Apply as we study the Word of God?

Are we studying the Bible for ourselves or for us to preach to others?

Are supposed to read the Bible so we can observe God's Word?

Is our personal Bible study a daily discipline for our own spiritual growth or for others when we preach on them?

The main purpose for reading the Bible is to change ourselves as we read, believe and obey. The WORD is Jesus Christ. God's Word (the Bible) sometimes wounds us deeply and it is imperative because through the Bible, God speaks loudly. The Word of God (Bible) rebukes US we we read so that we may see our OWN faults (not others). The Bible illumines the dark corners of our own hearts and minds by exposing our OWN sin but at the same time reveals the way of rightousness. Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Going back to In Psalm 119, there are eight words that are focused.

The first word, law, is the primary word used in this psalm to refer to God’s Word. In its broadest sense, “law” refers to any instruction revealed by God as the basis for life and action. In its more narrow sense “law” can refer to the Mosaic Law, the Pentateuch, or the Deuteronomic Law. Psalm 119 presents the Law of God as His overall instruction and direction whereby His people may find life, blessing, and success.

The second word testimonies, has the idea of “witness.” Law of God is His testimony because it is His own witness to His nature, attributes, actions, and consequent demands. . . .This term emphasizes both the authority of their source in the LORD, and the accountability of their reception by men.” God’s Word holds men accountable to the God of the Word and witnesses against them when they fail to meet the standards contained therein (Deut. 31:26).

The third word is precepts. This term comes from the image of an officer or overseer giving specific instructions to be carried out by others. God’s Word articulates the specific instructions and expectations He has for His people, and for which they will be accountable.

The fourth word is statutes, speaks to the permanence and the binding nature of God’s Word. God’s statutes have been written down and preserved because God’s desires His people to obey them always and without exception. God’s words are always valid. To be sure, God’s people must give careful attention to how certain parts of God’s Word are to be applied in their cultural context but at the end of the day, God has spoken once and we must give glad and consistent obedience to what God has said.

The fifth word is commandments is related in thought to the statutes of the Lord. However, this term focuses attention on the lawful authority behind the words. God’s statutes are binding because they are His commandments and as such, are backed by His authority as the supreme, sovereign, and moral Law-giver.

The sixth word is ordinances. An ordinance refers to a decision or legal judgment handed down by a judge in a court of law or by a ruler settling a dispute among his subjects. The psalmist uses this term to describe the judgments and decisions from God about matters related to the affairs of His people. In general terms an ordinance refers to God’s revealed will or decision about a matter related to common human situations. In particular, God’s ordinances in the Old Testament were His commands that formed the basis of Israel’s legal system. (Government affairs)

The final two terms are word and promises. At the heart of this psalm is the truth that God’s Word is necessary for living a life that pleases God. But, the psalmist acknowledges that apart from God’s enablement, he is powerless to understand or obey what God has said. Whoever the psalmist was, he understood the ultimate end of God’s Word was to shape his life and that the means for doing so was obeying what God had revealed with a full hearted obedience rising from proper attitudes and motives toward God and His Word. And, this obedience was to manifest itself in all of life’s ways and for all of the psalmist’s days. It is evident from the internal evidence of this psalm that its writer was acquainted with the struggle of living for God in a world that had abandoned Him.

The bottom line is this: A Christian will pursue the will of God actively and be enthusiastic and the attitude toward Christ, a Christian will manifest love and burning devotion from the heart. Its not about how you "practice" your doctrines to draw near to God, but rather how your "heart" is when are drawing him near to YOU. When I am alone with God, He taught me the true meaning of a spiritual relationship of self-discipline. "Is my spiritual life superficial or real?" I will not understand my spiritual character deeply unless I subject myself to the spiritual discipline of the Holy Spirit and have a wonderful relationship with God who I know. Am I studying the Bible for myself and observing God's Word? Is my personal Bible study a daily discipline for my spiritual growth? The purpose for reading the Bible is to change me as I read, believe and obey.

Two-way relationship with God requires our submission, obedience and love to Him. Humility is putting God first in our prayers while pride is putting God last in our prayers. The WORD is Jesus Christ. God's Word (the Bible) sometimes wounds us deeply and it is imperative because through the Bible, God speaks loudly. The Bible illumines the dark corners of heart and mind by exposing sin but reveals the way of rightousness. The Word of God (Bible) rebukes in order that we may see our faults. ''Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.'' Psalm 119:105 "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Sciptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4). When we pray daily, we are to remember what God have taught us through His Word, submit to Him and have "love" in our lives.

Through the Word of God, I have learned great importance of spiritual decision-the act of faith (those who understand the concept of faith) by submitting my entire future according to God's will, not mine. Is the Bible in error, or do we just have a faulty understanding of faith? What is the true nature and source of faith? From a Christian perspective, we believe that God's Word is true and that He can be trusted to perform all that He has promised. Our faith is in God, not in faith. In our relations with the world we seek to bring the truth of Christ to bear upon every issue facing our culture (Mt. 5:13-16). In our relations with one another, we seek to build friendships that make a difference (John 13:34). And in our relations at home, at work, and in the community, we strive to do all that we do for the glory of God and benefit of others (1 Cor. 10:31). In the Christian life, thinking is crucial, emotions are crucial and service is crucial. God is not honored by an unfeeling, joyless, loveless intellectualism, by unthinking, uncritical emotionalism, or by well-intentioned but fruitless claims to love. All three are needed-minds that are gripped by the truth of God acquired through the serious study of Scripture, our hearts that are on fire with intense emotions of love for God and His glory, and real commitments to make a difference for the Kingdom through our life and ministry. It is through the truth of Scripture that we become transformed people through the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). This truth comes through practicing the discipline of careful reading of the Bible, seeking to find the author's intended meaning (Ephesians 3:4) and its implications for the issues we are facing today. The role of the Holy Spirit is not to add anything to the text but to make the readers' heart humble so that we will welcome and embrace the truth and act upon it (1 Corinthians 2:14). Jesus touches our lives (inward) and enables us to touch others (outward). And since the Gospel so transforms us with the power of the Word, we can demonstrate God's grace power with the reality of our lives.