it is received. Is that correct?

The PREACHING has been diminished greatly over the last century, and significantly before that. Arthur W. Pink died in 1952, and Rolfe Barnard died in 1969. These men are not the only ones to have said these things, but Rolfe Barnard said that for the previous 60 years (20th Century to that point,) only one sixth of the gospel was being preached in churches. Pink said this:

During the last two or three generations the pulpit has given less and less prominence to doctrinal preaching, until today − with very rare exceptions − it has no place at all.
Arthur W. Pink (1886−1952)
​

Seek the LORD in the matter of finding a good Church where error is not preached for truth, and the worldly values are not used to replace spiritual values.

Concerning CONVICTION being upon us, it is one of the FIRST things that happens when we hear the truth preached. Without it, man is not seeing clearly how he stands before the True and Living God.

See these good sermons as examples:
Sinner Lost - aChristianSpirit
Conviction of Sin - aChristianSpirit

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[food4thought]

Pastors get very creative at times trying to make a Scripture relevant to people today, but all too often they miss the mark on actually conveying what the passage really means in context, and thus their application doesn't fit the intended meaning of that passage even if the application is quote-unquote Biblical.

Paul, writing at the end of his life to his disciple Timothy, gave us one of the more well known and important passages about Scripture:

2Ti 3:14-17 NIV But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, (15) and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (16) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17) so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Scripture is to make us wise to salvation, teach us, rebuke us, correct us, and train us in righteousness. It is clear that the word of God should speak to us, and at times a teacher can bring out the meaning of difficult passages for us if they rightly divide the word; but I think , especially when it comes to people who are mature Christians, that it is the Holy Spirit who will rightly apply the meaning of the word to our lives, not the teacher who is usually speaking to a broad audience of people who are at many different places in their life. The meaning of Scripture is the same today as it has always been, but our understanding of it changes. Also, our life situations change so that the application of the truth may change as well. I think teachers need to spend more time making sure they accurately convey what the meaning of a passage is, and less time worrying about how to apply it to all the different lives in their audience.

If you are to mature in our faith, no amount of listening to pastors and teachers can ever replace your own prayerful study of God's word on a regular basis. As 1st John says:

1Jn 2:27 NASB As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

I am a Bible teacher, and my goal should be to teach myself out of a job. I hope to help people get to the place where they have a solid foundation in what the Bible says so they can consistently recognize the Holy Spirit's guidance in their lives... then they won't need me to chew the food before they eat it, but can take it directly from the source and eat it themselves.

Hope this helps.

 

[mikedsjr]

Thanks for the help on this. It something that bothers me quite a bit. Sometimes I have skipped church, especially when I've seen the sermon series was involving something that I was sure going to have Scripture taken out of context. I've discussed with my wife about changing churches, but we haven't done anything yet.

If I lived close to my parents I would probably go there. Even my 12 year old son says he really likes the preaching there. And I do too. I have a habit of telling my son at church, especially when he has come out of Sunday School, "John, That scripture was taken out of context. Here is what it really means."

 

[Avid]

Thanks for the help on this.

--- etc.---

... "John, That scripture was taken out of context. Here is what it really means."

This is something my wife and I do often. We are helping each other handle the problem, and usually agree on the scriptural issue involved. Once in a while we have a different concern, and help each other that way.

We looked all over for a good Church. There are a few things that are worse than others that would make the Church a place we would not even visit again, much less consider joining. Sometimes one seems a little worse than the other, we go to a different one the next week, and soon, we hear something worse yet!

This is not easy, and one of our favorite families had the same experience. They may like some things, but are not able to ignore certain errors. May God lead you to the right place. He has done that with us at least once.

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[mikedsjr]

I like the pastor at my church, away from the pulpit. I've had the chance to get my pastor linked with my brother's ministry, which I believe will help my brother's ministry a lot because my pastor has international contacts that can be an asset. It's the preaching that seems to have changed over the years that I can't stand.

 

[Avid]

... It's the preaching that seems to have changed over the years that I can't stand.

As I said, this is a real concern for me. If you would like a source of power sermons and books that have proven to stand on the truth of the scriptures in most areas, see this website, and read the 50 or so books and sermons on the following linked page:

Sermons and Books - aChristianSpirit

Let me know if you wish to discuss some particular issue with the state of preaching we see these day, and just send a PM.

.

 

[Avid]

... It's the preaching that seems to have changed over the years that I can't stand.

As I said, this is a real concern for me. If you would like a source of powerful sermons and books that have been proven to stand on the truth of the scriptures in most areas, see this website, and read the 50 or so books and sermons on the following linked page:

Sermons and Books - aChristianSpirit

Let me know if you wish to discuss some particular issue with the state of preaching we see these day, and just send a PM.

.

 

[mikedsjr]

Thanks ill take a look

 

[JM]

Most of what we here today as "application" is really just the Gospel being moralized. We are sanctified by the preaching of the word when we digest and begin to think God's thoughts after Him. The Holy Ghost works in us to renew our minds, changing our outlook and therefore changing our lvies. Too often we find "application" of a biblical narrative as it relates to "better marriages," "how to handle money," "how to be holy" etc. which reduces the Gospel to humanism. Just "try better" or "try this...it's in the Bible!"

There will be no application of biblical principles in our lives until we immerse (baptize ) our minds in scripture.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[th1bill]

I get there is a time for application with Scripture. But it seems to me Scripture has been reduced in recent years to life applications. 5 steps to a better marriage, though the pastor across the street has 8 steps and very few overlap each other, so there must be about 10 so long as you don't run to another church on the same lesson. My pastor once used Sarah's laughter as an example we all need to have laughter in our lives. I've heard many times from many people Jeremiah 29:11 to teach people to learn their plans God's set for them.

My question realm is when is application needed for us from Scripture. I really have no idea when application should be read from most of Scripture because the majority is just narratives of real events.

Hello Mike,
If a person is to live a Holy Life scripture applies every second of every day, a very difficult task, praise God, our salvation is not a result of our works.

 

[Avid]

Most of what we here today as "application" is really just the Gospel being moralized...

Hello Mike,
If a person is to live a Holy Life scripture applies every second of every day...

It seems that it is not the application of scripture that concerns the OP, but that he hears too many "Sermons" that are only scripture reduced to an application that suits the agenda of the preacher, teacher, Church, etc.

I started trying to explain that, but thought on it, and realized it is the MESSAGE being corrupted and diminished that is a concern. We see that at every turn these days!!!

.

 

[Emmy]

Dear mikedsjr. When is Scripture to be applied to one`s life? I believe more often than not. For instance: In Luke 10: 25-28: Here Jesus tells us: " You all
know the two Commandments: to Love God with all your hearts, with all your souls, and with all your minds, also: to love your neighbour as yourselves.
I tell you that on these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Then Jesus states this great fact: " DO THESE AND YE SHALL LIVE." What could be more encouraging? Do these and we will have eternal life. When Jesus was asked this question, Jesus was asked: " Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" To love as Jesus wants us to love, is straightforward and easy to follow. We are told: Ask and ye shall receive, then thank God and share all Love and Joy, also, with our neighbour: all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends. We keep asking God and thanking God, then share all with our neighbour. Here we are told to ask, to receive, to thank and to follow what Scripture tells us.( Matthew 7: 7-10)
The Bible tells us to " Repent and to be Born Again," change our sin-nature into Loving and Caring. Love is very catching and we will find that gradually
we are changing from our old nature to our new nature. Jesus our Saviour
will help and guide us: JESUS IS THE WAY. Let us follow the Scripture and do what Jesus is asking us to do: Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls,
and with all our minds: also, love our neighbour as we love ourselves.
( Matthew 22: 35-40) I say this with love, mikedsjr. Greetings from Emmy,
your sister in Christ.

 

[mikedsjr]

Emmy, my pastor has made similar remarks. And its those type of remarks that cause me to seek a different church. When a person states Jesus told us how to get to heaven, he did. But you cant do that. You can't even put that much effort in to make it with your good works.

I've been a Christian since 9. Raised in the guilt burden that the Baptist church can bring at times. My teen years into my 20s I heard that all we people to do was repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, then other weeks brought to guilt of are you doing enough. I can't tell you how many times I've gone up front with the pain of guilt in not good enough to go to heaven because my actions were not always up to the God's standards or yours. in my 20 I finally got rebaptized because I couldn't stand the guilt anymore because of the idea that we are to love God with all our hearts, soul and mind. So either in dead in sin right now or im a child of God, but ill never be close to your standards. Never. It wasn't till I listened to White Horse Inn and a few other Lutherans that the burden of doing was relieved in me. The Baptist Faith and Message doesn't say you're saved by what you do. And churches need to repent for claiming that.

By the way, I'm 47 now.

 

[twin1954]

I get there is a time for application with Scripture. But it seems to me Scripture has been reduced in recent years to life applications. 5 steps to a better marriage, though the pastor across the street has 8 steps and very few overlap each other, so there must be about 10 so long as you don't run to another church on the same lesson. My pastor once used Sarah's laughter as an example we all need to have laughter in our lives. I've heard many times from many people Jeremiah 29:11 to teach people to learn their plans God's set for them.

My question realm is when is application needed for us from Scripture. I really have no idea when application should be read from most of Scripture because the majority is just narratives of real events.

The Apostle Paul was inspired to write first doctrinal and then practical in his letters. You will notice that when he writes the practical it is always in the context of the Gospel of Christ and application of the things of Christ to our thinking, our walk and our whole lives. The Gospel of the person and work of Christ applies to every situation and circumstance. The Lord Jesus said that when we learn of Him we find rest for our souls. Matt. 11:29

Learn of the atoning work of Christ in all its accomplished wonder and you can live in this world even in the knowledge that the sin you are committing even now is already put away by the sacrifice of Christ. When you learn of how Christ suffered in His soul because He was made to be sin for us and suffered the wrath of God because of it you will know the depth and depravity of the sin that infests our hearts. When you see Christ dying under the wrath of God for your sin you will begin to understand that God's wrath against sin is so great that He poured it out on His beloved Son without mitigation and declared to all the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Is there anything that will turn you from your sin any more than that?

When you learn of the grace of God in Christ Jesus that God, in love, has poured out on chosen sinners it will make you gracious. God's grace experienced in the heart makes His people gracious.

Learn of the love of God which is in Christ Jesus and you will find that it makes you loving.

Learn of who the Lord Jesus Christ is and what He did and why He did it and application will not be a problem. The whole of the Scriptures are about Him, His work and His people. Find Him in them and you have the key that unlocks the mysteries that so many can't seem to find.

 

[twin1954]

One more thing. The narratives of those real events were inspired and brought about by the Spirit to show us something of the Gospel. The old Testament is full of types, shadows and pictures of Christ, His work and His people. It isn't spiritualizing the Scriptures to find the spiritual meaning of them. The Pharisees had a strict literal view of the Scriptures and missed Christ because of it. Learn to understand the Scriptures as Christ explained them and the Apostles taught them. Their teaching of them was rarely, if ever, literal.

I suggest that you might want to do a study of all the Old Testament passages quoted by Christ or the Apostles and see how they interpreted and applied them. You will find that while the literal is true it isn't the purpose or meaning of them.