You Must Apply It

Today we began studying the principle of application in our Bible Study Methods class.  Prof told us that it sounds simple yet is one of the most difficult sections of the course as it tends to bring about mounds of conviction.  I cannot disagree with him, as even on day one, conviction came about.  

Prof told us that one of the fundamental disconnects people make is they substitute Bible interpretation for application.  We study and study and study and we build up this information and knowledge about God and about the Scriptures, and we tell people what we know, but we fail to apply the principles of what we learned to our own lives.  We teach people the principles but we do not live the principles ourselves.  We are convicted by Scripture, but we fail to respond to the conviction.  We chalk up the interpretation and move on to learning the next thing.  

There were two groups of people in Scripture, famous for doing this very thing; the Scribes and Pharisees.  They knew the Scriptures inside and out and on the outside they looked good, but on the inside they were as dirty as sin.  They were guilty of superficial application.  Unfortunately our churches today are packed with people who are guilty of superficial application.  I myself am guilty of this very thing in certain areas of my life.  

My prayer is that we would all make sure that we apply the principles and apply what we learn from Scripture to our lives.  As prof pointed out to us today, the Bible was not given to us, merely to inform us.  Yes, the Bible was given to us to inform us, but more importantly, the Bible was given to us to TRANSFORM us.   Are you being transformed?  Are you different than you were a year ago?  How about six months ago?  If not, chances are there is a failure to apply what God has revealed to you.  I know that I have failed to properly apply God's word in areas of my life, because there are areas that have not been transformed because I have not made proper application.

This was just day one of the application section.  I am very excited to see where the next five weeks takes us!

Think About It

Today in our Bible Study Methods class, Dr. Bailey was discussing dispensationalism and explaining dispensationalism to us.  That is not what I am writing about here, so do not worry.  Maybe when I have had more time to study dispensationalism, as I know I will, I will post something in regards to the subject.  What I wanted to post for you think about is a comment that Dr. Bailey made at the end of class.  A comment that really should cause each one of us to take pause and reflect upon.

Dr. Bailey's comment, and I am paraphrasing, as I do not have this as a direct quote, went something as follows:  Just think, the angels that have been with God and Christ in heaven, from the beginning, still to this day have reason to fall on their face before Him and worship Him.

Think about that.  From the beginning, they have worshipped Him and to this day they worship Him and for all of eternity they will worship Him.  As John notes in Revelation 4:8, "And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME" (NASB).

Problems...We've All Got Them

I know that it has been a while since my last post regarding Dr. Lutzer's sermon.  I had meant to post details about each of his chapel sermons on here, and I meant to post something last week, but wouldn't you know it, school was really busy.  So I apologize for not posting anything recent.  That's why I'm here today.  

If there is one thing everyone has in common, it is problems.  They are kind of like opinions, everyone has one or some.  Just like opinions, problems carry different weights to them.  Generally, our own personal problems carry a heavier weight than our neighbors.  We put our problems at the front of the line and our neighbors on the back burner.  

As I was buying groceries a couple of days ago, I was standing in the Wal-Mart supermarket, having to decide what I needed to buy, and what was a comfort.  I felt pretty good about myself, I was being frugal and putting things back that I did not need to eat or buy.  That's when God let me know that I at least have a choice.  I can at least entertain the idea of buying that extra bag of potato chips or that gallon of ice cream.  I can entertain the idea of buying better quality cuts of meat or bags of candy to snack on.  I immediately stopped to give thanks to God right there for all that He has given to me and all that He has blessed me with, as there were many people there who cannot entertain the thought of buying ice cream or extra chips, because they do not have the means to do so.  

Be sure and give thanks to God for all He has blessed you with and given to you.  I know that what I consider to be major problems in my life are really miniscule in comparison to some of the other troubles I have seen.

Unanswered Prayer

This week should be an exciting week in chapel here at DTS.  Dr. Erwin Lutzer is speaking each day for the Nathan D. Maier Memorial Series in Bible Exposition.  Dr. Lutzer is the senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, and this week his message series here is title "The Triupmh of Unanswered Prayer."

Initially I automatically say to myself that there is no such thing as unanswered prayer.  God either says yes, no, or wait, at least that is what I have always heard.  But today I just wanted to post a few things that Dr. Lutzer said that really stuck out to me. 

Preaching from Hebrews 11, Dr. Lutzer pointed out that in order for us to be faithful and pleasing to God, we must believe the future promises that God has made to us.  If we do not believe the future or that there is a real future coming, then how can we be faithful to God? 

Another point is that Abraham died in faith, not receiving all that God had promised him.  This speaks to the fact that there are future promises and rewards from God, and it also speaks against the name it and claim ideology that is becoming very prevalent on television.  As Dr. Lutzer pointed out, there are times where God does not answer prayers and you simply have to endure.  Some of the things that God has promised us may not come to fruition here on earth.  Some promises will not come until after death.  One last point on this is that when God does not answer our prayer, and we go through a time where we must endure, if God does not do what we think He should do, we must go on believing.

Lastly, going back to the name it and claim it, word of faith etc...televangelist ministries, Dr. Lutzer made this comment that is humorous and sad at the same time.  He said something to the effect of, "Isn't it too bad that some of God's sheep can't tell the difference between grass and astroturf?"  

Again, these are just some of the many excellent points that Dr. Lutzer made.  I hope to be able to post a few points from each chapel service this week, as this will no doubt be an excellent lecture series.  Let me know what you think.

Interesting Thought...

Thank you for the comments regarding the weeds that can choke out the seed that is sown and how we often neglect those seeds because it does take more time to "weed" the ground. Today we had a faculty forum here at school and one of our professors made an interesting point that I wanted to share.

Often times we view people who are not saved as "those people" the ones who are "dead" and so forth. Dr. Bock reminded us that "those" people, are just like you and I, created in the image of God. Fundamentally, the Gospel is about restoring people, who were created in the image of God, back to the state in which they were created, from which we have fallen.

We all are fallen human beings, but we are all created in the image of Christ. That is our common ground. I thought it was eye opening how we do label non-Christians as "those" people. What do you think?