Epistle for May 29, 2015
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation May 29, 2015
how is it you do not understand?
(Mark 8:1-38)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Jesus fed the four thousand, vv. 1-10.
2. The religious leaders came seeking a sign, and Jesus warned the
disciples
to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, vv. 11-21.
3. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida, vv. 22-26.
4. Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah, vv. 27-30.
5. Jesus predicted His death and resurrection, vv. 31-33.
6. Jesus told His disciples to take up the cross and follow Him; He
also taught them the spiritual value of a human soul, vv. 34-38.
II. Meditation: on Jesus' teaching about spiritual discernment
1. There was a shortage of bread (due to carelessness?), v. 14.
2. Jesus made a spiritual application about bread and hypocrisy, but
the disciples missed the point, vv. 15-16. (See Luke 12:1)
3. Jesus perceived their dullness and guided them to a clearer
understanding of the truth: who He is, vv. 17-21, 29.
4. Jesus reminded the disciples to see, to hear, to remember, and to
understand, vv. 17-21.
III. Revelation: on overcoming a hardened heart, vv. 17-18 (Mark 6:52)
1. See – look at; observe; have spiritual perception.
2. Hear – listen; pay attention; cultivate "tuning in" to the Spirit.
3. Remember – recall former blessings: provision, protection, etc.
4. Understand – comprehend; grasp the significance of what God is
doing and why, along with the implications for His future actions.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Realize that sometimes shortages of the necessities of life are due
to our own carelessness; at other times they are part of God's plan
. . . so we should not worry nor be unduly concerned about such earthly
problems.
2. Recognize that although the physical realm is important, of course; the
spiritual realm is much more important.
3. See, hear, remember, and understand God's provision for us in the past
. . . including the "surplus" that was left over after all our physical needs
were met.
4. Comprehend that hard heartedness (toward God and man) is linked with
fear and doubt . . . the disciples could not perceive spiritual things because
of their "heart condition."
PRAYER: Lord, give me a tender, sensitive heart of faith to see, hear, remember,
and understand your work in me. AMEN
seek those things which are above
(Colossians 3:1-24)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on a believer's position in Christ
1. Believers have been raised with Christ to sit with Him at the place of
authority . . . "the right hand of God," v. 1.
2. Believers are to "set" (focus) their minds on spiritual things, not on
physical things, v. 2.
3. Believers have absolute security because their lives are hidden with
Christ in God, v. 3.
4. Because Christ literally is the believer's life, they also will appear
with Him in glory, v. 4.
II. Meditation: on "taking off" and "putting on"
1. Remove (take off; get rid of): (vv. 5, 8-9)
(1) Fornication (5) Covetousness ( 9) Malice
(2) Uncleanness (6) Idolatry (10) Blasphemy
(3) Passion (7) Anger (11) Filthy Language
(4) Evil, Desire (8) Wrath (12) Lying
2. Receive (put on; cultivate): (vv. 10, 12-15)
(1) Knowledge (5) Kindness ( 9) Tolerance
(2) Holiness (6) Humility (10) Forgiveness
(3) Acceptance (7) Meekness (11) Love
(4) Tender Mercies (8) Long-suffering (12) Peace
III. Revelation: on the positive results of such a changed life
1. Spiritual edification and encouragement of each other, v. 16.
2. Worship, including singing with grace to the Lord, v. 16.
3. "Whatever you do" . . . do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
giving thanks, v. 17.
4. "Whatever you do" . . . do it with your whole heart, as to the Lord
and not as unto men, v. 23.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Rejoice in my position of authority and security in Christ.
2. Focus my mind on spiritual things, allowing Christ to really "be" in my life.
3. Renounce sin and embrace righteousness in my daily living.
4. Worship God and serve others (with thanksgiving) in the name of the Lord
and with my whole heart . . . as UNTO the Lord.
"Adam was but human – this explains it all.
He did not want the apple for the apple's sake,
he wanted it only because it was forbidden.
The mistake was in not forbidding the serpent;
then he would have eaten the serpent!
--Mark Twain
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