E-pistle for August 24, 2007
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation August 24, 2007
Personal Disciplines for Spiritual Growth
by: Dr. Curt Scarborough
1. Fasting: at least one meal each week.
Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 17:20-21; Isaiah 58:3-7
2. Praying: confession and intercession, "without ceasing" . . .
at least three times daily, using the Model Prayer.
Psalm 55:17; I Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:9-13; I John 1:9
3. Singing: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs . . .
making melody in your heart continually.
Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13
4. Praising: speaking words to magnify the Lord,
at least seven times daily.
Psalm 119:164; Psalm 150:1-6; Hebrews 13:15; Revelation 19:5
5. Reading: God's word daily . . . through the Bible annually.
II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12
6. Meditating: Daily on the spiritual truths and implications
in each chosen Scripture passage.
Psalm 19:14; Philippians 4:8
7. Receiving: the Holy Spirit's fullness, enlightening,
revelation, renewal, refreshing, and power daily.
John 14:26; Ephesians 1:17-19; 5:18; James 1:5; I John 2:27
8. Journaling: daily writing personal reflections, revelation,
experiences, and spiritual applications.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Jeremiah 30:2; Habakkuk 2:2.
My Song In The Night
(Psalm 77:1-20)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the sufferings of God's people
1. I cried out to God with my voice, v. 1.
2. In the day of trouble, I sought the Lord, v. 2.
3. My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing, v. 2.
4. My soul refused to be comforted, v. 2.
5. I remembered God and was troubled (rather than finding peace,) v. 3.
6. I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed, v. 3.
7. I am so troubled that I can't sleep or rest ("You hold my eyelids open")
and things have gotten worse so that I can't even speak, v. 4.
II. Meditation: on what God's people should do in such times of trouble
1. Consider the days of old . . . the years of ancient times, v. 5.
2. Call to remembrance "my song in the night," v. 6.
3. Contemplate within my heart upon the words and works of God, v. 6.
4. Cause my spirit to make diligent search for spiritual enlightenment, v. 6.
III. Meditation: on my questions about God in my "song in the night"
1. Will the Lord cast off forever? v. 7
2. Will He be favorable (extended grace) no more? v. 7
3. Has His mercy ceased forever? v. 8
4. Have His promises failed forevermore? v. 8
5. Has God forgotten to be gracious? v. 9
6. Has God in anger shut up His tender mercies? v. 9
7. ANSWERS: NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
IV. Revelation: on the proper actions to take in one's "anguish" (v. 10)
1. Remember the power of God, vv. 11, 16-19.
2. Recall God's miraculous deliverance in days past, vv. 11, 20.
3. Meditate upon all the words and works of God, v. 12.
4. Talk to others (testify; witness) about God's deeds:
(1) God is GREAT, v. 13 (3) God strengthens His people, v. 14
(2) God does miracles, v. 14 (4) God redeems His people, v. 15
V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Offer up prayers and supplications to God when troubles come.
2. Consider God's omnipotence and His miraculous blessings in the past.
3. Meditate upon God's words and works, seeking spiritual enlightenment to
perceive His plan and purpose for my life.
4. Joyfully sing my "song in the night," witnessing to others about God's
everlasting grace and mercy.
Clap Your Hands, All You Peoples!
(Psalm 47:1-9)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on verse 1
Here all nations are commanded to clap their hands and shout triumphantly to
God with high energy and joyful enthusiasm. Although some Christian groups
discourage this kind of expressive worship. God has built into mankind the
almost instinctive urge to clap and shout when they experience victory.
II. Meditation: on the reasons for clapping and shouting
1. Because the Lord Most High is awesome, v. 2.
2. Because God reigns as King over all the earth, vv. 2, 7-8.
3. Because God is victorious over His enemies, v. 3.
4. Because God gives a spiritual inheritance to His chosen people, vv. 4, 9.
III. Revelation: on singing praises to God with understanding (vv. 6-7)
Verse 6 repeats "sing praises" four times . . . emphasizing the
importance of engaging in continuing worship of God.
Singing praises "with understanding" implies:
1. That it is possible to praise God WITHOUT understanding.
2. That it is possible and worthy for us to open our minds and
hearts to God during worship . . . allowing Him to speak to us.
3. That, as Paul wrote in I Corinthians 14:15, "I will sing with the
spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding," . . . meaning
that he praised God with thought and contemplation as well as
with emotion.
4. That we should think upon God's character and works as we
praise and exalt Him: His love, His power, His majesty, and His
protection ("shields," v. 9).
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Enter into worship of God with clapping and shouting . . . with
high energy and joyful enthusiasm.
2. Focus my praises upon my awesome, victorious, benevolent,
reigning Heavenly Father.
3. Praise God "with understanding" . . . with thought and
contemplation; with spiritual meditation.
4. Expect God to come to "inhabit" my praises (Psalm 22:3), as I
listen for His Spirit to speak to my mind and heart.
As A Mother; As A Father
(I Thessalonians 2:1-20)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Paul wrote of his humble, sincere ministry to the
Thessalonians, vv 1-6.
2. Paul claimed to be both a mother and a father to
them, vv. 7-12.
3. Paul reminded them of their conversion experience,
vv. 13-16.
4. Paul revealed his longing to see them . . . his "glory
and joy," vv. 17-20.
II. Observations: on God's purposes for a mother and a father
1. The mother's purpose – through self-sacrifice, to develop
children who strive for the highest and best in character
and lifestyle as mature Christians.
2. The father's purpose – through hard work and example,
to develop children who are achievers . . . who will
"BE ALL THEY CAN BE!"
III. Meditation: on the characteristics of a godly mother
1. GENTLE (v. 7) = kind, amicable, quiet, patient, tender.
2. NURSING (v. 7) = nurturing, caring, holding, comforting.
3. CHERISHING (v. 7) = holding dear, treating as someone special.
4. AFFECTIONATELY LONGING (V. 8) = love-yearning, craving
the highest and best.
5. IMPARTING HER OWN LIFE (v. 8) = attitude and practice of
self-sacrifice.
IV. Meditation: on the characteristics of a godly father
1. LABOR & TOIL (v. 9-10) = family support; physical effort to secure
necessities for the family.
2. EXAMPLE (v. 10) = of devotion, justice, character.
3. EXHORTED (v. 11) = advise strongly, earnestly admonish, reprove,
correct.
4. COMFORTED (v. 11) = encourage, cheer, inspire, console.
5. CHARGED (v. 11) = to lay upon another a task, a command, a trust,
an expectation; to challenge to faithfulness and achievement.
V. Revelation and Applications:
1. God is like both a mother and father to us.
As a Christian, I need to comprehend this spiritual relationship.
2. The characteristics of a godly mother emphasize intimate, cherishing,
nurturing love expressed by a yearning for children to live lives of
spiritual sensitivity.
As a Christian, I need to exhibit these same traits toward others.
3. The characteristics of a godly father emphasize a challenge to
achievement expressed by example and encouragement.
As a Christian, I need to exhibit these same traits toward others.
4. As Paul specifically wrote, these are the attitudes and actions which
ministers should have in relating to their church members.
As a Christian, I need to "mother" and "father" the less mature
believers whom God has placed in my "family."
"The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education." -Plutarch
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