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E-Pistle

FreeWay Foundation            August 1, 2014

 

 

Clear Answers to direct questions

(Job 21:1-34)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  Job appeals for his friends to give him a fair and compassionate

     hearing before they continue to mock him, vv. 1-6.

            2.  Job challenges and refutes their oversimplified doctrine of

     retribution by proving that sometimes ungodly people prosper

     throughout their whole lives; his argument is that if the wicked

     sometimes prosper, then sometimes the righteous suffer also,

     vv. 7-21.

            3.  Job acknowledges that God knows best, and that blessing and

     calamity fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous, vv. 22-26.

            4.  Job tells his friends that he knows their thoughts and schemes against

     him; he closes his speech by calling their "comfort" just empty words

     and their answers falsehoods, vv. 27-34.

II.  Meditation:  on four direct questions which deserve clear answers

            1.  "Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, . . . mighty in power?"

     v. 7.

            2.  "Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him?  And what profit do

                 we have if we pray to Him?"  v. 15.

            3.  "Can anyone teach God knowledge since He judges those on high?"

     v. 22.

            4.  "How then can you comfort me with empty words, since falsehood

     remains in your answers?"  v. 34.

III.  Revelation:  on Scriptural answers to these probing questions

            1.  "The Lord . . . is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should

     perish but that all should come to repentance," II Peter 3:9; "Do you

     despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering,

     not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" 

     Romans 2:4.

            2.  "The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,"

     Isaiah 40:27 . . . "shall supply all your needs according to His riches in

     glory by Christ Jesus,"  Philippians 4:19.

3.  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher

                 Than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts," Isaiah 55:9 . . .

                 "His understanding is infinite," Psalm 147:5.

            4.  "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," John 8:32

                 . . . "Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?"

                 Galatians 4:16.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Thank the Lord for His goodness which leads me to repentance.

            2.  Praise Almighty God, my Creator and my Provider.

            3.  Be open to receive God's revelation of His will and His ways.

            4.  Speak only the truth, and speak it in love, Ephesians 4:15.

 

 

Magnify the lord of glory!

(Colossians 1:15-19)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on who Jesus is . . .

            1.    He is the image of the invisible God, v. 15.

            2.    He is the first born over all creation, v. 15.

            3.    He is the Creator, v. 16.

            4.    He is before all things (in time; in importance) v. 17.

            5.    He is the force holding creation together, v. 17.

            6.    He is the head of the church, v. 18.

            7.    He is the beginning/firstborn of the resurrected ones, v. 18.

            8.    He is supreme in everything, v. 8.

            9.    He is the dwelling place of all the fullness of God, v. 19 (2:9).

            10.  He is the reconciler between God and man, v. 20.

            11.  He is the indweller within the believer, v. 27.

            12.  He is the hope of glory, v. 27.

II.  Meditation:  on Paul's continual prayer for the Colossians (vv. 8-14)

            1.  "Be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and

                 spiritual understanding," vv. 9-10.

            2.  "Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him," v. 10.

            3.  "Bear fruit in every good work," v. 10.

            4.  "Be strengthened with all might, according to His glorious

                 power, for all patience, long-suffering, and joy . . . with

                 thanksgiving," vv. 10-13.

III.  Revelation:  Paul prays that these Christians may have . . .

            1.  An understanding MIND.

            2.  Guided FEET along life's pathway.

            3.  Serving and ministering HANDS.

            4.  A patient, long-suffering, joyful, thankful HEART.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Be open to God's revelation knowledge for me.

            2.  Walk worthy of my name . . . "CHRISTIAN."

            3.  Bear much fruit through faithful service and unselfish ministry.

            4.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit so that I may exhibit patience,

                 Long-suffering, joy, and thanksgiving . . . to magnify the

                 Lord of Glory!

 

"The manner in which it is given is worth more than the gift."

--Pierre Corneille

           

 

           

 

 

 

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