Making The Application Romans 10:17 Galatians 5:6

Making The Application We come to faith through hearing, accepting the Word of God But how do we go from hearing and accepting the Word of God in the Gospel to living the faith in love? That is what we need to figure out

Applying The Message Process from hearing & accepting to living the message is the application process Seeking to apply the message to life is essential Considering the Gospel as just a set of interesting or good ideal, or a nice philosophy is insufficient A merely academic faith is dead – James 2:14- 26

Applying The Message Emphasis has always been placed on living the message Following Jesus – 1 John 2:6 Doing His commandments – 1 John 2:3-5 Displaying fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22- 24 Doing and not just hearing – James 1:22-25

Applying The Message Application brings difficulty Vast majority of differences in faith and practice is in terms of application! Bible was written to people thousands of years ago in different cultures. What do we directly absorb, learn by example and what should we avoid? These are serious questions we should consider

PLAN God is faithful and gives us a way of escape from temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13 “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” Not ignorant of devil’s schemes – 2 Corinthians 2:11 Must be ready to stand – Ephesians 6:10-18

PLAN God has established the standard of righteousness and sin and humans fail at it – Proverbs 3:3-7; Jeremiah 10:23 Consider the Lord’s Supper- What do we know about the practice? The Lord instituted it – Matthew 26:26-28 What were the Elements used? Unleavened Bread and Fruit of the Vine – Only things permitted for Passover When did they observe it? OFTEN – 1 Corinthians 11:25,26 How often? Acts 20:7

PLAN What have we done? Discern what God wants us to do! Simply follow the divine pattern We must learn to discern not just what is authorized, but what is most profitable and best in every circumstance – 1 Corinthians 10:23 We must consider both individually and collectively how to apply the Gospel in various circumstances in life. And plan how we should act when we find ourselves in various circumstances

Applying God’s Word Demands That We: Discern, Meditate and Plan Must discern our times, situations, circumstances and God’s message Must meditate upon what God has said and how we can apply it to our circumstance We must plan our course of action in our life circumstances! We can go & do what God said as we have discerned it, meditated on it, and planned to do it

No Substitute For Action James 2:14-26 “faith without works is dead” 1 John 3:17,18 “Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” Our action must be based on integrity and righteousness in its preparation! Let us discern, meditate upon, and plan for how we will apply God’s will to our lives, and then go and follow the Lord Jesus!