E-pistle for November 6, 2015
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation November 6, 2015
god's transition to new leadership
(I Samuel 12:1-25)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Samuel called upon the nation to testify and witness against him if he
ever had treated them unjustly; they affirmed his integrity, vv. 1-5.
2. Samuel reviewed the Lord's protection and provision of the Jewish
nation from the time of Jacob, to Moses and the Exodus, to the
judges, and to the present day when Saul had defeated Nahash;
Samuel urged Israel to fear, serve, and obey God, or their rebellion
would bring God's divine punishment, vv. 6-15.
3. To emphasize his warning of judgment, Samuel prayed and God sent
miraculous, unseasonable thunder and rain; in fear, the people begged
for Samuel to pray for them as they confessed their sins, including the
sin of asking for a king, vv. 16-19. Samuel comforted and encouraged
the nation; he assured them that he never would cease to pray for them
and that he would continue to teach them God's good and right way; he
concluded his address at Saul's coronation with a solemn warning of
God's punishment if they failed to live righteously, vv. 20-15.
II. Meditation: on Samuel's example of being a true man of God . . .
1. He lives a life of complete integrity before God and the people, vv. 4-5.
2. He speaks the words of God plainly and courageously, vv. 14-15.
3. He has spiritual power, as the Lord answers his prayers, vv. 16-18.
4. He loves his people and continuously comforts, encourages, teaches,
and prays for them, vv. 23-15.
III. Revelation: on some spiritual lessons for times of leadership transition
1. A change of leadership does not necessarily mean that the former leader
was unworthy, ungodly, or unsuccessful.
2. A new or different method or structure does not mean that the old way
was wrong or ineffective.
3. The old leader should step aside gracefully in God's time, giving full
support and encouragement to the new leader.
4. The old leader should sincerely hope and pray for the new leader to
accomplish greater things and to be more successful; anything less than
this humble attitude is a sin!
IV. Applications: as a Christian leader, I need to . . .
1. Live a life of total integrity before God and man.
2. Realize that new methods and new structures often are necessary to meet
new challenges and new opportunities.
3. Give full and sincere support to my successor.
4. Pray for bigger successes and more glorious days of victory in the future
than I ever experienced and enjoyed in the past.
praying with the affection of Christ
(Philippians 1:8-11)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on Paul's prayer for the Philippians (vv. 8-11)
1. That your love may abound still more in knowledge and all discernment.
2. That you may approve the things that are excellent.
3. That you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.
4. (That you may be) filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by
Christ Jesus, to the glory and praise of God.
II. Meditation: on the spiritual traits in this text
1. SPIRITUAL VISION, v. 9.
2. SPIRITUAL VALUES, v. 10.
3. SPIRITUAL VIRTUE, v. 10.
4. SPIRITUAL VITALITY, v. 11.
III. Revelation: spiritual discernment regarding these ideas
1. Abounding love results from knowing Christ intimately and discerning
His will . . . SPIRITUAL VISION.
2. Such love (knowledge and discernment) causes a believer to be pleased
with (accept and commend) things that are worthy, choice, and remarkably
good . . . SPIRITUAL VALUES.
3. SPIRITUAL VISION (#1) plus SPIRITUAL VALUES (#2) produces SPIRITUAL
VIRTUE: INTEGRITY – "SINCERE AND WITHOUT OFFENSE," v. 10.
4. SPIRITUAL VISION (#1) plus SPIRITUAL VALUES (#2) plus SPIRITUAL VIRTUE
produce SPIRITUAL VITALITY . . . fruitfulness: FILLED WITH THE FRUITS OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS," v. 11.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to cultivate . . .
1. SPIRITUAL VISION – knowledge and discernment of God's love.
2. SPIRITUAL VALUES – accepting and commending God's best.
3. SPIRITUAL VIRTUES – integrity: sincerity without offense.
4. SPIRITUAL VITALITY – bearing much fruit.
PRAYER: Lord, give me greater knowledge of Your love and greater discernment of
Your purpose. Help me to prioritize the things which are spiritually excellent
and valuable. Strengthen me to walk in unfailing integrity. Use me to produce
abundant fruits of righteousness. AMEN
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