Psalm 119: 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

The Point: Our lives become EXPLOSIVE WHEN APPLYING SCRIPTURE.

Ways to Apply Scripture:

BUILD ON IT

Matthew 7: 24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Unreliable Foundation:

• POPULAR CULTURE
• TRADITION
• REASON
• EMOTION

FEED ON IT

Colossians 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

Ways we can feed on scripture in our live using all our senses:

• Receive it with my ears
• Read it with my eyes
• Research it with my hands and mouth
• Reflect on it with my mind
• Remember it with my hear

LIVE BY IT

Psalm 119: 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

GROW THROUGH IT

Psalm 119: 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Parable of the soils (Matthew 13: 1-23, Mark 4: 1-20, Luke 8: 4-15)

• Hard soil = You have a closed mind to scripture
  • 2 characteristics to this path = hard and narrow
    • Our hearts and minds get hard and narrow views
    • We are always right and we never let God speak to us
  • Action: CULTIVATE AN OPEN MIND
• Shallow soil = Superficial mind and life
  • We often have a superficial reaction to scripture
  • “with joy” = often thrilled but rarely transformed
  • “shallow roots” = we believe for a while and when problems come our way or the heat is on – we dry up
  • Action: MAKE TIME FOR GODS WORD
• Soil with weeds = Preoccupied mind
  • We often have no time for scripture in our lives
  • “they are choked” = they are stressed
  • Action: ELIMINATE DISTRATIONS
• Good soil
  • There are 4 characteristics of this soil:
    • Hear it
    • Retain it
    • Obey it
    • Persist in it
  • Result = you bear fruit
  • Action: COOPERATE WTH WHAT IT SAYS

ACT ON IT

James 1: 22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

TRUST IN IT

Psalm 119: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 19: 7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.