All Christ's sufferings on the cross were foreordained. They did not come on Him by chance or accident: they were all planned, counseled, and determined from all eternity. The cross was foreseen in all the provisions of the everlasting Trinity, for the salvation of sinners. In the purposes of God the cross was set up from everlasting. Not one throb of pain did Jesus feel, not one precious drop of blood did Jesus shed, which had not been appointed long ago. Infinite wisdom planned that redemption should be by the cross. Infinite wisdom brought Jesus to the cross in due time. He was crucified by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.
J.C. Ryle

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E-pistle for August 28, 2009

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#1 · August 28, 2009, 4:10 pm

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

                                                     Dr. Dan Hite, President         FreeWay Foundation             August 28, 2009

How To Treat Your Enemies

(Matthew 5:1-48)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

I.  Concentration on the contents of this chapter

        1.   Jesus taught His disciples the characteristics of the kingdom of

              God . . . "The Beatitudes", vv. 1-12.

2.      Jesus characterized His followers as "salt of the earth" and "light

        of the world," vv. 13-20.

3.      Jesus stated that He had come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets;

        He taught that murder and adultery begin in the heart, and He

        taught the deeper meaning of divorce and oath-taking, vv. 21-37.

4.      Jesus taught "turning the other cheek" . . . "going the second mile"

        . . . "loving one's enemies"; He challenged His disciples to be

        perfect as God is perfect, vv. 38-48.

II.  Observations: on what Jesus taught about dealing with one's enemies

1.      He contradicted "an eye for an eye" reactions, vv. 38-39; see

      Exodus 21:24.

2.      He taught peaceful non-resistance toward persecutors, v. 39.
3.      Further, He taught His disciples to return good for evil, vv. 39-44.
4.      He taught them to love, not hate their enemies, v. 43.

III.  Meditation:  on what Jesus commanded specifically in verse 44

1.      Love your enemies.
2.      Bless those who curse you.
3.      Do good to those who hate you.
4.      Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

IV.  Revelation:  on why Christians should treat their enemies this way?

1.      Because Jesus commanded this behavior, 39.
2.      Because this makes us more like God the Father, 45.
3.      Because it makes us different from unbelievers, 46-47.
4.      Because it is the pathway to spiritual maturity (perfection), 48.

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

        1.   Love my enemies because Jesus commanded it, and because

      He modeled it toward His enemies.  (Luke 23:34)

2.      Bless those who curse me, for there is miraculous power in the

      words we speak.  (See James 3:9-10)

3.      Actively do good deeds to all those who hate me, because such

        actions are God-like (God blesses all people, Matthew 5:45), and

        because such actions are a witness and testimony to God's grace

        and mercy operating within me, Matthew 5:16. 

4.      Pray for those who spitefully use me and persecute me, because

        prayer (intercession) is the way to spiritual maturity . . . "Be perfect,

        just as your Father in heaven is perfect," v. 48.

Don't Worry About It!

(Matthew 6:1-34)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

        1.   Jesus taught His disciples how to give, vv. 1-4.

        2.   Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, vv. 5-15.

        3.   Jesus taught His disciples how to fast, vv. 16-18.

        4.   Jesus taught His disciples about storing up treasures in

              heaven, undivided loyalty to God, the sinfulness of worry,

              and the necessity of establishing proper spiritual

              priorities, vv. 19-34.

II.  Meditation:  on why Christians should not worry

        "Worry" translates a Greek word meaning "to divide into parts."

        It suggests a distraction, a preoccupation with things . . . which

        causes anxiety, stress, uneasiness, and pressure.  The word

        "worry" is used 5 times in this passage (vv. 25, 27, 28, 31, 34).

1.      Worry is not necessary (26, 29-30).
2.      Worry is not productive (27).
3.      Worry is not having faith in God (30).
4.      Worry is not Christian, but pagan (32).

          "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God,

          believe also in Me." (John 14:1)

III.  Revelation:  on what believers should do

1.   Rather than worry, believers should seek God's kingdom rule first, 33.

        2.   Rather than worry, believers should seek God's righteousness first, 33.

        3.   When believers prioritize spiritual things, God promises to take care of

              all their physical needs. (Philippians 4:19)

      4.   Since worry is unnecessary, unproductive, "un-faithness", and un-

            Christian, believers need to eliminate it from their lives.

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

        1.   Focus my attention upon God's kingdom . . . His rule and will in this

              world and in my life.  I must find, follow, and fulfill His destiny for me.

2.      Commit myself to being in right relationship and fellowship with God

      and with my fellow human beings.

3.      Relax in secure faith, knowing that God cares and provides for me.
4.      See that worry is a serious sin against God, because it sacrifices today's

        peace and joy for tomorrow's troubles and dangers, 34.

"Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you

a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."

 - Lawrence D. Bell

        

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