Word of the Week - Don't Just Hear It, Live It: The Importance of "Application" in Faith

Hello and welcome to the Middletown Baptist Church podcast,

where we are proclaiming the truth to the world.

In this podcast series, we're going to be looking into biblical

words that have great significance to our faith.

The name of this series is called the word of the week, where

once a week we will dive deeper into these words that we are

familiar with in scripture.

So come along with me.

Let's study the word of the week.

Pastor Josh here.

The word of the week is application.

For the last few weeks, we've been looking at two different topics,

the interpretation of scripture and the inspiration of

scripture.

Now, it's important to start with the understanding of inspiration

of scripture.

What does that mean?

That means that the Bible is given to us directly from God.

It is his word.

Second, Timothy 316 says all scripture is given by inspiration

of God.

It means it's God breathed.

God directly revealed his word to us.

And so therefore, the Bible is not a book written by men.

And we're reminded about that in the New Testament, that this is

not a book come up by the wisdom of men, but the wisdom of

God.

This isn't something that can be changed or adjusted.

This is directly from God to us.

His teachings, his thoughts, his desires, his story.

And so when we look at that from the starting place, we understand

that there is no negotiation.

There is no twisting or adjusting needed to scripture.

But there is an important element of interpretation, right?

I can look at a passage and someone else can look at a passage

and interpret those two passages differently.

And so it's important to look into what the Bible actually says

about that.

The Bible says in two Timothy, chapter two, to rightly divide the

word of truth.

Okay?

So that means to rightly or properly dissect it, properly interpret

it.

And so, as a believer, as I'm reading the word of God, the Holy

Spirit is revealing to me the truth.

And that's the most important element of interpretation, is that

we have the Holy Spirit indwelling our hearts, the holy spirit

illuminating our minds.

And then the next step would be to understand the context.

A context is key.

We have to read the passages of scripture that come before.

We have to read the passages of scripture that come after.

Really, it does help to know all of scripture, to understand where

this truth falls into the line of the whole story of goddess.

Sometimes we think of the Bible as segmented passages that

are not related to each other.

But the Bible itself is one ultimate thought.

It is the story of God.

It was the story of the redemption of mankind and the gift

of the gospel.

So from Genesis to revelation.

It's important to know the whole story because we can get tricked

into thinking that there are contradictions.

We can get tricked into thinking that there are opportunities

for latitude when it comes to interpretation.

You know, for example, we could say, well, this new testament

passage, what it's plainly teaching is not for us today because

we know that their culture was different.

But if we take that line of thinking, we can get to a place in

our life where we can basically explain away any teaching

in scripture.

And so, yes, we do take into account the context, but the context

doesn't change the meaning.

It just helps us understand in a fuller way what the Lord is trying

to tell us.

And so we look at context.

We interpret scriptures biblically.

What does that mean?

Well, we use the Bible to critique itself.

We use the Bible to not critique it.

But let's say this way, we use the Bible to comment on itself.

And so we look at what this passage of scripture says, and then

we look at what other passages of scripture have to say about that.

And so there's an element of faith there.

There's an element of faith to say, you know what?

The word of God is the word of God, and I believe it and I trust

it.

So there is that understanding of inspiration.

There's that understanding of interpretation.

And I would say another element of interpretation is just

to read the passage plainly, to not over allegorize or over symbolize

a passage that doesn't need to be.

Now, we can tell by context that there are some passages of scripture

that are of symbolic, are allegorical, but usually through

context, we understand that.

And so I used the example last week when the Bible says, my God

is a rock.

God is not a literal rock.

But we know that that's speaking to the understanding of

symbolically.

God is strong.

He is the foundation.

And so we look at the interpretation and we believe in

that.

Then we take the next step of, of this process, and that would be

application.

So it goes, inspiration, interpretation, application.

Our application is based on what we interpret on the inspiration.

So we have to believe that it's inspired by God.

We have to believe that it's from him directly.

Then we have to interpret it properly, and then we can apply it

and live it out properly.

The verse that I think of, when I think of this concept is James

chapter one.

James chapter one, verse 22.

James chapter one, verse 22, tells us that we can hear the word

and possibly even believe that it's true.

But we can get to a place in our life where we are not applying

that to our life.

So we hear it, but we don't live it.

We hear it, but we don't obey it.

So James 122 says, but be doers of the word and not hearers,

only deceiving your own selves.

So the Bible says here that we can actually deceive ourselves by

hearing the word and possibly even agreeing with it, understanding

that it's inspired by God, properly interpreting it but not

applying it.

And so the issue would be here is that we get a head knowledge of

the truth of God, but the heart knowledge isn't connected,

and therefore it's not applied.

And so it says here, if we are a hearer alone and not a doer, we

deceive ourselves.

Now, we're always very cautious about other people deceiving

us.

But what the Bible actually says here is that we can deceive

ourselves.

And he goes on to say in verse 23, for if any man, or, excuse me,

for if any, be a hearer of the word.

So if a person is a hearer of the word but not a doer, he is like

unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass or a mirror.

He likens someone reading the Bible to seeing their face in the

mirror.

And then it says, for he beholdeth himself and then goeth

his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he

was.

So he likens someone who hears the Bible preached, reads it for

themselves, and then just goes away and doesn't obey.

He looks at himself and goes away and forgets what he was like.

So I always had to explain to me this way, I could get in front

of the mirror and I could see all these things wrong with me.

I need to wipe this, I need to change this, I need to clean this.

But then I just see it and then I go the opposite direction.

I don't change anything.

He goes on to say in verse 25, but whosoever looketh into the perfect

law of liberty and continueth therein, he be not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work.

This man shall be blessed in his deed.

And so the Bible actually says, the blessing comes from the

application.

The blessing comes from hearing and heeding the word of God

and applying the word of God.

And so we can see here that the Bible is highlighting here in

James chapter one, the issue of hypocrisy.

So let's put this to practicality.

Today in our world, you can sit inside of a building and hear

the preaching of the word and say amen, and agree and believe it

is the word of God.

And have it properly given to you and you properly understand it.

But yet there's a disconnect because there's no application.

It doesn't get ahold of your heart.

The Bible says that the word of God is a convicter.

And really, we know ultimately, through the word of God,

the conviction comes through the Holy SpirIt that's living within

you.

Remember, that's the first step, is having the Holy Spirit indwelling

you.

But to be a hearer of the word is a good thing, but it's not a complete

matter unless we get to the place where it says here that we

are a doer as well.

And so application matters.

And so I would encourage you, as you are studying the word of God,

as you are listening to podcasts, as you are listening to

YouTube videos, or actually sitting in church and listening to

preaching and teaching, first of all, I would encourage you to

believe, number one, that what is being taught from the word is

the literal word of God.

It is the literal commands from God, the literal teachings from

God.

But then also, I would have you inspect, be a berean and see

if the message that you are reading or that you are hearing from

a pastor or from a teacher is coming in context, interpreted properly.

Check it yourself.

If a teacher or a preacher does not encourage you to check it

for yourself, there is a warning there that's a red flag.

I always encourage you to check the word of God and see if

what I'm saying is matching up to everything else.

And so once you get past that first step and that second step,

that third step is sometimes the biggest challenge.

Actually, applying that second Timothy 215 reminded us that we need

to study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman.

Okay, so this takes work.

This takes diligence.

And so we are to apply this to our life.

Another passage of scripture in the book of proverbs that kind

of reminds us about this is proverbs 20 217.

You can cross reference this principle here in proverbs, chapter

Proverbs 22:17

22, verse 17.

And I think this is important for us to remember.

It says, bow down thine ear.

That's like, basically, listen and hear the words of the wise.

So we hear the wisdom of God.

We hear the preaching of the word of God.

And then it doesn't stop there, though.

It says, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

And so there's this understanding here of hearing and

applying.

So if we go back to James chapter one, verses 22 on there,

we see that there is this challenge to not be hypocritical

in what we say, by, you know what?

I agree.

But actually prove that, demonstrate that by how we act.

So what we believe about God matters, what we believe about his

word matters, but also how we respond to his word matters.

So I would encourage you to think about that when you are studying

the word.

And I encourage you to study the word that's so, so important.

The word of God is swift.

It's alive, as the Bible says.

And I'll actually take you to that passage, because I think this

is so important for us to see as well.

It's in the book of Hebrews, and it's describing the power of

the word.

Hebrews, chapter four, verse twelve.

It says, for the word of God is quick.

And that doesn't mean that it's fast.

It means that it's alive.

The word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two

edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul

and spirit and of the joints and marrow.

It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

So the Bible here tells us that the word of God is alive.

It's a convicter.

It's something that challenges us.

And we saw that in two Timothy, chapter three.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God is profitable

for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction and righteousness.

So we see that there is this challenge from scripture.

It's not just there for us to agree with.

It's there for us to change.

It's there for us to be confirmed.

It's there for us to be to a place where we are challenged and

convicted in where we are at.

We're not supposed to stay where we are.

We're supposed to move to a more Christ like path in our life.

So I would encourage you to apply the truths that you are learning,

and we're not going to be perfect in that.

And God has patience and grace and forgiveness in our lives.

But that doesn't give us an excuse to just avoid the word.

It actually is all the more reason why we should strive in the

power of God to read his word, study his word, meditate upon his

word, and then get to a place in our life where we actually live

out his word, living it boldly before the world.

Matthew, chapter five, tells us to let our light so shine before

Menta, that they may say our good works and glorify our Father,

which is in heaven.

So it's not to live for ourselves so that we can have people

tell us that we're really spiritual and that we are good christians.

No, it's so that people can see Jesus in us, and so we are, as

christians, the light that people can see in the truth of Jesus

Christ.

And so Jesus is the source of that light.

We reflect that light, but how we live our life matters.

And so I would encourage you to think about that idea of applications.

Don't just be a hearer of the word.

That's the first step.

You can't be a doer unless you're a hearer.

So.

So I'm not preaching against or teaching against listening to

the word of God.

That's actually something that you need to do more and more.

Fill your life with the word.

Listen to different preachers and make sure that the ones you're

listening to are aligning with the truth of God.

Okay?

Make sure you find good, solid, biblically based, contextual

pastors and teachers that are performing the hermeneutic task of

exegesis, pulling the truth out of the text and not putting in

a truth into the text.

But when you get to that place where you're hearing good, solid

teaching and you're studying the word for yourself and you're

gaining that knowledge, take it on that next step of applying

that knowledge to wisdom.

And that wisdom is the application of that knowledge.

And so heed the word of God, believe the word of God, trust in

the word of God.

Then I would say, lastly, live the word of God.

And so that will conclude our three part series on looking at the

inspiration of scripture, the interpretation of scripture, and

the application of scripture.

I hope this study has been beneficial for you.

We'll come back next week with another word of the week, and we

are looking forward to continuing to grow in our understanding

of what God's word has to say about our everyday lives and ultimately

our eternal hope with him in heaven one day.

Well, we look forward to hearing from you.

If you have any questions or thoughts or suggestions about what

we should study next, please contact us at our website, nbcpodcast.org.

or you can email me at joshmissaro middletownbaptistchurch.org

dot.

Well, God bless you.

Have a wonderful week.

We will talk to you soon.

Hey, I really appreciate that you listened to the word of the week

podcast.

If you have any questions about the podcast or about our church,

Middleton Baptist Church, you can find more information about us

on Facebook or YouTube, or you can find the podcast on nbcpodcast.org

dot.

You can contact me [email protected] dot.

Stay tuned for future word of the week episodes where we dive deeper

into words that impact our life according to scripture.

Thank you so much.

God bless.

We'll talk to you soon.