The common theme of all the messages I have heard preached lately, all by different ministers, pertain to the need for REVIVAL!
I could caption some of the messages like this: “Cast the net on the right side of the ship” from the book of John, Chapter 21; “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me,” found in the book of Psalms Chapter 51.
Other messages could be titled “REVIVAL” with scripture reference to the book of 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land;” and another message, “Feed my sheep,” also from the book of John, Chapter 21.
The sad thing is that not many people are left in the congregation to hear it. Maybe that means the message is for me—and indeed it is for me! I believe it is not only for me but for whosoever will hear and apply it to their own life.
Then, HOW do we apply God’s word to our lives? The Bible is God’s instruction book and is packed full of Biblical events that provide information about our Maker and his plans for our lives. It is God’s instruction book on how to apply the word.
By the way, JESUS is the word that we all need to apply to our lives. In order to know and understand why we even need to apply God’s word we should look at the Bible, which is God’s word.
The scripture tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
The book of Genesis, Chapter 3, tells us why we need a SAVIOR because of the fall of man and how sin came into the world because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God. In the book of John, Jesus tells us how he has provided a remedy for our sins: John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
In fact, accepting JESUS as our SAVIOR is the first step in applying God’s word. In the book of Matthew 7:7, Jesus tells us “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Then, studying to know what God’s word says, praying that God will help us apply his word to our lives, and finally by being doers of his word by trusting and obeying his commandments. One of the ministers that I was raised under would often say that “we are bad enough the best we can do.”
Therefore, when we have done our best to keep His commandments and still mess up whether in attitude or deed, then we can prayerfully seek forgiveness through our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
It is also worth noting some scripture refers to the need for the preached word of God and the need for God’s children to assemble themselves together to worship him: Hebrews 10:24-25, John 4:24, Exodus 20:8, Matthew 18:20, Mark 16:15, Romans 10:14-15.