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E-Pistle

FreeWay Foundation            December 6, 2013

 

Sow the wind:  reap the whirlwind!

(Hosea 8:1-14)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the key verse of this chapter (v. 7)

            "They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind,"  Hosea 8:7.

II.  Meditation:  on the Ten Commandments and America's "reaping the whirlwind"

            1.  The United States has sown the wind of godlessness (anti-Christianity); we are

     reaping the whirlwind of practical atheism.

            2.  We have sown the wind of idolizing athletes, musicians, and actors; we are

     reaping the whirlwind of selfishness and disappointment.

            3.  We have sown the wind of profanity; we are reaping the whirlwind of accepting

     gross vulgarity as normal speech.

            4.  We have sown the wind of failing to reserve one day a week for4 worship and

     rest; we are reaping the whirlwind of spiritual emptiness and physical deterioration

     (heart disease, cancer, etc.).

            5.  We have sown the wind of disrespect for parents, elders, and other authority figures;

     we are reaping the whirlwind of anarchy in our homes, schools, and cities.

            6.  We have sown the wind of devaluation of human life by condoning violent movies

     and bloody video games; we are reaping the whirlwind of assaults on the streets,

     random shootings in schools, and serial killings . . . not to mention abortion,

     euthanasia, and suicide.

            7.  We have sown the wind of adultery and homosexuality; we are reaping the whirlwind

                 of unwed mothers, venereal diseases and AIDS, widespread divorce, and the

                 dehumanizing effects of rampant immorality.

8.  We have sown the wind of dishonesty and cheating; we are reaping the whirlwind of

     robberies, embezzlements, gambling addictions, and thousands of frivolous lawsuits

     based entirely upon human greed.

9.  We have sown the wind of lying and deceitfulness; we are reaping the whirlwind of

     cynicism, distrust, hopelessness, and dishonor.

          10.  We have sown the wind of covetousness; we are reaping the whirlwind of credit card

                 debt, bankruptcy, and the enthronement of materialism.

III.  Revelation:  on the spiritual principles of sowing and reaping

            1.  Persons always reap WHAT they sow, Job 4:8; Galatians 6:7.

            2.  Persons always reap MORE THAN THEY SOW, ii Corinthians 9:6.

            3.  Persons who sow INIQUITY, reap SORROW, Proverbs 22:8.

            4.  Persons who sow RIGHTEOUSNESS, reap MERCY, Hosea 10:12.

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

            1.  Sow the good seed of the truth of God's word, Mark 4:14.

            2.  Sow to the Spirit (in the spiritual realm), Galatians 6:8.

            3.  Sow in tears (weeping in intercessory prayer), Psalm 126:5.

            4.  Sow in faith and hope (expecting to reap a good harvest), Psalm 126:6.

 

 

 

The grace of generosity

(II Corinthians 8:1-24)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  Paul commended the sacrificial generosity of the believers in the churches

                 of Macedonia, vv. 1-5.

            2.  Paul urged Titus to encourage the Corinthian Christians to abound in the

                 grace of giving also, vv. 6-7.

            3.  Paul cited the sacrificial giving of Jesus Christ as a pattern for giving by

                 the believers, vv. 8-15.

            4.  Paul arranged for a collection to be received from the Gentile Christians

                 to help relieve the poverty of the saints in Jerusalem, vv. 16-24.

II.  Meditation:  on Paul's commendation of the Macedonians

            1.  They first gave themselves to the Lord, v. 5.

            2.  They gave with a voluntary, free-hearted, generous willingness, vv. 3-4.

            3.  They gave as much as they were able, v. 3.

            4.  They gave even beyond their ability, v. 3.

III.  Observations:  on Paul's partial listing of spiritual graces (vv. 6-7)

            1.  FAITH

            2.  SPEECH

            3.  KNOWLEDGE

            4.  DILIGENCE

            5.  LOVE

            6.  GIVING

IV.  Revelation:  on the spiritual principles of giving

            1.  Sacrificial giving is the will of God, v. 5.

            2.  Giving reveals a Christian's degree of sincerity and love, v. 8.

            3.  Giving follows the example of Christ, who gave His all, v. 9.

            4.  Pledges that a believer makes must be fulfilled, vv. 10-11.

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

            1.  See "GIVING" as a grace on a par with "FAITH" and "LOVE," vv. 6-7.

            2.  Cultivate a "willing mind" in the realm of stewardship of my possessions,

     v. 12.

            3.  Understand that God does not judge how much I given in comparison to

                 someone else's gift; rather, He judges how much I give in comparison to

                 how much I could have given, v. 12.

            4.  Perceive that God desires equal sacrifice, not equal gifts; and that if His

                 people will be faithful in their giving, all of God's ministries will be

                 adequately funded, vv. 13-14.

 

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!! 

 

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