Fw: epistle for March 22, 2002
Posted by: ccfmo <ccfmo@...>
From: Freeway <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2002 1:26 PM
Subject: epistle for March 22, 2002
e-pistle
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Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation March 22, 2002
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In this Issue:
Sermon: "Famous Last Words"
Bible Study: James 4
Personal Growth of the Minister
Website
Famous Last Words
Nathan Hale was an American patriot of the Revolutionary War who was hanged by the British when he was only 21 years old. With remarkable calmness of mind and spirit, he prepared for his execution. Before he died, he made a speech concluding with these "famous last words" which have since inspired Americans, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
The last words spoken by a person take on added weight and importance. Often we hear these words at a wake or funeral, "Did he say anything before he passed away?" Even in a court of law, a man's dying declaration is accepted as absolute truth on the theory that a person would not tell a lie with his last breath.
It is at this season of the year, often on Good Friday, that we pause to reflect on the last words of Jesus from the cross. During the 40 days after His resurrection, the Lord spoke many words, of course. But the "seven last sayings" are particularly poignant, even though we know the rest of the story . . . Easter is coming!
Jesus is our supreme example for living . . . and for dying. Note his last words.
A Word of Forgiveness For Enemies
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do," Luke 23:34. His example was followed almost exactly by Stephen in Acts 7:60. In contrast Kind David's dying words as recorded in I Kings 2:9 were instructions to Solomon to take revenge on his enemy, Shimei.
A Word Of Promise Of Reunion
"Today you will be with me in Paradise," Luke 23:43. We've often been encouraged by the Lord's promise to the thief on the cross who had a "death-bed" conversion. These words must have been a great comfort to that criminal between the time of Jesus' death and the moment when his legs were broken by Roman soldiers and he breathed his last.
A Word Of Concern For Family
"Woman, behold your son . . . Behold your mother," John 19:26, 27. After the death of His earthly stepfather, Jesus had assumed the role as head of the household. Here he made arrangements for his mother's care in the dark days ahead.
A Word Of Questioning Of Purpose
"My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" Matthew 27:46. Jesus knew, of course, why He had been sent to earth from heaven's glory . . . for this very purpose: to die. But, momentarily in His human despair and loneliness for the Father's presence, He asked the question which so often goes unanswered when we ask it: "WHY?" Notice that He did ask the one and only Person who could answer that question.
A Word Of Request for Relief
"I thirst!" John 18:28. Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine. This request for some temporary relief from His suffering was not inappropriate. Matthew records two different occasions when Jesus was offered sour wine mingled with gall (Matthew 27:34 and 48). It is clear that the Lord refused the pain-killer the first time it was offered. After virtually all His suffering had been endured, it is not clear whether or not he actually drank that liquid on the second occasion.
A Word Of Fulfillment Of Destiny
"It is finished!" John 19:30. With the identical words used by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, Jesus proclaimed that He also had finished His assigned task. This was not a gasping moan of defeat . . . "It's finally over . . . and I'm finished." It was a cry of victory!
A Word Of Surrender To Eternity
"Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit," Luke 23:46. This final utterance of our Lord was one of supreme faith. He knew who He was (the Son) and He knew to whom He was going (to the Father). As through the entire crucifixion event, Jesus was in complete control . . . even to the point of willing the departure of His spirit into the Father's hands.
When the hour comes for us to leave this world for the next, if circumstances allow, it is totally appropriate for us to speak these same last words which came from the lips of Jesus. With family and friends gathered around, could we say:
1. "I bear no grudge, no ill-will, no enmity toward anyone."
2. "I'll meet you in heaven."
3. "I want you to take care of each other."
4. "I don't know the "why's" . . . but God does."
5. "I am suffering physically." (No false or pious denial of reality!)
6. "I'm glad my life has accomplished some good."
7. "I'm trusting You to receive me, Lord."
An automobile accident . . . a heart attack . . .what if our departure is a sudden, unexpected event? What if we have no time to gather loved ones around us for a dying declaration?
The answer is simple. We need to live out these 7 truths every day so that whether we have the chance to speak them with our lips or not, those whom we leave behind will know in their hearts that these are our "famous last words."
Why Prayers Go Unanswered
(James 4:1-17)
I. Concentration: on "heart" sins which hinder effective prayer
1. Desires for pleasure, v. 1.
2. Unfulfilled lusts, v. 2.
3. Murder (malicious hatred), v. 2.
4. Covetousness, v. 2.
II. Meditation: on why some prayers go unanswered
(By "unanswered" we mean that God answers by saying "no".)
1. Because they are made with a wrong motivation ("amiss"), v. 3.
2. Because they are made selfishly, v. 3
3. Because they are made by believers who are unfaithful to God
(adulterers and adulteresses); who are "friendly" toward the world's
system, but who are enemies of God, v. 4.
4. Because they are made with pride rather than with humility, v. 6.
III. Revelation: on how to pray and receive "yes" answers from God
1. Submit to God and resist the devil, v. 7.
2. Draw near to God, and He will draw near
to you, v. 8.
3. In repentance, receive God's forgiveness and
cleansing, vv. 8-9.
4. Humble yourselves in the sight of God, and He
will lift you up, vv. 10, 16.
5. Do not speak evil of other persons, nor judge (condemn)
fellow believers, vv. 11-12.
6. Recognize that God controls the future; do not persume
that you'll even be alive tomorrow, vv. 13-14.
7. Seek for and pray that the Lord's will be done in every
situation and circumstance of your life, v. 15.
8. Avoid the pernicious sin of omission . . . knowing that
you should do good, but too lazy actually to do it, v. 17.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Avoid the worldly sins of the flesh, which hinder my prayers
from being answered, Isaiah 59:2.
2. Make sure my motivation in prayer is pure: love for God and
love for persons in need . . . not selfishness nor pride.
3. Draw near to God daily (Bible study, prayer, meditation), in
repentance and humble submission to His will.
4. Watch my mouth! . . . making sure that what I piously ask for
in prayer to God is not contradicted and negated by my ungodly
speech and actions toward other persons.
Personal Growth of the Minister
by: Dr. David Claybrook , Pastor, Christ Church-St. Louis
Dear JD (Jesus' Disciple),
I have two friends. Believe it or not, JD, there are two people (actually a few more) who are willing to admit they are my friends. But these two are special in that they are complete opposites regarding things: one is a pack-rat; the other, a neat freak. The neat guy's motto could be, "a place for everything and everything in its place." His wife is the same way. They hold on to only so much stuff. If they acquire something new, something else has to go. Even their garage is orderly with shelves and hooks and room for two cars. It's disgusting!
The other guy is at the opposite end of the spectrum. His motto could be, "Never get rid of anything, you never know when you might need it." Of course, if he ever does need "it" he probably won't be able to find "it" among the many piles of useful items filling every possible square inch of his home, basement and garage.
I really like both of these guys and enjoy their company. I also like being in their homes, but for different reasons. The neat guy's home is orderly and tidy. You can relax and not be distracted. But my messy friend makes me feel more at home. My house is somewhere in between, thanks to my wife. She is a neat person. She has learned to cope with me by gathering the clutter from around the house and depositing it on my desk. When I protest, she points at the pile and says, "It's yours, you deal with it." She's right, but I hate having it on my desk. I can't study, write, pay bills or do any of those important things when I have so much junk in my way. Often I can't find an important note or article. Knowing it is somewhere in that mound of paper makes it even more frustrating. Now if you are one of those neat guys, you are saying something like, "Well clean it up, stupid." Believe me, JD, I have cleaned it up; many times. But I am amazed and dismayed at how quickly the piles return.
The other day I was sitting at the breadfast table meditating on Luke 15. (Did you catch the clue as to how my desk looked that morning?) Jesus' parable of the three people who lost something valuable is in that chapter. That morning I was thinking about the woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. Jesus asks, "Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?" (verse 8) Evidently one of her most valued treasures was lost. It was nearby, but misplaced or covered up; probably under two weeks of junk mail. When she realized it was not in is proper place she was disturbed. She got out the lamp and the broom and went to work. After a diligent search, she found the coin, called her neighbors and said, "Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin." Personally, I think she invited them over for a party; no use wasting a clean house.
Sometimes, JD, my heart looks more like her house and my desk than I care to admit. There are some pretty high priority items in there. A couple of them are The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The problem is that in seeking to be a well-rounded person, I allow all kinds of other thing to come into my life; sports, books, magazines, TV, computer, etc. These tend to clutter up and cover over the important issues that bring lasting joy. Our church can do the same. We get so many activities going we forget the main thing: knowing God and making Him known. We might say we are well-rounded, but a better word would be fat! And frustrated.
The Lord has been telling me its time for a house cleaning. I am to get out the lamp, search out my heart (Psalm 139:23-24), and sweep out everything that is not really valuable. I'll let you know what treasures I find. If they are what I expect, I'll invite you to a party! While you are here maybe you can help me clean out the garage!?! Just kidding!
DM (Disciple Maker)
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Wit & Wisecracks: Mark Twain said, "Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been."
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