Quote from Forum Archives on September 6, 2001, 9:19 am

Posted by: ccfmo <ccfmo@...>

e-pistle2equippers
Weekly ministry letter (successor to "The Whetstone" ) from Christian Civic Foundation
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President September 7,2001
___________________________________________________________________________________________

In this issue:
Sermon: Zechariah 4:10
Bible Study: Priority Programs
Lifeskills in Spripture
CCF Mission/Vision/Goals

Who Has Despised The Day of Small Things?
Zechariah 4:10

In 1991 at the University of Colorado, 71 men met to pray for our nation and Promise Keepers began. The next year there were 4,000; then 25,000; and in 1994 they filled six football stadiums with over 400,000 men. In 1996 over one million Christian men met in Washington, D.C.

The adage "Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow!" could be illustrated hundreds of ways from your own experience.

In Mark 4:26-29, Jesus refers to a sower scattering seed. Then He describes the process of its growth; it sprouts and grows ..."first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head"...the grain ripens and the harvest is reaped.

The Lord makes the same point in Matthew 13:31,32. In this parable, He illustrates the growth of the kingdom by calling attention to the tiny mustard seed which grows into a tree large enough for birds to nest in its branches.

The remarkable growth of Promise Keepers is a present day picture of the booming of the early church in the book of Acts. From the small group of eleven apostles (1:13) and 120 disciples (1:15), the Lord of the Harvest kept multiplying believers. He added 3,000 on Pentecost (2:41); they numbered 5,000 within a few days (4:4); then "increasingly ... multitudes," (5:14); "multiplied greatly ... great many priests" (6:7); and on and on!

The principle of small beginnings also applies to personal spiritual development and to useful ministry performed in the service of the Lord. In Luke 19:17, Jesus commended a faithful servant, "Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities."

Jesus' younger brother, James, wrote of the power of small things. A small bit can guide a horse; a small rudder can turn a ship; a small match can burn down an entire forest! (Jas. 3:3-6).

Zechariah 4:10 says, "Who has despised the day of small things?"

The Jewish exiles had returned from Babylonian captivity, led by governor, Zerubbabel, and high priest, Joshua. Jerusalem had been destroyed and the temple leveled. The people began rebuilding. They laid the foundation of the temple. Then their enemies lied to King Cyrus of Persia about the Jews motivation for the construction work, and at Cyrus' command, all work ceased.

For 15 years, nothing happened. Zerubbabel and Joshua faced delay, discouragement, and doubt. They were beaten down by fear, frailty, and frustration.

Then God raised up two prophets (Haggai and Zechariah) to encourage the leaders and the people to begin again.

Zechariah spoke these words from the Lord: "Not by might nor power, but My Spirit" (4:6).

Zechariah warned, "Who despises the day of small things?" In other words, we should admire small beginnings ... seeing beyond the present into the future ... seeing the dream become reality.

He said there would be rejoicing at the first little steps of faith toward accomlishing the vision. The plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand was an act of faith showing he believed that the temple would be erected. He looked at the plumb line; he saw the perpendicular walls of the building. It was a small thing, a tiny beginning.

Contrast the words "despise" and its opposite "admire." Despise means to look down upon, or hold in contempt. Admire means to look up to, regard with approval, and affection, to prize highly.

God has a destiny - a Godly purpose - for your ministry and mine. Perhaps you have seen a vision of what God wants to accomplish through you. If so, pursue it; if not, seek for it!

Helen Keller, when asked her opinion of life's greatest handicap, replied "Sight without vision."

Vision - spiritual perception - does not come by working it up nor by thinking it up. Vision comes only "by God's Spirit."

What attitudes are held toward small beginnings?
1. Satanic enemies' attitude; furious, mocking (Sanballet in Neh. 4:2-4).
2. God's attitude; rejoicing - the "seven eyes" mean that God, himself, rejoices when He sees
that one small step of faith, that holding up the plumb line. Luke 10:21 records that
"Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit" over small steps taken in faith.
3. Friends and families attitudes: encouragement, love, hope - similar to a parent's
reaction to a child's first steps. (Sometimes, however, family and friends respond to
small beginnings with skepticism and discouragement, (see Haggai 2:3). Optimists see
small beginnings and are encouraged; pessimist see small beginnings and are discouraged.
4. Personal attitude: How do you perceive your own small steps toward spiritual development and
ministry? With faith and confidence because you see beyond the plumb line to the completed
temple? Or with increasing doubt and pessimism because your steps are so small and your
progress so insignificant? Do you admire or despise "small things"?
CCF, FreeWay, Pillsbury Institute - all have had small beginnings. (Probably your church
and its ministries has had small beginnings.) This issue of "e-pistle2equippers"
is a small beginning ... merely a step toward fulfilling our God-given vision to help
"equip the equippers."
Our goal is to sharpen your edge for effective service as you labor in the harvest fields.
"Come along with us, and we will do you good," Num. 10:29-32 (paraphrase).

The Priority Programs of the New Testament Church
(Acts 2:42-47)

Immediately following the empowering of the church by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
these are the priority programs which were established.

I. They majored on the basics (v. 42).
1. By continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine (Bible preaching and teaching).
2. By fellowship ("Koinonia") - sharing, unity, close association, partnership, participation,
a communion, contributory help, the brotherhood. Koinonia is a unity of believers brought
about by the Holy Spirit, in which the individual shares in common and intimate bond of
fellowship with the Lord and with the rest of the Christian society.
3. By breaking of bread - a full meal, which also included participation in the Lord's Supper
within the context of praise and worship.
4. By prayers (including fasting, as seen elsewhere in the Book of Acts).

II. They magnified the miraculous works of the Holy Spirit (v. 43).
1. Wonders and signs were done by the Lord through the spiritual leaders, including the healing
of the sick, etc.
2. Such manifestations of the power of the Holy Spirit produced fear - an atmosphere of reverence
and awe within the congregation.

III. They ministered to the hurting and needy "family" of members (vv.44-45).
1. By developing a sense of community, or "family" ... ("All who believed were together and had
all things in common.") This was spontaneous and voluntary benevolence as a result of truly
understanding God's love.
Forced community is communism.

IV. They modeled practical Christian living (vv. 46-47a).
1. By meeting regularly (daily) with fellow believers in God's house.
2. By living "in one accord" ... in spiritual unity, with "gladness (joy) and
simplicity (singleness) of heart."
3. By witnessing daily "from house to house" ... showing cordial hospitality
to their neighbors.
4. By praising God ... worshipping Him in personal and family devotions, and
corporately as a body of believers.
5. By exhibiting compassion and integrity, thereby developing a reputation of
godliness within the community of unbelievers.

V. They multiplied greatly through the power of the Lord (v. 47b).
When all these things are done ... in the right order ... God will bring about a tremendous
evangelistic outreach and ingathering:
"The Lord will add to the church daily those who are being saved."

Lifeskills in Scripture

1. Values: liberty (freedom) based on equality, truth, and justice
"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," (Jn. 8:32)

2. Self-esteem: healthy and balanced view of personal worth
"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor," (Psa. 8:3-5)

3. Coping: skillful handling of difficult situations
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Phil. 4:13).

4. Problem-solving: process of finding solutions to life's dilemmas
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths," (Prov. 3:5-6)

5. Communications: active listening, and sharing thoughts and feelings
"Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of
man does not produce the righteousness of God," (Jas. 1:19-20)

6. Conflict resolution: non-violent and peaceful settling of disagreements
"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers ... Let all
bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from
you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you," (Eph. 4:29-32)

7. Decision making: choosing wisely after evaluating possible consequences
"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore chooose life,"
(Deut. 30:19)

8. Natural highs: wise use of leisure time; enjoying life without chemicals
"I have come that they may have life; and that they may have it more
abundantly," (Jn. 10:10)

Christian Civic Foundation

Mission Statement
"To train persons in Scriptural lifeskills to enable them to make drug-free
violence-free, addiction-free choices, for the glory of God"

Vision Statement
"Radiant drug-free, violence-free, addiction-free persons through
Scriptural lifeskills training" - John 10:10b

a.. To apply Scriptural principles to the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social problems of children, youth, and adults
b.. To activate spiritual concepts into positive lifeskills to equip individuals for radiant, successful everyday living
c.. To advocate (by teching and example) a life free from alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, addiction, and violence as the best choice for all persons
d.. To achieve a reduction in the number of consumers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as a reduction in drug-related and violence-related problems

Goals
a.. To develop drug-free, violence-free, students through lifeskills training in grades K-12
b.. To enable parents to develop drug-free, violence-free, addiction-free children through lifeskills training
c.. To encourage Christian public school teachers and other staff members to model radiant drug-free, violence-free, addiction-free lives on campus
d.. To equip ministers to develop radiant drug-free, violence-free, addiction-free persons through Scriptural lifeskills for the glory of God

Strategic Action Programs
a.. The FreeWay Project (formerly DATE, Inc.) - training in lifeskills to develop drug-free, violence-free students in public, private, Christian, and home schools, grades K-12
b.. Family Enrichment Workshops - practical, 3-hour workshops in churches, non-profit, and other community organizations for parents, grandparents, singles, and others, to enable them to develop drug-free, violence-free, addiction-free children through lifeskills training
c.. Fellowship of Christian Educators - support group ministry for Christian public school teachers and other staff memebers to encourage them to model radiant drug-free, violence-free, addiction-free lives on campus
d.. Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity - undergraduate and graduate level education for pastors, counselors, and other ministers, to equip them to develop radiant drug-free, violence-free, addiction-free persons through Scriptural lifeskills training for the glory of God