Blog In Audio:
Greetings;
As leaders we lead others to know God. In this process, we have a responsibility of teaching people to value the written word of God and to understand its purpose. When we study Scripture, we partner with Holy Spirit as our teacher so that we can understand Scripture in a way that is profitable for our way of life. It is profitable to draw Christ out of us and to keep us in the path of life. It is profitable for a right relationship with God and man. As a result, we will be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work. So, we need Scripture. We must approach all Scripture in that way.
Scripture is a witness to the voice of God in our lives; therefore, it is essential that we study God’s word to know God’s voice in our lives. Our goal is a personal relationship with God, not merely an understanding of Scripture. Scripture is not applied by fact in our lives. It is filled with stories that include the facts regarding real people in a relationship with God in the past. It is a witness to our relationship with God, but it is not a substitute for a personal relationship with God.
Scripture is applied by principle, pattern, and value. Let me give you an example. God could do an unusual miracle in your life, and you might not find that unusual miracle in Scripture, but you will find that unusual miracles were done at the hands of the apostles (Acts 19:11).
So, that simply means that God can do unusual things. You may say, “Well, I don’t find that particular thing written in Scripture.” Well, you won’t, because it’s unusual. But does it fulfill the principle of an unusual miracle? Does it draw you to God? Does it activate your faith? Does it cause people to come to Christ? Does it cause people to connect and see the goodness of God?
Unusual miracles were done in the first-century church, and the fear of the Lord came as an awe of God and a revelation of His love. When this happened, people were added to the church. So, God can do unusual miracles. You might not find that unusual miracle written in the Scriptures, but you will find the principle of unusual miracles. You’ll find the pattern of unusual miracles throughout Scripture. You’ll find the value of unusual miracles within the many stories recorded in the Scriptures.
Principles are simply an application of truth that is absolute regardless of the time or the circumstance. The principle is true. The method of expression could be different, but the method fulfills the same principle and application of truth that is absolute regardless of the time or circumstance.
A pattern is a type upon which many of the ways of truth are revealed. There could be a pattern of something in Scripture that reveals the truth of something for us in our lives today. A pattern of facing giants, facing obstacles, or facing enemies could set a pattern in our lives that is a testimony to the reality of being an overcomer in all things.
A value is something which is of worth or usefulness to the possessor—God being the possessor. What is expressed in the text is a valuable thing to God; therefore, it is also valuable to us as His children. It’s a value of His heart, something that He considers most important. The values of God are life-giving. They are redemptive, restorative, and relational in their purpose. His values are not necessarily defined by the method of their expression, but the methods of their expression will not contradict the values of God’s heart.
Even when it comes to topics like, “Is tithe real today?”—well, the value of tithe, the pattern of tithe, the principle of tithe is true. The legalism of tithe is not the issue of truth, but the value of it is. The value of tithe is simply responding to the Giver of bread and wine with a gratuity that’s a judgment of love because you recognize what He gave you was a gratuity of His judgment of love for you. It’s a matter of relationship with God and not a matter of law or mere obedience to some commandment or desire of God.
If you are not responding to God with gratuities, you are not recognizing that everything given to you by God is simply a gratuity of His love. If you say that tithe doesn’t exist in the New Covenant because He owns all things now, you don’t understand that He has always owned all things. If you’re reasoning in your mind as to why you should not give tithe of your money, your trust in God for money is probably bound in some way.
Maybe you believe you have a revelation that you don’t want to be put under a curse. I get that, okay. Well, then don’t do it as a law, but make sure you grab hold of the value of responding to God with gratuities—a tithe, a judgment of love—so that you can open your heart to God to receive all that He desires to give to you. God doesn’t need you to do it; you need to do it, so that you can receive all that He wants to give you. So, principles, patterns, and values are the way that Scripture is applied to us today. These are a testimony to the application of Scripture in our lives.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
My new book, Secrets to Understanding God’s Word is now available on Amazon in E-book, Softcover, and Hardcover. It will be available soon in audiobook.
