Application:

Building My House on Rock

“I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.”

Luke 6:47,48 (NIV)

The passage in Luke 6:46-49 shows a distinct difference between those who are practicing followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and those who are hearers only.

Practicing means doing. Doing requires application of what Jesus said. Here is how I apply it.

FIVE P's

I use the five P's format to outline the practical application of what God is teaching me.

Passage

Problem

Plan

Progress

Prayer

Passage:

What verses is God using to speak to me? I write them down. If they are short, I write them out.

Problem:

What problem or opportunity is God addressing in my life?

Plan:

What does God want me to do about it? This plan needs to be as specific and measurable as possible. “I will lose weight” is not specific or measurable. “I will lose 10 pounds and weight 170 pounds by September 1st, one month from today” is specific and measurable.

“I will do better in school” is not specific or measurable. “I will invest 5 more hours each week, from 1 to 6 pm each Sunday studying. I will study each of my 5 subjects for one hour for the rest of the semester” is specific and measurable.

[Some more examples of good and bad plans.]

Bad plan: be a better person Good plan: have a quiet time every day from 6:00 to 6:30 a.m.

Bad plan: be more giving Good plan: put $20 in the Church collection plate each week AND volunteer 1.5 hours each Sunday in the Church nursery

Bad plan: pray more Good plan: Monday through Friday, between noon and 12:30 p.m. I will find a quiet place and pray for the world using “Operation World” by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk.

Get the idea?

Progress:

How will I insure that I implement my application? I usually ask someone to check me on it in a week or each week, if need be. I have also used external devices like notes in my daily planner, my watch alarm, or sticky notes on my computer monitor. They help hold me accountable to carry out my application.

Prayer:

I ask God to help me do my do my part to apply what He is teaching me.

Example:

Here is one of my current examples:

Passage: 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Problem: I am getting older. It is becoming harder for me to find reliable (faithful) men and women who want to be entrusted with the principles and concepts of practical discipleship.

Plan: I will build a website to promote as many concepts and principles of practical discipleship as I can in the time I have left. Following the model and suggestions given by Site Build It!, I will have 241 pages of high quality, practical discipleship help available by June 1, 2009.

Progress: Any one and every one who reads this can check on my progress. I will ask one of my accountability partners to check me on it.

Prayer: LORD, You are the one who gave me this idea. You are the one who knows what ideas would be most helpful to those who are reading this. Please help me meet Your objectives in Your time for Your glory. Amen.

REWORDING

Another method that leads to practical application of Biblical truth is rewording it. Rewording is a form of meditation.

Verbal or written processing helps me take ownership of Biblical principles. As I translate Biblical principles into my own words, they become mine. I understand them better. They become part of my life. Speaking or writing forces me to wrestle with what the Bible really says for my life. Telling some one or writing it down in my own words helps me believe it is true. Taking time to think about truth reinforces its importance. The more important it is to me, the more likely I am to do what it says.

Once I write it down or tell someone, something happens in my brain. I feel more obligated to “practice what I preach.”

ACCOUNTABILITY

“People don't do what you expect, but what you inspect,” my boss told me.

I never forgot that saying. I need someone to ask me how I am doing at keeping my applications to be obedient to Biblical truth. I need someone who cares enough about me to ask.

Over the years, I have developed a number of accountability relationships. When we get together, I am usually the one who has to start asking the questions. Rarely does the other individual ask the difficult questions until they have first been asked. It could be because they have not been faithful to do the things God has asked them to do. It could be they are afraid to ask me. Maybe they don't want me to feel bad if I didn't do what I was suppose to.

Whatever the reason, I need to plan on taking responsibility if I want accountability

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