Application answers the question, “What should we do?”
Let’s review the progression of the steps.
The Journey
Step 1. Grasping the text in their town – Observation
Step 2. Measure the width of the river to cross – Interpretation
Step 3. Cross the time-less/universal principle bridge – Application
Step 4. Grasping the text in my town – Application
The last step, “Application is crucial. We don’t want to rush this time. We have spent the time to observe and interpret. We continue to talk with the Holy Spirit by asking these two questions:
- What can I learn from the timeless principles?
- How can I apply those principles to my own life?
Source: J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005).
Application is – “So what now?”
This is the beautiful results of our time in His Word. All the steps result in the purpose we discussed in the Preparation step – to be transformed.
As we immerse ourselves in the Bible with the Holy Spirit, we are being transformed to see and think with the mind and heart of God. With the revelation from His Word, we are able to think and respond to our situations as the new creation we are.
Warning
It is crucial to realize that we do not take what we learn and try to change ourselves (or others.) God’s Holy Spirit and His Word bring us to repentance. Repentance is not some over-the top, gut-wrenching experience of sorrow. Repentance literally means a change of mind. When we see differently – we act differently.
Application is both theoretical and practical.
The practical (how we live) flows out of the theoretical (what we believe.)
We never lose sight that we read and study the Bible to come to know God better, hear His voice, and to be transformed in thinking. It is out of this transformed thinking that we act in line with His Kingdom.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.” James 1:22-25
Application is looking into the mirror of Scripture and walking away a changed person. This change occurs supernaturally as we come to know God. God honors our free will, so our part is to choose to believe what He says about the power He gives us to obey. As believers we live in delight, not a harsh self-effort.
It is so crucial that discerning application be done WITH His Holy Spirit.
We are not extracting principles – we are living our lives with God.
Practice journaling thoughts and questions with God. Wait to hear His responses. Often He will drop another verse or section of Scripture into your mind.
Here are specific application questions we can talk to God about as we consider our observations and interpretations:
- What are the timeless truths to believe? Do I need to change anything I have previously believed?
- In view of these truths, what changes should I make in my life? Are there attitudes or actions that I need to change?
- How does this truth encourage me? See Romans 15:4
- What do I see about the character of God?
- How does this aspect of God’s character speak or minister to me?
- What specific steps or actions can I take to carry this application out?
- How can this truth affect my leadership in the church?
- What can I learn from this about the Christian’s responsibility in the area of social justice, to the poor, homeless, handicapped, refugees, etc?
- What can I learn about the Christian’s perspective of entertainment?
Here is a second list— of broader application questions written in the plural for discussion:
- What effect could this truth have on the world of business?
- What difference should this truth make to the way we approach education?
- What difference should this truth make for family life?
- How does this truth affect the Christian’s relationship with the government?
- What would this truth mean for the worship life of my church?
- How should this truth affect the attitude we have for the lost or our approach to missions or other religions?
- Does this understanding help me deal with any of the complex issues of medical ethics?
- How does this insight affect the way we look at the future?
Author and teacher Francis Chan gave a great Illustration.
Imagine I ask my daughter to clean her room. When I came back I saw no evidence of progress. “Oh but dad, I memorized your request, and I am organizing a small group to come over to study and pray about it.
Let’s carefully follow all 4 steps in the correct order.
The following chart is created from a helpful article by Tim Brister. It is helpful to review this chart often to guide your application step. Jesus came to abolish religion and bring the Good News of the Gospel. We are prone to default to trying to apply principles of God’s Kingdom using our own wisdom and strength. That is what religion is, man’s efforts.
| Religion Based Application | Gospel Centered Application |
| Focuses on what must I do first; | Focuses on what Jesus has done first. |
| Addresses only the fruit of our behavior; | Strikes at the root of heart transformation. |
| Says, “I must obey; therefore I’m accepted.” | Says, “I’m accepted; therefore I gladly obey.” |
| Explains that what you do defines who are you; | Explains who you are defines what you do. |
| Leads to emotional highs and lows based on shaky spiritual performances; | Hitches your affections to your identity & acceptance in Christ. |
| Has a philosophy of “try harder and do better”; | Has a philosophy of “repent, believe, and repeat”. |
| Says my problems are manageable and I can fit it; | Says my sins are massive and only Jesus can fix it. |
| Emphasizes my will power and assumed competency; | Emphasizes God’s grace in my weakness and dependency. |
| Takes ten looks at self and one look at Christ. | Takes one look at self and takes ten looks at Christ. |
Final thoughts:
The Bible is a book of God interacting with people. God tells about His interactions with people through stories. It follows then that we can and should have experiences with God ourselves. The more we read the Bible the greater variety of experiences and encounters we expect. It is important to have an attitude of expectancy. That is faith.
Whether you are reading the Bible for study or for devotion, become aware of how you are interacting with God and He with you. Take a moment and stop right now, tune into the presence of His Holy Spirit within and among us by asking, “How do I sense You with me right now God?”
There are no short cuts to creating your history with God. No one can do it for you and the tools provided in this class are only helpful if you use them. Our prayers continue with you as you journey with God and enjoy His Word to us, the Holy Bible.
“The Bible is not a manual. It’s a book of encounters and experiences. It’s a book about the story of God walking with men and women. It’s about the experiences that we can have in the presence of God. It’s a book that when used in conjunction with the Holy Spirit opens up a whole new dimension of life before you. It makes you supernatural. It makes you more than you ever thought possible.” Graham Cooke
Supplemental Materials
Spiritual Transformation Chart
Bonus Exercise: One of the best ways to increase your awareness and the experience of His Presence is to “hide His Word in our heart” Ps 119. Scripture memorizing can be done in a variety of ways, or to simply write a verse out on a card and carry it with you through the day. See How to Memorize Scripture by Neal Nybo
