Wednesday: Applying God’s Word
Someone has counted more than three thousand promises in the Word of God. Each of these promises comes from the heart of a loving God who “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20, NKJV). The promises of God are commitments that He makes to each one of us. As we claim these promises by faith and teach other people to claim them, the blessings of heaven flow into our lives.
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
The apostle Paul emphasizes this divine reality in Romans 8: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32, NKJV). The apostle Peter clarifies this promise, declaring that “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3, NKJV). Through Christ’s death on the cross, and His victory over Satan and the principalities and powers of hell, He has provided everything necessary for us to live a godly, spiritual life. He also promises to provide for our basic, physical needs.
Compare 1 John 1:7-9 and Philippians 4:13, Philippians 4:19. Although these promises are quite different, what do they teach us about the character of God? How have these promises impacted your life?
The promises that we have read in these passages each speak of something different, but the picture of God they give us is very similar. They reveal a God of loving forgiveness, infinite power, and care for our basic needs. They give us the assurance that God cares deeply for us.
Read Hebrews 3:19; Hebrews 4:1-3; and Matthew 13:58. What do these verses tell us about the need for faith?
There are so many wonderful promises of God in the Bible, and when by faith we claim the promises of the Word of God and believe them because Christ has promised, the blessings of those promises become ours. It is a lack of faith in God’s ability to do what He has promised in His word that limits the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives. Pray that God will lead you this week to someone who needs the hopeful promises found in the Word of God.
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I am tutoring my eldest grandson on the mysteries of quadratic equations at the moment, and like most 15 year-olds he is rebelling a bit. "Why do I have to learn how to solve quadratic equations? Nobody has to use quadratic equations in real life do they?" I try and explain to him that solving quadratic equations is not the ultimate purpose of the exercise. It is there to teach him how to go about solving a problem in a systematic way. And he will ultimately build on that skill to solve more realistic problems.
It is hard to teach a 15 year-old the big picture. There idea of life is to get the nasty stuff like homework out of the way so that they can get back to game playing or eating snacks that Grandma provides.
Big picture Christianity is not about quoting the words of scripture, or dissecting them on discussion forums (as useful as that may be). It is about living the life. The question we need to ask ourselves is; do we need to tell people that we are Christian, or are we living our lives in such a way that people know we are Christian?
We quoted Matthew 5:16 the other day:
That's the big picture.
Maurice:
Thanks for that post. As you may be aware, I have been trying to find my "place, my fit" I guess. I have found solace here. Ex-Military, and all the baggage with that. Divorced,(due to her infidelity) and all the baggage with that, estrangement with my immediate family, and all the baggage there. It seems as if I have been dragging around all this "Samsonite" (showing my age here)...for so long. I have grown tired, thinking the current scheme of things, is the answer. No-I have truly come to believe this Church has the Spirit of Prophesy spoken of and will lead the Advent people. I think Mrs. White was shown vision, to help us, prepare for The Second Coming. So many years I searched, but I have found Theology talks, the discussion is great for different Religious Groups, debating the Scripture points between the different denominations, can be rewarding, and frustrating. However-Theology as a basis of discussion/study/debate does not lead to your Salvation, it is only through Christ that is maintained, and that special gift has been given-through him alone. I feel this Church is the difference, and the Three Angels Message of what HE will do amazes me. I had never heard of that message until my recent adventure with the SDA...I am so happy here! 🙂
Thank you John. Christianity is always a journey, never a destination. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I hope too that we can learn together.
This is encouraging - may God richly bless you and your ministry
We all have things to regret in life! If we look closer, everyone faces some difficult thing to fight against. Because we live in a fallen world! But,"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). In Jesus, we get all that we need! Our part is to remember this everyday, for without faith we cannot claim God's promises! As we accept the obstacles ahead of us as necessary exercises to make us stronger, we mature and change for better!
John, your testimony is Wednesday’s lesson in a nutshell. That is the peace that knowing God will always bring. We are living in a time that brings people searching for this peace, and I pray that as we all learn to love, obey and follow God, people around us will witness this peace and want to know why we have it.
Isaiah 26:3 says “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed upon You, because he trusts in You.
We are happy to have you here John. Let's hold fast as we journey together. God Bless. 🙏🏾🙏🏾😊😊
Amen bro may the Lord continue guiding you by His staff so that you may inspire others too.
Thankyou John,
Wonderful testimony and encouragement to us.
Don't make yourself scarce.
John
Excellent post. Is it possible that in reality the big picture is the only picture? Of course, it is developed by our personal relationship to and commitment to Jesus. I appreciate your daily wisdom and look forward to it every morning.
I have learned from Paul’s little lesson in claiming the promises of the LORD:
Step 1 – Rejoice in the LORD all the time no matter what happens
Step 2 – Do not be anxious about anything
Step 3 – Present your situation to the LORD in prayer
Step 4 – Trust in the LORD, He will fill your heart & mind with peace
Step 5 – Learn to be content whatever the result, plenty or penury
Step 6 – The LORD will give you the strength to endure either one
Step 7 – Give glory to the LORD who will supply what you really need
Amen to the sharing am blessed with the steps listed above
Shirley
8. Share your rejoicing, calm, prayer life, trust, docile, strength and endurance, and praise in and of the Lord with others.
What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
1 John 1:3 AMPC
Beloveth, let us love one another: for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.
2 Cor 5:17
Applying God’s Word
The photo above appears to me like the story of the 'Good Samaritan'. A lawyer asked Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus answered, 1. what is written in the law?
2. how readest thou?
Many times people read the bible but apply it to their own meaning, or what best suits them in a given situation. E.g some people might say it is okay to steal if you are poor and hungry.
Jesus being who he was, replied to the lawyer with the samaritan story. All three men saw the Jewish, dying man on the side of the road. Two of his own passed him by, the third who was the enemy stopped. Why did the two not helped? The enemy was the one who had compassion, bound him up, poured oil and wine, placed him on his ass, the owner walked to the inn and took care of him. Do we treat humans as a purchase possession of Christ? Are we seeking to be like Christ in all we do? How do we apply the scriptures?
How do we apply the scriptures? How do we treat our enemies, those who don't look, dress or speak like us? Those of a different culture, race or ethnic group?
John’s love for his Master was not a mere human friendship, but it was the love of a repentant sinner, who felt that he had been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. He esteemed it the highest honor to work and suffer in the service of his Lord. His love for Jesus led him to love all for whom Christ died. His religion was of a practical character. He reasoned that love to God would be manifested in love to His children. He was heard again and again to say, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11). “We love him because he first loved us. If a man says, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (verses 19, 20). The apostle’s life was in harmony with his teachings. The love which glowed in his heart for Christ led him to put forth the most earnest, untiring labor for his fellow men, especially for his brethren in the Christian church. He was a powerful preacher, fervent, and deeply in earnest, and his words carried with them a weight of conviction. {SL 53.3}
Hymn #533- O for a faith that will not shrink, though pressed by many a foe
Hebrews 4: verses 12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”.
What good does God’s word do for us IF we DO NOT apply in our lives? What good does medicine do us if we do not take it? What good does chemicals do to farmers crops if they do not apply it?
The word is more than a book of stories…..it is LIVING and ACTIVE…My Christianity today goes beyond “religion”, my Christianity is a LIVING, BREATHING RELATIONSHIP with God through Jesus Christ!!
I do my very best every day to APPLY God’s word to my everyday life!!! I must APPLY it to my every day life.
God has promised and he will deliver. He is never out of stock. He loves us so much.Thanks for the inspiration.
Thank you John for your kind words of encouragement. I have been immensely blessed by your testimony. I refer you to Ps 33:11 - 22. Please take the time to intentionally read and contemplate the words of this psalm of God's providence. I can assure you that your faith will be strengthened and you will grow in maturity. As you continue to trust in God's leading, pray and communicate to God as a friend. Secondly, continue to study the Word,it is our spiritual food,shield and our light in this dark world of sin. Talk to others about how God has changed your life. Share your faith with others. Use this platform to seek answers to questions you might encounter along your journey of faith. These are some of the things that helped me too. I grew up in an Anglican homestead and only joined the Adventist Church much later in life. May God continue to shower you with His blessings
We will ourselves to remain faithful! Some might say that they are 'obedient' when they live by faith, but it still is a choice of our free will - a rejoycing obedience! The will decides to live by faith; this decision comes back daily and needs to be re-confirmed every time we face the choice to live by sight or by faith.
Faith did not just happen! It was gifted as a result of having believed. Now, faith is our new modus operandi - our way of living - after believing, after hearing and after experiencing the Word of God; continuely practicing to live by faith, learning to trust His promises to educate us and to direct our lives - faithfully maintaining our faith is the ongoing work of God's Holy Spirit with our active participation!
Understanding all this, why would anyone chance to neglect or not want to apply God's living Word to their daily life? If anything, because we are now depended on going to the Well of the living Water daily as our spiritual source for life, we need to drink deeply (trust) to sustain the new nature engaging in life.
Phil.4:4-9 - is a wonderful assurance about our wellbeing when in God's hands. I would not want to be in anyone else's hands, that's for sure! So, why not stop fretting and, by faith training the focus of our life on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, or of good report? v.9: 'Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.' The fruit of the Spirit will be its result - Gal.5:22,23 - it's the Spirit's marvelous work of transformation.
We are doing our best to address all the challenges life holds to the very best of our abilities. Whiles doing this, we also rejoice - being glad and happy about our Salvation from the entanglements of this world; in rejoycing, our mind finds rest and lives in its new 'State of Faith'.
Yes, we need to go about our daily toils and engagements, but in the core of our being remains the ever-present joy of our Salvation. It makes our heart lighter and frees our minds of worries and the agonizing repetitions of negative thoughts.
Being GOD'S children now, we are being 'trained' to live in His Image. Past experiences still linger in our hearts and emotions, though in time, they will be healed by the power of His Holy Spirit - the balm that soothes our wounds. We accept to ask for forgiveness, be forgiving to ourselves and to others; we pray, trusting to receive His Mercy and Grace to forgive all our past and present transgressions.
It is an exciting new life we are living now; full of opportunities to serve and praise God!
My new Advent family!
Wow-never before have I felt such a close relationship! Please understand, I still am learning, and being guided I think. Your words of encouragement, and Scripture verse have helped me so much! Though this journey is somewhat frightening, I am learning that sometimes truth can be a little scary. I found out about Sabbath Day (The true one) and then everything I had learned throughout my lifetime has been coming into a "Berean Study". So yes it is a little overwhelming, but not a frightening one, more so of when a cool fresh wave of water washes over you on a hot, and humid sunny day. This Advent Family-of which I am learning to have Christian love, is here-for me...Jesus is here, he has given us free will, not some robotic go through the motions following. He really cares! He really Loves us!! Though I am dirty-he see that I am clean!! I had been told before-I ask to many questions, I don't know what "religion" I really am...so many things. But this Advent family loves me, they accept me, and they give me Scriptures, which calms me, and lets me know, that even John The Baptist had questions...I'm ok to have questions, to search and study! Thank you all-I shall begin to seek out an Advent Church in my area, on the true Sabbath Day! 🙂
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Mark 1:35
John, I am so glad you joined Christ in his life, now you will join him in his suffering and in his death. Pray for strength for all you are going through and for guidance from the Holy Spirit. I must let you know being in the church for more than 30, 40, 50, 80 years doesn't mean anything if we are not walking with Jesus every day. We are also likely to fall just like anyone else.
Let me share my experience- It is difficult for me to have problems with my job because of several factors- being an immigrant, ethnicity, racism, etc. But I do not have to deal with them all the time. I can either move to somewhere else, or have rest when I am off duty. It is also difficult when we come in contact with some members, I can go to another congregation.
But how do I deal with the people who are of the same family/relatives? We can't choose who will become our relatives. I spoke some time ago about a sibling who is taking my parent inheritance. Now it is time to give an account, there is nothing to show. That sibling is one who can manipulate others with a tear or two as the victim. I can stand up against the sibling manner of dealings. Because I did, the sibling did an audio recording about 30mins long and sent it to all the other relatives who are in their contacts. The sibling spoke things about me since I was in my teens to present. (over 35 yrs of stuff). Stuff that I didn't even remember. Christ said when we accept him, he cast our sins in the sea and remember them no more. It is so sad how people are deep-sea divers, they fish them back up. Paul said, If any man is in Christ he is a new creature, old things are pass away, behold all things have become new. But I have the ball in my court, I can either go back and deal with the situation as the old me, the old worldly behavior/character or the new me, new in Christ. It is my choice. I will not say what it didn't hurt, but Jesus is giving me a feeling of peace inside that passeth all understanding.
John, hold on. This Christian walk is not always easy with all smiles. You will have your trying days but I leave these words with you;
Now unto him, that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 24-25