EXPERIENCING THE WORD: From Information to Activation

John 8:31 - And Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. 

The word KNOW in that verse is the Greek word GINOSKO which means to experience. It's an experiential knowing. It’s one thing to read about a roller coaster. It’s a whole other thing to get on one yourself. How many of you have been to the beaches in Florida along the gulf coast. You can hear someone’s account of how amazing the white sand is compared to the beaches in Galveston or the West or East Coasts, but until you are able to truly EXPERIENCE the white powdery sand under your feet, you can’t truly KNOW it for yourself. 

I want to help you KNOW the truth that sets you free. Now, what is truth? That seems to be an up for debate kind of topic these days. Everyone is talking about “your truth” and “my truth”. Apparently, the world believes that personal experience is what defines truth. Call me crazy, but I’m one of those Christians that likes to know how Jesus defines something. I wonder if Jesus has ever spoken about or taught about the topic of truth. We already read that Jesus expects his disciples to remain faithful to his teachings and that when they do, they will EXPERIENCE the truth. I wonder what he defines as truth? 

In John 17:17, Jesus is praying to God, the Father, and he says, “Make them Holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” 

There we have it. God’s Word is the Truth. The same Word that Jesus spoke. The same Word that was the inspiration for the letters that were written and collected and organized into scriptures that were put together to make the Bible. That’s the Word that Jesus said that His disciples (you and me) would remain faithful to and have an experiential knowledge of. I want you and me, as disciples and children of God the Father,  to learn to Know the truth by Experiencing God’s Word. 

Like most things in the Kingdom of God, experiencing truth is a process. I refrain from saying ALL THINGS because God can also be a God of suddenlies. A God of immediatelies. But in most cases, God just loves the journey. He has Kingdom processes in place that are meant to direct us as we look to Him and trust His Word. 

Psalms 37:23 (NKJV) - The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And He delights in his way. In the NLT it says, The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 

So, today I want to talk about the steps we can take that will lead us into a true KNOWLEDGE of the Truth of God’s Word. I believe there are four stages that God can lead us through that will showcase His desire for us to not just read the bible but to KNOW the truth. 

- INFORMATION:

The first step is INFORMATION. This is truth that is in FORMATION. It’s the beginning of the process of the journey of truth in our lives. And remember, the Christian walk is ALWAYS a faith journey. 

Romans 10:17 -  now faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD OF GOD. 

So, in this first step, truth comes to us through God’s Word in seed form. It can be through reading, through an audio source like podcasting or audio book or through hearing God’s Word preached. But one this is for certain, when God sends out His Word, it is with the intention of it setting root and producing fruit. 

Isaiah 55:11 - I will send out my word and it ALWAYS produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 

Now, this first step has nothing to do with you. You didn’t create the word. You didn’t write it or produce it or deliver it. You simply heard it, read it or received it. If nothing else takes place in this process, if it just stops right there, it just remains as information.  

In Matthew 13 Jesus tells his disciples the parable of the sower. He explains how a farmer scattered seed on three types of ground. One of them is a representation of the journey of truth ending at this first stage of INFORMATION.

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them...”

He later explained what the parable meant and showed them the importance of not just hearing the message of the Kingdom of God, but understanding it. 

“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts…”

In order to truly EXPERIENCE the word, more steps are required. 

- REVELATION:

The second step is REVELATION. This is truth that is being REVEALED. 

Matthew 16:13-19 - When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Peter received revelation from the father about who Jesus really was. When Peter made this declaration, Jesus was so impressed, not because Peter had the right answer, but because He knew that Peter received his answer from God. He didn’t ask someone else for the answer. He didn’t seek out the opinions of all of his friends, shuffle them all together and choose the answer that made the most sense. No, he heard God’s voice for himself. Jesus said that it was so significant that he decided to build the church upon that very moment. Revelation from the Father. And get this, we, as new covenant Christians, have it better off than that. Peter didn’t even have the advocate living inside of him. Before Jesus left this earth, he made a promise to his disciples. That he would send an advocate, the Spirit of Truth. And he said that the spirit of truth would lead us to ALL Truth. 

So, this is the part of the journey of experiencing God’s Word that the Holy Spirit gets involved. If we truly want to KNOW the truth, we need to experience the Revelation that only comes through his guidance. I’ve said it many times, that reading God’s Word without a relationship with the Holy Spirit is dangerous. We can receive the information but if we only try and interpret it on our own, using our own intellect and our own understanding, we’re asking our heart, which in Jeremiah 17:9 God calls deceitful above all things,  to lead us to the intended truth that God has for us. You’ll hear from a lot of people, “just follow your heart.” I’ll say right now, your heart can lead you astray. Follow the spirit and he will lead you to truth. 

That’s why I’m very particular these days when I engage in bible study groups. It seems like some people are more interested in bouncing opinions off of each other. Trying to see who’s makes the most sense. “How do you feel about that verse?” or “What are your thoughts about this passage of scripture?” Instead of wondering what everyone else THINKS about the verses that were written, I want to KNOW the heart of the author of the inspiration behind the text. I want to let the Holy Spirit reveal the truth from the words I’m reading, with the expectation that God may just want to transform my thinking. There may very well be some setting free that God plans on doing with the truth that can only be revealed by the Holy Spirit in me. 

Okay, so you’ve received the Word. It’s been given to you as information. You’ve studied the Word and received revelation from the Holy Spirit as to God’s heart behind the word. Now, are you ready to make this personal? Are you ready to participate in the Kingdom process of experiencing God’s word? 

- APPLICATION:

The third step is APPLICATION. This is truth that is being APPLIED. 

This step is your response to the Holy Spirit. God’s word calls you out. It calls you forward. When you apply the truth that has been revealed, you are lining up your life with God’s word. So many times we try and line up God’s word with our life. That is not the correct application. In order for the truth to be effective, it has to be the root. It has to be the standard. You have to align your mind, your heart, your life, with the word. With that truth.

You’ll hear a lot of well meaning Christians tell you that this type of preaching is from a works based theology. They get triggered at any type of teaching that highlights the role we play in the christian journey. It was always God’s desire for us to be saved and then for us to live out our righteousness. To not just read the word of God and try to be different but to become the word by experiencing the truth. God’s word was meant to be lived out, not just memorized. 

James 1:23-25 - Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

A major part of APPLICATION that is often overlooked is simply SPEAKING THE WORD. There are times when you may not know where to go or what to do. You may not have complete revelation as to how the truth can effectively be applied to your situation. It’s in those moments that SPEAKING THE WORD of God is the only thing that seems appropriate. When you speak God’s word you are keeping it alive in your heart. You are fanning into flame the revelation that was received of the truth in that word. There is great benefit to this. God’s word is a seed but it is also a lamp unto your feet. When you speak God’s word over the path in front of you, you are providing a solid foundation by which you can boldly step in faith knowing that God’s provision always makes a way for his word to prosper. So, read it. Learn it. Speak it.

You speaking God’s word is also a form of planting the seed of truth for someone else. Remember, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. As you speak out the word, not only are you practically applying God’s word, you could also be planting the seed of information and building faith for someone else to begin their journey of experiencing truth. Now, planting and watering someone else’s path is simply a by-product of the life of a christian. My primary responsibility is my own heart and mind and purpose. Speaking God’s word is the most practical way that I can keep myself fixed on him. It’s the easiest way to keep myself rooted and grounded. When I speak God’s word I’m reminding myself of God’s promises and the blessing that comes from experiencing the truth by doing His word. 

Let me give you an example of this through a testimony. At the end of 2023 I was faced with a stressful situation at work. I'm in sales. Almost half of my annual income is from commissions. I have a budget. it’s usually 6-8% higher than my previous year’s results. So, if I have a good year, I can expect that my next year’s budget will be that much higher. Makes sense, right? So, one of my largest accounts had just decided to shop around. They were wanting to cut costs and were looking to re-open their business to other service providers. Long story short, I was worried. I was fearful. The next year’s budget was already set and I'm looking to start off the year in the hole without one of my larger revenue bringers. I had all kinds of things going through my head. How am I going to provide without making any commissions? Am I going to have to get a second job? All the things that go through your head when you are faced with this type of situation. 

About a month prior to this, I had been studying Jeremiah 17, specifically verses 7 and 8. 

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

God reminded me of these two verses over and over during this time. Did I believe them? I’d read them. I believe I’d received the revelation that this passage of scripture WAS inspired by God to instruct me for righteousness. But had I APPLIED them? I chewed on them over and over and over. I spoke them out of my mouth, over and over and over. And let me tell you, I found that I became emboldened. After a couple weeks of reading, writing and speaking these words, I felt them take root in my heart. I knew that God wanted me to BELIEVE that I could trust him. I knew that no matter what situation I would face, my God would supply all my needs. I no longer feared what may come. I no longer worried about my job or my finances. I knew that if I worked to the best of my ability and trusted God to provide for me, that He would make everything work for my good. And it did. The customer chose to stick with me and I actually gained more clients as the year came to a close. 2024 will be my most prosperous year yet. 

I’m telling you, the word works. I took in God’s word and I spoke it out. I took it in, I spoke it out. It became solidified before me. It became a firm foundation. It created a well lit path that I could then take a step and walk into the final stage of the journey of experiencing truth. 

- ACTIVATION:

The final step is activation. That’s not just some charismatic buzzword. It is truth that is ACTIVE. 

When you get to this point in the journey, this truth that you’ve been fighting for, this truth that you’ve been standing on, has now become a part of your belief system. You’ve experienced a renewed mind that, Romans 12:2 says, gives you the ability to prove what is good and acceptable and is the perfect will of God. It’s when what you’ve had faith for becomes your reality. When you work out this process from information to revelation to application to activation, you are truly experiencing the word of God the way He intended. Remember John 8:32, “They will KNOW (Experience) the truth and the truth will set them free.”

There is FREEDOM at the end of the process. And with that freedom, you go back to the word and allow God to keep bringing you to this journey of experiencing Him. It’s a lifelong cycle. You’ll never fully “arrive” while here on earth. There’s always more truth to take in and be revealed and be applied and be made active in. I’ll say it again, this is a faith journey. Romans 1:17 says that we live from FAITH to FAITH… When that truth is activated in your life, there’s always another level of faith that will require you taking in God’s word and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth. And when you respond with obedience and solid application, you’ll become ACTIVATED in that truth.

I pray that this process, as I’ve laid it out, not only make sense but truly encourages you. I pray that you be empowered to dive into God’s word. I pray that you invite the Holy Spirit into the process to lead you and guide you into ALL the truth that God has for you. I also pray that you experience boldness as you apply your life and situations to the truth that is revealed. And above all, I pray for God’s comfort and peace and abundance to flow in you and through you as you become active in living out the truth that will become fixed in your heart. 

Be blessed.