WeLoveGod RallysPublic Newsletters: epistle2equipEpistle for May 24, 2002

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Epistle for May 24, 2002

#1 · May 23, 2002, 1:42 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on May 23, 2002, 1:42 pm
Posted by: freewayfoundation <freewayfoundation@...>

e-pistle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation May 24, 2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In This Issue:
Sermon: Matthew 24:37-39 & Genesis 6:1-12
Bible Study: Lamentations 4:1-22
The Counselor's Corner
"Personal & Practical" order form

The Days of Noah
Matthew 24:37-39 & Genesis 6:1-12

Many of us remember Bill Cosby's humorous monologue about Noah hearing God tell him to build an ark. It was funny! However, the historical account of Noah and the flood is not a laughing matter.

How Was It In The Days Of Noah?

Our passages in Genesis and Matthew reveal these four things which characterized Noah's generation:
1. Satanism. The word "Nephilim," translated "sons of God," Genesis 6:2,
refers to fallen dark angels or demons.
2. Wickedness. The root of this word also is related to witchcraft (wicca) and to wicker
(a type of furniture). It essentially means "twisted." The people of Noah's day had twisted
good into evil and evil into good. It characterizes a society that is addicted to depravity . . .
not discerning right from wrong.
3. Total Corruption of Society. "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart
was only evil continually," Genesis 6:5. "It was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted
their way on the earth," Genesis 6:12.
4. Full of Violence. The culture of Noah's day was notorious for its cruelty and
disregard for human life. Genesis 6:12 says, "The earth was filled with violence."

SATANISM * WICKEDNESS

CORRUPTION * VIOLENCE

THESE WORDS CERTAINLY DESCRIBE AMERICAN
CIVILIZATION TODAY!

Who Was This Man, Noah?

Noah, which means "comfort," was the ninth generation from Adam. His father was Lamech; his grandfather was Methuselah; his great-grandfather was Enoch.

Noah found grace in God's eyes (Genesis 6:8). He was just (fair, true, honest), Genesis 6:9. He was perfect (blameless, having integrity). God pronounced him righteous, Genesis 7:1.

Noah had a close relationship with God. He walked with God, as did his ancestor Enoch, Genesis 6:9. He listened and heard God, Genesis 7:1. He did more than merely "hear" . . . he obeyed, Genesis 7:7.

Noah's Place in Faith's Hall Of Fame
(Hebrews 11:7)

1. Noah lived by Faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6.

2. Noah Saw The Future. Persons who walk with God have greater spiritual insight . . .
discernment; revelation.

3. Noah Responded Out Of Reverent Awe. (Even though we may walk with God,
we must never become over-familiar with Him. We're not even close to being equals!)

4. Noah Obeyed And Built. If we ask and seek, God will reveal to us His vision of
our destiny. Such a vision, however, is worth little without our obedient action.

5. Noah Built An Ark To Save His Family. We are responsible for our
family members . . . so we must look beyond today into tomorrow. Our influence for
good (or for bad) can and does affect many generations of children yet unborn.

6. Noah "Condemned" The World. That is, his life starkly contrasted with
("showed-up") the wickedness of his society. He was a righteous man in the midst of
unrighteousness. Peter calls Noah a "preacher of righteousness," II Peter 2:5.

7. Noah Inherited Righteousness. This gift was passed down to him by
Father God's pronouncement. It foreshadowed Christ's righteousness being imputed
to those of us who believe in Him.

Noah After The Flood

Genesis 8 and 9 tell of Noah building an altar and worshipping God, Who had preserved him and his family through the flood. His worship was pleasing to God; God promised to deal with mankind in mercy (Genesis 8:20-22).

God blessed Noah and his family. The high point of that blessing was that God spoke to Noah and to his sons (Genesis 9:8). God then established His covenant with them and gave the rainbow as a visible sign of that covenant.

Pastors, do you want to be respected by your family? . . . remembered by your friends? . . . rewarded by your Father?

Then do as Noah did, in spite of our surrounding Satanic, wicked, corrupt, violent society (Philippians 2:15). Accept God's grace; walk with Him; listen to Him; believe His words.

This lifestyle produces persons of integrity . . . with God-endowed righteousness. Such faithfulness brings God's protection on the family. And best of all, it produces children who also hear God's voice!

Like rainbows, God's convenant of blessing can be seen by multitudes of people. However, only Godly families can truly understand the spiritual significance of the signs of God's eternal covenant with man, (I Corinthians 2:9, 10).

How the Gold Has Become Dim!
(Lamentations 4:1-22)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter

1. Jeremiah portrays the "before and after" conditions of the temple (gold; stones)
and of the men (precious sons): after the Babylonians destroyed the city, gold
was "dim," temple jewels were scattered, mothers became indifferent to the needs
of their children, and wealthy citizens were reduced to abject poverty, vv. 1-6.
2. Jeremiah describes the Nazarites (high ranked nobles) as looking like skeletons,
emaciated by starvation; he relates that the mothers of the besiged city have been
forced into cannibalism, boiling and eating their own children, vv. 7-11.
3. Jeremiah blamed the unbelievably tragic conditions upon the deceptive, murderous,
sinful prophets, priests, and other leaders of the nation . . . who killed God's true
prophets (v. 13; Jeremiah 26:11) and who had looked to other nations for protection
(v. 17) rather than looking unto the Lord, vv. 12-20.
4. Jeremiah condemned the neighboring nation of Edom (the descendants of Esau, Jacob's
brother), predicting that they would be punished for their treachery against Israel, vv. 21-22.

II. Meditation and Revelation: on some key verses in this chapter

1. "The precious sons of Zion . . . are regarded as clay pots, the work of the hands
of the potter," v. 2; all persons are like clay in the hands of the Potter, Almighty God,
Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:2-6; Romans 9:21.
2. "The young children ask for bread, but no one breaks it for them," v. 4: "If you
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more
will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him," Matthew 7:11.
3. "The punishment of the inquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the
punishment on the sin of Sodom," v. 6; persons who have greater knowledge of God's
truth will be held more accountable than those who have less spiritual light, Luke 12:47-48;
Matthew 10:15; 11:23-24.
4. "The adversary and the enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem . . . because of the
sins of the prophets and the iniquities of her priests," vv. 12-13; leaders must walk
obediently because their sins can bring God's judgment upon a nation, Proverbs 11:11; 14:34.

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

1. Yield my life to the Potter to be molded into a useful vessel.
2. Ask, with childlike faith, for good things from my heavenly Father.
3. Recognize my privilege and responsibility as an enlightened believer.
4. Walk with godly integrity so that my influence may benefit others.

Strategic Pastoral Counseling
by: Dr. Bruce Morrison

At this time of year the sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance" can be heard in communities and institutions of learning throughout the state. Graduation! It is a time of transition for those participating as well as for those around them.

Sometimes the transition is an exciting event; sometimes it is fraught with tension and anxiety; but each and every time, it is something that can not be ignored.

Such is the transition that Pastoral Counselors and their counselees face. There are several forms of "graduation" in the world of counseling.

The most common form of "graduation" is the normal process of terminating the counseling process because the previously established goals have been achieved and the individual receiving the counseling is ready to "move on." A new friend has been discovered and the knowledge that they are there if needed is most comfort to the counselee. Most counselors and counselees look forward to this day!

Another type of "graduation" is the referral to another counselor that has a higher level of expertise to deal with the issues that have been identified. This "graduation" has some healthy tension and anxiety associated with it, and the hope of the issue resolution makes the transition easier for the counselee. The Pastoral Counselor maintains contact with the individual and is available for follow up if needed.

A third type of "graduation" is the one associated with the use of short-term counseling model. In this model, an intense focus on one issue for a period of five or six sessions occurs. At the end of this short period, the counselee is released to work on assimilating new behaviors identified in the counseling process into his/her lifestyle. A few months later, the counselee may return to the Pastoral Counselor to work on another identified issue. This type of "graduation" is staged in phases and may occur several times before a final release is accomplished.

Other "graduations" include moving from individual counseling to a group counseling model, completion of a twelve-step model of counseling, and completing a series of bibliotherapy assignments that move a counselee to a new level of functioning. Institutional graduation is a signal that new vistas await the individual. The same is true for the counseling "graduate." Newly identified skills and new ways of meeting the stresses of everyday life release the individual to be more of what God created them to be.

As always, we need to consider what Scripture reveals to us regarding transitions in our pilgrimage of life. Scripture is full of examples that deal with "graduations." Consider Paul's conversion experience, or Thomas' final acknowledgement of Jesus after His resurrection.

This might be a good topic (Biblical "graduation's") to incorporate into your daily quiet time and Bible study. Now I wouldn't expect you to play "Pomp and Circumstance" every time you release a counselee, but it is a time of prayer, praise, and celebration to God.

HAPPY GRADUATION!

"Personal & Practical" Bible Studies on Software

Dr. Curt Scarborough, out of his background and experience of almost a half-century of Christian ministry, has written a complete 5-volume set of Bible studies entitled "Personal & Practical" which will be available soon on CD. This new software package includes a chapter-by-chapter study on every book in the Old and New Testaments.
Personal & Practical - The 5 Books of Law
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 187 chapters of Genesis through Deuteronomy
Personal & Practical - The 12 Books of History
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 249 chapters of Joshua through Esther
Personal & Practical - The 5 Books of Poetry
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 243 chapters of Job through Song of Solomon
Personal & Practical - The 17 Books of Prophecy
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 250 chapters of Isaiah through Malachi
Personal & Practical - The 27 Books of The New Testament
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 260 chapters of Matthew through Revelation
"Personal & Practical" is a result of at least four hours of daily study and writing over a period of more than three years . . . a total of 5,000 plus hours of study and meditation. It is easily adaptable for private devotional use, aimed toward personal spiritual growth. Although it is designed to build discipline in personal study, it also provides practical, easy-to-understand Christian principles for teaching within a Bible class or prayer service.
"Personal & Practical" contains one full page of outline/study notes for each of the 1,189 chapters in the Bible. It is presented in a sentence outline format, with references, and is suitable for expository teaching. Intensely practical, each study in the series contains four main headings: concentration, meditation, revelation, and application.
The study, which allows for systematic through-the-Bible teaching, comes packaged on a single compact disk, designed for easy duplication of study notes to be distributed to Bible class or the congregation. It contains enough useable material for two expository sermons or Bible teaching sessions per week for more than 11 years!
The five "Personal & Practical" books serve as the main texts for the Spiritual Mentoring track of the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity founded by Dr. Scarborough in 1992. It introduces serious students of the Scriptures to his innovative MERE Bible study system, a new revelatory method which emphasizes meditating upon God's word and opening to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, I John 2:20, 27.
Special Introductory Pre-release Offer
$39.95 including postage, shipping and handling costs
Save $10 off the regular price of $49.95
Offer good through May 31, 2002
For a sample of "Personal & Practical" Bible study, visit our website at
www.freewayfoundation.org
Satisfaction guaranteed or your money will be refunded!
Mail check or money order to:
FreeWay Foundation
3426 Bridgeland Drive
Bridgeton, MO 63044
Detach Here

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Personal & Practical Order Form
Name____________________________________________ CD to be shipped in September

Address__________________________________________ Please send check or money order to:
FreeWay Foundation
City_______________________________State_____Zip__________________ 3426 Bridgeland Drive
Bridgeton, MO 63044
_______________Copies @ $39.95 _________________Enclosed

Posted by: freewayfoundation <freewayfoundation@...>

e-pistle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation May 24, 2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In This Issue:
Sermon: Matthew 24:37-39 & Genesis 6:1-12
Bible Study: Lamentations 4:1-22
The Counselor's Corner
"Personal & Practical" order form

The Days of Noah
Matthew 24:37-39 & Genesis 6:1-12

Many of us remember Bill Cosby's humorous monologue about Noah hearing God tell him to build an ark. It was funny! However, the historical account of Noah and the flood is not a laughing matter.

How Was It In The Days Of Noah?

Our passages in Genesis and Matthew reveal these four things which characterized Noah's generation:
1. Satanism. The word "Nephilim," translated "sons of God," Genesis 6:2,
refers to fallen dark angels or demons.
2. Wickedness. The root of this word also is related to witchcraft (wicca) and to wicker
(a type of furniture). It essentially means "twisted." The people of Noah's day had twisted
good into evil and evil into good. It characterizes a society that is addicted to depravity . . .
not discerning right from wrong.
3. Total Corruption of Society. "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart
was only evil continually," Genesis 6:5. "It was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted
their way on the earth," Genesis 6:12.
4. Full of Violence. The culture of Noah's day was notorious for its cruelty and
disregard for human life. Genesis 6:12 says, "The earth was filled with violence."

SATANISM * WICKEDNESS

CORRUPTION * VIOLENCE

THESE WORDS CERTAINLY DESCRIBE AMERICAN
CIVILIZATION TODAY!

Who Was This Man, Noah?

Noah, which means "comfort," was the ninth generation from Adam. His father was Lamech; his grandfather was Methuselah; his great-grandfather was Enoch.

Noah found grace in God's eyes (Genesis 6:8). He was just (fair, true, honest), Genesis 6:9. He was perfect (blameless, having integrity). God pronounced him righteous, Genesis 7:1.

Noah had a close relationship with God. He walked with God, as did his ancestor Enoch, Genesis 6:9. He listened and heard God, Genesis 7:1. He did more than merely "hear" . . . he obeyed, Genesis 7:7.

Noah's Place in Faith's Hall Of Fame
(Hebrews 11:7)

1. Noah lived by Faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6.

2. Noah Saw The Future. Persons who walk with God have greater spiritual insight . . .
discernment; revelation.

3. Noah Responded Out Of Reverent Awe. (Even though we may walk with God,
we must never become over-familiar with Him. We're not even close to being equals!)

4. Noah Obeyed And Built. If we ask and seek, God will reveal to us His vision of
our destiny. Such a vision, however, is worth little without our obedient action.

5. Noah Built An Ark To Save His Family. We are responsible for our
family members . . . so we must look beyond today into tomorrow. Our influence for
good (or for bad) can and does affect many generations of children yet unborn.

6. Noah "Condemned" The World. That is, his life starkly contrasted with
("showed-up") the wickedness of his society. He was a righteous man in the midst of
unrighteousness. Peter calls Noah a "preacher of righteousness," II Peter 2:5.

7. Noah Inherited Righteousness. This gift was passed down to him by
Father God's pronouncement. It foreshadowed Christ's righteousness being imputed
to those of us who believe in Him.

Noah After The Flood

Genesis 8 and 9 tell of Noah building an altar and worshipping God, Who had preserved him and his family through the flood. His worship was pleasing to God; God promised to deal with mankind in mercy (Genesis 8:20-22).

God blessed Noah and his family. The high point of that blessing was that God spoke to Noah and to his sons (Genesis 9:8). God then established His covenant with them and gave the rainbow as a visible sign of that covenant.

Pastors, do you want to be respected by your family? . . . remembered by your friends? . . . rewarded by your Father?

Then do as Noah did, in spite of our surrounding Satanic, wicked, corrupt, violent society (Philippians 2:15). Accept God's grace; walk with Him; listen to Him; believe His words.

This lifestyle produces persons of integrity . . . with God-endowed righteousness. Such faithfulness brings God's protection on the family. And best of all, it produces children who also hear God's voice!

Like rainbows, God's convenant of blessing can be seen by multitudes of people. However, only Godly families can truly understand the spiritual significance of the signs of God's eternal covenant with man, (I Corinthians 2:9, 10).

How the Gold Has Become Dim!
(Lamentations 4:1-22)

I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter

1. Jeremiah portrays the "before and after" conditions of the temple (gold; stones)
and of the men (precious sons): after the Babylonians destroyed the city, gold
was "dim," temple jewels were scattered, mothers became indifferent to the needs
of their children, and wealthy citizens were reduced to abject poverty, vv. 1-6.
2. Jeremiah describes the Nazarites (high ranked nobles) as looking like skeletons,
emaciated by starvation; he relates that the mothers of the besiged city have been
forced into cannibalism, boiling and eating their own children, vv. 7-11.
3. Jeremiah blamed the unbelievably tragic conditions upon the deceptive, murderous,
sinful prophets, priests, and other leaders of the nation . . . who killed God's true
prophets (v. 13; Jeremiah 26:11) and who had looked to other nations for protection
(v. 17) rather than looking unto the Lord, vv. 12-20.
4. Jeremiah condemned the neighboring nation of Edom (the descendants of Esau, Jacob's
brother), predicting that they would be punished for their treachery against Israel, vv. 21-22.

II. Meditation and Revelation: on some key verses in this chapter

1. "The precious sons of Zion . . . are regarded as clay pots, the work of the hands
of the potter," v. 2; all persons are like clay in the hands of the Potter, Almighty God,
Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:2-6; Romans 9:21.
2. "The young children ask for bread, but no one breaks it for them," v. 4: "If you
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more
will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him," Matthew 7:11.
3. "The punishment of the inquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the
punishment on the sin of Sodom," v. 6; persons who have greater knowledge of God's
truth will be held more accountable than those who have less spiritual light, Luke 12:47-48;
Matthew 10:15; 11:23-24.
4. "The adversary and the enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem . . . because of the
sins of the prophets and the iniquities of her priests," vv. 12-13; leaders must walk
obediently because their sins can bring God's judgment upon a nation, Proverbs 11:11; 14:34.

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

1. Yield my life to the Potter to be molded into a useful vessel.
2. Ask, with childlike faith, for good things from my heavenly Father.
3. Recognize my privilege and responsibility as an enlightened believer.
4. Walk with godly integrity so that my influence may benefit others.

Strategic Pastoral Counseling
by: Dr. Bruce Morrison

At this time of year the sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance" can be heard in communities and institutions of learning throughout the state. Graduation! It is a time of transition for those participating as well as for those around them.

Sometimes the transition is an exciting event; sometimes it is fraught with tension and anxiety; but each and every time, it is something that can not be ignored.

Such is the transition that Pastoral Counselors and their counselees face. There are several forms of "graduation" in the world of counseling.

The most common form of "graduation" is the normal process of terminating the counseling process because the previously established goals have been achieved and the individual receiving the counseling is ready to "move on." A new friend has been discovered and the knowledge that they are there if needed is most comfort to the counselee. Most counselors and counselees look forward to this day!

Another type of "graduation" is the referral to another counselor that has a higher level of expertise to deal with the issues that have been identified. This "graduation" has some healthy tension and anxiety associated with it, and the hope of the issue resolution makes the transition easier for the counselee. The Pastoral Counselor maintains contact with the individual and is available for follow up if needed.

A third type of "graduation" is the one associated with the use of short-term counseling model. In this model, an intense focus on one issue for a period of five or six sessions occurs. At the end of this short period, the counselee is released to work on assimilating new behaviors identified in the counseling process into his/her lifestyle. A few months later, the counselee may return to the Pastoral Counselor to work on another identified issue. This type of "graduation" is staged in phases and may occur several times before a final release is accomplished.

Other "graduations" include moving from individual counseling to a group counseling model, completion of a twelve-step model of counseling, and completing a series of bibliotherapy assignments that move a counselee to a new level of functioning. Institutional graduation is a signal that new vistas await the individual. The same is true for the counseling "graduate." Newly identified skills and new ways of meeting the stresses of everyday life release the individual to be more of what God created them to be.

As always, we need to consider what Scripture reveals to us regarding transitions in our pilgrimage of life. Scripture is full of examples that deal with "graduations." Consider Paul's conversion experience, or Thomas' final acknowledgement of Jesus after His resurrection.

This might be a good topic (Biblical "graduation's") to incorporate into your daily quiet time and Bible study. Now I wouldn't expect you to play "Pomp and Circumstance" every time you release a counselee, but it is a time of prayer, praise, and celebration to God.

HAPPY GRADUATION!

"Personal & Practical" Bible Studies on Software

Dr. Curt Scarborough, out of his background and experience of almost a half-century of Christian ministry, has written a complete 5-volume set of Bible studies entitled "Personal & Practical" which will be available soon on CD. This new software package includes a chapter-by-chapter study on every book in the Old and New Testaments.
Personal & Practical - The 5 Books of Law
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 187 chapters of Genesis through Deuteronomy
Personal & Practical - The 12 Books of History
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 249 chapters of Joshua through Esther
Personal & Practical - The 5 Books of Poetry
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 243 chapters of Job through Song of Solomon
Personal & Practical - The 17 Books of Prophecy
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 250 chapters of Isaiah through Malachi
Personal & Practical - The 27 Books of The New Testament
Preaching and teaching outlines and notes on
all 260 chapters of Matthew through Revelation
"Personal & Practical" is a result of at least four hours of daily study and writing over a period of more than three years . . . a total of 5,000 plus hours of study and meditation. It is easily adaptable for private devotional use, aimed toward personal spiritual growth. Although it is designed to build discipline in personal study, it also provides practical, easy-to-understand Christian principles for teaching within a Bible class or prayer service.
"Personal & Practical" contains one full page of outline/study notes for each of the 1,189 chapters in the Bible. It is presented in a sentence outline format, with references, and is suitable for expository teaching. Intensely practical, each study in the series contains four main headings: concentration, meditation, revelation, and application.
The study, which allows for systematic through-the-Bible teaching, comes packaged on a single compact disk, designed for easy duplication of study notes to be distributed to Bible class or the congregation. It contains enough useable material for two expository sermons or Bible teaching sessions per week for more than 11 years!
The five "Personal & Practical" books serve as the main texts for the Spiritual Mentoring track of the Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity founded by Dr. Scarborough in 1992. It introduces serious students of the Scriptures to his innovative MERE Bible study system, a new revelatory method which emphasizes meditating upon God's word and opening to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, I John 2:20, 27.
Special Introductory Pre-release Offer
$39.95 including postage, shipping and handling costs
Save $10 off the regular price of $49.95
Offer good through May 31, 2002
For a sample of "Personal & Practical" Bible study, visit our website at
http://www.freewayfoundation.org
Satisfaction guaranteed or your money will be refunded!
Mail check or money order to:
FreeWay Foundation
3426 Bridgeland Drive
Bridgeton, MO 63044
Detach Here

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Personal & Practical Order Form
Name____________________________________________ CD to be shipped in September

Address__________________________________________ Please send check or money order to:
FreeWay Foundation
City_______________________________State_____Zip__________________ 3426 Bridgeland Drive
Bridgeton, MO 63044
_______________Copies @ $39.95 _________________Enclosed