OceanSide church of Christ

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WHY APPLY THE BIBLE TO LIFE?

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.             The Bible must be read (I Tim. 4:13), studied (II Tim. 2:15), understood (Eph. 5:17), and memorized (Ps. 119:11).

 

B.              One can do all of these things, however, and still not benefit from the Word of God.  In order to reap the power of the Word (Heb. 4:12) in one’s life, he must apply the Bible to his life (James 1:22, 25).

 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves….But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

C.              Applying the Bible can be difficult and uncomfortable.  When such is the case, one may question why he/she needs to apply the Bible at all.

 

D.             In this lesson, we will answer this question:  “Why apply the Bible to life?”

 

I.        BECAUSE OF WHO GOD IS

 

A.             God know us and everything about us.

1.                Verses that prove our assertion.

a.         Jeremiah 1:4-5.

 

Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

 

                                    b.         Matthew 10:30.

 

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

 

                                    c.         Example of Nathiel (John 1:47).

 

Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

 

2.                God knows our talents, potential, gifts, fears, and foibles.

3.                Who is more qualified to assist us than one who knows us inside and out?

4.                 

B.              God loves us and wants the very best for us.

1.                I John 3:1a.

 

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

 

2.                Jesus assured us that the Father wants good things for us just as our earthly fathers want good things for their children (Matt. 7:9-11).

 

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

 

3.                Point:  To fail to do the will of the Father who loves us and wants the very best for us it to settle for less than the best.

 

II.      BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE

 

A.             We are finite.

1.                Definition:  We are subject to limits.

2.                Examples.

a.         We cannot know the thoughts of another (I Cor. 2:11).

 

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him.

 

                                    b.         We do not know what is in the future (Matt. 24:43).

 

But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

 

B.              We are fallible.

1.                Definition:  We can easily be wrong or make a mistake.

2.                Example: the Sadducees and the resurrection (Matt. 22:29-30).

 

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, now knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

 

C.              We are fleshly.

1.                Definition:  We tend to yield to the lusts of the flesh.

2.                Man left to his own devices gravitates quickly into sin (Ex.:  The Gentiles, Romans 1:28-31).

 

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.

 

D.             In our present state, we need direction, wisdom, encouragement, answers, forgiveness, and a host of other things.

 

E.              These things can only come from a proper understanding and application of God’s Word in our lives.

 

III.     BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE WORLD IS

 

A.             Our world is fallen.  It is ruled by Satan and is filled with sin and sinful people.

1.                Three times in John’s gospel, the devil is referred to as “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

2.                John summed up the world very well in I John 5:19.

 

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickeness.

 

B.              Because of these evil forces, our world is filled with temptation, pressure, pitfalls, violence, questions, and confusion.

 

C.              We must live within this world.  We, however, do not what to be of the world.  We do not want to be influenced by the world.  We are called upon to be the difference makers (Eph. 5:7-11).

 

Be not ye therefore partakers with them.  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:  walk as children of light:  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

 

D.             God’s Word directs our course and fills us with light so we can successfully navigate through the dark corridors and dangerous crags of this life.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.             Do you want to live a life without God?  Do you want to direct your own course?  Do you want to walk in darkness alone?

 

B.              If your answer is, “No,” then you must learn to successfully apply the Bible to your life.

1.                II Thessalonians 3:4.

 

And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that you both do and will do the things which we command you.

 

2.                Philemon 21.

 

Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.