Introduction

1. Most preachers are more comfortable in the Biblical world than the modern world.

2. "The path to intellectual excellence is curiosity . . . and experimentation, but the path to moral excellence is obedience"

3. Obedience is the epitome of loving God (Lk. 6:46; Jn. 14:21; 1 Jn. 5:2-3).

4. If you exceed the limits of AIM your application loses its biblical authority.

Application Chart

Goal of Application How to make Application

Mind

Spirit

Behavior

Isa 55:8-9; Rom 12:1-2

2 Cor 3:3

Lk 6:46; Jn 14:21; 1 Jn 5:2-3

(1) Time & Feeding(2) Compare three

steps

(1) Gift of God’s Spirit

(2) Meditation

(1) Just do it!(2) Time: Practice

& Wisdom

Heb 5:11-14

1 Cor 1:20-2:16 Psa 1:1-2

James 1:22-25

Diagram

Time bound

Timeless

Specific Commands

GeneralPrinciples

1st Cen 20th Cen

Similar Situations

Timely

Dissimilar Situations

Promises

1. O.T. or N.T.?

2. What is the context?

3. To whom was this promise made? An individual? The church? Universal?

4. Is it conditional or unconditional?

5. Is the promise qualified by other scripture?

6. Proverbs are general principles not promises.

7. Is this a promise or a statement of fact?

Commands

1. Under what covenant was this given?

2. Is this a principle to be applied or a law to be obeyed?

3. Is this law repeated or revoked in the N.T.?

4. Is this law ceremonial or moral?

5. What does common sense, culture, and faith say?

Examples

1. Is it explicitly approved/disapproved?

2. How does the narrative treat the example?

3. Does this match any biblical commands?

4. How does this align with culture?

5. What does common sense and faith say?

6. Are there any patterns?

Problems: (1) Example vs. Event; (2) Culture

Mind

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:9)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom 12:2)

Spirit

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

(2 Corinthians 3:3)

Behavior

Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46)

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. (Jn 14:21)

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. (1 Jn 5:2-3)

Mind

By this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

(Heb 5:12-14)

Spirit

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

(Psa 1:1-2)

Behavior

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law … not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)

Meditation

Definition: Musing, mumbling.

Texts: Psa 1:1-2; Dan. 9:1-3, 20-23

Methods:

• Quiet Contemplation

• Memorization

• Prayer & Fasting & Confession

• Time – months or even years

Meditation

Psa 1:1-2, But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Dan 9:1-3, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD … So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Dan 9:20-23, While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill.