E-pistle for September 29, 2016
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation September 29, 2016
Nathan's vision from god for david
(II Samuel 7:1-29)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. During a period of peace, David told Nathan the prophet that he
wanted to build a house of worship for the Lord; Nathan encouraged
David to do what was in his heart because God was with him, vv. 1-3.
2. However, later that night the Lord appeared to Nathan in a vision, giving
him a message for King David, vv. 4-16.
(A vision is received from God while a person is awake; a dream
comes during a person's sleep.)
3. Nathan told David all the words that God had revealed to him, v. 17.
4. David entered the tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant was located
and sat for a long time before the Lord; he humbly thanked the Lord for
His promises and worshipped His holy name, vv. 18-29.
II. Meditation: on Nathan's vision from God for David
1. The Lord told Nathan to tell David that His purpose for his life was not to
build a house for God to dwell in, vv. 5-7.
2. The Lord, through Nathan, reminded David that his call was to shepherd
and rule over the people of Israel, v. 8.
3. God expressed appreciation for David's desire to build Him a house; the
Lord promised to made David a "house," v. 11 . . . that is, God promised
to continue David's dynasty, rather than cutting it off as He had Saul's,
v. 15, although God did indicate that He would punish sin within the royal
house, v. 14.
4. The Lord promised that David's throne would be established forever . . .
that through his line, the Messiah would come, Who would reign as the
King of Kings, vv. 13, 16.
III. Revelation: on David's prayer in response to Nathan's vision
1. It was a prayer of humility:
"Who am I . . . that You have brought me this far," v. 18.
2. It was a prayer of thanksgiving:
"You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know
them, v. 21.
3. It was a prayer of worship and praise:
"You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You," v. 22.
4. It was a prayer of faith:
"The word that You have spoken . . . establish it forever and do
as You have said," vv. 25, 28-29.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Respond to God's vision for me with humility.
2. Thank the Lord for His manifold blessings upon my life.
3. Worship and praise the Lord, for He alone is worthy!
4. Believe God's word, and purpose for my life and move out in faith
to fulfill His destiny and purpose.
jonah pouts over god's mercy
(Jonah 4:1-11)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on what the Lord God prepared for Jonah
1. "The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah," 1:17
2. "The Lord prepared a plant . . . that it might be shade," 4:6.
3. "God prepared a worm . . . damaged the plant . . . withered," 4:7.
4. "God prepared a vehement east wind . . . sun beat on head," 4:8.
II. Mediation: on the spiritual applications seen here
1. God used the fish to teach Jonah obedience, and to provide him
deliverance from death.
2. God used the plant to teach Jonah spiritual values, and to provide
providential care for human need.
3. God used the worm to teach Jonah that human pleasures are
temporary, and to provide a spiritual test.
4. God used the wind to teach Jonah that God is in control, and to
provide discomfort so Jonah would establish God's perspective
as his own.
III. Revelation: on Jonah's bad attitude . . . "I'll do it, but"
1. I'll do it, but I don't want to.
2. I'll do it, but God is making a serious mistake.
3. I'll do it, but these people don't deserve mercy and grace.
4. I'll do it, but it makes me very angry.
5. I'll do it, but with a nasty, harsh, condemning spirit.
6. I'll do it, but I'd rather be dead.
7. I'll do it, but I hope it doesn't work.
8. I'll do it, but it'll ruin my reputation (make me look foolish).
9. I'll do it, but I could be doing something more productive elsewhere.
(See II Kings 14:25 – a prophet in Israel during Jeroboam's reign.)
10. I'll do it, but not motivated by compassionate love.
11. I'll do it, but it won't change anything permanently.
12. I'll do it, but I refuse to learn a spiritual lesson from it.
IV. Applications: on the fish, the plant, the worm, and the wind . . .
1. God has a purpose for every person's life, but we often get into trouble
by disobedience until the only hope of deliverance is God's miraculous
power,
The fish says, "JESUS SAVES."
2. We should not be exceedingly joyful over life's fleeting pleasures, not
suicidally depressed over disappointments . . . because "life is not fair!"
Remember: God is in control. The plant says, "GOD PROVIDES."
3. Just as a small worm can kill a thriving plant, so a "small" bad attitude
(pride, prejudice, self-pity, apathy) can ruin our fruitfulness as God's
spiritual plants.
The worm says "SATAN DESTROYS."
4. God sends (or allows) problems to come into our lives to discipline us,
to teach us true priorities, to humble us, and to draw us into Himself.
The wind says "THE HOLY SPIRIT DISCIPLINES AND TEACHES,"
"NOTHING will work UNLESS YOU DO."
--Maya Angelou
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